NEPALESE
HORTICULTURE
An Official Journal of Nepal Horticulture Society
Volume 11 Issue 1 2016
1. EVALUATION OF ASPARAGUS BEAN (Vigna unguiculata sub sp. sesquipedalis L. VARIETIES UNDER
MID-HILL CONDITION OF DAILEKH, NEPAL
B. Chalise and T.B. Pun 1
2. EEFECT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON ECONOMIC YIELD OF CAULIFLOWER
(Brassica oleraceae var. botrytis L.) at ILAM, NEPAL
M. Basnet and S.M. Shakya 7
3. RESPONSE OF POTATO (Solanum tuberosum L.) GENOTYPES TO DIFFERENT MOISTURE
CONDITIONS IN MID-WESTERN TERAI OF NEPAL
S. Ahamad, A. Srivastava, M.D. Sharma, S.C. Shah 16
4. TOMATO HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION: INITIATION OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
APPROACH IN AGRICULTURE
S. Gairhe, K. P. Timsina, Y. N. Ghimire, D.B. Thapa Magar and S. L. Shrestha 21
5. EVALUATION OF PROMISING GENOTYPES OF GLADIOLUS FOR IMPORTANT VEGETATIVE
AND FLORAL CHARACTERS UNDER MID-HILL ENVIRONMENT OF DAILEKH
T. B. Poon , B. Chalise and OB Oli 29
6. EFFECTS OF PRE-HARVEST SPRAY OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON CORM AND
CORMELS CHARACTERISTICS AND POST-HARVEST PERFORMANCE OF GLADIOLUS CUT
FLOWERS CV. AMERICAN BEAUTY
A. Khanal , K. Mishra , U. K. Pun and M. Dhital 39
7. PERFORMANCE OF PROMISING GENOTYPES IN GLADIOLUS FOR CORM AND CORMEL
PRODUCTION UNDER AGRO-CLIMATIC CONDITION OF DAILEKH
T. B. Poon, B. Chalise and OB. Oli 46
8. EVALUATION OF CUSHIONING MATERIALS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF APPLE CULTIVARS
FROM ORCHARD TO COLLECTION CENTRE
G. D. Subedi, D. M. Gautam, D. R. Baral, G. B. K. C., K. P. Paudyal, R. K. Giri 57
9. ANALYSIS OF NEPALESE COFFEE INDUSTRY: PRODUCTION AND POST-HARVEST ISSUES
U.K Acharya and Umed Pun 66
10. AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE ISSUES AND FACTORS AFFECTING ITS ADOPTION: A CASE OF
BANANA INSURANCE IN NEPAL
Yuga N. Ghimire, Krishna P. Timsina, Ghanshyam Kandel, Deepa Devkota, Dinesh B. Thapamagar, Sudeep Gautam and Bimala
Sharma 74
Editor’s Note
Nepal Horticulture Society (NHS) was established in 1990. Since then this society is publishing its journals and
workshop proceedings regularly and manuals and other publications as per the necessity. Among several
publications, Nepalese Horticulture is an official publication of the society as the journal. Being a professional
society, Nepal Horticulture Society holds together all the horticulturists working in diverse fields including private
businesses. Nepalese Horticulture is the outcome of researchers, reviews, studies and investigations which are very
important to achieve developments such as livelihood, food security, poverty reduction, public health and
environmental sustenance foreseen by the state policies and plans as well as millennium goals.
The NHS editorial board with gratitude acknowledges the valuable support provided by authors and encourages
researchers, development workers and private entrepreneurs for their continued support with their authorship.
The institutions supporting the journal publication with provision of advertisements are also acknowledged. We
are also thankful to all subscribers, readers and well-wishers of Nepalese Horticulture. We look forward to your
continued supports.
Thanks to all of you again!
Editorial Committee
Guide to Author(s)
Nepalese Horticulture has special interest on publishing research and development articles related to horticultural issues in the country and likely environment outside. It also provides space for such reviews, experiences, success stories, news and other communications. Followings are the guidelines to authors willing to submit their manuscript for publication in Nepalese Horticulture. 1. The manuscript must be an original work written in English and not published elsewhere.
2. The title should be short and specific reflecting major contents in the manuscript. It should be formatted as Heading 1.
3. Author(s)' name should follow the title in new paragraph formatted as Heading 2. Supplementary information such as educational
attainment, organization, title/designation and contact address including telephone, fax and e-mail regarding the author(s) should
come as footnotes on the first page.
4. The abstract not exceeding 200 words should concisely state major objective, methodology, findings and conclusions. It should not
include diagram footnote, equation or any parenthetical reference.
5. Key-words in alphabetical order should not exceed ten standard words.
6. Main text of the technical manuscripts should include introduction, objective, theoretical framework, methodology, results and
discussion and conclusion. Review-based manuscript can be confined to introduction, objective, discussion and conclusion.
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Times New Roman font of 12-point size. The top and left margins should be set at 3 cm and the right and bottom margins at 2.5
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8. The title of the manuscript set as HEADING 1 (paragraph style) should be in title case for major words only and bold 14-point font
size. The first level headings should be all capitalized in bold 12-point font size. The second level headings should be in bold 12-
point font size sentence case. The third level headings should be italicized in sentence case and normal 12-point font size.
9. Number of footnotes should be minimized and it should not come for citation.
10. Many and large figures and tables in the text should be avoided. Supplementary figures and tables may be placed in annexure.
11. References should be given in alphabetical order by author's name, and the styles should differentiate the references such as books,
journals, newspapers and other unpublished materials. The material not cited in the main text must not come under reference.
Private communication, radio listening and TV watch should not appear in the citation as well as in the reference. Some examples of
bibliographic entries follow.
12. For a Book: Burkit, M. C., 1977. The Old Stone Age. New Delhi: Rupa Publication Co.
13. For Journal Article: Adhikari, G. P., 1994. Urbanization and its determinants in Nepal. Public Administration Journal, XV(1):31-37.
14. For a Magazine Article: Pandey, R. R. and P. M. Pradhanang, 1995. Potato wilt and its control measures (Nepali). In: Prabidhi
Sangalo, vol. 9(3), pp.99-102. Nepal: Lumle Agricultural Research Center, Pokhara.
15. For a Year Book/Report/Periodical: National Pay Commission, 1992. A report on the pay structure for civil servants. Nepal:
Aradhana Press, Kathmandu.
16. UNESCO, 1986. Statistical yearbook. Paris: UNESCO Press.
17. For a Newspaper: Sunuwar, D. K., 2008. Ecosan toilets bring multiple. The Kathmandu Post, Vol. XVI(167), Aug 3, 2008:p.3(col3).
18. For Edited Works: Danziger, S. and P. Robert, 1982. The war on income poverty: achievements and failures. In: P. M. Sommers
(ed.), Welfare Reform in America, Boston: Martinus Nijhoff, pp.31-52.
19. For Unpublished Materials: Pokhrel, D. M., 2005. Citrus marketing system in the mountains of Nepal: a study based on market
structure, conduct and performance analysis. PhD dissertation submitted to School of Environment, Resources and Development,
Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand.
20. Following editorial scrutiny, the manuscripts are subject to rigorous peer review. The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board are not
responsible for any damage or loss of submitted manuscript, and is not compelled to return unaccepted manuscripts to the authors
whatsoever.
21. The manuscript must be submitted electronically at [email protected]. The Editor-in-Chief deserves final right to accept or reject a
submission.
1
Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
EVALUATION OF ASPARAGUS BEAN (Vigna unguiculata sub sp. sesquipedalis L. VARIETIES UNDER MID-HILL CONDITION OF DAILEKH, NEPAL
B. Chalise1 and T.B. Pun2 Horticultural Research Station
Kimugaun, Dailekh
E-mail: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted with seven asparagus bean varieties including 'Khumal Tane' (standard check) for the selection of
superior genotype during two consecutive years 2012 and 2013 at Horticultural Research Station (HRS), Dailekh in autumn-winter
season. The results showed that average plant height differed from 2.16 m to 2.64 m, number of pod varied from 12.11 to 17.50 per
plant, individual pod weight ranged from 13.41 g to 21.49 g, pod length ranged from 35.07 to 64.47 cm, pod diameter differed from
7.86 mm to 8.38 mm, days to first flowering and harvesting varied from 35.17 to 42.17 and 52.5 to 61.00 days respectively and pod
yield ranged from 14.21 mt to 28.99 mt/ha. The results revealed that major yield parameters of the variety 'HRDASB-001' was
superior and desirable with 28.99 mt/ha green pod yield and, hence, could be recommended for extension of cultivation in the mid-hill
regions of Nepal having the similar climatic tract of Dailekh district.
Key words: Vigna unguiculata subsp. Sesquipedalis L., vegetable type, Khumal Tane, pod length and pod weight
INTRODUCTION
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is one of the most important food legumes which serve as vital source of protein in
the diet of the people of developing countries. It is widely grown in the third world for its cheap source of dietary
protein (Ibrahim et al., 2010). Cowpea has considerable adaptation to high temperatures and drought compared to
other crop species but is intolerant of frost. Cowpea is usually better adapted to drought, high temperatures and
other biotic stresses than other crop plant species (Hall, 2004). It is primarily grown in drier regions of the world
where it is one of the most drought-resistant food legumes (Dadson et al., 2005). Some differences exist between
vegetable cowpea and grain types for their vegetative characteristics, physiological characteristics and green pod
yield (Gani et al., 2003). Generally, grain type cowpea varieties produce short pods with more number of seeds and
mature earlier, while vegetable type varieties are grown for their immature long succulent pods with less number of
seeds, maturing late and the pods remaining tender and soft for longer period (Pandey et al., 2006).
Asparagus beans (Vigna unguiculata subsp. Sesquipedalis L.) are important leguminous vegetable crops of tropical
and sub-tropical regions and are believed to have been selected in South-East Asia from India. Asparagus beans
are selected and developed from vegetable type cowpea (V. ungiculata L.) for their longer and tender pods (Steele
and Mehra, 1980). Asparagus beans are popularly known by different names: string bean, long podded cowpea,
snake bean, Chinese long bean, pea bean, etc. In Philippines, it is popular by its name ‘poor man's meat’.
Commercial cultivation is primarily found in Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan and China (Rachie, 1985). However, it is
cultivated as minor vegetable crop in many Asian and other countries of the world.
In Nepal, asparagus beans are gaining popularity in the recent years. Its area is increasing annually because of its
commercial value and higher yield. It is cultivated in 2,993 ha with total production and productivity 32,507 mt
and 10.90 mt/ha, respectively (MOAD, 2013). Productivity of asparagus bean is much lower in Nepal due to the
Nepalese Horticulture
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unavailability of quality seed and poor management of crop. Therefore, this study was conducted to select the
superior varieties with complete package of practices.
METHODOLOGY
Seven varieties of asparagus bean, namely, 'HRDASB-001', 'HRDASB-002', 'HRDASB-003', 'HRDASB-004',
'HRDASB-005', 'HRDASB-006' and 'Khumal Tane' as standard check, were evaluated at HRS, Dailekh, during
two consecutive years 2012 and 2013 for green pod production. Seeds were planted in second week of August in
4.50 m2 experimental area at 50×30 cm spacing containing 30 hills (2 seed per hill) per plot. Treatments were
replicated three times. Fertilizers and manure were applied @ 80:120:40 kg NPK/ha and 12 mt/ha respectively.
Crop protection measures were done as per the recommendations. Observed data were analyzed using the
MSTAT-C package, where means were separated by DMRT.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Plant height
Though all the seven varieties were tall and pole type, degree of tallness varied to some extent. In the first year of
study, the height was significantly higher in 'HRDASB-006' (2.59 m) followed by 'HRDASB-001' (2.55 m),
'HRDASB-002' (2.53 m) and the shortest height was found in 'Khumal Tane'. In the second year, 'HRDASB-001'
exhibited the maximum height (2.72 m) followed by 'HRDASB-005' (2.70 m) and 'Khumal Tane' placed at the
same position. The average performance of different varieties on height was different. 'HRDASB-001', 'HRDASB-
002', 'HRDASB-003', 'HRDASB-005', 'HRDASB-006' were statistically at par. 'HRDASB-004' was placed second
position before 'Khumal Tane' which was the shortest in height (2.26 m) (Table 1).
Number of pod per plant
Number of pod per plant affects the total yield. Among the tested varieties this parameter was statistically non-
significant and varied from 12.53 in 'HRDASB-006' to 16.11 in 'HRDASB-001' and 'Khumal Tane' in 2012. In
2013 also, the difference in number of pods per plant was non-significant and varied from 11.68 in 'HRDASB-005'
Variety Plant height (m)
2012 2013 Average
HRDASB-001 2.55a 2.72a
2.64a
HRDASB-002 2.53a 2.57ab
2.55a
HRDASB-003 2.47ab 2.60a
2.54a
HRDASB-004 2.34b 2.41b
2.38b
HRDASB-005 2.52a 2.70a
2.61a
HRDASB-006 2.59a 2.60a
2.65a
Khumal Tane 2.10c 2.22c
2.16c
GM 2.44 2.56 2.50
F value 14.27* 13.40** 17.85**
CV (%) 3.18 3.41 2.88
CD (P≤0.05) 0.14 0.16 0.13
Table 1. Performance of different asparagus bean varieties to plant height during 2012 and 2013 at HRS,
Dailekh
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
to 18.89 in 'HRDASB-001'. Likewise, the difference among the average number of pods per plant of the two years
was non-significant and differed from 12.11 in 'HRDASB-005' to 17.50 in 'HRDASB-001' with a grand mean value
of 15.21 (Table 2).
Individual pod weight
Weight of individual pod varied significantly both in first and second year of the study. In pooled data also, the
difference was highly significant. In the 1st year, the maximum weight of individual pod was found in 'HRDASB-
001' (20.94 g) followed by 'HRDASB-005' (18.94 g) and 'HRDASB-003' (18.70 g) and the minimum pod weight
was found in 'Khumal Tane' (10.92 g). In the second year, 'HRDASB-001' gave 22.03 g weight and was statistically
at par with 'HRDASB-005' (20.89 g) and 'HRDASB-004' (19.28 g). In pooled data, 'HRDASB-001' gave the
maximum pod weight (21.49 g) with which 'HRDASB-005' was statistically at par. 'HRDASB-006' and 'Khumal
Tane' produced lighter fruit weight (Table 2).
Above result was higher and different from Kamala et. al., 2014, who reported that among the 39 collected
asparagus bean gremplasms studied the individual pod weight varied from 6.00 g to 14.00 g.
Pod length
Pod length of seven varieties varied significantly. In 2012, the highest length of pod was observed in 'HRDASB-
001' (66.97 cm) followed by 'HRDASB-003' (59.21 cm) and the shortest pod length was recorded in 'HRDASB-
006'. Similarly, in 2013, the highest length was again produced by 'HRDASB-001' (61.97 cm) followed by
'HRDASB-003' (54.79 cm) both being at par. The length of pod was observed minimum in 'HRDASB-006'. The
pooled data showed that significantly the longest pod was produced by 'HRDASB-001' (64.47 cm) followed by
'HRDASB-003' (57.00 cm) and the shortest by 'HRDASB-006' (35.07 cm) (Table 3).
Pod diameter
Pod diameter did not differ significantly in both the years. In 2012, the diameter varied from 7.97 mm in
'HRDASB-003' to 8.37 mm in 'HRDASB-005' and 'HRDASB-006' with mean value 8.22 mm. Similarly, in 2013,
Variety Number of pod per plant Individual pod weight (g)
2012 2013 Average 2012 2013 Average
HRDASB-001 16.11 18.89 17.50 20.94a 22.03a
21.49a
HRDASB-002 15.45 16.10 15.78 17.57ab 17.29bc
17.43c
HRDASB-003 14.95 15.05 15.81 18.70ab 17.89bc
18.30bc
HRDASB-004 14.85 15.10 14.68 18.57ab 19.28a-c
18.93bc
HRDASB-005 14.26 11.68 12.11 18.94ab 20.89ab
19.91ab
HRDASB-006 12.53 15.57 15.26 14.22ab 13.66d
13.94d
Khumal Tane 16.11 15.86 15.36 10.92b 15.91cd
13.41d
GM 14.96 15.46 15.21 17.12 18.14 17.63
F value 0.36 NS 2.55 NS 1.29 NS 13.3252* 6.96** 30.15**
CV (%) 25.47 14.84 16.31 9.43 10.43 5.35
CD (P≤0.05) 6.779 4.082 4.414 7.36 3.364 1.678
Table 2. Performance of asparagus bean varieties in terms of number and individual weight of pod during
2012 and 2013 at HRS, Dailekh
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Vol. 11, 2016
diameter ranged from 7.75 mm in 'HRDASB-003' to 8.47 mm in 'HRDASB-002' with mean diameter of 8.13 mm.
The average of two years' data indicated that diameter was non-significantly varied from 7.86 mm in 'HRDASB-
003' to 8.38 mm in 'HRDASB-002' (Table 3).
Above result of pod length was also supported by Kamala et. al., 2014, who found the length of collected
germplasms varying from 24 cm to 75 cm. However, the diameter was not described by him. Similarly, Lorz and
Halsy, 1964 also reported that the length of asparagus bean varied from 45-75 cm long.
Days to first flowering
Days taken to first flowering varied significantly among varieties in both the years. The days to first flowering was
significantly short in 'HRDASB-005' followed by 'HRDASB-006' with which 'HRDASB-002', 'HRDASB-003',
'HRDASB-004' were statistically at par. The days to first flowering of 'HRDASB-001' and 'Khumal Tane' were
statistically at par in both the years and pooled data. Analyzed result showed that flowering on them was about a
week later than other varieties (Table 4).
Days to first harvest
Days taken to first commercial harvest among the tested varieties differed significantly. 'HRDASB-002', 'HRDASB
-003', 'HRDASB-004', 'HRDASB-005' and 'HRDASB-006' were ready for harvest within 52-54 days whereas
'Khumal Tane' and 'HRDASB-001' were ready within 60-61 days after sowing of seed (Table 4).
Variety Pod length (cm) Pod diameter (mm)
2012 2013 Average 2012 2013 Average
HRDASB-001 66.97a 61.97a
64.47a 8.34 7.97 8.15
HRDASB-002 51.00d 49.63b
50.32cd 8.29 8.47 8.38
HRDASB-003 59.21b 54.79ab
57.00b 7.97 7.75 7.86
HRDASB-004 54.15c 50.99b
52.57c 7.99 7.93 7.96
HRDASB-005 56.31c 50.83b
53.57bc 8.37 8.34 8.35
HRDASB-006 34.57f 35.57c
35.07e 8.37 8.38 8.37
Khumal Tane 45.01e 48.93b
46.97d 8.22 8.04 8.13
GM 52.46 50.38 51.42 8.22 8.13 8.18
F value 124.038** 10.07** 58.99** 1.28 NS 2.09 NS 3.05NS
CV (%) 3.18 8.58 3.99 3.18 3.96 2.23
CD (P≤0.05) 2.883 7.691 3.646 0.46 0.57 0.47
Table 3. Performance of asparagus bean varieties in terms of pod length and diameter during 2012 and
2013 at HRS, Dailekh
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
Above results was also supported by Kamala et. al., 2014 who reported that first flowering started from 40-45 days
and became ready to harvest within 55-60 days after seed sowing based on the climatic condition.
Fresh pod yield
The pod yield is the most important parameter for selection of the asparagus bean varieties. The yield of green pod
differed highly significantly among the varieties (Table 5). The highest yield was produced by 'HRDASB-
001' (30.40 mt/ha in 2012 and 27.57 mt/ha in 2013) which was about two times higher than 'Khumel Tane', a
released variety of Nepal. Other varieties were statistically at par for their yield performances in both the years.
The average yield of 'HRDASB-001'(28.99 mt/ha) was significantly the highest and was followed by 'HRDASB-
003' (19.25 mt/ha), 'HRDASB-004' (18.68 mt/ha) and 'HRDASB-002' (18.36 mt/ha). The lowest yield was given
by 'Khumal Tane' (14.21 mt/ha).
Variety Days to first flowering Days to first harvest
2012 2013 Average 2012 2013 Average
HRDASB-001 41.67a 42.00a
41.83a 61.33a
60.00a 60.67a
HRDASB-002 34.67b 36.00b
35.33b 52.00b
54.33b 53.17b
HRDASB-003 36.3 b 37.00b
36.67b 53.33b
52.33b 52.83b
HRDASB-004 36.67b 36.67b
36.67b 53.00b
52.00b 52.50b
HRDASB-005 34.33b 36.00b
35.17b 52.33b
52.67b 52.50b
HRDASB-006 34.67b 36.33b
35.50b 52.67b
52.67b 52.67b
Khumal Tane 42.33a 42.00a
42.17a 60.00a
62.00a 61.00a
GM 37.24 38.00 37.62 54.95 55.14 55.05
F value 16.51** 11.17** 20.04** 15.57**15.57**
21.63** 29.71**
CV (%) 3.86 3.76 3.14 3.15 2.77 2.29
CD (P≤0.05) 2.53 2.54 2.09 3.08 2.71 2.24
Table 4. Performance of asparagus bean varieties in terms of flowering and harvesting during 2012 and
2013 at HRS, Dailekh
Variety Yield (mt/ha)
2012 2013 Average
HRDASB-001 30.40a 27.57a
28.99a
HRDASB-002 18.37b 18.35bc
18.36b
HRDASB-003 20.66b 17.84bc
19.25b
HRDASB-004 18.09b 19.28b
18.68b
HRDASB-005 15.88b 16.18bc
16.02b
HRDASB-006 14.27b 14.21c
14.24b
Khumal Tane 11.49b 16.92bc
14.21b
GM 18.45 18.62 18.54
F value 5.05** 9.44** 10.79**
CV (%) 25.33 12.94 14.38
CD (P≤0.05) 8.314 4.286 4.742
Table 5. Performance of asparagus bean varieties in terms of pod yield during 2012 and 2013 at HRS,
Dailekh
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Above result was higher in 'HRDASB-001', but the other varieties produced lower than the yield reported by
Kamala et. al., 2014, who reported that yield of green pod was estimated at 25.7 mt/ha.
Acknowledgement
Authors are highly acknowledged to all the technical staffs of HRS, Dailekh for their continuous effort in
completing the trial for two years.
REFERENCES
Dadson, R.B, F.M. Hashem, I. Javaid, A.L. Allen and T.E. Devine. 2005. Effect of water stress on yield of
cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) genotypes in the Delmarva region of the United States. Journal of Agronomy
and Crop Science, 191:210-217.
Gani, A.M., S.U. Yahaya and B.M. Auwalu. 2003. The performance of vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata
(L.) Walp) varieties in Bauchi, Nigeria. Agricultural Business Technology of Journal, 1(1): 62-73.
Hall, A.E., 2004. Breeding for adaptation to drought and heat in cowpea. European Journal of Agronomy,
21: 447-454.
Ibrahim, U., B.M. Auwalu and G.N. Udom. 2010. Effect of stage and intensity of defoliation on the
performance of vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp). World Journal of Agricultural, 6(4): 460-465.
Kamala, V., T.S. Aghora, N. Sivaraj, T.Rao, S.R. Pandravada, N. Sunil, N. Mohan, K.S. Varaprasad and S.K.
Chakrabarty. 2014. Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resource 27(2): 171-177.
Lorz, A.P. and L.H. Halsey. 1964. Snap pea, A new cream type southern pea variety for snap pod use. Univ.
Florida Agr. Expt. Sta. Cir. S-160.
MOAD. 2013. Statistical Information on Nepalese Agriculture 2012/2013. Ministry of Agricultural
Development, Agri-Business Promotion and Statistics Division, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Pandey, Y.R., A.B. Pun and R.C. Mishra. 2006. Evaluation of vegetable type cowpea varieties for commercial
production in the river basin and low hill areas. Nepal Agriculture Research Journal, 7: 16-20.
Rachie, K.O. 1985. Introduction. P. xxi-xxviii. In: S. R. Singh and K.O. Rachie (eds). Cowpea research,
production and utilization. Wiley, Chichester, England.
Steele, W.M. and K.L. Mehra. 1980. Structure, evolution and adaptation to farming systems and
environments in Vigna. In: Advances in leguminous sciences. Edited by R.J., Summerfield and A.H. Bunting.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK. pp. 393-404.
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ABSTRACT
A study was conducted at Department of Horticulture and Floriculture Management, Fulgaachi, Ilam during Oct, 2013 to April,
2014 with the aim to determine appropriate organic manure for the optimal cauliflower yield. The effect of five organic manures, viz.,
bansoon (14.4 mt ha-1), poultry manure (14.4mt ha-1), mustard oil cake (8.0 mt ha-1), farmyard manure (18 t ha-1), and vermi-
compost (11.4 mt ha-1) were evaluated on the performance of Kathmandu Local cultivar- laid out in Randomized Complete Block
Design (RCBD) with four replications. The performance of vermi-compost was found promising as compared to other tested manures.
Measured parameters i.e. plant height, stem diameter and leaf number, length were significantly highest at the vermi-compost as
compared to other manures. The maximum biological yield of 54.06 mt ha–1 was recorded with vermi-compost and found to be
minimum with farmyard manure, 28.73 mt ha–1. Both root length (37.46 cm) and root weight (169.13 g plant-1) found to be
highest with vermi-compost and lowest root length (23.47 cm) and root weight (130.30 g plant-1) were recorded with farmyard manure.
