Production and  profit from maize farming can be substantially increased by allocating resources efficiently and adopting improved maize variety. In this context, a study was undertaken to determine the allocative efficiency and factors affecting adoption of improved maize variety in Eastern hills of Nepal. Random sampling was conducted in eastern part of Khotang district namely, Halesi municipality and Diktel Rupakot Majuwagadi municipality during month of March 2019. Pretested semi-structured questionnaire was administered among 80 randomly selected farmers cultivating maize since last two years. Face to face interview was scheduled to obtain data. Cobb Douglas production function was used to determine allocative efficiency; probit regression model was launched to determine factors affecting adoption of improved maize variety.  Significant positive relation of cost of seed, planting, and weeding with income has suggested to increase expenditure on certified maize seed over own farm seed, line sowing over broadcasting, and weeding. The model revealed that increasing all the factors of production by 100% would result in increase in income by 71.83%. Furthermore, cultivating improved maize variety is more profitable than own farm seed. Probit regression model showed that, farmers who have received training, who were member of cooperatives and who have received high schooling were more likely to adopt open-pollinated improved maize variety. Unavailability of inputs (seed, fertilizer, and labor), insect pest attack and adverse climatic conditions were major constraint of maize farming. Therefore, it would be better to suggest maize producers to increase expenditure on seed; make maize field weed free and adopt line sowing method. In addition, providing training, increasing access over inputs and encouraging farmers towards cooperatives could be virtuous for sustainable maize production.

A study was conducted to determine the effect of different levels of boron on growth and yield parameters of Snow Mystique variety of cauliflower at farmer's field in Myanglung, Terhathum, Nepal during the winter season of 2019 AD. Five levels of boron viz, control (0 kg/ha), 0.5 kg/ha, 1.0 kg/ha, 1.5 kg/ha, and 2.1 kg/ha were applied in the field that was laid out in  Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. Data were recorded regarding plant height, canopy cover, and leaf number at 30, 45, 60, and 75 days after transplanting while yield parameters like curd diameter, curd yield, and biological yield after harvest. Days to curd initiation, days to harvest, and incidence of hollowing were also recorded in this study. Results revealed that boron had significant effect on growth as well as yield parameters of cauliflower, where the value of these parameters were higher at higher boron dose. Boron at the rate of 2.1 kg/ha produced significantly higher curd yield (67.59 t/ha), curd diameter (25.21 cm) and biological yield (72.27 t/ha) whereas the value of these parameters were lowest with control. Similarly, boron had significant effect on incidence of hollowing where the application of boron at the rate of 2.1 kg/ha recorded the minimum incidence of hollowing (15.27 %).  Results from this experiment concludes that application of boron at the rate of 2.1 kg/ha could be suggested for cauliflower growing farmers of Terhathum district for increased growth and yield of cauliflower. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 10(1): 41-49.

A study was carried out to assess farmers’ knowledge on insect pests of citrus and Integrated Pest management in citrus zone, Gulmi district. Survey sample size of 105 was taken from Dhurkot Rural Municipality, Chatrakot Rural Municipality and Resunga Municipality of the Gulmi district. Respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique and interviewed. The primary data were collected using pretested questionnaire. The knowledge on citrus insect pest is significantly associated positively with total citrus cultivation area (p=0.1%). The average years of engagement of 23.3 years and average mandarin cultivation area of 0.35 ha gives insight to great potentiality of farmers adopting integrated pest management. The result shows insect’s severity as one of the major problems with major insect pest of citrus as fruitfly, green stink bugs, white grubs, leaf miner, aphid and rent ants. Although (74.3 %) of the total respondents were found to have knowledge about term “IPM technology”, only (35.2%) practiced IPM practices till date. The positive attitude and perception of citrus growers towards IPM technology in the study area depicts great scope for profitable citrus production on a sustainable basis.

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Organic source of nutrient has effect on soil physico-chemical properties, growth and yield of cabbage. To determine the effect of organic source of nutrients on soil physio-chemical properties, growth and yield of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata). Field experiment was conducted on acidic sandy loam soil of Horticulture farm at Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Rampur, Chitwan, from 5th December 2020 to 26th March 2021.The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Special NPK granules, Carbon based, Vermicompost, Obifert, Neem seed cake, Poultry manure, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Mustard oil seed cake and Goat manure were used as treatments along with control. Application of poultry manure significantly increased plant height (22.33 cm) with least number of unfolded leaves (7.33), highest head diameter (106.40 cm) and head yield (45.51 t/ha) of cabbage. Bulk density was not statistically significantly influenced by the application of organic source of nutrients. Significantly higher available Phosphorous content in soil was found with the application of mustard oil seed cake (118.58 kg/ha) and available Potassium content was higher with the application of Goat manure (206.69 kg/ha). Nitrogen content of cabbage head (3.25%) and cabbage root (1.43%) was significantly higher with the application of Poultry manure. Mustard oil seed cake obtained highest Nitrogen harvest index (94.46%) and Nitrogen recovery percentage (66.47%). The yield efficiency (228.13kg head/kg N) was highest with the application of poultry manure. To attain highest yield of cabbage with higher Nutrient use efficiency and enhanced physico-chemical properties of soil, application of Poultry manure might be optimum for acidic sandy loam soil of Chitwan.