To assess the genetic variability of the cowpea genotypes for yield, a field experiment was conducted at research field of National Grain Legumes Research Program (NGLRP), Khajura, Banke, Nepal during summer season of 2019. Twelve cowpea genotypes were evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Analysis of variance indicated that all the genotypes were significantly different for an early stand, 50% flowering days, 90% maturity days, pods per plant, seeds per plant, final stand, 100 seed weight, grain yield except for plant height. Genotypes namely IT10K-815-5, IT10K-973-1, IT82D-889 were top performer cowpea genotypes. Traits namely seeds per pods, pods per plants, plant height, hundred grain weight and grain yield had moderate to high genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation (GCV and PCV), heritability and genetic advance as a percentage of mean (GAM). All these traits had > 17% GCV and PCV, > 60% heritability and > 30% GAM. Multivariate analysis showed that twelve genotypes were grouped under three clusters and three principle components with eigenvalue more than one having 83.6% total variability. Genotypes belong to three different cluster and principle component showed considerable genetic diversity and can be used in further breeding programs. Genotypes such as IT08K-150-12 and IT82-1337 belong to the second cluster had the highest grain yield of 2.22 ton ha -1 and 2.20 ton ha -1 respectively.

Introduction: The physical, socioeconomic and psychological burden of low back pain is enormous. The poor socioeconomic condition and geographical constrains confines people to limited health facilities. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether combination of caudal epidural steroids with local anaesthetics and gabapentin is effective for radicular low back pain in the rural Nepal setting. Methods: It was a prospective observational study including 300 patients with radicular low back pain done over a period of 6 months (13/4/2016 to 30/10/2016). All participants received caudal epidural steroid injection (6ml 2% Xylocaine with adrenaline plus Depomedroxy steroid 80mg plus 12 ml distilled water) and 200 mg gabapentin daily for three months. All patients were followed up for three months and were evaluated. Results: Mean age of presentation was 41.21 years (SD ± 11.02) with majority of farmers (42.31%). Mean Numerical Rating Scale at the baseline was 8.01(SD±1.00) and at the first follow up was 3.98 (SD±0.83) (p <0.001). Mean Oswestry Disability Index at baseline was7.85 (SD±0.98) and at the first follow up was 4.04 (SD±0.80) (p <0.001). Straight Leg Raising Test at baseline was less than 70° in 84.7% which improved to more than 70° in 87.9% of the patients (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: Caudal epidural steroids combined with gabapentin is safe, economical and technically less demanding. This treatment modality can be used with good outcomes in the rural areas with limited diagnostic and therapeutic facilities.

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The field experiment was carried out during winter of 2018/19 with two varieties (Unnati and Surkhet-Local) and three plant geometry (15cm × 10 cm, 30cm × 10 cm, 45cm × 10cm) in Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Statistically there was no difference between two varieties while differences were found on different spacing and interaction between variety and spacing on final seed yield. High significant differences on seed yield was due to spacing and yield of rapeseed were higher at the 30 cm inter row spacing as compared to the 15 cm and 45 cm inter row spacing. Statistically significant effect was found on mean values of seed yield for interaction which showed that Unnati cultivar in 30 cm x 10 cm plant geometry had the highest seed yield (969.86 kg/ha) followed by Surkhet-local with  spacing of 15 cm × 10 cm (843.75 kg/ha) and 30 cm × 10 cm (823.76 kg/ha). Yield of these varieties decreased as spacing is increased, thus sowing of Unnati should be done at cropping geometry of 30 cm × 10 cm and for Surkhet-local it should not be done beyond 30 cm inter row spacing to get the maximum potential yield. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 9(2): 113-121.