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Key soil parameters, organic matter, soil pH and plant nutrients determine the capacity of a soil to sustain plant and animal productivity. Conservation agriculture (CA) and crop diversification or intensification may change these soil parameters positively or negatively, which eventually affect long-term sustainability. We monitored these key soil properties (at depths of 0–15 and 15–30 cm) under CA-based sustainable intensification practices: zero-till (ZT), and crop residue retention, and crop rotations on Inceptisols and Entisols in the Eastern Ganga Alluvial Plains from 2014 to 2017. The rainfall of this sub-tropical region is 1273–3201 mm. Soil organic carbon (C) ranged within 0.46–1.13% and generally followed (positive) rainfall gradients. At all sites, the soil under ZT tended to have higher organic C than conventional tillage (CT). Soil pHH2O ranged within 5.7–7.8 across the region. At all sites, soil pH generally decreased under ZT compared to CT. This was most marked at some acidic soil sites where pH decreased by up to 0.4 units; the lower the initial soil pH, the higher was the decrease in pH under ZT practice. In contrast, the reverse trend was observed for soil organic C. Partial nutrient balances for N, P and K in rice–wheat and rice–maize systems were positive for N and P (<50 kg ha–1) but negative for K (up to 90 kg ha–1) under both tillage practices; more so under ZT practice even though crop residues were retained. Changes under ZT provide an opportunity to maintain soil organic C. However, remediation measures such as liming and efficient use of fertilisers are required for long-term sustainability of the farming systems in this agriculturally important region of South Asia.

Basmati rice, also called the king/prince of rice landraces has very special values in Nepalese society as well as in other countries of Indian Subcontinent. With the objectives of collecting, analyzing and documenting Basmati related information in Nepal, we visited different sites; carried out key informant surveys; organized focus group discussions, online interaction and discussion meetings; requested all relevant offices/ persons/ stakeholders through phone, website, and letter to share information; organized high level official meeting, and Basmati rice expert meeting; documented video documentary and did online as well as library search. Because of its high market value at global level, many countries and organizations have been attempting to get intellectual property rights (mainly patent and geographical indication tag) on Basmati rice. India applied for GI tag to Basmati rice in the European Union (EU) in July 2018, and Nepal submitted opposition letter along with proofs and evidences of origin, diversity, cultivation and use values of Basmati rice on 9 December 2020. A total 133 Basmati type rice landraces are grown in 60 districts of Nepal. Basmati rice is traditionally grown, sold, and consumed in geographically localized areas of Nepal since ancient time. International and national scientists have defined lower altitude of Nepal as one of the centers of origin of Basmati rice. Many Nepalese basmati rice landraces have been characterized and evaluated using morphological traits, isozymes and DNA markers. Four basmati type of rice landraces have been registered in National Seed Board. Many community seed banks have maintained different types of Basmati rice landraces. National Agriculture Genetic Resources Center and International genebanks have collected more than 80 and conserved 68 basmati landraces. Basmati rice landraces have geo-linked traits. The historical culture of production, consumption and marketing of native basmati rice in Nepal should always be favored by both national and international rules and regulations. Nepal has ample and valid evidences to get geographical indication (GI) right on Basmati rice.