Similarly, the curd diameter was significantly highest (20.99 cm) with vermi-compost and lowest at bansoon (15.43 cm). The
significant variation on curd yield was found to be highest with vermi-compost with highest curd yield (12.94 t ha-1) and the lowest
curd yield (5.64 t ha-1) recorded on farm yard manure application. Curd initiation and curd maturity observed earlier i.e. 64 and 89
days after transplanting respectively with vermi-compost application, whereas the longest days to curd initiation (78 days) and curd
maturity (103 days) was recorded with farmyard manure. In addition, BC ratio was found highest (4.31) with vermi-compost
treatment whereas the lowest (1.8) found with farm yard manure treatment. A on-farm verification study is needed to recommend vermi-
compost as an alternatives for organic cauliflower production for eastern mid hill of Nepal.
Key words: curd, leaf, maturity, root, stem, weight, yield.
INTRODUCTION
Cauliflower (Brassica oleracae var. botrytis L.), a crop from Brassicaceae family known to be originated in
Mediterranean region (Bose and Som, 1993), is an important commercial vegetable crop in the world. It is usually a
temperate biennial crop and requires low temperature for flower induction. The edible part of the cauliflower is a
cluster of flower buds called curds.It contains diverse nutrients, vitamins and minerals comprised of vitamin A,
vitamin B1, vitamin C, protein, fat, carbohydrates, potassium, phosphorus, sulphur, iron, copper, carotenoids and
β-carotene. Moreover, it has also medicinal values and therapeutic effects as it contains high concentration of
glucothiocyanate, which is effective in the inhibition of carcinogenesis.
In Nepal, cauliflower ranks the second most important vegetable crop with the total production of352,535 mt
whereas the cabbage and radish rank first and third with the total production of 370,660mt and 222,152mt
respectively (MoAD, 2014).
Cauliflower requires 200:120:80 kg NPK per hectare (Singh and Bhandari, 2015). Thus, the nutrient requirement
of the cauliflower has been met with heavy use of chemical fertilizer in many commercial farms. This excessive and
unbalanced use of chemical fertilizers has lead to health and ecological hazards, depletion of physio-chemical
properties of the soil and ultimately gives poor yield. Furthermore, the occurrence of nutrient deficiency and
overall decline in the soil fertility due to continuous use of chemical fertilizers has been widely reported in Nepal
(Tripathi, 2002). Eventually, productivity of vegetables including cauliflower has come down to 12 tha-1 as
compared to world productivity of 17.07 t ha-1 (Budathoki, 2006).
EEFECT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON ECONOMIC YIELD OF CAULIFLOWER (Brassica oleraceae var. botrytis L.) at ILAM, NEPAL
M. Basnet1 S.M. Shakya2
1National Ginger Research Program, Nepal Agriculture Research Council, Salyan, Nepal 2 Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Chitwan, Nepal
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Environmental pollution and food safety issues due to chemical contamination become a great concern worldwide.
Increasing use of agro-chemicals, higher production cost and deteriorating ecosystem health have advocated the
need to change the external and chemical use in agriculture towards safe and sustainable organic production (Aryal,
2006). Under such situation, initiative toward organic vegetable production is obligatory to boost the vegetable
sector. In the same manner, Nepal has been spending billions of rupees every year to import chemical fertilizers
(Bhattarai et al., 2006) and the cost of chemical fertilizers will imply higher to small and marginal farmers(Joshi and
Singh, 2004). .
Organic production is global concern since consumption of organic vegetables has high growth in the developed
countries (Lampkin, 1990). However, growing awareness of organic production in terms of soil health, sustainable
production and environmental hazards, and healthy food consumption is also quite appreciable in Nepal (Sharma,
2005). Apart from this, Nepal has tremendous opportunity of organic vegetable production for the increased farm
income because of growing demand of organic vegetables to health-conscious elite consumers in the country and
export to its neighbor international markets (Bhatta et al., 2008 and Bhandari, 2006).
In Nepal, the area under organic production system is far low as compared to other countries as the growth of
organic sector is quite slow and facing tremendous challenges (Bhatta et al., 2008).On the other hand, Nepalese
agriculture characterizes equally of low input for the soil nutrients, and poor investment for costly external inputs
(K.C., 2006). Similarly, farmyard manure is commonly being used for organic vegetable production in Nepal.
However, now days, different organic manures such as poultry manure, mustard oil cake, vermi-compost, bansoon
and many others have been come into the practice. Poultry manure contains 1.9% N, 0.5% P and 1.1% K and
farm yard manure contains 2.4% N, 1% P and 2% K (Tennakoon and Bandara, 2003). According to Reddy (2005),
mustard oil cake contains 3.2% N, 1.8% P and 1.2% K. while vermi-compost contains 2% N, 1.25% P and 1.2%
K (Sinha, 2003). In addition, bonsoon contains 2% N, 2% P and 1.5% K (Personal communication with the
traders). Present practice of organic farming with existing organic resources is not enough to meet the effective
organic production in term of yield and profit (Bajracharya, 2001).Therefore, Nepalese farmers are looking
appropriate alternative to chemical fertilizers.
The scientific information regarding appropriate organic manures for cauliflower production in the specific soil
condition and climate of Nepal is limited (Subedi and Regmi, 2006) even though the recent agriculture policy
(2062) also realizes the importance of organic agriculture and put emphasis on it. Thus, this study was carried out
to identify the response of organic manures on cauliflower production.
METHODOLOGY
The experiment was conducted at Department of Horticulture and Floriculture Management, Fulgaachi, Ilam
during Oct, 2013 to April, 2014 with the financial support from Univeristy Grant Commission (UGC)/Tribhuvan
University. Five common organic manures i.e. bansoon (14.4 mt ha-1), poultry manure (14.4mt ha-1), mustard oil
cake (8.0mt ha-1), farmyard manure (18 t ha-1), and vermi-compost (11.4 mt ha-1) were selected based on the
farmer’s practices at Ilam district and were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four
replications. The crop was planted with the spacing of 60 cm x 60 cm on each plot having five rows with four
plants per row on the area of 7.2 m2. Five organic manures were applied as basal dose on the randomly assigned
plots. 30 days healthy seedlings were transplanted on the trial plots. Among the 20 total plants of each plot, 14
were taken as boarder plants whereas six inner plants were used for data recording. From the six inner plants stem
diameter, stem length, leaf length and leaf width were recorded at 30 and 60 days after transplanting (DAT). Stem
diameter is measured by the vernier calliper whereas the stem length, length and width of leaf, root length were
measured using measuring tape. Similarly, digital weighing balance was used to measure root weight, biological
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yield and curd yield. Root to shoot ratio was calculated by dividing the root weight by shoot weight of the
cauliflower crop. Similarly, biological yield of crop was calculated by weighing the total biomass produced during
curd harvesting stage.
Root to shoot ratio: Total root weight (gm)/Total shoot weight (gm)
BC ratio: Gross income/Total variable cost
The data obtained were entered into the MS Excel (2007), analyzed through MSTAT C program (Freed and Scott,
1986). Means were compared by using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 0.05 level of significance
(Gomez and Gomez, 1984).
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Plant height
The response of organic manures on the stem heights at each growth period was found significantly different with
the highest plant height 30 DAT(4.60cm) and 60 DAT(12.29 cm)with vermi-compost and lowest with farm yard
manure i.e., 3 cm, and9.44 cm respectively at 30 and 60 DAT (table 1).
Vermi-compost might have improved the soil physical properties i.e. soil porosity, water holding capacity and
supplied other plant growth promoting substances thus application of vermi-compost significantly increased plant
height. Similar result was reported by Gorlitz (1987) and Jahan et al., (2014).The increase in plant height might be
due to increased supply of nutrients, which may accelerate synthesis of chlorophyll, amino acids, enzymes and
carbohydrate use. Dufault (1988), Wange and Kale (2004), Mohandas (1987), and Singh and Singh (1994) reported
similar results of increment on plant height with the application of easily available organic manure on broccoli,
brinjal, tomato and cauliflower respectively.
Stem diameter
The results revealed that the vermi-compost treatment gave the highest stem diameter at 30 DAT (2.06 cm) and 60
DAT (3.41cm) while farmyard manure gave the lowest at 30 DAT (1.4 cm) and 60 DAT (2.66 cm) (table 1).
Increment in stem diameter might be due to metabolic changes in physiological process of plants as influenced by
nutrients. The highest stem diameter with the vermi-compost is associated with the readily available nutrients that
are absorbed instantly by the plants for its growth. The lowest stem diameter with other organic manures might be
due to the less mineralization and availability of nutrients for plant growth (Kumar et al., 2007). Edwards et al.,
(2004) and Edwards (1988) also found the similar results of highest stem diameter with the application of vermi-
compost.
Treatment Plant height (cm) Stem diameter (cm)
30 DAT 60 DAT 30 DAT 60 DAT
Bansoon 3.39c 10.74b 1.91a 2.90bc
Mustard Oil Cake 3.45c 11.30ab 1.43bc 2.66b
Poultry Manure 4.35ab 11.68ab 1.73b 2.98b
Farmyard Manure 3d 9.44c 1.40c 2.54b
Vermi-compost 4.60a 12.29a 2.06a 3.41a
F test * ** * **
LSD 0.05 0.6432 0.75 0.6418 0.22035
SEm± 0.2088 0.243 0.2083 0.0660
CV % 10.4 4.4 25.7 4.6
Table 1. Effect of organic fertilizers on stem height during growing period of cauliflower
*, and ** denote significantly different respectively at P≤0.05 and P<.01. Means within column followed by the same letter are non-significantly different at 5 % level. DAT means days after planting.
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Leaf length and width
Vermi-compost has significant effect on leaf length and leaf width of cauliflower at different growth stages (table
2). Similarly, the highest leaf length was observed with the vermi-compost during 30 DAT (38.45 cm) and 60 DAT
(58.75 cm) whereas; farm yard manure gave the lowest leaf length during 30 DAT (27.60 cm) and 60 DAT (50.20
cm). In addition, the vermi-compost gave the highest leaf width during 30 DAT (20.85 cm) and 60 DAT (31.35
cm) and the lowest was found with farm yard manure during 30 DAT (15.30 cm) and 60 DAT (26.75 cm). The
highest leaf length and leaf width was due to the more nutrient content and highest nutrient retention capacity of
the vermi-compost as compared to other nutrients in strawberry and cauliflower crop (Arancon et al., 2004;
Arancon et al., 2006; and Jahan et al., 2014).
Root length, root weight, root to shoot ratio and biological yield
The response of organic manures had highly significant effect on root length, root weight, root to shoot ratio and
biological yield of cauliflower (table 3). In addition, vermi-compost showed the highest root length (37.46 cm),
root weight (169.3 gm plant-1), root to shoot ratio (0.149) and biological yield (54.06 t ha-1), whereas farm yard
manure produced the lowest root length (23.47 cm), root weight (130.30gm plant-1), root to shoot ratio (0.0783)
and biological yield (28.73t ha-1). The significant result of vermi-compost was because of its nutritive organic
matter (easy and quick mineralization by the microorganisms) which enhanced the soil structure, created conducive
conditions for good root development (Arisha et al., 2003; Togunand Akanbi, 2003). Moreover, the highest growth
of aerial part and underground part ultimately provided the highest biological yield.
Table 2. Effect of different organic manures on leaf length during growing period of cauliflower
*, and ** denote significantly different respectively at P≤0.05 and P<.01. Means within column followed by the same letter are non-significantly different at 5 % level. DAT means days after planting.
Treatment Leaf length (cm) Leaf width (cm)
30 DAT 60 DAT 30 DAT 60 DAT
Bansoon 31.20b 51.50b 17.40bc 27.75bc
Mustard oil cake 35.10ab 54.95ab 19.10ab 29.15b
Poultry manure 32.84b 54.22ab 18.79b 28.64b
Farmyard manure 27.60c 50.20b 15.30c 26.75bc
Vermi-compost 38.45a 58.70a 20.85a 31.35a
F test ** * * *
LSD 0.05 3.209 4.29 2.251 2.535
SEm± 1.067 1.393 0.731 0.823
CV % 6.5 5.2 8.0 5.7
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Days to curd initiation and maturity
The days to curd initiation and curd maturity were found to be earliest with vemi-compost and lastest with farm
yard manure treatment (table 4). The curd initiation and maturity were found to be 64 and 89 days respectively
with vermi-compost application, whereas, farmyard manure treatment took 78 days for curd initiation and 103
days for curd maturation. The early curd initiation and maturity was found with vermi-compost application as it
contains balanced plant nutrient and hormones (Arancon et al., 2004; and Frankenberger and Arshad, 1995).
Curd diameter and yield
The highest curd diameter and yield of 20.99 cm and 12.94 t ha-1 respectively were found with vermi-compost
treatment whereas the lowest curd diameter (15.43 cm) and yield (5.64 t ha-1 was found with farmyard manure
(table 4). The effect of vermi-compost revealed better impact on both curd diameter and yield as compared to
other manures. Gupta and Samnotra (2004) reported highest head diameter and yield in cabbage crop with the
application of vermi-compost.
From this study, the leaf length, diameter was found to be maximum with the application of vermi-compost (Table
1). Thus, the curd diameter and yield was highest with the application of vermi-compost as the formation of good
curd depends on the number of leaves, their size and ability to store carbohydrates. Leaf growth is a part of total
dry matter accumulation and leaf itself is the part of the dry weight of the plant. Leaf provides a platform for
photosynthesis. Photosynthesis and dry matter production of a plant are proportional to the amount of leaf area
on the plant. Leaf weight and leaf area follows pattern similar to that of total dry weight during the first half of the
growing season in strawberry crop with vermin-compost application (Arancon et al., 2004).
The promising results of vermi-compost, poultry manure and mustard oil cake reflected to the higher content of
plant nutrients and readily available to the plants within shorter period of application. Similarly, vermi-compost,
acomplete organic manure served on improving soil structure and microbial biomass (Dauda et al., 2008 and Jahan
et al., 2014).These yield increases is associated with the improvement of soil organic content and nutrients. The
earlier workers reported a positive effect of vermi-compost application on growth and yield of vegetables
Table 3.Effects of different organic manures on root length, weight, root to shoot ratio and biological
yield of cauliflower
*, and ** denote significantly different respectively at P≤0.05 and P<.01. Means within column followed by the same letter are non-significantly different at 5 % level. DAT means days after planting.
Treatments Root length (cm) Root weight (g plant–1)
Root shoot ratio Biological yield (t ha-
1)
Bansoon 29.67cd 151.09c 0.105b 34.80c
Mustard Oil Cake 35.04b 156.47ab 0.097c 40.24b
Poultry Manure 31.65c 160.39b 0.128ab 43.62b
Farmyard Manure 23.47d 130.30d 0.078d 28.73d
Vermi-compost 37.46a 169.13a 0.149a 54.06a
F test ** ** ** **
LSD 0.05 3.105 4.721 0.019 3.268
SEm± 1.008 1.532 .00627 1.061
CV % 6.5 2.0 11.2 5.3
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(Edwards and Burrows, 1988; Atiyeh et al., 2000).
Net return and benefit cost ratio
Vermi-compost gave the highest net return (NRS. 397590) and benefit cost ratio (4.31) on cauliflower production
whereas, farm yard manure lowest net return (NRs. 101978) and benefit cost ratio of 1.8 (table 5).
CONCLUSION
It is concluded that vermi-compost has a significant effect on yield and yield components of cauliflower than other
manures. Moreover, highest net return and benefit cost ratio of NRs. 397590 and 4.31 ha-1 respectively were
found with vermi-compost treatment. An on-farm verification study is needed to recommend vermi-compost as
an alternatives for organic cauliflower production for eastern mid hill of Nepal.
Treatments Days to curd initiation
Days to curd maturity Curd diameter (cm)
Curd yield (t ha-1)
Bansoon 76ab 101ab 8.81ab 7.14c
Mustard Oil Cake 74b 99b 18.19b 9.43b
Poultry Manure 69c 93c 18.48ab 9.49b
Farmyard Manure 78a 103a 15.43c 5.64d
Vermi-compost 64d 89d 20.99a 12.94a
F test ** ** * **
LSD 0.05 3.259 2.974 2.604 1.501
SEm± 1.058 0.965 0.845 0.487
CV % 2.9 2 9.2 10.2%
Table 4. Effect of different organic manures on the days to curd initiation and maturity, curd
diameter and yield of cauliflower
*, and ** denote significantly different respectively at P≤0.05 and P<.01. Means within column followed by the same letter are non-significantly different at 5 % level. DAT means days after planting.
Treatments Curd Yield Price Gross Income Total variable cost Net BC ratio (kg ha–1) (Rs kg-1) (Rs ha-1) (Rs ha-1) Return
Bansoon 7140 40 285600 136121 149479 2.09
Mustard oil cake 9430 40 377200 122787 254413 3.07
Poultry manure 9490 40 379600 94188 285412 4.03
Farmyard Manure 5640 40 225600 123622 101978 1.8
Vermi-compost 12940 40 517600 120010 397590 4.31
Table 5. Detail of cost-benefit analysis of cauliflower production with organic manures
*, and ** denote significantly different respectively at P≤0.05 and P<.01. Means within column followed by the same letter are non-significantly different at 5 % level. DAT means days after planting.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors express their sincere thanks to University Grant Commission (UGC), Tribhuvan University, Nepal for
providing financial support and Research Unit of Mahendra Ratna Multiple Campus, Ilam Nepal for timely
providing necessary facilities and logistic support.
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ABSTRACT
The experiment was carried out during the winter season of two consecutive years (2013/14 and 2014/15) at Regional Agriculture
Research Station (RARS), Khajura, Banke in Mid-Western Development Region of Nepal. Experiment was laid out in a split-plot
design with three replications. Main-plot consisted of three moisture conditions namely Irrigated, Mulched and Rain-fed, whereas sub-
plot had eight potato genotypes namely LBr-40, NPI-106, CIP388676.1, CIP396011.47, CIP395192.1, Cardinal, Desiree and
Tharu Local. The two years mean data were considered. Significantly the highest emergence percent (97.1%) was obtained from
Irrigated condition and the lowest emergence (84.3%) from Rain-fed condition. Significantly the highest emergence percent (95.5%) was
obtained from the genotype Cardinal followed by NPI-106 (94.6%), CIP388676.1 (94.4%) and Tharu Local (90.6%) which were
at par. The lowest late blight severity score (4.0) was from Mulched condition and the highest score (4.7) was from Irrigated condition.
Significantly the lowest late blight severity score (1.0) was from the genotypes LBr-40, whereas the highest score (5.3) was from the
genotype CIP395192.1. Significantly the highest yield (17.6 t ha-1) was from Irrigated condition followed by Mulched condition (15.7
t ha-1) whereas the minimum yield (10.7 t ha-1) was from Rain-fed condition. Significantly the maximum yield (23.2 t ha-1) was
from the genotype CIP388676.1 and the minimum yield (3.7 t ha-1) was from Tharu Local. Keeping in view the yield parameters
and late blight resistance the genotypes CIP 388676.1 and LBr-40 were found superior to other genotypes under the Irrigated,
Mulched and Rain-fed conditions. However among the three moisture conditions Irrigated and Mulched conditions were superior to
Rain-fed condition for potato cultivation in the mid-western terai of Nepal.
Key words: Genotypes, potato, moisture conditions, late blight severity, resistance.
INTRODUCTION
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important food crops of the world. The annual world
production of potato is about 364.81 million tons over an area of about 19.24 million hectares with the
productivity of about 19.44 t ha-1 of which nearly one third is produced in China and India (FAOSTAT, 2014).
The crop stands at fifth position in terms of area of cultivation after rice, maize, wheat and millet, 2nd in total
production, and 1st in productivity. The area under potato at present in Nepal is about 2,05,725 ha, production
28,17,512 tons with an average productivity of 13.696 t/ha and its contribution to AGDP is 10% and GDP is
3.25% (MoAD, 2014). Mid and Far-western terai is one of the largest areas (16,455 ha) for potato production in
the country but yields are comparatively low (NPRP, 2015). Lack of irrigation is one of the major contributing
factors for lower productivity and the potato varieties cultivated are not drought tolerant. Keeping the above facts
in view the present investigation entitled “Response of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes to different
moisture conditions in mid-western terai of Nepal” was designed and carried out with the objectives of selecting
suitable potato genotypes for Irrigated, Mulched and Rain-fed conditions as well as suitable moisture conditions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was conducted during the winter season of two consecutive years (2013/14 and 2014/15) at
RARS, Khajura, Banke district, Nepal. Experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. Main-
plots consisted of three moisture conditions namely Irrigated, Mulched and Rain-fed, whereas sub-plots had eight
potato genotypes namely LBr-40, NPI-106, CIP388676.1, CIP396011.47, CIP395192.1, Cardinal, Desiree and
Tharu Local. The size of an individual plot was 5.4 m2 (3 m × 1.8 m). The plant to plant and row to row spacing
was maintained at 0.25 m. x 0.60 m. accommodating 36 plants in each plot. Fertilizers were applied @100:100:60
RESPONSE OF POTATO (Solanum tuberosum L.) GENOTYPES TO DIFFERENT MOISTURE CONDITIONS IN MID-WESTERN TERAI OF NEPAL
S. Ahamad, A. Srivastava, M.D. Sharma, S.C. Shah [email protected]
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
kg ha-1 (N: P2O5:K2O) and 20 t ha-1 compost as a basal dose. Full doses of compost, nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium were applied at planting as a basal dose. The data were statistically analyzed using GENSTAT software.
Means were separated by LSD and DMRT of MSTAT-C.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Data on the emergence percent, late blight severity and yield of potato were recorded in both the years and their
mean values have been presented in Table1.
Effects of moisture conditions and genotypes on emergence percent
In the 1st year (2013/14), significantly maximum emergence percent (99.2%) was obtained from Irrigated
condition followed by Mulched condition (92.7%), both being at par, whereas the minimum emergence (83.4%)
was from Rain-fed condition. In the 2nd year (2014/15), significantly maximum emergence percent (95.0%) was
obtained from Irrigated condition followed by Mulched condition (90.7%), both being at par, whereas the
minimum emergence (85.2%) was from Rain-fed condition. Similarly, the mean data of both years showed
signification difference. Significantly the maximum emergence percent (97.1%) was from Irrigated condition
followed by Mulched condition (91.7%), both being at par, and the minimum emergence (84.3%) was from Rain-
fed condition.
Several other researchers also observed similar results. The potato emergence in field condition was influenced by
age and sprouting stage of tubers, soil temperature and soil moisture of the field as reported by Beukema and Van
Der Zaag (1990) and Singh et al. (1993).
In the 1st year, significantly maximum emergence percent (98.1%) was obtained from the genotype Tharu Local
followed by NPI-116 (97.2%), Cardinal (95.7%), CIP388676.1 (93.8%), LBr-40 (91.1%) and CIP395192.1 (90.1%)
which were all at par, whereas the minimum emergence (83.9%) was from the genotype Desiree. In the 2nd year,
significantly the maximum emergence percent (95.3%) was from the genotype Cardinal followed by CIP388676.1
(95.1%), CIP396011.47 (93.8%), Desiree (92.9%) and NPI-106 (92.0%) which was at par and the minimum
emergence (83.0%) was from the genotype Tharu Local. Similarly, two years mean data of plant emergence
showed a significant difference among the genotypes.
The maximum emergence percent (95.5%) was from the genotype Cardinal followed by NPI-106 (94.6%),
CIP388676.1 (94.4%) and Tharu Local (90.6%) but they were statistically non-significant, whereas minimum
emergence (87.7%) was from the genotype CIP395192.1.
The differences in emergence percent of potato genotypes might be due to their genetic character as well as soil
temperature, moisture and planting time. Similar results were reported by National Potato Research Programme,
Khumaltar (NPRP, 2010).
The interaction effects among moisture conditions and genotypes in the 1st year 2013/14 and both years mean did
not show significant difference, whereas the 2nd year 2014/15 showed significant difference.
Effects of moisture conditions and genotypes on late blight severity
In the 1st year, the data on late blight score showed significant difference among moisture conditions. The lowest
late blight severity score (2.7) was from Mulched condition followed by Rain-fed condition (3.4) and the highest
score (4.1) was from Irrigated condition. In the 2nd year, however, the data showed non-significant difference.
The lowest score (4.8) was from Rain-fed condition whereas the highest score (5.3) was from Mulched condition.
The two years mean data showed non-significant difference on late blight score. It might be due to the continuous
rain fall throughout the cropping season in the 2nd year 2014/15.
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The irrigation and mulch in potato crop might be contributing to create the favorable environment of spreading
the pathogens (Khatri et al., 2013).
As far as genotypes are concerned, in the 1st year, the results on late blight score showed highly significant
difference among the genotypes. The Lowest late blight severity score (1.0) was from the genotype LBr-40 whereas
the highest score (4.4) was from the genotype Tharu Local. Similarly, in the 2nd year, the data showed highly
significant difference. Significantly the lowest score (1.0) was from the genotype LBr-40 and the highest score (6.6)
was from the genotype CIP 396011.47. Similarly, the two years mean results showed highly significant difference.
Significantly the lowest late blight severity score (1.0) was from the genotype LBr-40 and the highest score (5.3)
was from the genotype CIP395192.1.
