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Artificial fruit ripening agents have become increasingly popular in recent years. During the off-seasons, various ripening agents are used for the ripening of banana fruits. The effects of various ripening agents of banana fruits (variety: Malbhog) were studied. Seven treatments consisting of distilled water, Gibberellic acid (GA3) @ 100 ppm, GA3 @ 200 ppm, GA3 @ 300 ppm, kinetin @ 3 ppm, kinetin @ 5 ppm, and kinetin @ 7 ppm were laid out in a Completely Randomized Design with three replications. The maximum loss in weight (9.195%), Total Soluble Solids (20.33 B), the highest color score (6), pH (4.767), Total Soluble Solids/Titratable Acidity TA (34.23), and Pulp peel ratio (2.84) were observed in banana sprayed with distilled water whereas the minimum value for TSS (12.67 B), pulp peel ratio (1.813), peel color rating (2.67), TSS/TA (15.32) were observed in GA3 @ 300 ppm treated fruits. The maximum (32.67 days) and the minimum (18.33 days) shelf-life was observed in GA3 @ 300 ppm and distilled water respectively. This research will help in the regulation of ripening as per the needs of consumers and the distance of the market. In horticulture, it will help to extend storage life and reduce quality and economic loss.

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A field experiment was conducted from February to June, 2020 at Bhatkanda, Dadeldhura, Nepal to assess the effectiveness of plastic mulches in potato production. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications comprising of five treatments viz: T1: white plastic mulch (white on black colored), T2: silver plastic mulch (silver on black colored), T3: perforated black plastic mulch, T4: black plastic mulch and T5: control (without mulch). Results revealed that the black plastic mulch significantly increased the rate of emergence while perforated black plastic exhibited highest values of all other studied growth parameters, yield components and quality parameters. The highest marketable tuber yield was obtained in perforated black plastic (6.05 kg/m2) followed by silver plastic (5.62 kg/m2), white plastic (5.46 kg/m2), black plastic (5.14 kg/m2) and lowest marketable tuber yield was obtained in control condition (4.07 kg/m2). Similarly, temperature difference between controlled and mulched condition at 15 cm depth of soil was observed up to 2.8°C with its highest value in black plastic mulch and lowest in control condition. The perforated black plastic mulch was found most economical with maximum value of net return (NRs. 1904.31 thousands/ha) and B: C ratio (5.83). This study concludes that the use of perforated black plastic mulch is most economical with optimum plant growth and yield, producing best quality potatoes under climatic condition of Dadeldhura, Nepal.

Broad leaf mustard (BLM) (Brassica juncea L. var. rugosa, Brassicaceae) is one of the most widely consumed vegetable crops in Nepal. The production of crop in open field is constrained by major pests like mustard aphid and flea beetle. This study was aimed to determine the effects of pest exclusion net (PEN) on pest-infestation and yield of BLM cultivar "Khumal Broad Leaf". The experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments and four replications. The treatments included control (no mulch + no net + no pesticide spray), black plastic mulch only, reflective plastic mulch only, black plastic mulch + no net + pesticide spray, and PEN + black plastic mulch + no pesticide spray. Data were analyzed with RSTAT software package and means were separated by Duncan's multiple range test (DMRT) at 5% level of significance. The result revealed that crop under PEN had highest plant height (38.99 cm), lowest number of aphid (0-0.86 per plant), flea beetle (0-1.07 per plant) and highest total marketable yield (77.50 ton/ha) while control had lowest plant height (20.06 cm), highest number of aphid (maximum 2.49 per plant), flea beetle (maximum 2.00 per plant) and lowest total marketable yield (13.75 ton/ha). Economic analysis revealed highest benefit-cost ratio in PEN (9.90). This study indicates that the use of PEN protect BLM against aphid and flea beetle, increases yield and can be considered as a viable technology for BLM production by smallholder growers of Nepal.