Peatlands in the western boreal plains of Canada are important ecosystems as they store over two percent of global terrestrial carbon. However, in recent decades, many of these peatlands have been fragmented by access roads constructed for resource extraction and transportation, challenging their carbon storage potential. To investigate how roads have been impacting tree and shrub growth and productivity in these peatlands, this study was conducted in a forested bog and woody fen in Carmon Creek, Alberta, Canada. In 2017, vegetation surveys were conducted along 20 m transects that extended on both sides of the road with 4 m2 circular plots at 2, 6 and 20 m distance from the road and were followed by disc or core collection from woody stems. Within 20 m of the road at the bog site, we observed a shift towards significantly larger radial growth of trees in the downstream areas (t = 3.23, p = 0.006) where water table position was deeper, while at the fen site, radial growth of tall shrubs had little response to the road. Combining the effects of direct tree clearing and hydrology induced shifts in growth, aboveground net primary productivity (NPPag) post-road construction was reduced significantly in areas where vegetation was cleared during the road construction (i.e., upstream areas of the bog: t = 5.21, p < 0.0001 and downstream areas of the fen: t = 2.64, p = 0.07). Substantially lower NPPag around the road construction areas compared to reference areas shows tremendous loss of carbon sink potential of trees and shrubs after road construction through peatlands. Altogether, roads constructed through peatlands perpendicular to the water flow may shift long-term carbon sinks into sources of carbon, at least for the initial few years following road construction.

The trial was carried out to identify suitable potato genotypes for high hills of Karnali province of Nepal. The genotypes were received from International Potato Centre (CIP), Lima, Peru through National Potato Research Program (NPRP) and evaluated for two consecutive years 2017 and 2018 at Horticulture Research Station (HRS), Rajikot, Jumla, Nepal (2396 masl). Nine nutrient dense potato genotypes with two checks i.e. Desiree and Jumli Local in on-station trial were tested in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Fertilizer was used at the rate of 100:100:60 kg NPK/ha and 20 t/ha compost. Well sprouted tubers of seed size (25-50 g) were planted at a spacing of 60cm x 25cm. The effects of different genotypes were recorded for both vegetative as well as yield parameters. There is a significant difference among tested genotypes for vegetative (emergence percentage at 30 days after planting & 45 days after planting, uniformity, ground coverage, plant height, number of main stems) as well as yield parameters (total number of tubers and tuber yield per ha). The highest tuber yield (46.93 t/ha) was recorded from genotype T 304351.109 followed by genotype T 304368.46 (41.46 t/ha) and genotype T 302498.7 (32.69 t/ha) among the nutrient dense potato genotypes. Similarly, late blight scoring was minimum (score 1) in all these three genotypes. The results of both years showed that potato genotypes T 304351.109, T 304368.46 and T 302498.7 are promising for cultivation in high hills of Karnali province to combat the malnutrition as well as ensure nutritional security.

On-farm varietal trial was carried out to evaluate promising genotypes of potato received from International Potato Centre (CIP), Lima, Peru through National Potato Research Program (NPRP), Khumaltar at Guthichaur Rural Municipality in the high hills of Jumla during two consecutive years 2017 and 2018. Five promising potato genotypes and two check cultivars i.e. Desiree and Jumli Local were tested in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatments were replicated three times. Compost was used at the rate of 20 t/ha. Well sprouted tubers of 25-50 g were planted at 60cm x 25cm spacing. Observations were recorded on vegetative parameters and yield attributes. Tested genotypes differed significantly for emergence percentage at 30 days after planting, uniformity, ground coverage, plant height, number of main stems, total number of tubers and tuber yield per hectare. The highest tuber yield (26.14 t/ha) was recorded in CIP393073.179 followed by CIP 395112.32 (24.56 t/ha) and CIP 390478.9 (23.12 t/ha). The average results of both years showed that potato genotypes CIP393073.179, CIP 395112.32 and CIP 390478.9 were promising for commercial cultivation in Jumla and in the similar agro-ecological domains of Karnali province.

Coordinated Varietal Trial (CVT) on different genotypes of potato received from National Potato Research Program (NPRP), Khumaltar, Lalitpur was carried out at Horticultural Research Station, Rajikot, Jumla at an altitude of 2396 m above mean sea level during two consecutive years 2019 and 2020 to evaluate potato genotypes suitable for the high hills of Karnali province of Nepal. Nine different potato genotypes with two checks i.e. Desiree and Jumli Local were tested on Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Each treatment was replicated four times. Compost was used at the rate of 20 tons per hectare. There was no use of chemical fertilizer. Well sprouted tubers of 25-50 g were planted with 60cm x 25cm spacing. The effects of different genotypes were recorded for both vegetative as well as yield parameters. Tested genotypes differed significantly for vegetative (emergence percentage at 30 days after planting & 45 days after planting, uniformity, ground coverage, plant height, number of main stems) as well as yield parameters (total number of tubers and tuber yield per ha). The highest tuber yield (20.9 t/ha) was harvested from CIP 392797.22. Result of consecutive years showed that potato genotype CIP 392797.22 is suitable for cultivation in high hills of Karnali province for food as well as nutritional security.

An experiment was conducted to study the life cycle, seasonal abundance and management practices of coffee white stem borer (Xylotrechus quadripes) at Horticulture Research Station, Kaski, Pokhara, Nepal from April, 2016 to October, 2019. The life cycle of coffee white stem borer was studied in laboratory by inoculation of first instar larvae into coffee branches up to adult emergence. The first instar larvae took 94±3 days to become adult. The monthly observation on the emergence of this borer showed that it was highly weather dependent and has two peak periods of emergence: April - June and September - November. Coffee white stem borer infestation was reduced to 11.11% with the application of treatments like scrubbing of stem and application of red soil mixed with fresh cow dung (1:1) or by stem scrubbing and application of Bordeaux paste on it followed by root zone application of Metarrhizium anisopliae (22.22%) or Beauveria bassiana (22.22%), or spraying of 10% lime (22.22%). Proper and timely management practices during cultivation and selection of borer resistant genotype seem beneficial for the coffee growers. Further, application of borer management practices based on abundance models are recommended to minimize the pest infestation.