The interaction effect between the moisture conditions and genotypes on late blight severity score in the 1st year
Treatments Emergence (%) at 45DAP
Late blight severity score
(1-9 scale)
Yield (t ha-1 )
2013/14 2014/15 Mean 2013/14 2014/15 Mean 2013/14 2014/15 Mean
A-Moisture conditions
Irrigated 99.2a 95.0a
97.1a 4.1a
5.2 4.7 19.6a 15.7b
17.6a
Mulched 92.7ab 90.7ab
91.7a 2.7b
5.3 4.0 13.8b 17.6a
15.7a
Rain-fed 83.4b 85.2b
84.3b 3.4ab
4.8 4.1 6.0c 15.3b
10.7b
F- test * * * * NS NS * * *
LSD (0.05) 13.53 8.46 8.92 0.79 - - 4.52 1.81 2.58
CV% 6.5 4.1 4.3 10.1 12.1 10.7 15.1 4.9 7.8
B-Genotypes
LBr-40 91.1ab 85.2b
88.1c 1.1c
1.0d 1.1e
19.a 20.0bc 19.5b
NPI-106 97.2a 92.0a
94.6ab 4.1a
5.7abc 4.9ab
14.1bc 22.0b
18.0bc
CIP388676.1 93.8ab 95.1a
94.4ab 3.1b
4.8c 3.9d
19.5a 26.9a
23.2a
CIP396011.47 84.2b 93.8a
89.0bc 3.6b
6.6a 5.1ab
13.2c 17.8cd
15.5d
CIP395192.1 90.1ab 85.2b
87.7c 4.3a
6.2a 5.3a
11.1cd 12.3e
11.7e
Cardinal 95.7a 95.3a
95.5a 3.2b
5.0bc 4.1cd
17.2ab 16.7d
17.0cd
Desiree 83.9b 92.9a
88.4bc 3.4b
5.7abc 4.6bc
8.0d 9.6f
8.8f
Tharu Local 98.1a 83.0b
90.6abc 4.4a
5.9ab 5.2a
3.2e 4.2g
3.7g
F- test * ** * ** ** ** ** ** **
LSD (0.05) 9.59 6.40 5.68 0.53 0.84 0.46 3.46 2.34 1.70
CV% 11.0 7.5 6.6 16.3 17.3 11.3 27.6 15.2 12.2
Interaction (A
B) NS * NS * NS NS NS NS *
Means within a column followed by the same letter (s) do not differ significantly at 0.05 level of
significance by DMRT
Table 1. Effects of moisture conditions and genotypes on emergence percent, late blight severity score
and potato yield at RARS, Khajura,Banke, Nepal, 2013/14 and 2014/15
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
2013/14 showed significant deference whereas in the 2nd year 2014/15 and in both the years’ mean data it did not
show significant difference.
Effects of moisture conditions and genotypes on yield
The effect of moisture conditions on yield in the 1st year 2013/14 showed significant difference. Significantly the
maximum yield (19.6 t ha-1) was from Irrigated condition and the minimum yield (6.0 t ha-1) was from Rain-fed
condition. In the 2nd year 2014/15, significantly the maximum yield (17.6 t ha-1) was from Mulched condition and
the minimum yield (15.3 t ha-1) was from Rain fed condition. Similarly, the two years mean results showed
significant difference. Significantly it was the maximum yield (17.6 t ha-1) from Irrigated condition, followed by
Mulched condition (15.7 t ha-1) whereas the minimum yield (10.7 t ha-1) was from Rain-fed condition. In the 2nd
year 2014/15 during the crop growing season frequent rain fall was occurred. Due to the sufficient rain fall
Mulched condition was superior than other condition. Similarly, Rain-fed condition was also better than in the 1st
year 2013/14.
The effects of genotypes on yield in the 1st year 2013/14 showed highly significant difference. Significantly the
maximum yield (19.5 t ha-1) was from the genotype CIP388676.1 followed by LBr-40 (19.0 t ha-1), Cardinal (17.2 t
ha-1) and the minimum yield (3.2 t ha-1) was from the genotype Tharu Local. In the 2nd year 2014/15
significantly the maximum yield (26.9 t ha-1) was from the genotype CIP388676.1, whereas the minimum yield (4.2
t ha-1) was from the genotype Tharu Local. Similarly the both years’ mean showed highly significant difference. It
was the maximum yield (23.2 t ha-1) from the genotype CIP388676.1 whereas the minimum yield (3.7 t ha-1) was
from the genotype Tharu local. It might be due to the effect of heredity of potato genotypes as well as moisture
status.
The effect of interaction between moisture conditions and genotypes on yield in the 1st year 2013/14 and the 2nd
year 2014/15 did not showed significant difference, whereas the both years’ mean showed significant difference. In
the Irrigated condition the results differed significantly, the maximum yield (26.9 t ha-1) was from the genotype
CIP388676.1 and the minimum yield (4.3 t ha-1) was from Tharu Local. In the Mulched condition the results also
differed significantly, the maximum yield (23.43 t ha-1) was from the genotype CIP388676.1, whereas the
minimum yield (4.5 t ha-1) was from Tharu Local.
Table 2. Interaction effect between moisture conditions and genotypes on mean yield of two years at
RARS, Khajura, Banke, Nepal, 2013/14 and 2014/15.
Treatments LBr-40 NPI-106 CIP388676.1 CIP396011.47 CIP395192.1 Cardinal Desiree Tharu Local
Irrigated 23.0bc 20.9bcde 26.9a 18.6def 14.0ghi 21.2bcd 12.4hij 4.3n
Mulched 20.5bcde 19.4bcde 23.4ab 17.0efg 13.0hi 19.5bcde 8.6jkl 4.5mn
Rain-fed 15.0fgh 13.9ghi 19.3cde 11.0hijk 8.2klm 10.2ijk 5.6lmn 2.2n
F-test LSD (0.05) Sub at same levels of main treatment LSD (0.05) Main at same levels of sub treatment CV%
* 3.39 2.95 12.2
Means within a column followed by the same letter (s) do not differ significantly at 0.05 level of
significance by DMRT
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CONCLUSIONS
Keeping in view the yield parameters and late blight resistance, the genotypes CIP 388676.1 and LBr-40 were
found superior to other genotypes under the Irrigated, Mulched and Rain-fed conditions. However, among the
three moisture conditions, Irrigated and Mulched conditions were superior to Rain-fed condition for potato
cultivation in mid-western terai of Nepal.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors are very much thankful to National Potato Research Program Khumaltar, Lalitpur for providing planting
materials, Regional Director of Regional Agriculture Research Station Khajura, Nepalgunj for providing research
materials and necessary equipments to conduct the experiment. Mr Y.P.K.C and all support staff working at
Horticulture Research Unit, Regional Agriculture Research Station Khajura, Banke were highly acknowledged for
their help during experiment.
REFERENCES
Beukema, H. P. and D. E. Van Der Zaag. 1990. Introduction to potato production. Centre for Agricultural
Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen, Netherlands. ISBN 90-220-0963-7. 208p.
FAOSTAT. 2014. Available at: www.FAO.fao.org/site/339/default aspk (Retrieved on: 15th July 2015.).
Khatri, B. B., S. L. Shrestha, D. Chaudhary, B. P. Luitel and Raj. L. Saha. 2013. Performance of potato genotypes
in different moisture conditions. Proceedings of 8th National Horticulture. Nepal Horticulture Society,
Lalitpur, Nepal: 51-56.
MoAD. 2014. Agriculture Diary. Ministry of Agriculture Development, Agriculture Information and
Communication Center, Hariharbhawan, Lalitpur, Nepal.
NPRP. 2010. Annual report. National Potato Research Programme,NARC, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal.
NPRP. 2015. Annual report. National Potato Research Programme,NARC, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. 80p.
Singh, N., Y. S. Malik, M. L. Pandita and B. K. Nehra. 1993. Effect of seed size, spacing and haulm cutting dates
on yield of seed size tubers in potato cv. Kufri Badshah. The Horticultural Society of Hariyana India.
Hariyana. J. Hort. Sci. 22(4): 311-315.
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ABSTRACT
Public private partnership (PPP) is a contractual agreement between public agency and private sector to accomplish the certain task.
The PPP model has been adopted in different sectors in Nepal. To assess the effectiveness of PPP model in vegetable sector, a case of
tomato hybrid cultivar Srijana seed production in Nepal was selected. This study employed qualitative approach of analysis.
Information was collected from key stakeholders and experts through semi-structured interview schedule; and review of reports. Study
found three types of PPP model existing on hybrid tomato seed production in Nepal namely: farmers group directly linked with
NARC; NGOs facilitating community based seed production organizations (CBOs) and provide inbred lines from NARC; and
private seed companies providing inbred lines to CBOs from NARC Mainly NARC has been providing technology and support
services to private sectors to minimize the market risk in tomato seed production. Among the different models, NARC and farmer
group collaboration was found more effective followed by NGOs facilitating model and private companies. The study noted that the
agreement between public and private sector is not executed as per the MoU. Public sector for maintenance of parental lines of hybrid
seeds and the private sectors for the multiplication and distribution of hybrid seeds are essential to maintain seed cycle. Moreover, prior
information on demand of inbred lines, empowerment of local CBOs and capacity building to private sector is necessary for the
effectiveness of PPP model in vegetable sector through formulation of conducive policy.
Key words: Hybrid seed and vegetable, inbred lines, public private partnership,
INTRODUCTION
Public private partnership (PPP) is a contractual agreement between a public agency (Government at central or
local level) and a private sector entity, in which the private party provides a public service and assumes substantial
financial, technical and operational risks and rewards inherent in it. PPP is essentially a business venture which is
funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies. The key is
partnership between the government and private business sector(s). The structure of the partnership should be
designed to allocate risks to the partners who are the best able to manage those risks and thus minimize costs while
improving performance. Risk transfer is one of the major components through which PPP projects can generate
better value for money. Different types of risks such as public risks, market risk, economic and financial risk,
construction risks, environmental risks etc are included in the PPP model (NPC, 2011). The Government of Nepal
wishes to introduce three kinds of PPPs models in Nepal and has already different kinds of policies of PPP model;
however it is not getting momentum to start PPP model in the agriculture sector rapidly. However, recent
Agricultural Development Strategy (2015-2035) of Nepal has focused on public private partnership (PPP)
approach in several areas of Agriculture including vegetables.
The production and supply of seeds is increasing in formal sector in Nepal with a surge of community based and
contract seed production led by community groups and private seed companies respectively. The role of private
sector is evolving and emerging rapidly with its higher share in the production of commercial seeds and making
availability of hybrid varieties in rice, maize and vegetables. The public sector is dominating in supply of varieties
and seeds of OPVs including source seed production and supply of major food crops (rice, wheat, maize). Public
sector is still a major player for agricultural research and provision of source seeds and support services (subsidies,
TOMATO HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION: INITIATION OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP APPROACH IN AGRICULTURE
S. Gairhe1, K. P. Timsina2, Y. N. Ghimire2, D.B. Thapa Magar2 and S. L. Shrestha3 1NARC, Singhdurbar Plaza, Kathmandu
2SARPOD, Khumaltar, Lalitpur 3HRD, Khumaltar, Lalitpur
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extension services etc.) including quality assurance services in the country. Despite these positive outlook and
initiatives, presently the available options for quality seeds of new farmer preferred varieties are limited at the farm
level (Gauchan, 2015; Timsina et al., 2015). Recently vegetable seeds sector is also getting momentum to expand
the business. However, there is still gap in achieving strategic fit between downstream and upstream part of the
seed chain (Timsina et al., 2016b). Timsina et al. (2015) reported that the national demand of vegetable seed could
be met by adopting two strategies: first, the effort of varietal development, maintenance, testing and national listing
of imported varieties that should be combined with the maintenance of the seed cycle based on the farmer's
preference, and second, the effort is needed to improve the quality of seeds by adopting proper postharvest
operation such as appropriate drying and storage technology. Timsina et al. (2016a) highlighted that Nepalese
farmers have high willingness to pay for good quality tomato seed in Nepal. Therefore, public sector is responsible
for the task that required high skills and mandate to produce breeder seeds, maintenance of parental lines of hybrid
seeds and the private sector for the multiplication and distribution of seeds. The public private partnership model
has become essential to maintain seed cycle through attraction of private sectors and to cope with the growing
demand of quality seed to feed the growing population (Ghimire, 2012). With the use of PPP approach a
government manages to carry out an economic activity which cannot be done, in general, based on market
mechanism of neo- liberal economies due to low return to investment or presence of high risk or lack of capacity
of the government of developing countries (Fugile et al., 1996). Recent studies have shown higher research return
from investments in agricultural sector in the country, and also the country has dearth of required resources, the
partnering between private and public sectors for the growth of the county seems a rational development strategy.
Over the fifty years' experience in Nepal for seed sector development led by public sector was not satisfactory and
involvement of private sectors has been realized for its development (Bharati et al., 2008).
In the present context, public private partnership model is drawing attention of present policy makers and
politicians. This concept is simpler in delivery of scientific information to the recipients; however, it is equally
complicated in case of agricultural sector and innovation in a country like Nepal where most of the farmers are
small and marginal. Public private partnership has been started to take as an alternative model of development in
different sectors.
METHODOLOGY
This study employed qualitative approach of analysis. Information was collected from key stakeholders, through
semi-structured interview schedule and review of reports and publications. A case of tomato hybrid cultivar Srijana
seed production in Nepal was studied. Thus the respondents included are research and development workers,
farmers, officials from NGOs, Seed companies, Agriculture Enterprise Centre (AEC) of Federation of Nepalese
Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI).
Existing policies on PPP
The Government of Nepal has already accepted public-private partnership (PPP) as an alternative source of
procuring assets and services, including the private sector's financial participation for meeting the increasing
demand for infrastructure and service in the country (NPC, 2011). In order to promote PPP modality in
agricultural sector in the country, all the relevant laws and regulations of the government should be conducive.
Policy review comes to the analysis that many policies in agriculture are directly related to this concept. Nepal
Agricultural Policy, 2004, has spelt out promotion of participatory and competitive agricultural research and
development system involving the private and the non-governmental sectors. Such participatory activities include
agricultural production, collection, grading, storage and packaging of agricultural products. The policy also
envisages development, expansion and dissemination of a market information system in partnership with the
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
private sectors. The National Fertilizer Policy, 2002 supports agricultural production by ensuring supplies of
quality fertilizer (production, import and distribution) in the country, one of the key features of which is to ensure
and sustain the participation of the private sector in the import and distribution of the fertilizers. Others policies
like National Seeds Policy, 1999; National Tea Development Policy, 2000; National Coffee Development Policy,
2003; Agricultural Biodiversity Policy, 2003; Public private partnership policy for local organization 2004;
Agribusiness Policy 2006; industrial policy 2009; and trade policy 2010, White paper policy of NPC 2011, ADS
2015, MOF 2015 have recognized the role of the private sector and included several provisions to attract private
sector investment in agribusiness and value chain development. The Government of Nepal wishes to introduce
three kinds of PPPs models in Nepal i.e. availability based, revenue based and hybrid types (NPC, 2011). Until
now some of the initiatives have already been taken in PPPs model in the sectors like Infrastructure development,
environment management etc. However, it is also prioritizing in the agriculture sector too. Recent Agricultural
Development Strategy (2015-2035) of Nepal has focused on public private partnership (PPP) approach in several
areas such as developing values chain on maize, dairy, vegetables, lentils and tea through comprehensive and
integrated measures, market infrastructure development, liquid nitrogen program, commercial bio-fertilizer
production enterprises, fertilizer factory and buffer stock establishment, power development with farming
community, central warehouse and auction market and construction of facilities and equipment for business
incubators (MOAD, 2014).
Case Study: Srijana tomato hybrid seed production in Nepal
Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops with continuous demand throughout the year and has
covered 16416 ha of area with productivity of 17 mt per ha (ABPSD, 2012). The rainy season tomato is highly
affected by late blight and bacterial wilt diseases (HRD 2015). Trend of tomato production under plastic house
during rainy season in the hills of Nepal has been increasing rapidly over the years. Four open pollinated varieties
(Pusa Ruby, Roma, Monprecus and NCL-1) released by National Seed Board are determinant type and are not
suitable for rainy season production. To meet the varietal demand for rainy season production, 22 exotic hybrids
have been registered by private sector and about 500 kg of hybrid tomato seed of these varieties is imported in
Nepal (CEAPRED 2013). To reduce the dependency on import of expensive hybrid tomato seeds, Horticulture
Research Division (HRD) of NARC registered hybrid tomato Srijana in 2009. This is the first tomato hybrid
variety developed in Nepal. The parental line of the hybrid in last three years (2011/12-2013/14) received by 20
actors (Thapa Magar et al., 2016). Srijana is indeterminate type in growth habit, wilt resistance and tolerant to late
blight. It can give up to 15 kg fresh fruit yield per plant under plastic house condition. It became popular among
tomato growers in short period of time. To fulfill the increasing seed demand of Srijana; commercial seed
production was initiated in a public private partnership (PPP) model. Private sector in PPP model is normally
registered company or firm as per prevailing rules and regulations of Nepal. However, sometimes small
entrepreneurs or community organizations can take part in smaller local PPP projects. Therefore, NARC has
started to work with seed companies and some community based organizations. Basically, different types of risk
included in the PPP model is not covered in PPP model of Srijana seed production, however NARC has been
providing different support services to the private sectors to minimize the market risk. In the model, HRD and
interested private sectors have signed a MOU in 2011 with terms and conditions. In year 2012/13 five private
seed companies, three NGOs and one farmers group had involved in this modality (HRD, 2013). In the same year,
HRD provided 230 g parental lines seed to the private sectors and they produced 43.86 kg of hybrid seed which
was worth of NRs 3.728 million based on current government price (Table 2). In the year 2014 private sector
produced 131 kg of hybrid seed and the worth was NRs 11.135 million (Table 3). Similarly in the year of 2015
hybrid seed produced by private sector was 79 kg and the market price was around NRs 6.715 million (Table 4).
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Until now HRD has made agreement with 11 partners. The roles and responsibilities of each actor in PPP model
are given below.
NARC:
Supply seed of inbred lines for commercial hybrid seed production on payment annually.
Provide technical assistance at critical stages during the crop cycle as per the demand
Provide hand-on training to technical staff and or collaborating farmers.
Private sectors:
Demand the required quantity of inbred lines in the previous tomato season( prior to sowing season)
Inform HRD and SQCC about area of seed multiplication plot and site well in advance,
Request for technical assistance one week advance,
Arrange three visits of SQCC staff at nursery, one month after transplanting , first cluster setting stages
Arrange four visits of HRD staff at nursery, one month after transplanting , first cluster setting and seed
extraction stages
Maintain security of the given inbred lines and not to use in other breeding program
Should not obtain seeds from the inbred provided by HRD, Khumaltar
Financial arrangements
Private sectors have to bear all cost related with hybrid seed production and have right to fix price of the seed
Should pay 3 % of its seed sale value based on dealer price to NARC annually.
Should provide the daily subsistence and travelling allowance of the breeders/technicians provided by HRD as
per the NARC rules and mutual understanding
The material cost, staff cost of the technician and the resource person of HRD for hands on training should be
borne by the organization itself.
There are three types of private sectors such as farmers group directly linked with NARC; NGOs are facilitating
community based seed production organizations (CBOs) and provide inbred lines from NARC and its marketing;
Private seed companies are also providing inbred lines to CBOs from NARC and purchase their produced seeds
for its marketing.
Model 1: Farmers group directly linked with NARC
NARC played an important role for the production and maintenance of inbred lines of tomato hybrid seed cultivar
Srijana. Agriculture Research Station (ARS), Malepatan of NARC has been promoting farmer groups of
Chuinkhor VDC of Syngjaand Armala and Dhikurpokhari VDCs of Kaski districts for the production of hybrid
tomato seed in participatory way since 2009 before of this cultivar registration (ARS, 2013). It has been providing
technology and support services such as trainings, plastic tunnels, material inputs, technical help and also
facilitation for marketing of seeds in and around agrovets of pokhara. Moreover, it collects random samples of
hybrid seed produced by farmer groups and test its quality through grow out test. In 2012/13, farmer groups of
those area produced 15 Kg of hybrid seed. The model is operating effectively as farmers are getting attractive price
for their product (Rs 90- 100 thousand per Kg). Since marketing of seed is facilitated by ARS, Malepatan to
minimize the market risk, the producers share is high due to direct linkage of farmers group with agrovets.
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
Model 2: NGOs are facilitating CBOs and provide inbred lines
NARC has been providing inbred lines to NGOs for production of hybrid seed. It is also providing technical
support as per request. Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Policy Research, Extension and Development
(CEAPRED), a NGO facilitating farmer groups of Parbat and Kavre districts for the production of tomato hybrid
seed cultivar Srijana from its Vegetable Support Project (VSP). NGO provides technical inputs, plastic tunnel and
help in production of quality seed through regular monitoring and supervision by their own staff at field level. The
farmers are empowered by forming a cooperative and linked with the traders and agrovets. CEAPRED is
facilitating to make contract between the cooperatives and private sectors (seed companies, traders and agro-vets)
before each production season and fixed the price. In the year 2011/12, farmers were getting only 50 thousand per
Kg of seed because most of the buyers suspect to buy the seed due to its lower quality in the first year as they
produced 1.5 Kg of hybrid seed. However, based on the performance, demand of seed increased and private
sectors made agreement with cooperatives for 4 Kg of hybrid seed and farmers were able sell their seed at Rs 80
thousands per Kg in 2012/13. Most of the cooperative members initiated hybrid seed production and produced
20.2 Kg in the year 2013/14 but the agreement price was 75 thousand per kg of seed. This model is also operating
effectively. However, there is question for its sustainability after completion of VSP. Therefore, it is necessary to
strengthen the CBOs and linked directly to NARC.
Model 3: Private seed companies providing inbred lines to CBOs
In this model, NARC has been providing inbred lines as model 2 for hybrid seed production. There are different
private seed companies which have been involved for hybrid seed production. The major seed companies are
SEAN service center, Anamoul, Kasthamandap International, Agrosala etc. Private companies have been
producing hybrid seed in their own farm as well as supplying inbred lines to CBOs for hyrbid seed production. In
case of Dolakha district, the SEAN seed company has been providing inbred lines to farmers group and made
agreement with farmers to purchase produced seed at around Rs 40,000 per Kg in recent year. In this model,
farmers are compelled to sell their seed at low price even though the market price is very high because the
company has agreement to purchase other vegetables seed too. This model is not operating effectively as farmers
are not satisfied with low farm gate price and high marketing margin of seed companies.
Constraints for using PPP model in Vegetable seed sector
Private sectors are not paying revenue of seed sale as per agreement with NARC
Supply and demand of inbred lines are mismatched due to lack of prior demand on inbred lines.
Farmers are not getting reasonable farm gate price for their product in some cases.
Stakeholders limited capacity in updated technical knowledge
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
The results shows direct linkage of public sector with community based organization seems profitable and
sustainable among different models. However, different conditions should be satisfied to achieve success in this
model such as private sectors should inform timely for inbred lines; capacity and bargaining power of CBOs
should be strengthen to get reasonable price of their product and NARC should enhance its capability to supply
inbreed lines and increase the intensity of capacity building activities such as training, technology inputs to the
private sectors.
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REFERENCES
ABPSD, 2012. Statistical information on Nepalese agriculture, Ministry of agricultural development (MoAD),
Singhdurbar, Kathmandu, Nepal.
ARS, 2013. Annual Report 2069/70 (2012/13). Agriculture Research Station (Horticulture), Pokhara-5, Malepatan,
Kaski, Nepal.
Bharati, M.P., D.P. Adhikari, and N.Jha. 2009. Approaches towards privatization of public seed sectors for the
development and growth of seed industry. In: proceeding of the Fourth National Seed Seminar held from
19-20 June, 2008. Published by Government of Nepal, Ministry of Agriculture Cooperatives, National Seed
Board, Hariharbhawan, Pulchowk, Lalitpur. pp 99-106.
CEAPRED, 2013. Market information study for analyzing national demand, supply, import and export situation of
vegetable seeds in Nepal. Centre for environment and agricultural policy research, extension and
development. pp 19.
Fugile, K., N. Ballenger, K. Day, C. Klotz, M. Ollinger, J. Reilly, U. Vasavada, and J. Yee. 1996. Agricultural
research and development: public and private investments under alternative markets and institutions.
Agricultural Economics Report p 88.
Gauchan, D. 2015. Research and support service in seed production and supply in Nepal. Thematic paper for seed
summit, 2015.
Ghimire, Y.N. 2012. Public private partnership model for agricultural research and development in Nepal,
Proceedings of the 4th SAS-N Convention, Lalitpur, pp 188-193.
HRD, 2013. Annual Report 2069/70 (2012/13).Horticulture Research Division, NARC, Khumaltar, Lalitpur,
Nepal.
HRD, 2014. Annual Report 2070/71 (2013/14).Horticulture Research Division, NARC, Khumaltar, Lalitpur,
Nepal.
HRD, 2015. Annual Report 2071/72 (2014/15). Horticulture Research Division, Khumaltar, Lalitpur.
MOAD, 2014. Agricultural Development Strategy (2015-35), Ministry of Agricultural Development, Singhdurbar,
Kathmandu, Nepal
MOF, 2015. Public private partnership (PPP) policy 2015. Ministry of Finance, Government of Nepal.
NPC, 2011. White paper on public private partnership (PPP). National Planning Commission, Government of
Nepal.
Shrestha, R.P. 2009. Sustainable seed production and marketing in Nepal: Role of public and private sector for
seed industry development. In: proceeding of the Fourth National Seed Seminar held from 19-20 June,
2008. Published by Government of Nepal, Ministry of Agriculture Cooperatives, National Seed Board,
Hariharbhawan, Pulchowk, Lalitpur. pp 92-98.
