Knowledge Center Catalog

Maize (Zea mays L) in the farm-western hills of Nepal

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublication details: Kathmandu (Nepal) NARC|CIMMYT : 2002Description: p. 246-250ISBN:
  • 99933-205-1-X
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 631.536 RAJ
Summary: In the Far-Western region, the total maize area and production have increased by over 40 percent within a period of three decades, whereas, productivity has declined by 8.6 percent. The expansion in maize area has taken place mostly in marginal steep sloping infertile lands prone to excessive soil erosion. Only in Doti and Bajhang districts, have the area and production decreased Insects/disease and decreasing soil fertility are the serious problems responsible for low productivity in the hills. The main insects/diseases of economic importance are White grub (Holotricihia spp.), Diabrotica beetle(Diabrotica balteata), Termite(Odontotermes spp.), stem borer(Chilo spp.), Aphids(Rhopalosiphum maydis), and northern leaf blight (Helminthosporium turcicum). Recently, Arun-2 has been found susceptible to stalk rot (Pythium spp.) in a seed production block of ARS, Doti. In Achnam district, 89-97 percent of the maize is under local land races called Thulo pahenli and Sano pahenli. All the districts in the Far-Western region are still dominated by the use of the local land races. This is mainly due to their certain indispensable traits that the farmers prefer such as medium type maturity , white color, taste, optimum plant/ cob size, ease of grinding in local water mills and good flour recovery. Field experiments conducted in AR.S, Doti, have confirmed superior grain yield of Rampur Composite, Rampur- 2, Arun-2, Arun-4, Mankamana-l, Mankamana-2 and Sougat over local checks. Since, Mankamana-l and Arun-4 were found promising for grain yield within acceptable days to maturity in 'On-Station' and 'On-Farm' trials, both varieties were recommended for general cultivation in the command districts. In the Far-Western Region, many Low Cost Indigenous Technologies are practised to reduce cost of cultivation per unit area. In future, research strategy of the station will be diverted toward the evaluation of 'Indigenous Technologies' in order to reduce the costs of cultivation.
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In the Far-Western region, the total maize area and production have increased by over 40 percent within a period of three decades, whereas, productivity has declined by 8.6 percent. The expansion in maize area has taken place mostly in marginal steep sloping infertile lands prone to excessive soil erosion. Only in Doti and Bajhang districts, have the area and production decreased Insects/disease and decreasing soil fertility are the serious problems responsible for low productivity in the hills. The main insects/diseases of economic importance are White grub (Holotricihia spp.), Diabrotica beetle(Diabrotica balteata), Termite(Odontotermes spp.), stem borer(Chilo spp.), Aphids(Rhopalosiphum maydis), and northern leaf blight (Helminthosporium turcicum). Recently, Arun-2 has been found susceptible to stalk rot (Pythium spp.) in a seed production block of ARS, Doti. In Achnam district, 89-97 percent of the maize is under local land races called Thulo pahenli and Sano pahenli. All the districts in the Far-Western region are still dominated by the use of the local land races. This is mainly due to their certain indispensable traits that the farmers prefer such as medium type maturity , white color, taste, optimum plant/ cob size, ease of grinding in local water mills and good flour recovery. Field experiments conducted in AR.S, Doti, have confirmed superior grain yield of Rampur Composite, Rampur- 2, Arun-2, Arun-4, Mankamana-l, Mankamana-2 and Sougat over local checks. Since, Mankamana-l and Arun-4 were found promising for grain yield within acceptable days to maturity in 'On-Station' and 'On-Farm' trials, both varieties were recommended for general cultivation in the command districts. In the Far-Western Region, many Low Cost Indigenous Technologies are practised to reduce cost of cultivation per unit area. In future, research strategy of the station will be diverted toward the evaluation of 'Indigenous Technologies' in order to reduce the costs of cultivation.

English

0304|AGRIS 0201|AL-Economics Program|R01PROCE

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection


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