Four treatments (Dadaguard Plus (0.05%), mugwort (Titepati) Oil (0.05%), azadiractin (Neem) Oil (0.25%), and tobacco extract (1%) of different botanicals and an absolute control) were evaluated in a field experiment against a lepidopteran pest, the leaf eating caterpillar infesting large cardamom, in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with an area of 4.2× 3.88 m2 in each experimental unit having 5 treatments with 4 replications at Khandbari, Sankhuwasabha, Nepal. Leaf-eating caterpillars cause a white papery thin epidermis-like structure at the primary stage and defoliation of the plant, leaving the midrib of the leaves, symptoms at the severe stage. Treatment-wise application of botanicals was done by using a high-volume knapsack sprayer, and the number of larvae per plant was counted at different time intervals, viz., 3, 5, and 7 days after spraying (DAS), to access the effectiveness of the treatments. The botanical pesticides caused significant differences in their effects against the leaf-eating caterpillar. Among the different botanicals, Dadaguard Plus (0.05 %) was found highly effective in managing the leaf-eating caterpillar in large cardamom, followed by neem oil (0.25%), tobacco extract (1%), titepati oil (0.05%), and untreated control, respectively. Dadaguard could be considered an effective botanical in the successful management of the pest leaf eating caterpillar due to its efficacy.

The field experiment was carried out in five years old Golsai variety of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) at Khandbari-4, Pangma of Sankhuwasabha district between February and April 2022 to evaluate the efficacy of bioagents and fungicides against Colletotrichum blight of large cardamom (A. subulatum). Two bioagents, three fungicides, and control/water were taken as treatments, and the experiment was established in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with an area of 4×3 sqm in each experimental unit having 6 treatments with 4 replications. Treatment wise application of bioagents and fungicides was given by using a high-volume knapsack sprayer with the required concentration. Subsequent sprays were given at seven-day intervals. The result of the study showed that among the tested fungicides, TOPCARE (Azoxystrobin 50% WDG) and bioagent Trichoderma viride significantly reduced blight under field conditions. So, spraying of the fungicide TOPCARE (Azoxystrobin 50% WDG) and bioagent T. viride will be best for controlling Colletotrichum blight on large cardamom in the Sankhuwasabha district.

Background: Nepal is considered as a staple area for wild as well as local medicinal plants. Traditional botanical medicine is the primary mode of health care for most of the people. Several case studies were conducted across the country but some of them were unexposed. So such studies were conducted in order to reveal the importance of locally available medicinal plant species which leads to the discovery of useful drugs and socio-economic development of the community. Objectives: The main objective of this study is to evaluate the importance of each plant species and reveal the purposes to use of the medicinal plants by the local community. Materials and methods: Data was collected in the Morang district of East Nepal. Informal meetings, group discussion, participants observations and schedule surveys were primary sources of data collection. A total of 60 respondents were questioned through an interview by the semi structured English language questionnaire. Result: A total of 60 respondents were recorded. 37 species of medicinal plants belonging to 30 families and 35 genera were documented. The majority of them were herbs and these herbs were able to cure fever, headache, stomachache, cuts and wounds, snake bite etc. Additionally, 26% of medicinal plants are used to treat ailment in the peoples, 48% for both animals and humans, and 25% for marketing. Conclusion: Through this case study, it leads to discovering high priority medicinal plants. Similarly, high potential for the establishment of crude drugs and socio-economic development.