Thapa Magar D.B., D. Gauchan, K.P. Timsina and Y.N. Ghimire, 2016. Srijana hybrid tomato: A potential
technology for enterprise development in Nepal. Socioeconomics and Agricultural Research Policy
Division, NARC.
Timsina, K.P., D. Jourdain and G.P. Shivakoti, 2016a. Farmer preference for seed quality: A discrete choice
27
Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
experiment with tomato growers in Nepal. International journal of value chain management. Inderscience
Publisher (in press).
Timsina, K.P., G.P Shivakoti and K.J. Bradford, 2015. Supply situation of vegetable seeds in Nepal: An analysis
from policy perspective. Horticulture Journal. Horticulture Society of Nepal, 10, pp 26-36.
Timsina, K.P., R.C. Bastakoti and G.P. Shivakoti, 2016b. Achieving strategic fits in onion seed supply chain in
Nepal. Journal of agribusiness in developing and emerging economies. Emerald Group Publishing, Vol. 6,
No. 2.
Organization
Year of MOU
Production sites Inbred provided (gm)
Hybrid seed produced (kg)
Kasthamandap International
2011 Panauti , Kavre 11 6.5
CEAPRED 2011 Kavre, Surkhet 20 5.2
SEAN, Kathmandu 2011 Thankot, Kathmandu 8 2.2
Anmoul Biu 2011 20 2.5
Total 59 15.4
Table 1: Details of Srijan inbred line distribution and hybrid seed production in first year of PPP
initiation, 2011/12
Table 2: Srijana hybrid seed production by private sector in 2012/13
S. N. Name of Organization Inbred seed provided (g)
Hybrid seed produced (Kg)
Estimated market price (NRs)
1 Anmoul Biu Pvt. Limited Chitwan
65 8.0 680,000
2 Social Rise Help Center, Palpa
12 0.9 76,500
3 SEAN Seed Service Company, Thankot
14 12.0 1,020,000
4 CEAPRED, Lalitpur 101 11.46 974,000
5 Agro Shala Nepal, Lagankhel
28 5.5 667,500
6 Women Group 10 6.0 510,000
Total 230 43.86 3,728,000
Nepalese Horticulture
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Vol. 11, 2016
Table 3: Srijana hybrid seed production by private sector in 2013/14
Table 4: Srijana hybrid seed production by private sector in 2014/15
S. N. Name of Organization Inbred seed provided (g)
Hybrid seed produced (Kg)
Estimated market price (NRs)
1 Anmoul Biu Pvt. Limited Chitwan
42 7.0 595,000
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Kathmandu Agro Concern SEAN Seed Service Company, Thankot CEAPRED, Lalitpur Agro Shala Nepal, Lagankhel Puspanjali Seed production group, Lalitpur N-Agro concern, lalitpur Mero Agro Concern, Lalitpur
35 25 140 27 35 35 55
12.0 18.0 55.0 12.0 8.0 5.0 14.0
1020,000 1530,000 4675,000 102,000 680,000 425,000 1190,000
Total 394 131 11135,000
S. N. Name of organization Inbred seed provided (gm)
Hybrid seed produced (kg)
Estimate market price (NRs)
1. Anmoul Biu Pvt. Limited, Chitwan 35 8.0 680000.
2. Kathmandu Agro Concern, Lalitpur 40 12.0 1020000.
3. NEMACOL, Kalimati 10 2.0 170000.
4. CEAPRED, Lalitpur 97 25 2125000.
5. Agro Shala Nepal, Lagankhel 45 10.0 850000.
6. Puspanjali Seed Production Group,
Lalitpur
15 10.0 850000.
7 Fresh Organic Farm, Kathmandu 70 4.0 340000.
8 Pramila Krishi Farm, Kathmandu 8 8.0 680000.
Total 320 79.0 6715000.
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
ABSTRACT
Seven promising genotypes of gladiolus viz., ‘ HRSDG-01’, ‘ HRSDG-02’, ‘ HRSDG-03’, ‘ HRSDG-04’, ‘ HRSDG-05’, ‘
HRSDG-06’and ‘ HRSDG-07’ were evaluated for their performances in terms of important vegetative and floral characters. Of these
genotypes, ‘HRSDG-04’ and ‘HRSDG-03’ were promising ones for earlier sprouting of corms and per cent of corm sprouting.
‘HRSDG-04’as well as HRSDG-02’ were earlier for the first spike emergence, full spike emergence and first floret unfurling.
‘HRSDG-01’ and ‘HRSDG-04’ were better for maximum number of marketable spikes per mother corm. ‘HRSDG-3’ and
HRSDG-06 were noted to be more promising in terms of plant height, floret diameter, and number of florets per spike, spike length
and rachis length. Keeping in view of overall performances, ‘HRSDG-04’ and ‘HRSDG-03’ proved to be recommended for general
cultivation of gladiolus.
Key Words: Floral, rachis, spike, vegetative, unfurling
INTRODUCTION
Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) is one of the most’ popular flowers for garden use and cut flower. It is a
member of Iridaceae (Iris family) and sub-family Ixioideae, originated from South Africa, with some species found
wild in southern Europe and the Near East .Being an important bulbous ornamental plant, it occupies a prime
position among commercial flower crops which has high demand in both domestic and international markets.
With changing life style and increased urban affluence, floriculture has assumed a definite commercial status in
recent times, and it has emerged as an important agri-business venture. In this regard gladiolus has gained much
importance as it is the’ Queen of bulbous flower. The plants, ranging from two to six feet in height, have sturdy
sword shaped leaves and produce flower spikes with trumpet-shaped florets borne in double rows. Gladioli have
great diversity of flower color and shape. Flower shapes range from those with plain petals to those that are deeply
ruffled and cut. The colors cover the spectrum and there are solid as well as bicolor types. Florets range in size
from 2.5 cm in diameter up to giants 19.00 cm in diameter (Grieving ,1987; Mishra et al. 2014).Its magnificent
inflorescence in a variety of colors coupled with its long lasting vase life has made it excellent for vase decoration,
preparation of bouquets and other pots and also in garden display (Singh, 2006). Gladiolus is very rich in its
varietal wealth and every year there is an addition of new varieties; hence varietals evaluation becomes necessary to
find out suitable variety for a particular region. The performance of any crop or cultivar largely depends on a
genotype and environmental interaction. Improvement of any crop is a continuous process and in gladiolus also
there is scope to improve existing cultivars or genotypes. In gladiolus, the most common method of improvement
is through hybridization due to its highly heterozygous nature (Cantor and Pop, 2011). At present, large numbers
of exotic as well as Indian cultivars are under cultivation, transformation of gladiolus cultivation from the hobbyist
activity into a commercial enterprise started only from the past decades ago in Nepal. The information available on
performances of important vegetative and floral characters of commercially cultivated genotypes of gladiolus is not
adequately available for further utilization in varietal development work in Nepal. The availability of well-
documented vegetative and floral characters will definitely provide additional opportunity of developing preferable
EVALUATION OF PROMISING GENOTYPES OF GLADIOLUS FOR IMPORTANT VEGETATIVE AND FLORAL CHARACTERS UNDER MID-HILL ENVIRONMENT
OF DAILEKH
T. B. Poon , B. Chalise and OB. OLI
Senior Scientist, National Citrus Research Program , Dhankuta Senior Scientist, Horticulture Research Station, Jumla
3 Technical Officer, Horticulture Research Station, Dailekh
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new gladiolus variety exploiting desirable traits by discovering variations found in commercially cultivated varieties.
Hence, investigation was set up so as to discover suitable genotypes with important vegetative and floral characters
among seven promising gladiolus genotypes in the mid –hill environment of Dailekh district.
METHODOLOGY
Seven promising genotypes of gladiolus that were selected on the score of important vegetative and floral
characters from the previous experiment: they were evaluated under further experiment in RCBD design with
three replications. Genotypes viz.,’ Check/HRSDG-01’, ‘HRSDG-02’, ‘HRSDG-03’, ‘HRSDG-04’, ‘HRSDG-05’,
‘HRSDG-06’ and ‘HRSDG-07’ were evaluated during early spring-late summer season in the field of Horticulture
Research Station (HRS), Dailekh during two consecutive years (2013 and 2014). In each replication, thirty five
corms of each genotype were planted in the spacing of 47 cm between the rows and 30 cm within the row. In the
second fortnight of February, thirty five corms were planted in each plot size of 7.852 m as per experimental
design. The recommended FYM 20 t/ha and fertilizer 60kg N, 80 kg P2O5 and 60 kg K2O were incorporated into
soil during the operation of land preparatory tillage. Remaining 60 kg Nitrogen was applied into two split doses:
30 kg Nitrogen/ha at 3-5 leaf stage and 30 kg Nitrogen/ha at 7-9 leaf stage. Uniform cultural operations like
intercultural weeding, plant protection measures, and remaining all practices were adopted to grow successful crop.
Ten plants/genotype/replication were labeled and used for recording various parameters of vegetative and floral
characters. The performances of six vegetative characters (days to 50% sprouting, per cent of corm sprouting, days
to the first emergence of spike, days to full spike emergence, number of marketable spikes/ mother corm and
plant height) and six floral characters (days to the first floret unfurling, number of florets opening at a time, floret
diameter, number of florets /spike, spike length and rachis length) that keep significant values from the view point
of crop improvement were recorded in both years (2013 and 2014), and values were exposed to statistical analysis
of variance.
Photos of evaluated Genotypes of Gladiolus for Vegetative and Floral Traits
ARSDG-01 (American Beauty) ARSDG-02 (Interpid)
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ARSDG-03 (Ginger Red) ARSDG-04 (Unidentified genotype)
ARSDG-05 (Summer Sun Shine) ARSDG-06 (White Prosperity) ARSDG-07 (Pscittacinus Hybrid)
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The performances of six vegetative and six floral characters of evaluated gladiolus genotypes are projected in
Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The pooled results of five vegetative characters(days to 50% sprouting, per cent of corm
sprouting, days to the first emergence of spike, days to full spike emergence and plant height) were noted to be
highly significant but only one character (number of marketable spikes /mother corm) was significant. Almost
analogously, the pooled results of six floral characters (days to the first floret unfurling, number of florets opening
at a time, floret diameter, number of florets/spike, spike length and rachis length) were noted to be highly
significant. The pooled results of six vegetative characters have been highlighted in Table1, 2 and 3.
The pooled values for days taken to 50% sprouting were variable between 21.15 and 41.34 with the mean value of
28.90 days. Genotype ‘HRSDG-04’ revealed the earliest for days taken to 50% sprouting in both the years (19.30
days and 23.00 days respectively).The pooled values of days to 50% sprouting were inconsequentially early in three
genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-04’ with 21.15 days , ‘HRSDG-03’with 23.48 days and ‘HRSDG-02’ with 24.00 days.
‘HRSDG-07’ recorded contrastingly and consequentially the greatest number of days for pooled value of days to
50% sprouting (41.34 days). Check genotype ‘HRSDG-01’ recorded the pooled value of days to 50% sprouting
(29.17 days) which was statistically insignificant from ‘HRSDG-05’ with 30.14 days and ‘HRSDG-06’ with 32.84
days but different from early group (‘HRSDG-04’ with 21.15 days, ‘HRSDG-03’ with 23.48 days and ‘HRSDG-
02’with 24.00 days) as well as late genotype (‘HRSDG-07’ with 41.34 days) for days to 50% sprouting. Of the
evaluated genotypes in this experiment, only four genotype such as ‘Check/HRSDG-01’ (29.17 days), HRSDG-
02’(24.00 days), ‘HRSDG-03’(23.48 days) and ‘HRSDG-04’(21.15 days) reflected more or less the similar results in
those genotypes viz., ‘City Light’ (27.40 days), ’Praha’(24.60 days)’, Red Beauty’(23.40 days), and ‘Oscar’ (21.00
days) as evaluated by Ahmed et al.( 2002) under Jammu and Kashmir condition of India.
The pooled values of per cent of corm sprouting were highly variable from 56.17 to 88.62 with the mean value of
72.54. The genotype ‘HRSDG-04’ showed the highest per cent of sprouting (88.62) but inconsequentially followed
by ‘HRSDG-03’ with 83.90 and ‘HRSDG-05’ with 82.18. In contrast, three genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-06’, ‘HRSDG
-02 and ‘HRSDG-07’ showed considerably the lowest per cent of sprouting (56.17, 61.69 and 64.78 respectively).
Three genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-04’, ‘HRSDG-03’ and ‘HRSDG-05’ were superior to check/‘HRSDG-01’ whereas
three genotypes viz., ‘check/HRSDG-01’, ‘HRSDG-07’ and , ‘HRSDG-02’ were statistically at par. On the
contrary, ‘HRSDG-06’ was inferior to check/‘HRSDG-01’ in respect of per cent of corm sprouting (Table 1).The
per cent of corm sprouting in three genotypes such as ’HRSDG-4’ (88.62), ‘HRSDG-3’ (83.90) and ‘HRSDG-
5’ (82.18) were in consonance with the results of two cultivars viz., ’Red Majesty’(86.23) and ’Early Yellow’ (82.14)
cited by Kareem et al. (2013).
The pooled value for the days taken to the first spike emergence was significantly variable from 76.42 to 90.99 with
the mean value of 83.34.Two genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-02’ and ‘HRSDG-04’ reflected considerably early for the
days taken to the pooled value of the first spike emergence of spike (76.42 and 77.34 respectively). On the
contrary, two genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-07’ and ‘HRSDG-06’ showed remarkably the greatest number of days
taken for the first spike emergence (90.99 and 87.50 respectively). As for the pooled value of days taken to the first
spike emergence, only two genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-02’ and ‘HRSDG-04’ were found superior to check/‘HRSDG
-01’ but ‘HRSDG-07’ was found remarkably late as comparing to that of check/ ‘HRSDG-01’ in this regard (Table
2). Days taken to the first spike emergence of seven genotypes recorded in the study were relatively late in
comparison to those in five genotypes viz., ‘Priscilla’ (80.87 days)’ ,‘Amsterdam’(74.00 days),’Fidelio’(72.22 days),
‘Peter Pears’ (63.77 days) and Applause’(62.89 days) cited by by Shaukat et al.(2013).
The pooled value for the days taken to full spike emergence considerably varied from 80.00 to 93.49 with the mean
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
value of 86.62. Two genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-02’ and, ‘HRSDG-04’ reflected considerably early for the days taken
to the pooled value of the full spike emergence (80.00 and 81.34 respectively). On the contrary, two genotypes viz.,
‘HRSDG-07’ and ‘HRSDG-06’ showed remarkably the greatest number of days taken for the full spike
emergence (93.49 and 92.17 days respectively). As for the pooled value of days taken to the full spike emergence,
only two genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-02’ and ‘HRSDG-04’ were found superior to ‘check/HRSDG-01’ but ‘HRSDG
-07’ and‘HRSDG-06’ were found remarkably late as comparing to that of check/ ‘HRSDG-01’(Table 2).
The pooled value for the number of marketable spikes/mother corm was recorded to be variable from 1.18 to
2.28 with the mean value of 1.69.The pooled number of marketable spikes /mother corm was significantly high in
two genotypes viz., ‘Check/HRSDG-01’ (2.28) and ‘HRSDG-04’ (2.12).Genotype viz., ‘HRSDG-07’ produced
remarkably the low pooled number of marketable spikes (1.18/mother corm). The pooled number of marketable
spike/mother corm was statistically higher in ‘check/HRSDG-01’ than five genotypes: ‘HRSDG-03’ (1.70),
‘HRSDG-06’ (1.58), ‘HRSDG-05’ (1.56), ‘HRSDG-02’ (1.42), and ‘HRSDG-07’ (1.18) in (Table 3). The number of
marketable spikes/ mother corm of seven genotypes in the study were comparably similar to those of six
genotypes such as ‘ Subnam’ (2.23), ‘GS-10’ and ‘Urmil’(2.00), ‘Sancerre’ (1.60), ‘Dhanvantri’(1.47/spike) and
‘Peter Pears’ (1.40) as reported by Choudhary et al. (2011).The number of marketable spike /mother corm is very
much important as it decides the spike yield per unit area. In Gladiolus, the number of spikes /mother corm
depends on the number of shoots/mother corm, which also decides the number of corms/mother corm
(Shiramagondi and Hanamashetti, 1999).
The pooled value of plant height varied significantly from 100.05 cm to 147.50 cm with the mean value of 115.36
cm. Genotype ‘HRSDG-01’ had the shortest plant with 100.05 cm but its pooled plant height was at par with
Genotypes Days to 50% sprouting Per cent of Corm sprouting
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
Check/ HRSDG-01
24.00 34.33 29.17 64.33 76.54 70.44
HRSDG-02 22.00 26.00 24.00 74.00 49.38 61.69
HRSDG-03 22.30 24.67 23.48 82.67 85.13 83.90
HRSDG-04 19.30 23.00 21.15 93.30 83.95 88.62
HRSDG-05 23.30 37.33 30.14 69.30 95.05 82.18
HRSDG-06 26.00 39.67 32.84 59.30 53.03 56.17
HRSDG-07 38.00 44.67 41.34 74.00 55.55 64.78
GM 24.98 32.81 28.90 73.84 71.23 72.54
F-test ** ** |** ** ** **
LSD (0.01) 2.047 7.39 4.718 11.18 11.83 11.505
CV% 2.72 12.67 7.695 27.78 9.35 12.565
Table 1: Performance of seven promising genotypes of gladiolus on vegetative traits viz., days to 50%
sprouting and per cent of corm sprouting during two consecutive years 2012/013 and 2013/014 at HRS,
Dailekh.
** Highly significant
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those of other four genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-04’(101.42 cm), ‘HRSDG-07’(108.45 cm), ‘HRSDG-05’(112.63 cm)
and ‘HRSDG-01’(113.85 cm). ‘HRSDG-03’ recorded remarkably the tallest plant (147.50 cm). The pooled value
of plant height of check/‘HRSDG-01’ (113.85 cm) was inconsequential with those of other four genotypes viz.,
‘HRSDG-05’with 112.63 cm, ‘HRSDG-07’ with 108.45 cm, ‘HRSDG-04’ with 101.42 cm and ‘HRSDG-02’ with
101.05 cm (Table 3). Plant height(cm) in all evaluated genotypes were noted to be nearly in agreement with the
results of plant height in six genotypes viz., ‘Applause (146 cm),’Amsterdam’(136.70 cm),’Fidelio’ (129.70
cm),’Peter Pears’ (124.40 cm), ‘Nova Lux’(117.70 cm) and ‘Priscilla’(99.00 cm) as evaluated by Shaukat et al. (2015)
under the Rawalakot condition of Pakistan.
The pooled results of six floral characters have been projected in table 4, 5 and 6. As for days taken to the first
floret unfurling was considerably early in two genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-04’ (86.17 days) and ‘HRSDG-02’ (86.67
days) but two genotypes such as ‘HRSDG-07’ and ‘HRSDG-06’ recorded considerably late for the days taken to
the first floret unfurling (99.65 days and 96.67 days respectively). In respect of this floral character, the differences
In ‘Check/HRSDG-01’ (93.84 days) were noted to be consequentially similar to those of ‘HRSDG-03’ (93.82 days)
and ‘HRSDG-05’ (91.67 days).On the other hand, ‘HRSDG-07’ (99.65 days) was significantly late as comparing
against the ‘check/HRSDG-01’ (93.84 days). All seven genotypes evaluated in the experiment proved almost same
results as those three genotypes such as ’Hb-15-A’ (84.67 days), ‘Hb-15-4’ (86.67 days) and ‘Hb-2-22’ (99.00 days)
as assessed under low hills of Himanchal Pradesh, India by Nagi et al.( 2014).
The pooled values of number of florets opening at a time was maximally the highest in ‘HRSDG-06’ (7.85) and
minimally the lowest in ‘HRSDG-07’ (3.40 days) revealing the mean value of 6.29. Although ‘HRSDG-06’
reflected the highest pooled number of floret opening at a time (7.85) rest of genotypes such as ‘HRSDG-
03’ (7.00) and ‘HRSDG-05’ (6.95) were at par with that of ‘HRSDG-06’. ‘HRSDG-07’ recorded remarkably the
lowest pooled number of floret opening at a time (3.40).Check/‘HRSDG-01’ (6.85) did not differ significantly
Genotypes Days to the first emergence of spike Days to full spike emergence
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
Check/ HRSDG-01
84.67 85.00 84.84 88.00 88.00 88.00
HRSDG-02 75.00 77.83 76.42 79.33 80.67 80.00
HRSDG-03 85.00 84.67 84.84 87.00 87.67 87.34
HRSDG-04 76.00 78.67 77.34 81.00 81.67 81.34
HRSDG-05 79.30 83.67 81.49 81.00 87.00 84.00
HRSDG-06 85.00 90.00 87.50 91.67 92.67 92.17
HRSDG-07 91.30 90.67 90.99 93.30 93.67 93.49
GM 81.89 84.36 83.34 85.90 87.33 86.62
F-test ** ** ** ** ** **
LSD (0.01) 3.93 3.05 3.490 3.325 3.39 3.357
CV% 6.67 2.03 4.320 6.35 2.19 4.870
Table 2: Performance of seven promising genotypes of gladiolus on vegetative traits viz., days to the first
emergence of spike and days to full spike emergence during two consecutive years 2012/013 and 2013/014
at HRS, Dailekh.
** Highly significant
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
from ‘HRSDG-02’ (6.75) in this regard (Table 4). The pooled number of floret opening at a time recorded in the
present study was comparatively high In comparison to the findings registered by Choudhary et al. (2011) under
the condition of Rajasthan, India as the values of number of floret opening at a time were found varying from 3.33
(‘Chandani’ and ‘GS-2’) to 5.33 (‘Priscilla’) with the mean value of 4.30.
Genotypes Number of marketable spikes / mother corm Plant height (cm)
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
Check/ HRSDG-01
3.00 1.56 2.28 112.30 115.40 113.85
HRSDG-02 1.67 1.17 1.42 99.00 101.10 100.05
HRSDG-03 1.67 1.72 1.70 152.30 142.70 147.50
HRSDG-04 2.30 1.94 2.12 103.67 99.17 101.42
HRSDG-05 1.67 1.45 1.56 112.67 112.60 112.63
HRSDG-06 1.67 1.49 1.58 121.30 125.80 123.55
HRSDG-07 1.30 1.06 1.18 104.30 112.60 108.45
GM 1.91 1.48 1.69 115.09 115.63 115.36
F-test NS ** * ** ** **
LSD (0.01) - 0.35 0.19 25.405 10.56 17.98
CV% 40.34 13.21 26.77 16.45 5.13 10.79
Table 3: Performance of seven promising genotypes of gladiolus on vegetative traits viz., number of
marketable spikes /corm and plant height during two consecutive years 2012/013 and 2013/014 at HRS,
Dailekh.
NS Non-significant * Significant **highly significant
Genotypes Days to the first floret unfurling Number of florets opening at a time
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
Check/ HRSDG-01
94.00 93.67 93.84 6.80 6.90 6.85
HRSDG-02 85.00 88.33 86.67 6.80 6.70 6.75
HRSDG-03 94.30 93.33 93.82 7.00 7.00 7.00
HRSDG-04 85.00 87.33 86.17 5.20 5.00 5.10
HRSDG-05 89.00 94.33 91.67 7.00 6.90 6.95
HRSDG-06 94.00 99.33 96.67 7.80 7.90 7.85
HRSDG-07 100.30 99.00 99.65 3.30 3.50 3.40
GM 91.61 93.62 92.62 6.30 6.27 6.29
F-test ** ** ** ** ** **
LSD (0.01) 3.013 3.16 3.086 0.975 0.970 0.973
CV% 6.03 1.90 3.965 23.54 21.42 22.480
Table 4: Performance of seven promising genotypes of gladiolus on vegetative traits viz., days to the first
floret unfurling and number of florets opening at a time during two consecutive years 2012/013 and
2013/014 at HRS, Dailekh.
** Highly significant
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The pooled value of floret diameter (cm) significantly varied from 5.53 to 9.92 with the mean value of 8.04 cm.
Despite the widest floret diameter in ‘HRSDG-03’ (9.92 cm), it was at par with two genotypes such as ‘HRSDG-
06’ (9.36 cm) and ‘HRSDG-01’ (9.17 cm). In contrast, ‘HRSDG-07’ recorded remarkably the narrowest pooled
diameter (5.53 cm) which was consequentially different from those of other five genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-02’ (7.15
cm), ‘HRSDG-05’ (7.52 cm). ‘HRSDG-04’ (7.66 cm), ‘HRSDG-01’ (9.165 cm) and ‘HRSDG-03’ (9.92 cm).
‘Check/HRSDG-01’ with 9.17 cm reflected inconsequentially similar to those of two genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-
03’ (9.92 cm) and ‘HRSDG-06’ (9.36 cm) but ‘check/HRSDG-01’ was consequentially different from those of
‘HRSDG-04’(7.66 cm), ‘HRSDG-05’(7.52 cm), ‘HRSDG-02’(7.15 cm) and ‘HRSDG-07 ’ (5.53 cm) in this regard
(Table 5).The pooled floret diameter of all seven genotypes varying from 5.53 cm to 9.92 cm in the recent study
showed more or less analogous findings of eleven different genotypes by Negi et al. (2014) as they recorded the
floret size varying from 4.83 cm (‘Hb-6-31’) to 9.00 cm (‘Hb-2-52’) in their study under low hill of Himanchal
Pradesh, India.