Seed quality is the major concern for future crop production which largely depends on the nutrient we applied. To evaluate the effect of different doses of nitrogen and phosphorus on yield and seed quality of wheat an experiment was conducted during 2014/15 at agronomy research block of Agriculture and Forestry University. The experiment was designed on randomized complete block experiment with four levels of Nitrogen (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N/ha) and Phosphorus (0, 25, 50, 75 kg P205/ha) Lab experiment was conducted to evaluate the germination and vigor test of the progeny seeds obtained from the mother plant. Highest grain yield (3.64t/ha) was associated with 100 kg N/ha which was statically similar with 150 kg N/ha, similarly highest grain yield (3.14t/ha) was associated with 75 kg P/ha which was at par with 50 kg P/ha and 25 kg P/ha. Highest germination percentage was associated with 150 kg N/ha (94.08) and 75 kg P/ha (93.66) Highest vigor was observed (36.5) at 100 kg N/ha which was at par with 150 kg N/ha whereas highest vigor was obtained at 50 kg P/ha (35.77) which was at par with 75 kg P/ha (35.71) Gross return, Net return and Benefit Cost ratio was highest at 100 kg N/ha which was at par with 150 kg N/ha. Similarly highest gross return (104.9 thousands) was observed at 75 kg P/ha, highest net income (54.81 thousands), and benefit cost ratio (2.105) was observed with 50 kg P/ha. Therefore for the better yield, good economic return and good seed quality application of nitrogenous fertilizers at 100 kg N/ha and phosphorus at 50 kg P/ha is useful under Chitwan condition.

Field experiments were conducted for four years (2014)(2015)(2016)(2017) at five locations namely Salbani, Bhokraha, Simariya, Bhaluwa and Kaptanganj of Sunsari district to assess the changes in soil chemical properties under conservation agriculture (CA)-based practices in two cropping systems namely rice-kidney beanmaize at Salbani and rice-wheat at rest of the locations. In rice-wheat cropping system, there were four treatments: (1) conventional tillage (CT) for rice transplantation and subsequent wheat sowing, (2) conventional tillage rice transplantation followed by zero tillage (ZT) wheat, (3) unpuddled rice transplantation followed by zero tillage wheat, (4) zero tillage in both rice and wheat. Similarly, in ricekidney bean-maize cropping system, there were four treatments; (1) conventional tillage for rice transplantation and sowing of both kidney bean and maize, (2) conventional tillage rice transplantation followed by zero tillage in both kidney bean and maize, (3) unpuddled rice transplantation followed by zero tillage in both kidney bean and maize, (4) zero tillage in all three crops. Soil samples were taken at initial and every year after rice harvest.The soil samples were analyzed for total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, pH and soil organic matter.Total nitrogen (N) showed a slightly decreasing trend in the first three years and showed a slight increase at the end of experiment under ZT in all locations. The total N under ZT changed from 0.12 to 0.13%, 0.05 to 0.06%, 0.10 to 0.12%, 0.11 to 0.08% and 0.09 to 0.13% in Salbani, Bhokraha, Simariya, Bhaluwa and Kaptanganj, respectively. All locations showed the positive values of available potassium; Salbani revealing considerable change of 64.3 to 78.5 mg/kg in CT while 68.4 to 73.3 mg/kg in ZT condition. The treatment where rice was transplanted in unpuddled condition and zero tilled to wheat, had a mean value of available phosphorus and potassium as 87.3 and 81.9 mg/kg respectively. Soil pH ranged from 4.8 to 7.1 in CT while it was 5.2 to 6.8 in ZT across the locations. The change in soil organic matter in CT of all locations except Salbani was narrower as compared to ZT. ;f/f+ z ;g\ @)!$ d] b] lv @)!& gf] e] Da/ ;Dd ;' g;/L lhNnfsf] kfF r j6f :yfgx? M ;fnagL, ef] qmfxf, l;dl/of, en' jf / sKtfgu+ hdf ls;fgsf] v] tdf ;+ /If0f s[ lifsf] cEof;x?df cfwfl/t /xL laleGg afnL k| 0fnLx?df kl/If0fx? ;+ rfng ul/of] . o; If] qLo s[ lif cg' ;Gwfg s] Gb| , t/x/fn] pQm kl/If0fx? u/] sf] lyof] . ef] qmfxf, en' jf, l;dl/of / sKtfgu+ hdf wfg-ux' F / ;fnagLdf wfg-/fhdf-ds} afnL k| 0ffnLdf kl/If0fx? ul/Psf] lyof] . k| To] s :yfgdf # j6f ls;fgx?sf] v] tdf $ j6f ;+ /If0f s[ lifdf cfwfl/t