The pooled values of number of floret/spike were noted to be consequentially variable between 11.95 and 19.54
with mean value of 15.70. The genotype ‘HRSDG-03’ recorded the greatest number of florets (19.54/spike)
inconsequentially followed by HRSDG-06’ (17.67/spike).In contrast, HRSDG-07’ produced the lowest number of
florets (11.95/spike) inconsequentially followed by ‘HRSDG-04’ (13.47/spike). The number of florets of check/
HRSDG-01’ (15.14) was at par with those of two genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-02’ (15.44/spike) and ‘HRSDG-
05’ (16.67/spike). Since any genotype having more than 12 florets /spike is contemplated as suitable one for
marketing purpose, leaving out ‘HRSDG-07’ (11.95 florets/spike), remaining six genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-
01’ (15.14 spike), ‘HRSDG-02’ (15.44 /spike), ‘HRSDG-03’(19.54/spike), HRSDG-04’(13.47/spike), HRSDG-
05’(16.67/spike) and ‘HRSDG-06’(17.67/spike) were more or less suitable for marketing as cut flower (Table 5).
Of evaluated seven genotypes, five genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-03’(19.54/spike), ‘HRSDG-06’(17.67/spike),
‘HRSDG-02’(15.44/spike), ‘Check/HRSDG-01’ (15.14/spike) and ‘HRSDG-04’(13.47/spike) noted in the study
reflected nearly analogous results to those of six genotypes viz.,’Peter Pears’(19.00/spike), ’Applause’(18.66/
spike),’Amsterdam’(16.89/spike),’Nova Lux’(16.00/spike), ,Fidelio, (15.66/spike) and ‘Priscilla’(13.55/spike) which
Genotypes Floret diameter (cm) Number of florets/ spike
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
Check/ HRSDG-01
9.70 8.63 9.17 15.00 15.27 15.14
HRSDG-02 7.60 6.69 7.15 15.67 15.20 15.44
HRSDG-03 10.30 9.54 9.92 21.00 18.07 19.54
HRSDG-04 8.20 7.12 7.66 13.67 13.27 13.47
HRSDG-05 7.96 7.08 7.52 16.30 17.03 16.67
HRSDG-06 9.50 9.22 9.36 17.67 17.67 17.67
HRSDG-07 3.67 7.38 5.53 12.30 11.60 11.95
GM 8.13 7.95 8.04 15.95 15.44 15.70
F-test ** ** ** ** ** **
LSD (0.01) 0.89 0.75 0.82 2.352 1.48 1.916
CV% 25.21 5.31 15.26 17.67 5.39 11.53
Table 5: Performance of seven promising genotypes of gladiolus on vegetative traits viz., floret diameter
and number of florets/ spike during two consecutive years 2012/013 and 2013/014 at HRS, Dailekh.
** Highly significant
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
were assessed by Shaukat et al.(2015) under the Rawalakot condition of Pakistan.
The pooled values of spike length (cm) were remarkably variable between 87.57 and 132.94 with mean value of
102.90 cm. The genotype ‘HRSDG-03’ possessed the longest spike (132.94 cm) consequentially followed by
‘HRSDG-06’ (109.70 cm) and ‘HRSDG-01’ (101.15 cm). On the contrary,’ HRSDG-02’ possessed the shortest
spike (87.57 cm) in spite of being at par with other five genotypes: ‘HRSDG-04’(90.75 cm), ‘HRSDG-07’(98.33
cm), ‘HRSDG-05’(99.42 cm), cm), ‘HRSDG-06’(109.70 cm) and ‘HRSDG-01’(101.15 cm).The spike length of
check/‘HRSDG-01’ (101.15 cm ) was considerably shorter than that of‘HRSDG-03’ (132.94 cm) but
inconsequentially similar to those of other four genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-05’ with 99.42 cm, ‘HRSDG-07’ with
98.33 cm, ‘HRSDG-04’ with 90.75 cm and ‘HRSDG-02’ with 87.57 cm (Table 6).
The pooled values of rachis length (cm) were noted to be consequentially different from 48.95 cm to 71.81 cm
with the mean value of 58.29 cm. The genotype ‘HRSDG-03’ possessed the longest rachis (71.81 cm)
inconsequentially followed by ‘HRSDG-05’ (66.61 cm) and ‘HRSDG-06’ (61.95 cm). On the contrary,’ HRSDG-
07’ possessed the shortest rachis (48.95 cm) in spite of being at par with other three genotypes: ‘HRSDG-02’(49.54
cm), ‘HRSDG-04’(50.95 cm), and ‘Check/HRSDG-01’(58.25 cm).The rachis length of ‘check/HRSDG-
01’ (58.25 cm ) was considerably shorter than that of ‘HRSDG-03’ (71.81 cm), but inconsequentially similar to
those of other two genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-06’ with 61.95 cm, and ‘HRSDG-05’ with 66.61 cm (Table 6 ). The
rachis length of seven genotypes in the recent study imparted almost similar results to those of seven cultivars viz.,
‘White Prosperity’ (67.80 cm), ‘Popy Tear’ (61.73cm),’Candyman’ as well as ‘Red Majesty’ (61.33cm), ‘Jester’(59.47
cm),’Red Beauty’ (56.33 cm) and ‘Charm Flow’ (57.47 cm) accordingly as noted under Gujarat condition of India
by Chourasia et al.(2015).
Genotypes Spike length (cm) Rachis length (cm)
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
Check/ HRSDG-01
102.30 100.90 101.15 59.00 57.50 58.25
HRSDG-02 89.30 85.83 87.57 51.30 47.77 49.54
HRSDG-03 142.67 123.20 132.94 76.67 66.95 71.81
HRSDG-04 95.00 86.49 90.75 52.67 49.23 50.95
HRSDG-05 102.67 96.17 99.42 65.00 68.21 66.61
HRSDG-06 111.00 108.40 109.70 62.20 61.70 61.95
HRSDG-07 96.67 99.98 98.33 48.30 49.60 48.95
GM 105.66 100.14 102.90 59.30 57.28 58.29
F-test ** ** ** ** ** **
LSD (0.01) 27.170 10.76 18.695 11.03 11.08 11.055
CV% 17.84 6.04 11.940 16.64 10.87 13.755
Table 6: Performance of seven promising genotypes of gladiolus on vegetative traits viz., Spike length
and rachis length during two consecutive years 2012/013 and 2013/014 at HRS, Dailekh.
** Highly significant
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CONCLUSION
The present study anticipated that genotype ‘HRSDG-04’ proved to be the most suitable Gladiolus varieties for
cultivation under the agro-climatic conditions of mid-hills of Dailekh and similar agro-climatic condition of mid-
hills across the country. As this genotype revealed most of the characters viz., days taken to 50% sprouting, per
cent of sprouting, days taken to the first spike emergence and full spike emergence, number of marketable spikes
per corm, days taken to the first floret unfurling and plant height in the best ways in for suitable garden display
and cut flower. Secondly, ‘HRSDG-03’ was proven to be having maximally high number of floret opening at a
time, floret diameter, number of florets per spike, plant height coupled with rachis length and spike length as being
the best for giant flower purpose.
REFERENCES
Ahmed, M.J., J.Akbar, N.Kosar and Z.A. Khan.2002.Introduction and Evaluation of Exotic Gladiolus (Gladiolus
grandiflorus) Cultivars. Asian Journal of Plant Science 1(5):560-562).
Cantor, M. D. and R. Pop.2011.Evaluation of Promising Hybrids of Gladiolus hybridus L. Journal of Ornamental
Horticulture 7 (3-4):71-74.
Choudhary, M., S.K. Mood, A.Kumari and B.S, Beniwal. 2011. Evaluluation of Gladiolus (Gladiolus hybridus
Hort) Varieties for Cut Flower Production under Sub-tropical Condition of Rajasthan. Crop Research 41
(1, 2 and 3):123-126.
Chourasia, A., R.R.Viadia, H. Ansar and S. Madle.2015. Evaluation of Different Gladiolus Cultivars for Growth,
Flowering, Spike Yield and Corm Yield under Saurastra Region of Gujarat. An International Quarterly
Journal of Life Sciences 1(1):131-134.
Grieving, A.J.1987.G87-852 Growing Gladiolus. Historical Material from University of Nebraska –Lincoln
Extension Paper 978.http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extdharZensionhist/978.
Kareem, A., M.A. Khan, S.U.Rehman and I.Afzal.2013. Different Corm Sizes Affect Performances of Gladiolus
cvs.Red Majesty and Early Yellow. Advances in Zoology and Botany 1 (4):86-91.
Mishra, P. S., A.K. Singh and O.P. Singh.2014. Genetic Variability, heritability, Genetic advance, correlation
coefficient and path analysis in gladiolus. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science 7: 23-26
www.iosrjournals.org
Negi, R., S. Kumar and S.R. Dhiman.2014.Evaluation of Different Cultivars of Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) Suitable
for Low Hills of Himanchal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Science Research and Technology 2 (6):6-11.
Shaukat, S.K., S.Z.A. Shah and S. W. Shaukat. 2013. Performance of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflora L.) Cultivars
under the Climatic Conditions of Bagh Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Journal of Central European
Agriculture 14(2):636-645.
Shaukat, S.A., Shah, S.Z.A., Aslam, M. Shaukat, S.K. and S.W. Shaukst.2015.Performance of Gladiolus Cultivars
under Rawalakot AJ and K conditions. Pakistan. Journal of Recent Advances in Agriculture 3 (2):351-355.
Shiramagond, M.S. and S.I.Hanamashetti.1999.Evaluation of Varieties in Gladiolus under Ghataprapha Command
Areas. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Science 12(1-4):159-163.
Singh, A.K.2006. Cultivation and Management of Gladiolus Flower Crops. Publishing Agency Pitampura, New
Delhi-110086, Pp.147-166.
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ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of plant growth regulators on corm characteristics and post harvest performance of
gladiolus cv. American Beauty at the Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan during September, 2013 to March,
2014. The study consisted of 10 treatments laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Three
levels of NAA (50 ppm, 100 ppm and 150 ppm), three levels of GA3 (50 ppm, 100 ppm and 150 ppm), three levels of Kinetin (50
ppm, 100 ppm and 150 ppm) and control (no PGR application) were applied as foliar sprays at 30 and 45 Days after planting.
GA3 shows significantly promising results on corm, cormels characteristics, vase life and post harvest behavior of gladiolus spike. GA3
@ 150 ppm resulted maximum corm weight and corm diameter whereas both GA3 @ 100 ppm and NAA @ 150 ppm recorded
significantly high number of cormels/plants. GA3 @150 ppm and NAA @ 150 ppm showed significantly maximum corm weight
and days to the fist basal floret withering. However, the vase life of gladiolus spike was superior with GA3 @ 150 ppm.
Key words: gladiolus, NAA, GA3 and kinetin
INTRODUCTION
The name Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorusL.) was derived from the Latin word Gladius meaning a sword due to
its sword shaped foliage. Gladiolus is perennial bulbous flowering plant and belongs to the family Iridaceae.
Gladiolus is also called as sword-lily and corn flag (Negi & Raghava 1997). There are more than 30,000 varieties
and 240-300 species of gladiolus while about 200 varieties are added, and the same number is dropped every year
because of degeneration due to fungi like Fusarium, Botrytis and viral diseases. Gladiolus is the first commercially
grown cut flower crop in Nepal and the most dominating cut flowers in Nepalese cut flower market (Malla 1988 &
Subedi 2004). It occupied first position in terms of cut flower production and consumption in Nepal for several
years (Pun 2004) but lately it has been relegated to third position by carnation and gerbera and the demand of
gladiolus spikes is 8000-10000 sticks per day in Kathmandu.
Plant growth and flowering along with senescence, are controlled through a balance between plant hormones
interacting with each other and with other factors (Mayak & Halevy 1980). Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) are
being used extensively in commercial flower production throughout the world. The growth parameters of gladiolus
plants were significantly altered due to the application of plant growth regulators (Bhalla & Kumar 2008). Foliar
applications of these regulators are becoming extremely important and valuable in the commercial floriculture for
manipulating the growth and flowering of plants and also for improving the quality parameters of fruits and cut
flowers (Sajid et al. 2009, Khalid et al. 2012). Plant growth regulators are the important compounds for the cut
flower production as it results in effective plant growth and development and produce high quality flowers with
long postharvest life.
In Nepal, American Beauty, Interpret, White Prosperity and Candymen are mostly grown varieties of gladiolus.
Among them American Beauty is most demanding variety having good export quality. The varied temperature
EFFECTS OF PRE-HARVEST SPRAY OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON CORM AND CORMELS CHARACTERISTICS AND POST-HARVEST
PERFORMANCE OF GLADIOLUS CUT FLOWERS CV. AMERICAN BEAUTY
A. Khanal1 , K. Mishra 2, U. K. Pun 3 and M. Dhital.2 1 Nepal Agricultural Research Council
2 Faculty of Agriculture, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur 3 Himalayan Flora Enterprises (P) Limited, Lalitpur
Email: [email protected]
Nepalese Horticulture
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range in different season creates potentiality for year round production of gladiolus in our context. Gladiolus
prefer temperature regime between 10° and 25°C. It can, however, temporarily tolerate very high temperatures
when the relative humidity is high and the soil is moist. It can be grown both in terai and mid hills of Nepal.
Various research workers have reported that the foliar sprays of growth regulators like GA3 and NAA help to
produce good quality cut flowers as well as yield of gladiolus corms. Good quality planting material is crucial for
the successful plant growth and production. Huge amount of gladiolus corm is required for massive production.
Not only the production of spike but also the production of gladiolus corm is the big challenge to gladiolus
grower. Production of planting material is one of the important economic characters in gladiolus cultivation, which
has been reported to be influenced by the different PGRs and its concentrations. Treating the gladiolus cormels
and foliar spray at 4 leaf stage with the GA3 helps to produce corm earlier with the highest values for percentage
of cormels sprouted (Singh et al. 2002).
Plant physiologist defined auxin (NAA) as an organic compound characterized by their capacity to induce cell
enlargement even at low concentration along the longitudinal axis (Moore 1989). Gibberellins are the strong
growth promoters as they can increase internodal distance, induce flowering and can also modify sex expression in
some plant species (Davies 1995). Gibberellins are the plant growth regulators that constitute a group of tetracyclic
diterpenes and are known to stimulate physiological responses in plant which alter the source - sink metabolism
through their effect on photosynthesis and sink formation (Iqbal et al. 2011). Cytokinin plays an important role in
metabolic processes i.e. nucleic acid metabolism or protein metabolism. The cytokinins have influence on process
of cell division (Francis & Sorrel, 2001), biosynthesis of chloroplast pigments (Bondok et al. 1995), nutrient uptake
especially potassium (Guo et al. 1994) and increasing photosynthetic efficiency (Oosterhuis & Zhao, 1998).
METHODOLOGY
The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with ten treatments which were
replicated three times. The corms of cv. American Beauty were planted in the research field of Department of
Horticulture, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan at 25 cm plant to plant and 25 cm row to row
distance in September 2013. All the cultural practices including fertilization, irrigation, weeding and earthing up
were done according to recommendations. The gladiolus plants were sprayed thoroughly with different
concentrations (50, 100 and 150 ppm) of freshly prepared solution of nephthaleic acetic acid, gibberellic acid and
kinetin in distilled water separately. Each treatment contained about 0.83 liter of solution. The sprays were applied
at 30 days and 45 days after planting. Only distilled water was sprayed on control plots.
The parameters including corm weight (gm), corm diameter(cm), no. of cormels/plant, first basal floret withering
(days), 50% withering of florets(days) and vase life(days) were recorded accordingly. The collected data were
entered on MS- Excel sheet and analyzed for analysis of variance by using MSTATC software and treatment
means were compared by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of significance.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Effect of plant growth regulators on corms and cormels characters of Cv. American Beauty
Corm weight
Weight of daughter corm was significantly maximum in GA3@150 ppm (38.61g) and NAA 150 ppm (36.50g)
whereas it was the lowest in control (17.22g) (Table 1).Gibberellic acid is known to increase the plant height and
number of leaves that might have led to increased rate of photosynthesis. As a result of this, availability of
metabolites to the developing corm and cormels might have increased, thereby leading to increase in the weight of
corm. (Sarkar et al. 2014) conducted a research at Horticulture farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka,
41
Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
Bangladesh during the period from May 2011 to August 2011, who revealed that GA3 @ 150 ppm was most
effective and produced highest weight of single corm.
GA3 when used as foliar application has increasing effects on corm yield and corm weight of gladiolus (Ved et al.,
1998). Singh et al. (2002) and Naveen and Chandrashekar (2008) also observed that foliar application of gibberellic
acid on gladiolus plant increased the corm weight.
Means within the column with the same letter for corm and cormel characters are not significantly different at 5%
level of significance by DMRT. SEM = Standard Error of Mean, LSD = Least Significant Difference and CV =
Coefficient of Variation. * Significant at 5% level and ** Significant at 1%level and NS = non significant
Corm diameter
The maximum corm diameter (5.917 cm) was recorded in GA3 @ 150 ppm followed by NAA @150 ppm (5.11
cm) but the lowest diameter was in control (3.86 cm) (Table 1). The result showed that the corm having maximum
diameter had highest weight and corm having minimum diameter had lowest weight. Increased rate of
photosynthesis due to maximum vegetative growth increased the metabolites to the developing corms and cormels
which led to production of large size corm. Sarkar, et al. (2014), in gladiolus reported that GA3 @ 150 ppm was
more effective to enhance diameter of corm. (Sajjad et al., 2014) conducted an experiment on White Prosperity in
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, in October, 2011 and reported that foliar application
of gibberellic acid at 1mM concentration increased the corm diameter. Yousif and Al-Safar (2006) also observed
bigger corm diameter from the GA3 treated corms.
Number of cormels per plant
GA3 @ 100 ppm and NAA @ 150 ppm gave relatively high number of cormels (30.91 and 29.66/plant
Treatment Corm weight (gm) Corm diameter (cm) Number of Cormels/
plant
NAA @ 50 ppm 26.65c 4.473bcd
25.46bc
NAA @ 100 ppm 33.26b 4.720bc
27.90ab
NAA @ 150 ppm 36.50ab 5.113b
29.66a
GA3 @ 50 ppm 27.55c 4.457bcd
27.61ab
GA3 @ 100 ppm 27.98c 4.507bcd
30.91a
GA3 @ 150 ppm 38.61a 5.917a
29.22ab
Kinetin @ 50 ppm 28.12c 4.567bc
23.08cd
Kinetin @ 100 ppm 23.36cd 4.303cd
22.47cd
Kinetin @ 150 ppm 20.39de 4.270cd
22.23cd
Control 17.22e 3.860d
20.74d
Grand mean 27.964 4.619 25.927
SEM ± 1.4727 0.2013 1.2067
LSD at 5 % 4.375** 0.5992** 3.585**
CV (%) 9.12 7.55 8.06
Table 1.Effect of plant growth regulators on Corm weight, Corm diameter and Number of cormels per
plant in Gladiolus cv. American Beauty grown under Chitwan condition (2013/2014)
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respectively).In contrast, control gave the lowest number of cormels (20.74 per plant). Gibberellic acid is known to
increase the vegetative growth that might have led to increased rate of photosynthesis. As a result of this,
availability of metabolites to the developing bulblets might have increased, thereby leading to increase in the
number of bulb count. Sajjad et al. (2014) revealed that foliar application of gibberellic acid increased the number
of cormels and the total cormels weight. Dograet al. (2012) and Singh et al. (2002) also found that application of
GA3 on gladiolus increased the number of cormels and cormels weight.
Effect of plant growth regulators on post- harvest performance
Days to first basal floret withering
Days to the first basal floret withering was found significantly maximum in GA3 @ 150 ppm (9.73 day)s ,GA3
@100 ppm (9.60 days) and NAA @ 150 ppm (9.50 days). Nevertheless, control took the fewest number of days
(7.67 days) for the first basal floret withering (Table 2). Withering of floret is the most important quality attributes
of cut flowers. Gibberellic acid application resulted in continuous supply of photosynthetic assimilate for longer
duration due to high source strength at higher concentration so that the florets on the gladiolus spike remained for
longer duration. Padmalatha et al. (2013) revealed that application of gibberellic acid increased the number of days
to withering of the basal floret of gladiolus. Singh and Jitendra (2008) revealed that membrane stability of cut spike
of gladiolus have been increased by using gibberellic acid.
Means within the column with the same letter for corm and cormel characters are not significantly different at 5%
level of significance by DMRT. SEM = Standard Error of Mean, LSD = Least Significant Difference and CV =
Coefficient of Variation. * Significant at 5% level and ** Significant at 1%level and NS = non significant and **
Significant at 1%level and NS = non significant.
Treatment First basal floret
withering (days)
50% withering of
floret (Days)
n Vase life (days)
NAA @ 50 ppm 8.967bc 14.28cd
16.34de
NAA @ 100 ppm 8.967bc 15.05bc
17.33bcd
NAA @ 150 ppm 9.500a 15.22bc
17.57bc
GA3 @ 50 ppm 9.233ab 14.36cd
16.56cde
GA3 @ 100 ppm 9.600a 15.72b
17.83b
GA3 @ 150 ppm 9.733a 16.90a
19.07a
Kinetin @ 50 ppm 8.567c 14.54cd
16.66cde
Kinetin @ 100 ppm 8.667c 14.57cd
16.66cde
Kinetin @ 150 ppm 8.633c 14.67cd
16.81bcde
Control 7.667d 13.62d
15.76e
Grand mean 8.953 14.893 17.059
SEM ± 0.1642 0.3258 0.3193
LSD at 5 % 0.4882** 0.9673** 0.9489**
CV (%) 3.18 3.79 3.24
Table 2.Effect of plant growth regulators on First basal floret withering, 50% withering of floret and Vase
life in Gladiolus cv. American Beauty grown under Chitwan condition (2013/2014)
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
Days to 50% florets withering
Spike from the treatment of GA3 @ 150 ppm resulted maximum days (16.90) to 50% florets withering (Table 2).
Application of GA3 resulted in continuous supply of photosynthetic assimilates for longer duration due to high
source strength at higher concentration. Kumar and Gupta (2014) observed the maximum longevity of whole
gladiolus spike with foliar spray of GA3 @ 100 ppm. Rani and Singh (2013) also observed that application of GA3
increased the durability of flowers and maximum durability was observed at the highest concentration of GA3.
Vase life
GA3 @ 150 ppm gave the longest vase life (19.07 days) to the gladiolus spike (Table 2). Gibberellic acid might
have significant response on alpha amylase synthesis so that the total soluble carbohydrate content increased and
this could have contributed to improve the energy pool and increased the osmotic potential of flower thus the vase
life of flower get increased (Sakine et al., 2011). Padmalatha et al. (2013) revealed that application of gibberellic
acid increased the vase life of gladiolus var. Darsan at Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. It was also in accordance with
the findings of Singh and Jitendra (2008) who revealed that vase life and membrane stability of cut spike of
gladiolus have been increased by using gibberellic acid.
CONCLUSION
In context of Nepal, American Beauty is the most demanding variety for the cut flower production which has
good export quality. But there is still lack of planting material (corm) to go on massive production. To meet the
demand huge amount of corm has to be imported. So fulfill the demand, corms and cormels production is
challenging which can be addressed through PGRs application. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded
that, PGRs application at 30 DAP and 45 DAP showed marked influence on the corm and cormels characteristics
and postharvest behavior of gladiolus cut flowers (cv. American Beauty) in Chitwan district. GA3 resulted in the
highest corm weight, maximum corm diameter, maximum no of cormels/plant and superior postharvest behavior
with longer vase lifewhich are the major contributing traits for floriculture industries. Use of plant growth
regulators may be an effective approach to increase corm and cormel production of commercially important
cultivar. This is very important information that has been tested in our conditions and can be useful for rapid
multiplication of our own gladiolus cultivars that are being released by Nepalese research organizations in next few
years.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The first author would like to thank Department of Horticulture, AFU for providing research field and other
logistics for this research.
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ABSTRACT
Seven promising genotypes of gladiolus viz., ‘ HRSDG-01’, ‘ HRSDG-02’, ‘ HRSDG-03’, ‘ HRSDG-04’, ‘ HRSDG-05’, ‘
HRSDG-06’and ‘ HRSDG-07’ were evaluated for their performances of yield contributing characters of corm and cormel. Of these
genotypes, ‘HRSDG-03’ and ‘HRSDG-07’ contributed to maximum pooled diameter of corm. Almost likewise, ‘HRSDG-03’ and
‘HRSDG-04’ were found to be promising ones for maximum pooled weight of individual corm. In respect of total pooled number of
corms and total pooled corm yield/500m2, three genotypes such as ‘HRSDG-04’, ‘HRSDG-05’ and ‘HRSDG-03’ were proven as
superior to the rest of four other genotypes. Three genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-5’, ‘HRSDG-07’ and ‘HRSDG-04’ contributed to
considerably high pooled diameter and weight of individual cormel. Total pooled number and yield of cormels/500m2 were noted to be
remarkably maximum in three genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-3’, ‘HRSDG-05’ and ‘HRSDG-04’. Total pooled number of daughter
corms/ mother corm was consequentially maximum in ‘HRSDG-04’ followed by ‘HRSDG-07’ and ‘HRSDG-02’. The pooled
number of cormels per mother corm was maximally high in ‘HRSDG-02’ followed by ‘HRSDG-03’ and ‘HRSDG-05’. In view of
overall performances, ‘HRSDG-04’ ,‘HRSDG-03’ and ‘HRSDG-5’ proved to be recommended for corm and cormel production
under cultivation of gladiolus.
Key Words: Corm, cormel, genotypes, gladiolus, cultivation.
INTRODUCTION
Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) a member of family iridaceae is one of the most important bulbous ornamental
and the leading cut flowers. It has occupied eighth position in international cut flower trade. It is universally
acclaimed prestigious cut flower (Ram et al. 2005).Gladiolus is very much liked for majestic spike with attractive,
elegant and delicate florets. These florets open in a sequence over long duration and hence can have a good
keeping quality of cut spike (Abdul et al. 2013). Gladiolus bulbs, in botanical terminology, are referred to as corms,
the main propagating material in gladiolus. A corm is a shortened and thickened section of the stem that appears at
the base of the plant. The shortened stem with buds systematically arranged under a paper-thin protective layer
and scale usually one bud sprouts near the top of the corm when planted (Bhujbal et al. 2014).The corm formation
starts with the initiation of the spike and completes when the spikes attain full bloom. After flowering
photosynthates are directed downwards corms and cormels, then, they continue to increase in size (Hartmann et
al. 1981).The ability to produce corms and cormels per plant determines its rate of multiplication and these
characters would be very effective in breeding program. There is a dearth of good varieties of gladiolus which are
good multiplier with respect to corm and cormel production under varying environments (Abdul et al.
2013).Daughter corm continues to enlarge after flowering but it does not flower in the same season (Hudson et al.
1981). The infrequent production of corms and cormels is a great hurdle in mass propagation and eminence cut
flower spikes of gladiolus. One mother corm generally produces one daughter corm of standard size on the top
and few cormels or cormlets on the base of respective old/ mother corm. These cormels or cormlets are auxiliary
buds on the corm (Singh and Dohare 1991; Remotti and Loffler 1995). Corms and cormels are the chief means of
gladiolus propagation. Cormels are usually graded in three sizes: larger than 1.0 cm diameter, medium 0.5 cm to
PERFORMANCE OF PROMISING GENOTYPES IN GLADIOLUS FOR CORM AND CORMEL PRODUCTION UNDER AGRO-CLIMATIC CONDITION OF DAILEKH
T. B. Poon1 , B. Chalise2 and OB. OLI3 1 Senior Scientist, National Citrus Research Program , Dhankuta
2 Senior Scientist, Horticulture Research Station, Jumla 3 Technical Officer, Horticulture Research Station, Dailekh
Email: [email protected]
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less than 1.0 cm and small less than 0.5 cm ( Laskar et al. 1994). The objective of the research work was to
investigate the inherent capability of promising gladiolus genotypes for corm and cormels production.
METHODOLOGY
The experimental material used for the study consisted of seven promising gladiolus genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-01’,
‘HRSDG-02’, ‘HRSDG-03’, ‘HRSDG-04’, ‘HRSDG-05’, ‘HRSDG-06’, and ‘HRSDG-07’: they were evaluated in
the field of Horticulture Research Station (HRS), Dailekh under the experiment in RCBD design replicated three
times. In each replication, thirty five corms of each genotype were planted in the spacing of 47 cm between the
rows and 30 cm within the row each year. In the second fortnight of February, corms were planted in each plot
size of 7.852 m as per experimental design over two consecutive years (2013 and 2014). The recommended FYM
20 t/ha and fertilizer 60kg N, 80 kg P2O5 and 60 kg K2O were incorporated into soil during the operation of
land preparatory tillage. Remaining 60 kg Nitrogen was applied into two split doses: 30 kg Nitrogen/ha at 3-5 leaf
stage and 30 kg Nitrogen/ha at 7-9 leaf stage. Uniform cultural operations like intercultural weeding, plant
protection measures, and remaining all practices were adopted to grow successful crop. Ten plants/genotype/
replication were labeled and used for recording various parameters of corms and cormels characters. Corm and
cormels were allowed to maturity and harvested only in 45 days later than spike harvest day when leaves turned
yellowing and withering coupled with turning of 25% cormel into brown color. Data were collected for the
performances of ten characters of corm and cormels such as corm diameter, individual corm weight, total number
of corms, corms yield, cormel diameter, individual cormel weight, total number of cormel, cormels yield, number
of daughter corms per mother corm and number of cormels per mother corm that keep significant values from the
view point of crop improvement were recorded in both years (2013 and 2014).The mean values of all the
characters were pooled and subjected to the statistical analysis of variance.
ARSDG-01 (American Beauty) ARSDG-02 (Interpid)
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ARSDG-03 (Ginger Red) ARSDG-04 (Unidentified genotype)
ARSDG-05 (Summer Sun Shine) ARSDG-06 (White Prosperity) ARSDG-07 (Pscittacinus Hybrid
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Results in tables 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 illustrates the pooled values of the characters over two years in which the corm
diameter, individual corm weight, total number of corms, total yield of corms, cormel diameter, cormel weight,
total number of cormels, total cormel yield, number of daughter corms/mother corm and number of cormels/
mother corm parameters of gladiolus plants were significantly varied due to the effect of different promising
genotypes.
Corm diameter (cm)
Maximum pooled diameter (5.67 cm) of corm was in ‘HRSDG-03’ whereas minimum pooled diameter (4.61 cm)
of corm was exhibited by ‘HRSDG-05’; however, its diameter was at par with those of four genotypes
viz.,’HRSDG-01’ (4.66 cm), ’HRSDG-04’ (4.68 cm), ’HRSDG-02’( 4.74 cm) and ’HRSDG-06’(4.76 cm). As for
‘check/HRSDG-01’, its pooled corm diameter was noted to be statistically similar to that of ’HRSDG-07’ (4.83
cm) even so it produced considerably smaller pooled diameter (4.66 cm) than ’HRSDG-03’ (5.67 cm) in (Table 1).
Corm diameter needs to be more than 2.00 cm for commercial propagation as well as flower production as corm
with less than 2.00 cm gave rise to thin spikes coupled with more prone to lodging(Abdul et al. 2013). Corm
diameters of all seven genotypes were still far larger than 2.00 cm in the present context of study.
Individual corm weight (g)
The pooled weight (g) of individual corm was significantly variable between 29.78 g and 47.39 g in seven
genotypes under the experiment. ‘HRSDG-03’ recorded remarkably the maximum pooled weight (47.39 g)
followed by ‘HRSDG-04’ (35.31 g) and ‘HRSDG-02’ (34.91g). In contrast, ’HRSDG-05’ recorded minimally the
lowest pooled weight (29.78 g) inconsequentially followed by‘HRSDG-06’ (32.05 g) and ‘HRSDG-1’ (33.12
g).’Check/HRSDG-01’ produced significantly lower pooled weight (33.12 g) than ‘HRSDG-03’ (47.39 g).
According to the suggestion of North Gladiolus Council (Wilfret,1980),firstly the individual corm diameter (5.67
cm) of ‘HRSDG-03’ came under Jumbo category as Jumbo category involved more than 5.1 cm corm diameter.
Secondly the corm diameters of remaining six genotypes were in large category/No 1 grade (3.9 cm to 5.0
cm).Two treatments: removal of leaves and spike and retention of leaves and spike in ‘Peter Pears’ imparted the
maximum weight of single corm 70.14g and 68.58g respectively, then the same two treatments in ‘Trader horn’
with single corm 69.69g and 62.41g and finally ‘White Friendship’ with single corm 58.37 g and 51.60g were
recorded (Memon et al.2014). All of the weights of single corm of not only removal of leaves and spike but also of
retention of leaves and spikes were recorded relatively more than those weights of individual corms in any of
evaluated genotypes in the present study. Since characters of corm and cormel were recorded from the field of
flower production without following the technique needed for corm and cormel production in our present study
the results of individual corms were not as superior as those of the studies made by aforementioned authors. Their
studies were based on exploration of increasing multiplication rates of corms and cormels, and involved the
removal of leaves and flower spike to conserve the plant’s energy metabolites that enhanced the multiplication of
corms and cormels.
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Total number of corms/500m2’
The pooled number of corms produced in seven genotypes considerably varied from 2133.01 to 6834.57 with the
mean value of 3837.14. ‘HRSDG-04’ recorded remarkably the highest pooled number of corms (6834.57)
Differences in this regard was quite significant from those of the remaining six genotypes. On the contrary, the
pooled number of corms was minimally low in four genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-02’(2133.10),HRSDG-
06’(2524.79),HRSDG-07’(2644.52) and HRSDG-01’(3299.87).As comparing against ‘Check/ HRSDG-01’ in this
regard, three genotypes such as ‘HRSDG-04’(6834.57) , ‘HRSDG-05’ (4937.16) and ‘HRSDG-03’(4483.76) were
found better ones (Table 2). Chaudhary et al. (2011) evaluated twelve varieties of gladiolus under sub-humid
condition of Rajasthan: Their findings revealed that the number of corms/ 500 m2 of five varieties viz., ‘Peter
Pears’ as well as ‘Sancerre’(5963),’Spic-n-Span’(4301), ‘Dhanvantri’ (4203.5) and’TS-14’ (3812.5) were nearly in
tune with those of only three genotypes viz.,’HRSDG-04’(6843.57),’HRSDG-05’(4937.16) and ‘HRSDG-
03’(4483.76) in recent study, but the number of corms/500m2 in remaining seven varieties of their study revealed
relatively higher which ranged from 6940.5 (‘Urmil’) to 8993.0 (‘Priscilla’).
Total corm yield (kg)/ 500m2
Pooled corm yield was found considerably high in two genotypes viz.,’HRSDG-04’ (203.55 kg) and ‘HRSDG-
03’ (174.14 kg) whereas the lowest in ‘HRSDG-02’ (65.80 kg). Even so corm yield differences in five genotypes
such as ‘HRSDG-05’ (116.64 kg),’HRSDG-01’(92.07 kg), ‘HRSDG-07’(81.13 kg)‘HRSDG-02’ (65.80 kg) and
‘HRSDG-06’(64.99 kg) were at par. Check/’HRSDG-01’produced considerably lower pooled corm yield than
those of two genotypes viz.,’HRSDG-04’(203.55 kg) and ‘HRSDG-03’ (174.14 kg), but ‘check/HRSDG-01’ was at
par with those in four genotypes such as ‘HRSDG-05’, ‘HRSDG-07’, ‘HRSDG-02’and ‘HRSDG-06 (Table 2).
Sarkar et al. (2014) recorded corm yields ranging from 610.00kg to 874.50 kg/ 500 m2 which was much higher
Genotypes Corm diameter (cm) Individual corm weight (g)
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
Check/ HRSDG-01
4.49 4.82 4.66 30.00 36.23 33.12
HRSDG-02 4.84 4.63 4.74 35.67 34.14 34.91
HRSDG-03 5.50 5.84 5.67 41.00 53.77 47.39
HRSDG-04 4.40 4.95 4.68 30.67 39.94 35.31
HRSDG-05 4.53 4.69 4.61 26.67 32.89 29.78
HRSDG-06 4.83 4.68 4.76 30.67 33.43 32.05
HRSDG-07 4.70 4.96 4.83 31.00 38.71 34.86
GM 4.79 4.94 4.86 32.24 38.44 35.34
F-test NS ** * * ** **
LSD (0.01) - 0.35 0.172 3.412 8.02 5.716
CV% 8.87 4.01 6.44 18.140 11.72 14.93
Table 1: Performance of seven promising genotypes of gladiolus for corm diameter and individual corm
weight during two consecutive years 2012/013 and 2013/014 at HRS, Dailekh.
NS Non-significant * Significant **highly significant
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than the range of 65.00 to 203.55 kg/500m2 in the present study. In the context of situation for the objective of
flower production, the energy required for flower production may be less diverted towards corm and cormel
development by removing the spike (Mukhopadhay and Das 1978; Misra et al. 2003). It was presumably the reason
for low corm yield in the present study.
Cormel diameter (mm)
Pooled diameter of cormel varied from 5.84 mm to 7.62 mm in seven genotypes of gladiolus. Although ‘Check/
HRSDG-01’revealed the maximally high pooled cormel diameter (7.62 mm) it’s pooled value did not vary
consequentially from those of three other genotype viz.,’HRSDG-07’ (7.57 mm), ‘HRSDG-05’ (7.55 mm) and
’HRSDG-04’ (7.25 mm). On the contrary, cormel diameter was consequentially low in three genotypes
viz.‘HRSDG-06’ (5.84 mm), ‘HRSDG-02’ as well as ‘HRSDG-03’ (6.80 mm) in Table 3. Ahmad et al.(2002) noted
variably cormel diameter (mm) of ten gladiolus cultivars , out of them ,’ Red Beauty’ (18.00 mm) ‘Wine and
Roges’ (11.10 mm) and ‘ Oscar’ (10.00mm) produced larger cormel size than other cultivars. The diameter of
cormels in the present study pertained to small size (5.8 cm -7.6 mm) which seemed being significantly smaller
than those pertaining to medium size (10.0-15.0 mm) and big size cormel (15.0 mm- 20.0 mm) accordingly as
reported by Amin et al.(2013).
Individual cormel weight (mg)
Pooled weight of cormels in seven different genotypes was noted to be considerably variable between 226 mg
and 390 mg having the mean value of 287 mg. Two genotypes: ‘HRSDG-05’and ‘HRDG-07’ reflected
consequentially high pooled weight of cormel (390 mg and 331 mg respectively).’HRSDG-06’ recorded
contrastingly lowest pooled weight of cormel (226 mg), but its value was found to be inconsequential with those of
four other genotypes viz.,’HRSDG-02 (250 mg),’HRSDG-03’(250 mg),’HRSDG-01’ (276 mg) and ‘HRSDG-
Genotypes Total number of corms / Ropni(500 m2) Total corm yield in kg/Ropni (500 m2))
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
Check/ HRSDG-01
2268.52 4331.21 3299.87 69.49 114.65 92.07
HRSDG-02 2291.67 1974.52 2133.10 82.55 49.04 65.80
HRSDG-03 2515.28 6452.23 4483.76 101.14 247.13 174.14
HRSDG-04 6388.89 7280.25 6834.57 195.00 212.10 203.55
HRSDG-05 3441.20 6433.12 4937.16 98.24 135.03 116.64
HRSDG-06 2098.61 2950.96 2524.79 63.10 66.88 64.99
HRSDG-07 2083.30 3205.73 2644.52 63.52 98.73 81.13
GM 3012.49 4661.79 3837.14 96.15 129.94 113.05
F-test ** ** ** ** ** **
LSD (0.01) 679.680 2537.579 1608.629 57.08 82.165 69.623
CV% 49.57 30.60 40.085 46.98 35.75 41.365
Table 2: Performance of seven promising genotypes of gladiolus for total number of corms and total
corm weight during two consecutive years 2012/013 and 2013/014 at HRS, Dailekh.
* Significant **highly significant
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04’ (276 mg). Among evaluated genotypes in this regard, only one genotype ‘HRSDG-05’ (390 mg) proved to be
superior to ‘check/HRSDG-01(276 mg). Otherwise, leaving out ‘HRSDG-06’ (226 mg), rest of four other
genotypes viz.,’HRSDG-07’(331mg),’HRSDG-04’ (276 mg), ‘HRSDG-02’(250 mg), ‘HRSDG-03’(250 mg) were at
par with ‘Check/HRSDG-01’(276 mg) in Table 3. Ahmad et al. (2002) reported individual cormel weight of ten
cultivars (Wines and Roges, Wing’s Sensation, Red Beauty, Oscar, Praha, City Light, Green Wood Pecker, Blue
Isle, Priscilla and Victor Vorge). Of them, ‘Praha’, ‘Priscilla’ and ‘Victor Broge’ produced maximally high cormel
weight with 590 mg, 430 mg and 390 mg respectively. The individual cormel weight recorded in the recent study
was not as weighty as those of three cultivars (‘Praha’, ‘Priscilla’ and ‘Victor Broge’), but the individual cormel
weights of remaining seven cultivars were more or less similar to those of seven genotypes under our study.
Total number of cormels/500m2
The pooled number of cormels produced per 500 m2 by seven genotypes showed highly significant variation due
to the effect of different evaluated genotypes (Table 4). The result indicates that the maximum pooled number of
cormels (2, 27, 790. 50) was in genotype ‘HRSDG-03’, minimum pooled number of cormels (31,650.35) was in
genotypes ‘HRSDG-07’. The highest pooled number cormels (2, 27,790.50) was, however, at par with those of two
other genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-05’ (1,93.367.99) and ‘HRSDG-04’(1,90,805.96).The lowest pooled number of
cormels (31,650.35) in ‘HRSDG-07’was, on the other hand, insignificant from two other genotypes viz.,’Check/
HRSDG-01’(58,276.13) and ‘HRSDG-02’(46,256.30).’Check/ HRSDG-01’ was recorded to be poorer than
remaining three genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-03’ (2, 27,790.50), ‘HRSDG-05’ (1, 93,367.99) and ‘HRSDG-04’ (1,
90,805.96).
Total cormel yield (kg)/ 500m2
Seven genotypes of gladiolus had influenced the pooled yield of cormels. Mean values regarding different
Genotypes Cormel diameter (mm) individual cormel weight (mg)
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
Check/ HRSDG-01
7.43 7.80 7.62 270 282 276
HRSDG-02 6.60 7.00 6.80 240 260 250
HRSDG-03 6.90 6.70 6.80 250 250 250
HRSDG-04 7.20 7.30 7.25 270 285 276
HRSDG-05 7.60 7.50 7.55 380 400 390
HRSDG-06 5.77 5.90 5.84 220 235 226
HRSDG-07 7.43 7.70 7.57 320 342 331
GM 6.99 7.13 7.06 280 293 287
F-test ** ** ** ** ** **
LSD (0.01) 1.20 1.22 1.21 100 104 102
CV% 10.22 10.425 10.32 22.83 23.89 23.36
Table 3: Performance of seven promising genotypes of gladiolus for cormel diameter (mm) and
individual cormel weight (g) during two consecutive years 2012/013 and 2013/014 at HRS, Dailekh.
* Significant **highly significant
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genotypes showed that maxium pooled cormel yield (78.94 kg) was noted in ‘HRSDG-03’ followed significantly by
‘HRSDG-05(66.82 kg), and ‘HRSDG-04’ (57.47 kg). ‘HRSDG-02’reorded the lowest pooled yield of cormels
(12.23 kg) which was found to be significantly different from those of remaining six genotypes. Besides ‘HRSDG-
02’, ‘Check/HRSDG-01’ (16.23 kg) was noted to be inferior to those of five other genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-
07’ (18.01 kg), ‘HRSDG-06’(18.58 kg), ‘HRSDG-04’(57.47 kg), ‘HRSDG-05’(66.82 kg) and ‘HRSDG-03’(78.94 kg)
in Table 4. In the recent study, only three genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-03’(78.39 kg), ‘HRSDG-05(66.82 kg) and
‘HRSDG-04’ (57.47 kg) have been in position to cope with standard cormels yields up to the expectation of
growers because eight gladiolus varieties: ’Chipper White’ (33.90 kg),Summer Sun Shine’(174.60 kg), ‘Canadian
Blood Red’ (105.40 kg),’Apple Blossom’ (88.45 kg), Summer Pearl (221.95 kg)’, ‘Puppy Tears’(125.45 kg), ‘Pacifica
White’(151.70 kg) and ‘American Beauty’(141.35 kg) tested by Shiramagond and Hanamashetti (1999) were in
confirmation with the cormels yields in the study.
Number of daughter corms/mother corm
The pooled number of daughter corms per mother corm was variable from 1.23 to 2.30 with the mean value of
1.56 under the experiment. The highest pooled daughter corms/mother corm was recorded in ‘HRSDG-04’ (2.30/
mother corm) followed inconsequentially by’’HRSDG-07’ (1.65/ mother com). ‘HRSDG-02’, on the contrary,
produced the lowest number of daughter corms (1.23/mother corm) which was , nevertheless, at par with those of
rest of five genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-07’(1.65/mother corm), ‘HRSDG-03’(1.60/mother corm), ‘HRSDG-
05’(1.52/mother corm), ‘HRSDG-06’(1.37/mother corm) and ‘Check/HRSDG-01’(1.29/ mother corm). ‘Check/
HRSDG-01’was proven as inferior to ‘HRSDG-04’ (2.30/mother corm) while ‘Check/HRSDG-01’was recoded to
be statistically analogous to the rest of five genotypes viz., ‘HRSDG-02’ (1.23/mother corm), ‘HRSDG-06’(1.37/
mother corm), ‘HRSDG-05’(1.52/mother corm'), ‘HRSDG-03’(1.60/mother corm) and ‘HRSDG-07’(1.65/
mother corm) in Table 5. Sudhakar et al. (2012) registered that the number of daughter corms/mother corm
Genotypes Total number of cormels/ Ropni (500 m2) Total cormel yield (kg)/Ropni(500 m2)
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
Check/ HRSDG-01
44259.26 72293 58276.13 12.08 20.38 16.23
HRSDG-02 50092.59 42420 46256.30 11.71 12.74 12.23
HRSDG-03 134243.98 321337 227790.49 34.95 122.93 78.94
HRSDG-04 93394.91 288217 190805.96 24.81 90.130 57.47
HRSDG-05 90493.98 296242 193367.99 25.55 108.09 66.82
HRSDG-06 68703.70 86815 77759.35 14.86 22.290 18.58
HRSDG-07 22453.70 40847 31650.35 7.36 28.660 18.011
GM 71948.88 164024 117986.44 18.76 57.960 38.36
F-test ** ** ** NS ** *
LSD (0.01) 9554.30 92167 50860.65 - 0.49 0.324
CV% 49.74 34.73 42.235 53.86 30.24 42.05
Table 4: Performance of seven promising genotypes of gladiolus for total number of cormels and total
cormel yield during two consecutive years 2012/013 and 2013/014 at HRS, Dailekh.
NS Non-significant * Significant **highly significant
Nepalese Horticulture
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ranged from 1.02 to 1.66 in ‘White Friendship’ under different treatments of growth regulators. On the other
hand, the highest number of daughter corms 2.26/mother corm in ‘Darshan’ and lowest number of daughter
corms 1.0/ mother corm in ‘Meridiana’ were reported by Naresh et al. (2015).As comparing to the findings of
former and latter authors, the number of daughter corms/mother corm were somewhat high in the present study.
Number of cormels / mother corm
The pooled number of cormels produced per mother corm by seven genotypes was recorded to have varied from
17.09 to 81.43 with the value of 46.01.The results indicates that maximum pooled number of cormels (81.43/
mother) was in ‘HRSDG-02’ which was statistically inconsequential with ‘HRSDG-03’ (77.70/ corm/mother
corm) and ‘HRSDG-05’ (59.41/mother corm). ‘HRSD-07’, in contrast, produced the lowest pooled number of
cormels (17.09/ mother corm) which was noted to have been at par with those of three genotypes viz., ‘Check/
HRSDG-01’ (21.19/ mother corm), ‘HRSDG-04’ (37.24/ mother corm) and ‘HRSDG-06’ (42.97/ mother corm).
Two genotypes viz.,’HRSDG-02’ (81.43/ mother corm) and ‘HRSDG-03’ (77.70/ mother corm) were superior to
‘Check/HRSDG-01’ (21.19/ mother corm). On the other hand, ‘Check/HRSDG-01’was noted to be at par with
those of ‘HRSDG-04’ (37.24/mother corm) and ‘HRSDG-06’ (42.97/ mother corm) in Table 5. Shaukat et al.
(2013) recorded the number of cormels/mother corms in five Gladiolus cultivars viz.,
‘Amsterdam’ (33.44),’Applause’(90.00),’Fidelio’ (55.11), ‘Peter Pears’(25.33) and ‘Priscilla (10.00) which revealed to
be more or less in tune with the pooled number of cormels /mother corm recorded in recent study.
Close observation of cormel characteristics showed variable response for the genotypes under study. Different
cultivars responded or reacted differently with given soil and climatic condition depending upon their genetic
composition. These were the reasons different results were presumably observed in context of the recent study.
Genotypes Number of daughter corms / mother corm Number of cormels/mother corm
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
2012/013 2013/014 Two years ‘ Pooled value
Check/ HRSDG-01
1.00 1.58 1.29 16.00 26.37 21.19
HRSDG-02 1.30 1.16 1.23 88.00 74.86 81.43
HRSDG-03 1.00 2.20 1.60 46.00 109.40 77.70
HRSDG-04 2.08 2.53 2.30 18.00 56.48 37.24
HRSDG-05 1.07 1.97 1.52 28.00 90.81 59.41
HRSDG-06 1.14 1.61 1.37 38.00 47.94 42.97
HRSDG-07 1.60 1.70 1.65 12.00 22.18 17.09
GM 1.31 1.82 1.56 38.00 54.01 46.01
F-test * * * ** ** **
LSD (0.01) 0.56 0.78 0.67 23.00 32.79 27.89
CV% 20.43 24.22 22.33 24.00 34.13 29.07
Table 5: Performance of seven promising genotypes of gladiolus for Number of daughter corms /
mother corm and number of cormels/mother corm during two consecutive years 2012/013 and 2013/014
at HRS, Dailekh.
* Significant **highly significant
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
Conclusion
The present study concludes that three genotypes viz. ‘HRSDG-04’, ‘HRSDG-03’ and ‘HRSDG-05’ are the most
outstanding and suitable for the sake of production of corm and cormel ( propagating materials) as well as varietal
improvement work under the agro-climatic conditions of mid-hills of Dailekh and similar agro-climatic condition
of mid-hills across the country. These genotypes have possessed the best in terms of most parameters of gladiolus
genotypes such as corm size, corm weight, number of corms /unit area, corm yield /unit area, number of daughter
corms/mother corm, cormel size, cormel weight, number of cormels/unit area, cormel yield /unit area and
number of cormels /mother corm. In order to standardize conventional methods of propagation for maximization
of propagules, the nature of similar verification trial has to be repeated further inclusive of the same genotypes
adopting the sole techniques required for corm and cormel production.
References
Abdul, K., M.A.Khan, S.UR-Rehman and A. Afzal.2013.Different Corm Sizes Affect Performances of Gladiolus
grandiflorus Cvs. Red Majesty and Early Yellow. Advances in Zoology and Botany 1(4):86-91.
Abdul, M.J., Z.Akbar, N. Kosar and Z.A. Khan.2002. Introduction and Evaluation of Exotic Gladiolus (Gladiolus
grandiflorus) Cultivars. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences 1(5):560-562.
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Amin, N.U., A.M. Khattak, I. Ahmad, N. Ara, A. Alan, M. Ali and I.Ali.2013. Corm and Cormel Size of Gladiolus
Greatly Influenced Growth and Development of Subsequent Corm Production. Pakistan Journal of
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Bhujbal, G.B., N.G. Chauhan and S.S. Mehtre.2014. Importance of Growth Regulators and Cold Storage
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Chaudhary, M., S.K. Mood, A.K. Kumari and B.S. Beniwal.2011.Evaluation of Gladiolus (Gladiolus x hybridus
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Hartmann.T., W.J. Flocker, and A.M. Kofrank.1981. Ornamental Grown from Bulbs, Corms, Tubers and
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Misra, R.L., B. Singh and S.K. Palai.2003. Gladiolus. In: Commercial Flowers in India: (Eds): Bose, T.K.,L.P.
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Pp. 166-181.
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ABSTRACT
After harvesting, apple fruits experience a variety of loading conditions that potentially lead to mechanical damage
and bruising, which reduce the quality and shelf life of the products. Studies were carried out at Horticulture
Research Station, Rajikot, Jumla for three consecutive years (2012-2014) to evaluate the effect of different
cushioning materials for packaging and transportation of fruits of three cultivars of apple from orchard to
collection centre, thereafter on storage. Fruits were harvested on 3rd week of September; healthy fruits of almost
uniform size and shape were selected for the study. About 25 kg fruits were hold in conical bamboo baskets using
different cushioning materials; transported to collection centre by porters on their back. Data on number of
damaged fruits was recorded one day after transportation. Again, undamaged healthy 20 fruits from the same
experiment were selected and stored in plastic crates under room condition for 3 months (11.80C and 65% RH).
The result revealed that during transportation minimum number of bruised fruits was recorded in Red delicious
(13.3%). With regard to cushioning materials, minimum number of bruised fruits (11.3%) was observed in bamboo
basket without grass liner. After three months of storage, maximum spoilage was observed in Golden delicious
(16.8%) while minimum in Red delicious (10.1%). With regard to cushioning material, minimum spoilage (7.2%)
was observed in bamboo basket with grass liner. Highest physiological weight loss in storage was observed in
Golden delicious (17.2%) and lowest in Red delicious (11.4%). Consumers overall acceptability was higher in Royal
delicious at maturity stage while higher in Red delicious after storage. Therefore, grass and woolen shawl were
identified as most effective cushioning materials during apple transportation from orchard to collection centre
under Jumla condition of Nepal.
Key Words: Bruising, Spoilage, PWL, TSS, Firmness, TA, Starch index, Hedonic rating, shrivel
INTRODUCTION
Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is an economically important fruit crop of the temperate zones. It has been
cultivated for thousands of years in Europe and Asia. There are more than 7500 cultivars of apple and it is one of
the most grown fruit in all over the world (Martinelli et. al. 2008). Consumption of apple has shown better health
to prevent a variety of chronic diseases and lung cancer, asthma, diabetes and ischemic heart disease (Hansen et. al.
2009). It is due to the large content of structural cell walls and polysaccharides along with the various phyto-
chemical antioxidants (Device et. al. 2010). Apple is a leading deciduous fruit grown successfully in rain shadow or
low rainfall high hill areas from east to far west of Nepal. Red delicious, Royal delicious and Golden delicious are
the leading commercial cultivars grown by the farmers. In Nepal, apple can be grown in 54 districts; however, only
12 districts grow apple commercially of which Jumla ranks the number one in terms of area and production
(Subedi et. al. 2012). Apple farming is the boon of the farmers of Jumla because of its economical, social, and
environmental advantages. Apple growers have not been receiving anticipated level of income because of
traditional system of postharvest handlling. In Nepal, the productive area, production and productivity of apple in
F. Y. 2013/2014 was 5141ha, 35920.7tons and 6.9tons/ha respectively. Nepal imports 56,447 tons of apple
EVALUATION OF CUSHIONING MATERIALS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF APPLE CULTIVARS FROM ORCHARD TO COLLECTION CENTRE
G. D. Subedi1, D. M. Gautam3, D. R. Baral3, G. B. K. C.3, K. P. Paudyal1, R. K. Giri2 1Nepal Agricultural Research Council, HRD, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
2Nepal Agricultural Research Council, HRS, Rajikot, Jumla, Nepal 3Tribhuvan University, IAAS, Kritipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Nepalese Horticulture
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annually valued at Rs 1.92 billion (ABPSD, 2014). In Nepal, large amount of fruit losses occurs after harvest and
minimizing this loss could save over 25% of produce (Gurung, 1998). Gautam et. al. (2004) reported that 58.2%
apple fruits were damaged during harvesting, handling, transportation and distribution due to inadequate post
harvest technology. All the apple production area lies in higher hills, where usually the fruits are harvested from the
orchard and transported to farmhouse for sorting, grading and packaging. Conical shaped bamboo baskets (Doko)
are commonly used containers to carry apple fruits for transportation to collection centers by porters on their back
in Nepal. Fruits bruise easily due to compression, impact and vibration forces during transportation that
potentially lead to bruising damage. Rough surface of the bamboo basket causes bruising and scaring on the
surface of fruit. Further, the sharp edge of the basket and its conical shape causes both bruising and compression
damage to the fruits. Moreover, the conical shape of bamboo basket results compression damage, which lies
towards the lower side of the basket. The damage may not be apparent and visible to necked eyes immediately
after transport; however effects are apparent during storage. The storability of apple is the reflection of the impact
of container and cushioning material during transportation. Therefore, this study was carried out to find the
effectiveness of different cushioning material for minimization of fruit damage during transportation from orchard
to collection centre on standard apple cultivars.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Studies were carried out for three successive years (2012-2014) at Horticulture Research Station, Rajikot, Jumla,
Nepal to investigate the effect of different cushioning materials on bruising damage of fruits during transportation
from orchard to collection centre and thereafter on storage. Fruits of Red delicious, Royal delicious and Golden
delicious were harvested on 3rd week of September from the Mother Stock Maintenance Block of Gairagaun,
Jumla (3 hours walking distance to the collection centre). Fruits were harvested from all sides of the tree and
healthy fruits of almost uniform size, color and shape were selected for the study. Fruits were thoroughly cleaned
with Muslin cloth after harvesting. Study was designed as factorial RCBD (3 cultivars, 5 cushioning materials) with
four replications. About 25 kg fruits were weighted and packed in conical shaped bamboo baskets with green
grass, woolen shawl, news paper, plastic sheet and without liner. Baskets were transported to collection centre by
porters on their back. Data on number of damaged fruits due to bruising was recorded one day after
transportation, as the damage may not be seen immediately after transport. Again, undamaged 20 fruits from each
replicate were selected and stored under room condition for 3 months (11.80C and 65% RH) to find out effect of
cushioning materials and variation in cultivars. Observations were made on physiological weight loss (PWL) and
spoilage after storage. Consumer’s acceptability was recorded by a panel of five judges on the basis of Hedonic
ratting (1 to 9 scales in which 9 stands for like extremely and 1 stands for dislike extremely) (Juyun Lim, 2011).
Firmness of fruit was measured with hand Penetrometer (FT-327, Italy) having plunger diameter of 11 mm. TSS
was recorded with hand Refractometer (Erma, Japan) calibrated at 20°C. Titratable acidity was determined by
titrating a 5 ml juice with 0.1 N NaOH using Phenolphthalein as an indicator (AOAC, 1990). Starch Iodine test
was carried out to determine the conversion pattern of starch into sugars (M. S. Reid et. al. 1982). Iodine solution
was prepared by dissolving 10 grams of iodine crystals and 25 grams of Potassium Iodide in 1 liter of water. Fruits
(N=10) were cut at right angles to the core, approximately halfway from stem to calyx end; Iodine solution was
applied to cut surface, drained away any excess and rated fruit staining after 2 minutes by using 0 to 6 scales (0
stands for full starch and 6 stands for free of starch). Observations were made for various physiochemical
characteristics and quality attributes. Data were analyzed statistically using GenStat software version 10.3 (VSN
International Ltd. Rothamsted Experimental Station, 2011).
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Number of Bruised Fruits (%)
Number of bruised fruits after transportation was highly significant among apple cultivars with and without
cushioning materials. Maximum number of bruised fruits was observed on Golden delicious (20.3%) followed by
Royal delicious (17.3%) while minimum (13.3%) on Red delicious (Table 1). Likewise, maximum number of
bruised fruits (24.0%) was observed on bamboo basket without liner followed by plastic liner (19.0%) while
minimum (11.3%) on grass liner (Table 2). Interaction effect of cushioning materials with cultivars on brushing
was lowest on grass cushion followed by woolen shawl while highest on ordinary bamboo basket without cushion
(Table 3). Different cultivars of apple may have differential tolerance to bruising and compression damages based
on the nature of fruits such as skin thickness and texture. Apples bruise easily due to compression, impact and
vibration forces (Gautam, 2004). Compression damage may occur in lower depth of the basket as a result of load
of upper fruits, while impact damage may occur due to rough handling on the surface of fruit. Vibration forces
usually occur during transportation, are difficult to avoid. These damages could be minimized if common sense is
used for understanding of appropriate transportation system, packaging design and post harvest handling. This
study also found the highest bruising damage on Golden delicious cultivar similar to the study conducted by Timm
et. al. (1989). The highest bruising damage on bamboo basket without liner obtained from this study is also
supported by the finding by Gautam et. al. (2004) and Shrestha (1996).
Physiological Weight Loss (%)
Physiological Weight Loss (PWL) during storage was highly significant among apple cultivars (Table 1). Maximum
PWL was observed on Golden delicious (17.2%) followed by Royal delicious (14.3%) while minimum on Red
delicious (11.4%) after storage. Maximum PWL on Golden delicious might be due to thin peel (60μm) resulting
more water loss due to higher evapo-transpiration and respiration (I. Homutová et. al. 2004). Chaudhary et. al.
(2004) reported that apple fruits stored for six month under normal room condition observed lowest PWL in
paper cushion on wooden boxes (47.6%) while maximum on floor storage (88%). Water loss among apple
cultivars during storage varied resulting in significantly different weight loss even under similar storage conditions
(Khan et. al. 2005). Saleh et. al. (2009) reported that fruits of Golden delicious, and Gala stored at 90% RH and 0º
C for 180 days exhibited significant differences in physiological and anatomical parameters. Physical properties of
fruit may also have significant influence on storage performance because it influences water loss, gas exchange and
subsequent storage life (Meisami et. al. 2009). Differences in storage performance may be due to ethylene
production, responsible for the changes in texture, firmness and fruit softening (Khan et. al. 2005).
Spoilage (%)
Spoilage loss during storage was highly significant among apple cultivars with and without cushioning materials
(Table 1). After three months of storage, maximum spoilage was observed on Golden delicious (16.8%) followed
by Royal delicious (13.1%) while minimum (10.1%) on Red delicious. Likewise, maximum spoilage (24.3%) was
observed in fruits transported on ordinary bamboo basket without liner followed by plastic liner (14.4%) while
minimum (7.2%) on grass liner (Table 2). Interaction effect of cushioning materials with cultivar on spoilage
during storage was lowest on Grass cushion followed by woolen shawl while highest on ordinary bamboo basket
without cushion (Table 3). The scratches or minor wounds may not be apparently visible right after transportation
however it has significant influence during storage. The result indicates that different cultivars of apple have
differential tolerance to bruising and compression damages based on the nature of fruits such as skin thickness and
texture. Higher spoilage damage on Golden delicious might be due presence of thin peel thickness and soft
texture, probability of damage to internal tissue by compression, impact and vibration forces is high during
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transportation, resulting more spoilage loss during storage. Paudyal et. al. (2016) reported that maximum spoilage
(32.5%) was observed on control while minimum (17.5%) on paper wrapped apple fruits after 60 days of storage.
Sensory evaluation
At maturity stage, overall acceptability was higher on Royal delicious (8.8) followed by Red delicious (8.7) while
lower on Golden delicious (7.9). Red delicious maintained higher sensory score (4.8) while lower on Royal
delicious & Golden delicious (4.4) after storage (Fig. 1E). Retention of better firmness, aroma, taste and crispiness
was higher on Golden delicious after storage, however, showed unacceptable appearance due to more shriveled
texture. Mann et. al. (2005) reported that the sensory attributes that fruit texture include firmness, crispness,
mealiness and juiciness.
Fruit Firmness
At maturity stage, a significantly higher fruit firmness was recorded on Golden delicious (9.1kg/cm2) followed by
Red delicious (8.1kg/cm2) while lower (7.2kg/cm2) on Royal delicious (Fig. 2A). Firmness of apple fruits
decreased gradually after storage Highest firmness was recorded on Golden delicious (5.9kg/cm2) followed by Red
delicious (4.8kg/cm2) while lowest on Royal delicious (3.8kg/cm2). This evidence indicates that Golden delicious
still has retained turgidity of the cells as compared to other cultivars. The softening of flesh during storage could
be due to the degradation of soluble pectin by high activity of endo-poly-galacturonase enzyme in fruits (Mann et.
al. 1990). Apple fruit texture and flavor are important traits that guide consumer preference (Daillant- Spinnler et.
al. 1996). Apples that have crisp, juicy texture and prolong postharvest life are highly favored by the consumers
(Jaeger et. al. 1998).
Juice content (%)
At maturity stage, a slightly variation on juice content was noticed with respect to apple cultivars. Highest juice
content Golden delicious (73.9%) followed by Red delicious (70.1%) while lower (70.0%) on Royal delicious (Fig.
2B). Juice content of apples decreased after storage. After three months of storage, the juice content was 41% in
Golden delicious followed by Red delicious (35.0%) and lowest in Royal delicious (33.5%). The loss of juice
percent during storage was higher on Royal delicious (57.4%) followed by Red delicious (52.1%) while lower on
Golden delicious (44.5%). More juice loss percent on Royal delicious might be due to over ripening resulting
mealiness and softening of fruits.
Total Soluble Solids (0Brix)
At maturity stage, highest TSS was noticed in Golden delicious (12.7) followed by Royal delicious (10.7) and lowest
(10.5) in Red delicious (Fig. 2C). TSS of apples increased during storage. Highest TSS was noticed on Golden
delicious (14.6) followed by Royal delicious (14.3) and lowest (13.7) in Red delicious. TSS of apple is a major
quality parameter which is correlated with texture and composition. Increase in TSS could be attributed to
breakdown of starch into sugars or hydrolysis of cell wall polysaccharides (Weibel et. al. 2004).
Titrable Acidity (%)
At maturity stage, highest Titrable Acidity (TA) was recorded in Golden delicious (0.32%) followed by Red
delicious (0.24%) and lowest (0.23%) in Royal delicious (Fig. 2D). The level of TA decreased during storage.
Highest acidity was recorded on Golden delicious (0.23%) followed by Red delicious (0.19%) while lowest on
Royal delicious (0.17%) after storage. Reduction of TA during storage might be due to conversion of organic acid
into reducing sugars during ripening of fruit.
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TSS:TA ratio
At maturity stage, highest TSS:TA ratio was recorded in Royal delicious (47.6%) followed by Red delicious (43.8%)
and lower (39.6%) in Golden delicious (Fig 2.E). The level of TSS:TA ratio increased after storage. Higher TSS:TA
ratio was recorded on Royal delicious (86.4) followed by Red delicious (73.8) while lower (63.6) on Golden
delicious. This might be due to conversion of acid into sugars. Excessive increase in TSS:TA ratio in Royal
delicious caused imbalance resulting poor sensory rating due to development of slight bitterness and mealiness.
Mahajan (1994) reported that many biochemical changes take place during storage which disturbs the TSS:TA ratio
ultimately rendering the fruit unacceptable.
Starch index
At maturity stage, higher starch index was recorded on Royal delicious (4.9) followed by Red delicious (4.3) while
lower (3.9) on Golden delicious (Fig. 2F). The level of starch gradually decreased after storage. Higher starch index
was recorded on Royal & Red delicious (6.0) while lower on Golden delicious (5.6). This might be due to
conversion of starch into reducing sugars during ripening of fruits. Saleh et. al. (2009) reported that fruits stored at
90% RH and 0ºC for 6 months exhibited significant differences in physiological and anatomical parameters may be
due to ethylene production, responsible for the changes in texture, firmness and fruit softening.
CONCLUSION
Among three cultivars evaluated, Red delicious cultivar fruits had minimum level of damage during transportation,
less physiological weight loss, lesser spoilage, prolonged shelf life and higher sensory rating during storage which
was followed by Royal delicious. Fruits of Golden delicious were less preferred by the consumers because of
sensitivity to damage and higher loss during transportation and storage. For transportation of fruits from field to
collection center in conical bamboo basket lining with grass or woolen shawl was found better due to reduced
scratching loss during transportation.
Cultivars Bruised fruits (%) Spoilage (%) PWL (%)
Red Delicious 13.3 10.1 11.4
Royal Delicious 17.3 13.1 14.3
Golden Delicious 20.3 16.8 17.2
F - Value *** *** ***
LSD (P< 0.05) 0.80 0.89 0.66
Table 1: Response of apple cultivars on average brushing and spoilage damage during transportation
and storage at HRS, Rajikot, Jumla for 3 consecutive years (2012-2014)
Cushioning materials Bruised fruits (%) Spoilage (%) PWL (%)
Sole (Control) 24.0 24.3 14.4
Shawl 13.7 9.1 14.3
Paper 18.0 11.8 14.4
Grass 11.3 7.2 14.2
Plastic 19.0 14.4 14.3
F - Value *** *** *
LSD (P< 0.05) 1.03 1.15 0.86
Table 2: Effect of cushioning materials on average brushing and spoilage damage of apple at HRS,
Rajikot, Jumla for 3 consecutive years (2012-2014)
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Bruised fruits (%) Spoilage (%)
Cultivars Cushioning materials
Sole Shawl Paper Grass Plastic Sole Shawl Paper Grass Plastic
Red delicious 18 11 14 10 16 19 6 9 5 12
Royal delicious 24 14 20 10 20 24 9 11 7 14
Golden delicious 30 17 20 13 22 30 12 15 10 17
F Value *** ***
LSD (P< 0.05) 1.8 2.0
CV (%) 7.5 10.5
Table 3: Interaction effect of cushioning materials with apple cultivars on brushing and spoilage damage
at HRS, Rajikot, Jumla for 3 consecutive years (2012-2014)
C
Figure 1: Hedonic ratting of apple cultivars after harvesting and storage for 90 days under normal room
condition (11.80C and 65% RH) at HRS, Rajikot, Jumla for two consecutive years (2013-2014)
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
Red Delicious Royal Delicious Golden Delicious
Ap
pe
ara
nce
(1
-9
)
Cultivars
15 Sep.
15 Dec.
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
Red Delicious Royal Delicious Golden Delicious
Ta
ste
(1
-9
)
Cultivars
15 Sep.
15 Dec.
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
Red Delicious Royal Delicious Golden Delicious
Cris
pin
ess (
1-9
)
Cultivars
15 Sep.
15 Dec.
8.7 8.87.9
4.8 4.4 4.4
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
Red Delicious Royal Delicious Golden Delicious
Ov
era
ll P
re
fe
re
nce
(1
-9
)
Cultivars
15 Sep.
15 Dec.
0.0
1.0
2.03.0
4.05.0
6.0
7.08.0
9.010.0
Red Delicious Royal Delicious Golden Delicious
Aro
ma
(1
-9)
Cultivars
15 Sep.
15 Dec.
E
D
C
B
A
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
C
Figure 2: Quality parameters of apple cultivars after harvesting and storage for 90 days under normal
room condition (11.80C and 65% RH) at HRS, Rajikot, Jumla for Two consecutive years (2013-2014)
C
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
Red Delicious Royal Delicious Golden Delicious
Fir
mn
ess (
kg
/cm
2)
Cultivar
15 Sep.
15 Dec.
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
Red Delicious Royal Delicious Golden Delicious
TA
(%
)
Cultivar
15 Sep.
15 Dec.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Red Delicious Royal Delicious Golden Delicious
Ju
ice
(%
)
Cultivars
15 Sep.
15 Dec.
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
Red Delicious Royal Delicious Golden Delicious
TS
S/
TA
Cultivar
15 Sep.
15 Dec.
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
Red Delicious Royal Delicious Golden Delicious
TS
S (
Brix
)
Cultivar
15 Sep.
15 Dec.
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Red Delicious Royal Delicious Golden Delicious
Sta
rch
in
de
x (
0-6
)
Cultivars
15 Sep.
15 Dec.
F
E
D
C
B
A
Nepalese Horticulture
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REFERENCES
ABPSD (2014). Statistical Information on Nepalese Agriculture 2013/2014. Ministry of Agriculture Development,
Agri-Business Promotion and Statistics Division (ABPSD), Statistics Section, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu,
Nepal.
AOAC (1990). Official Methods of Analysis. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, INC. USA.
Chaudhary, B. N. Y. R. Pandey, B. B. Mahat and Y. P. Yadav (2004). Assessment of storage losses of apples under
normal room condition of Jumla. In: Proceeding of the Fourth National Workshop on Horticulture in
Kathmandu, 2-4. March, 2004. Nepal Agricultural Research Council, NARI/HRD, Khumaltar. pp. 26-28.
Daillant-Spinnler, B., MacFie, H. J. H., Beyts, P., & Hedderley, D. (1996). Relationship between perceived sensory
properties and major preference directions of 12 varieties of apples from the southern hemisphere. Food
Quality and Preference, 7 (2), 113–126.
Devic, E., S. Guyot., J. D. Daudin and C. Bonazzi (2010). Kinetics of polyphenol losses during soaking and drying
of cider apples. Food and Bioprocess Technology 3: 867-877.
Gautam, D. M., H. N. Bhandari, P. P. Subedi, M. D. Sharma, S. M. Shrestha, S. B. Gurung, G. R. Bhattarai, Y. D.
G C, S. Bhattrai, K. R. Aryal (2002). Participatory Rural Appraisal on post-harvest and marketing practices
of four major horticultural commodities- apple, citrus, tomato and cauliflower in Nepal. HARP Team,
IAAS, Chitwan, Nepal.
Gautam, D.M., P. Gautam and C.R. Gurung (2004). Postharvest handling and transportation of apples in the hills
of Nepal. Fourth National Conference on Science and Technology. NAST, Lalitpur, Nepal.
Gurung, H. P. (1998). Improvement of post-harvest handling of major horticultural crops. In: Proceeding of the
national seminar on fruit and vegetable marketing in Nepal held during September 15 and 16, 1998. FAO,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
I. Homutova & J. Blažek (2006). Differences in fruit skin thickness between selected apple cultivars assessed by
histological and sensory methods. Hort. Science (Prague), 33 (3):08-113.
Jaeger, S., Andani, Z., Wakeling, I. and Macfie, H. J. H. (1998). Consumer preferences for fresh and aged apples: A
cross-cultural comparison. Food Quality and Preference, 9(5):355–366.
Juyun Lim (2011). Hedonic scaling: A review of methods and theory. Food Quality and Preference 22: 733-747.
www.elsevier.com/locate/foodqual
Khan, M.A., and I. Ahmad. 2005. Morphological studies on physical changes in apple fruit after storage at room
temperature. Journal of Agriculture and Social Science. 1 (2): 102–104.
Mahajan (1994). Biochemical and enzymatic changes in apple during cold storage. India. J. of Food Sci. & Technol.
31:142-152.
Martinelli F, Busconi M, Camangi F, Fogher C, et al. (2008). Ancient Pomoideae (Malus domestica Borkh and
Pyrus communis L.) cultivars in “Appenino Toscano” (Tuscany, Italy): molecular (SSR) and morphological
characterization. Caryologia 61: 320-331.
Meisami E., S. Rafiee, A. Keyhani and A. Tabatabaeefar. 2009. Some physical properties of apple cv. ‘Golab’.
Agricultural Engineering International: Ejournal. Manuscript 11: 1124.
M. S. Reid, C. A. S. Padfield, C. B. Watkins and J. E. Harman (1982). Starch Iodine Pattern as a Maturity Index for
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Granny Smith apples. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 25: 229-237.
Paudel Shankar, D D Dhakal, D M Gautam, R R Paudyal (2016). Assessment of production, postharvest handling
and packaging methods for transportation of apple in mustang district of Nepal. M. Sc. Thesis Submitted
to IAAS, TU Nepal.
Saleh, A.M., Ghafir, O. Suliman, Gadalla, N. Benissa, Murajei and M.F. El-Nady (2009). Physiological and
anatomical comparison between four different apple cultivars under cold storage conditions. Acta Biol. 53
(1):21-26.
Shrestha, K. B. (1996). Appropriate postharvest technology of fruits in Nepal. Uday Research and Development
Services Pvt. Ltd. Kathmandu, Nepal.
Subedi, G. D., D. M. Gautam, D. R. Baral, G. K C. and K. P. Paudyal (2012). Market assessment survey of apple
grown in Jumla. Nepal Horticulture Society, 9: 91-98.
Timm, E. J., G. K. Brown, and P. R. Armstrong. 1996. Apple damage in bulk bins during semi-trailer transport.
Applied Engineering in Agriculture 12(3): 369–377.
Weibel, F., F. Widmer and A. Husistein (2004). Comparison of production systems: integrated and organic apple
production. Part III: Inner quality: composition and sensory. Obst und Weinbau. 140: 10-13.
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ABSTRACT
Coffee sub-sector has potential to be an important exportable commodities from Nepal while viewing the production and export figure
from last twenty years. Despite such scope the coffee industry at present is threatened by some emerging pest and disease problem.
Further this industry is searching for suitable technologies related to organic production and post-harvest management. In this review
paper, research and development related issues are critically examined and way forwards have been presented.
INTRODUCTION
Coffee is relatively new crop in Nepal and mostly cultivated by small growers; however it holds enormous market
potential. Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD, 2014) reported that 229 ton coffee was produced in
Nepal from 1911 ha with more than 70% of this exported in the year 2013/14 with involvement of 27000 small
farmers (NTCDB, 2014). However, 67 tons coffee was imported in the same year. There is huge international and
internal demand of Nepali coffee and also enormous potentiality of area expansion. Currently, coffee is grown in
43 districts of Nepal out of which 23 districts are commercially producing coffee beans (NTCDB, 2014). Nepalese
coffee enters into international market as speciality coffee and there are 11 registered processing and marketing
facilities operated by co-operatives and independent merchants (KC et.al.2016).
Production and Marketing scenario
In Nepal, specialty coffee is cultivated in steep, marginal and shady land at the altitude range of 800-1600 m. Since
the production cost is found to be comparatively less and income per tree ranges from $ 1- 6 per annum (AED,
2014), it is considered an attractive cash crop for small and poor farmers of mid hills. There has been significant
increase in specialty coffee export from negligible amount in 1994/95 to Rs. 9,93,04000 in 2014/15 (Fig.1). This
may be attributed to the higher benefit cost ratio of coffee production (2.71) as reported by Pandit et al. (2015) and
2-3 times more yield than any cash crops (Dhakal, 2004). Further, a study by Sharma et. al. (2015) revealed that the
share of household income of Lalitpur and Glumi district coffee producers is about 55% from their farm activity
which implies that the food security will also be adversely affected if proper attention is not provided to manage
production and management problems of coffee sub-sector. This could be evident from the constant increase in
area under coffee production but decline in productivity over past 10 years (Fig. 1).
Production technologies
Nepalese coffee is considered organic by default and there are a few organic certified production pockets (Tiwari,
2010). Two certifying agencies are involved in the certification process at present (NASA and One Cert). The
industry is desperately seeking organic package of production. Though recommendation have been made on dose
of organic fertilizer by Horticulture Research Station (HRS), Pokhara, using FYM, poultry litter and mustard oil
cake (250 g/tree/year) (HRS, 2014), there are availability of various organic manure in market by a number of
source and these need to be tested for their reliability as well as suitability for coffee production. Beside these few
attempts, the nutrition management of coffee is largely ignored from both research and commercial perspective.
Coffee is shade loving plant and shade management is an important issue. In HRS, Pokhara coffee is grown under
ANALYSIS OF NEPALESE COFFEE INDUSTRY: PRODUCTION AND POST-HARVEST ISSUES
U.K Acharya1 and Umed Pun2 1Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Singhdurbar Plaza, Kathmandu, Nepal
2Himalayan Flora Enterprises Private Limited, Hattiban, Lalitpur
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
the shade of litchi while in Coffee Research Program, Gulmi the recently established coffee plantation are under
temporary shade of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan; an annual crop). There is program of studying effect of various
shade species on coffee production under way by the Coffee Research Program, Gulmi (CRP, 2015).
Government of Nepal has enacted National Coffee Policy (2003) to commercialize coffee farming with special
focus on human resource development and mechanization; however, it lacks policy on organic agriculture pocket
development and area expansion (Tiwari, 2010). Currently, coffee is cultivated in 43 districts of Nepal with ample
production only from 22 districts (NTCDB, 2014). There is scope of increasing area bringing community forest
under coffee cultivation. However, the Forest utilization policy is posing hindrance on use of perennial agriculture
crops under community forest. Further to improve area and other issues of coffee sub-sector, NTCDB has
recently tabled a ‘Five year’s coffee development Strategy (2016-20)’(goo.gl/tQ60Mv). However, there is
prediction of area reduction by 72% due to climate change by 2050 (Ranjitkar et al., 2016). Therefore, care should
be taken while expanding are under coffee cultivation as there is recommendation of growing coffee up to the
elevation of 1350m as opposed to present recommendation of up to 1100 m. Further, to expand area we need
cultivars suitable for diverse ecological zone within country. At present two genotypes of Arabica coffee are grown
Figure 1: Area and production of coffee (up) and import and export (down) figure in last twenty years.
The production figure is on right side of y-axis (Source: NTCDB and MoAD, 2015)
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in Nepal (Bourbon and Typica). Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) has established two research farms
with coffee orchards: National Coffee Research Program, Gulmi and Horticulture Research Station, Pokhara
where 23 accessions of Arabica coffee are under evaluation stage. In early evaluation, genotypes ‘Tekisia’,
‘Selection-10’, ‘Yellow Cattura’ and locally collected one ‘Arghakhachi local’ are performing very well in western
mid-hills condition (KC et al. 2016). The promising cultivars will be on farmer’s field in near future. However, with
increasing threat of new diseases and persistent old insects like white stem borer, care should be given on
production of healthy sapling from certified nurseries as well as mother stock with strict quarantine in place while
moving sapling from infected area to clean one.
Pest and Disease problems
There are a number of pests and diseases which affect coffee plantation but only two severe and economically
important problem have been reviewed in this paper. There is threat of White Stem Borer (WSB), an important
pest and Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) a disease posing hurdle on increasing productivity as well as growth of coffee
production area in Nepal.The present projection of loss caused by only coffee leaf rust is about 50% which could
reduce the present production by half and so the revenue (PACT, 2014). The compounding effect of loss will be
exorbitantly high if the loss from white stem borer and poor processing is added to the coffee subsector. Nepal
will lose its international market for organic and fair trade coffee within few years if the present threats of coffee
plantation are not mitigated with proper organic management practices. The traditional Coffee producing
countries in South America has been largely affected by these two problems resulting termination of Coffee
farming (Kubota, 2013). In many countries in that region, farmers have shifted to Cocao farming due to the above
issues in coffee which has also been attributed to global warming (Kubota, 2013).
White stem borer
Among 70 genotypes of coffee found worldwide, two genotypes Bourborn and Typica of Arabica genotypes are
commercially grown in Nepal (Bajracharyaet.al, 2015) and both are highly susceptible to coffee leaf rust and WSB
(SCC, ND; http://goo.gl/UuTVZ9). A study by Entomology Research Division found that coffee white stem
borer is number one threat causing yield loss up to 70% (ED, 2007). Further there are three species of this pest
attacking coffee namely ;Monochamus leuconotus, Xylotrechus quadripes, and Chlorophorus annulatus. Among
them X. quadripes is the most prevalent in Nepalese coffee plantation. A pest surveillance study by Khadge et. al.
(2005) and ED (2008) found 10-80% infestation in plantation of Syanja, Gulmi, Palpa and Kavrepalanchowk
districts. Despite such economic importance of this pest no scientific research has been carried out so far on
management of this perst. However, National Tea and Coffee Development Board (NTCDB) and Coffee
Promotion Program, HELVETAS (SDC) have tried sticky trap and sanitation measure to control it but outcome
of this action was not documented properly. There are reports of successful use of male sex pheromone against
M.leuconotus and X.quadripes but have not been tested in Nepalese context. With banning of chemical pesticides
namely, dieldrin and aldrin, considering persistence in environment and affecting non-targeted organisms, the
control of WSB is becoming harder even in in-organic production system. A study on development of
environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and cheap techniques to control WSB recommended following ways as
integrated control measure. The measures are: maintaining optimum shade, tracing infested plants before flight
periods each year, collar pruning (infested plants are collar pruned), uprooting (if the borer has entered the root),
and burning pruned material, removing loose scaly bark of the main stem and thick primaries using coconut husk
but avoiding damage to the stem, spraying /swabbing the main stem and thick primaries during flight period with
10% lime and a wetting agent (Rajbhandari. 2013, http://goo.gl/eWscUo). There is also recommendation of cross
-vane trap with NRI (Natural Research Institute) and PCI (Pest Control India) lure to attract female of X.
quadripes and kill inside a trap (CABI, 2008; http://goo.gl/pUz6ZB) from a WSB management study in India,
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Nepalese Horticulture Vol. 11, 2016
Zimbabwe and Malawi. A study on selection of natural enemies which prey on WSB has been carried out in India
(Sitharam, ND; http://goo.gl/RPn8j6) and found few promising insects and chasing this option could be another
alternative in managing WSB in organic coffee production of Nepal. The other critical parameter is soil moisture.
The Coffee farms needs to have irrigation support so that moisture is available not only for the plant growth but
also to keep the soil underneath the plant wet to reduce WSB infestation. Irrigation in conjunction with growing
Coffee under shade will largely help to avoid severe WSB infestation.
Coffee Leaf Rust
The Coffee Leaf rust, caused by Hemillia vastratix, outbreak in Nepal is recent development and has affected at
least four districts: Lalitpur, Syanja, Kavre and Kaski (http://therisingnepal.org.np/news/8623). There are 45 races
of CLR reported affecting Arabica coffee worldwide and only few of them have capability to create devastating
situation to coffee plantation of any country (Kubota, 2013). Unfortunately, systematic study on races affecting
Nepali coffee plantation is lacking. A study on this is very imperative to track down the disease and develop
integrated management approach of CLR in Nepalese context. American Phyto-pathological Society reported that
coffee being perennial crop harbours resting structure of pathogen during off-season in few infected leaves
(Arneson, 2000). In following year with onset of monsoon the inoculum serves as source of infection and
infection occurs with favourable humid and warm climate during and after monsoon. Any measure to reduce the
source of inoculum by spraying prophylactic spray of fungicide before onset of rainy season and after rainy season
could reduce the spread of this disease. However, Nepalese coffee produced as organic is bound to apply organic
measure to control this malady and there is no option for using chemical pesticide. The use of Copper Sulphate is
another better alternative when applied early and post-monsoon season, however; care should be given while it is
used as it is considered organic measure in one country but in-organic in another country. Further, there is report
of new bio pesticide called triadimefon effective in controlling CLR and which need to be tested in Nepali context.
Additionally, there are reports on effectiveness of bio control agents ((Bacillus lentimorbus/ B. cereus and
Verticilliumlecanii) which need to be isolated from farmers field, further multiplied in the lab and tested on
farmers field. Furthermore, there are few varieties (Catimore and Ketistic) which were found rust tolerant at HRS,
Malepatan and these need to be distributed to farmers. There are many reports on availability of tolerant varieties
in India (Chandragiri, Selection 5A and Selection 6), Brazil and other Central American countries (Batian 1-3,
Columbia and Castillo) (CRI, 2016 and Bazak, A, 2014) and introduction and screening of such varieties on disease
tolerance to Nepalese CLR races and adaptability into Nepali soil are one of effective measures available at present.
However, care should be taken not to import coffee resistant varieties from African countries as it will introduce
another malady of coffee, the coffee berry rust. Coffee farming under shade, type of shade trees need to be
studied with irrigation support will likely also help in reducing infection of CLR.
Post-harvest technologies
High volume of Nepalese coffee enters into overseas market as green beans and due to involvement of
intermediaries Nepalese farmers are not getting handsome price of the produce (Paudyal, 2012). In the contrary,
Nepal also import good amount of instant coffee (Fig. 1) as Nepalese prefer instant over filter coffee (Karki and
Regmi, 2016). In some instances, there arise issues of non-compliance of Nepalese coffee due to pesticide residue
(Koirala and Tamrakar, 2012) or other physical impurities due to lack of technical skill on post-harvest handling
and processing knowledge of coffee beans (KC et. al. 2016). The knowledge on good practice of handling cherries
to producing final product within the country could boost up the income to small holders and also add value to
the coffee subsector. Recently, Food Research Division under Nepal Agricultural Research Council has developed
good agriculture practice (GAP) manual for coffee production (FRD, 2015). Nepal Agricultural Research Council
still lacks a modest coffee quality testing laboratories and the research work on cup quality assessment of coffee
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grown under various agro ecological and production domain is still in an infant stage. The only quality testing
laboratory under Department of Food Testing and Quality Control Centre (DFTQC) at Babar Mahal, Kathmandu
is heavily loaded with quality checking of various commodities as this is the only government regulatory body to
check compliance of various products in the market.
Coffee pulper
Fresh cherry can be processed by two methods: dry and wet processing. In dry processing, whole berries are dried
to 10-12% moisture content and the dried skin, pulp and mucilage is hulled, which produces 'fuller' flavor coffee
(KC et al.2016). In wet processing, the outer layers (exocarp and mesocarp) are removed by pulping, fermenting
and then drying (from 50-55% to 12% moisture content), thus obtained green bean is regarded as higher quality
and more valued product due to the most desirable taste characteristics comprising of fine acidity, lighter body and
cleaner in cup. However, there is a chance of parchment and beans damage during pulping which may cause
serious quality loss as beans are more exposed to the environment and, therefore, prone to deterioration during
drying and storage.
To enhance the quality of coffee for international export, wet processing technology was recently introduced in
Nepal. Pulping is one of the most important steps of wet processing and hence, more than 350 coffee pulping
centres were established. Hence, different types of coffee pulpers viz. wooden roller, metallic roller, metal disc and
drum types were introduced in Nepal.
To cater the needs of small scale as well as medium scale pulping, Agriculture Engineering Division (AED),
NARC has designed, fabricated and tested different type of pulpers. A team of scientist, engineers & technicians of
this division, Genuine Engineering Workshop and General Mechanical Works contributed in fabrication of these
prototypes (AED, 2014). Three types of pulpers have been recommende by AED. Among them, Roller Type
Hand Operated (RTHP) Coffee Pulper is designed to address the problems of poor bean recovery from wooden
and metallic roller pulper for small pulping centers. This pulper is light in weight (25kg with stand) and cost
around NRs. 7500.00. After several modifications, the RTHP pulper was comparatively tested with the wooden
roller pulper in field condition. The operating capacity of this pulper is 60kg/ hr with pulping and cleaning
efficiency above 99 and 96 percent, respectively. Similarly, the broken parchment and parchment loss is less than
0.33 and 0.44 percent respectively. The capacity of the modified roller pulper is found to be increased by 76
percent than the wooden pulper. Similarly, pulping and cleaning efficiency is found to be increased by 2 and 6
percent in modified roller pulper. Further, the broken percentage of parchment and loss of parchment along with
pulp is found to be reduced by 62 and 75 percent in this type of pulper.
The second type of pulper, Cycle coffee pulper (CCP), is designed for medium scale pulping centers without
electricity facility. It consists of double roller connected by a coupling and is operated using pedal power. The
pulper is ergonomically designed so that it is easy to operate and the seat is adjustable as per operator’s body size &
preference. The capacity of the CCP is 100-120 kg per hour. The weight of the pulper is 50 kg per unit. This
pulper is equipped with high precision roller resulting better performance in terms of cleaning and pulping
efficiency. Compared with hand operated roller pulper, it requires 50 % less manpower for its operation. It is not
yet manufactured in commercial scale.
The third deign is electrically operated pulper, which is similar to that of hand operated roller pulper but it is with
robust frame fitted with an electric motor. The capacity of the electrically operated roller pulper is at the range of
120-150 kg/ hr. The pulping and cleaning efficiency is similar to that of hand operated roller pulper. The weight of
pulper with stand but without electric motor is 28 kg and its cost is NRs. 9000 per unit.
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Coffee dryer
The harvesting time of coffee in Nepal coincides with winter season with less intense sun rays to dry coffee bean
naturally The tunnel type solar dryer is fabricated and tested to solve such issues. The capacity of such dryer of size
5 x 2.4 m is to dry 180 kg green stuff per cycle. It was tested for drying various horticultural products, where 2-3
days are sufficient for complete drying. This dryer need to be tested drying coffee bean. AED has also developed
large scale solar tunnel dryer and its performance was tested for different agro products such as mushroom,
squash, cumin, radish and potato at Khumaltar, Lalitpur condition. Further, it has been modified to lower the cost
of manufacturing and named as Low-Cost-Solar-Tunnel (LCST) dryer using locally available materials in rural
farmers such as Bamboo, wood, stone etc. and disseminated in various parts of mid-western hills and high hills to
dry different horticultural commodities. The LCST dryer also shows promising result for drying coffee seed from
experience of AED researcher and need to be verified on field condition.
CONCLUSION
Government research body (NARC) should focus on development of package of practice for organic coffee
production (for e.g. testing of shade trees for different growing areas and organic fertilizers and pesticides) and
strengthening its laboratory facilities for quality analysis of various constituents of coffee. Further, introduction
and evaluation of CLR and WSB resistant coffee cultivars from abroad should be initiated immediately to deal with
these two devastating diseases. While introducing new coffee cultivars, care should be taken not to introduce
cultivars from African countries as germplasms from these countries are prone to coffee berry rust and Nepal is till
now free from this disease. Coffee promotion body of GoN such as NTCDB and DADOs should focus on
production and promotion of healthy coffee saplings using certified pest free nurseries (for e.g. subsidy for coffee
plants should be only given where there is shade in proposed plantation area) Additionally, these nurseries should
be only allowed to produce plants of designated varieties recommended to specific areas. Further government
authorities should focus on quarantine regulation in place while transporting saplings from CLR and WSB infected
to clean areas. Irrigation programs needs to be launched for good and healthy growth of organic coffee production
pockets by concerned bodies. Private sector has to be stimulated to develop instant coffee processing facilities
within country to reduce the volume of coffee import and increase export quantities. Another alternative to this
could be training and establishment of small scale processing facilities near the production site which adds value to
local coffee sector.
REFERENCES
AED. 2014. Annual Report. Agricultural Engineering Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Lalitpur
Nepal.
Arneson, P.A. 2000. Coffee rust. The Plant Health Instructor. DOI: 10.1094/PHI-I-2000-0718-02 (Website
retrieved on 21th October 2016)
ARS, 2014. Annual Report, Agricultural Research Station, Malepatan, Pokhara. Nepal Agricultural
Research Council, Kaski, Nepal.
Bajracharya, A.S.R., Giri Y.P., Bista, S. and Mainali, R.P. 2015. Coffee promotion strategies focusing on white stem
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AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE ISSUES AND FACTORS AFFECTING ITS ADOPTION: A CASE OF BANANA INSURANCE IN NEPAL
Yuga N. Ghimire, Krishna P. Timsina, Ghanshyam Kandel, Deepa Devkota, Dinesh B. Thapamagar, Sudeep Gautam and Bimala Sharma
Socio-Economics and Agricultural Research Policy Division (SARPOD), Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
ABSTRACT
Nepalese agriculture is highly dependent on weather conditions; therefore, managing the agricultural risk associated with the climate
change is becoming a key challenge to the country. This study was carried out in 2015 and 2016 to assess key issues, challenges and
practice of banana insurance in Chitwan district of the country. Census survey was applied for selecting the banana insurer households
whereas simple random sampling was employed for selecting non-insurer farmers for collecting the data. A sample size consisting of 60
households (30 insurers and 30 non-insurers) were used for this study. Collected data were further validated through the focused group
discussions and key informants survey. Windstorms was found as the major risk associated with banana production. Besides insurance,
banana farmers used different indigenous risk management strategies such as staking, thinning, adjustment in planting time to avoid
peak storm time, use of wind break plantation, earthing-up and use of wind resistant varieties. Lack of land entitlement of tenant
farmers, inadequate monitoring and the presence of moral hazards in both supply and demand side were important issues to be resolved.
The econometric analysis revealed that farmers awareness on claim settlement procedure (p=0.007), and group based approach of
insurance intervention (p=0.033) were significantly contributing to the adoption of the insurance scheme. Therefore, improvement of
current claim settlement procedure including awareness raising through farmers institutions are more likely to enhance adoption of
existing agriculture insurance schemes among banana farmers.
Key words: climate change, agricultural risk, farmers group, insurance, awareness
BACKGROUND
An agricultural system in Nepal is highly vulnerable to any change in climate (GoN, 2004). Short-duration extreme
weather events (such as hail, windstorm, or heavy frost) can cause devastating direct damage to crops in the fields
(Bryla-Tressler, 2011). Droughts, floods, storms, high humidity, high temperature and inundation are major threats
to agriculture. Given the low development of the country with subsistence based, rain-fed dominant farming
system, complex topography, and higher vulnerability of agriculture to climate change, managing agricultural risk
associated with climate change has become a major challenge and priority for the country (Singh, 2011; MoE,
2010; World Bank, 2009).
Agricultural insurance is widely recognized as one of the key options to manage such climate and other risks to
farm level production, infrastructure and income (Smit and Skinner, 2002; Warner et. al., 2013). Agricultural
insurance schemes help to reduce the risks and vulnerabilities of poor rural smallholders and open their access to a
range of financial services for improving their livelihoods. Crop insurance helps farmers to remain creditworthy
even in years where there occur loss of major crop and to avoid falling into the poverty trap. More importantly, it
may enable them to pursue riskier, but potentially much more profitable farming activities which usually center on
the use of credit to purchase new production enhancing technology (IFAD & WFP, 2010; Ghimire 2013).
Agriculture and livestock insurance have gained importance in recent years in Nepal due to abrupt changes in
climatic conditions resulting in large scale damage to the production system. The Ministry of Agricultural
Development introduced a subsidy policy on the premium paid for crop and livestock insurance in June 2013. The
government has made remarkable investment in the form of subsidy support on insurance premium paid by the
farmers which was 50 percent in 2013/14 and later increased to 75 percent since 2014/15, and human resources
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for facilitation of agricultural insurance services to the farmers (Ghimire et al., 2016a). The current agricultural
insurance scheme covers many agricultural commodities such as paddy, vegetables, fruits, potato, livestock and
poultry and many risks including climate change induced events, (flood, drought, landslide, windstorm, hail, snow,
frost), disease, pests, fire, lightning, earthquake, and other emergency accidents that are likely to cause damage on
agricultural production.
The Government of Nepal (through the Insurance Board) in January 2013 introduced crop and livestock insurance
directives. The directive has made it mandatory to non-life insurance companies to offer agricultural insurance.
Insurance companies are also encouraged to submit their schemes for approval by the Insurance Board. Due to
this provision, seventeen out of out of 19 non-life insurance companies have offered agricultural insurance services
(Ghimire et al., 2016a). Apart from this, farmers’ Cooperatives and groups, and Credit Security program of the
Agricultural Development Bank have also been implementing agricultural insurance schemes in various parts of
the country with different modalities. Prior to these recent initiatives on agricultural insurance, insurance schemes
particularly in livestock were also in operation as pilot projects in Nepal through the Small Farmer Cooperative
Limited (SFCL) and the Community Livestock Development Programme (CLDP), under the technical and
financial assistance of international development agencies.
Although agricultural insurance in Nepal came into effect formally since last few years, its scaling-up across regions
and crops has been a challenge. The crop insurance program has been spreading slowly. Government of Nepal
(GoN) has also made insurance of crops mandatory to provide grant in government support projects and
programs. youth self-employment program. It is getting popular in different crops such as mushroom, cabbage,
tomato, cauliflower, cucumber, banana, potato and rice. However, the coverage is still low. Banana farming is
spreading in recent years in Nepal. It is one of the highly susceptible crop in Nepal to extreme environmental
hazards mainly windstorm. Other risk factors for the crop include disease and pests. To prevent such losses,
banana farmers are more attracted to insurance compared to other crop farmers. Therefore, banana insurance
provides ideal case for in-depth understanding of underlying issues, limiting factors and existing practices of risk
management strategies at the farm level. The output of the study will be helpful to devise appropriate agricultural
insurance strategies and governance system helpful for its scaling-up.
METHODOLOGY
Banana insurance in Chitwan district of the country has been taken purposively for this study as the district is one
of the main banana growing areas. The study employed combination of different tools/methods which includes
the Desk Review, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Household Survey and Stakeholder’s Panel Workshop with
experts relevant to agricultural insurance program implementation in Nepal. The stakeholder interaction workshop
was carried out with the participation of researchers, extension officials, insurance companies, cooperatives and
farmers engaged in insurance schemes as well as farmers who were not involved in agricultural insurance. The
main objective of stakeholder workshop was to elicit expert knowledge and experiences of different stakeholders
on implementation of agricultural insurance and validate the field empirical findings.
Similarly, focused group discussion was conducted involving 12 farmers (8 insurers and 4 non insurers) with the
help of checklist to assess their views on agriculture insurance. A household level survey was conducted to study
farmers’ response to insurance schemes, indigenous risk minimizing tools/techniques/methods and determine
factors affecting adoption of agricultural insurance among banana growers. There were many banana growers in
Chitwan, but agricultural insurance was adopted by only 30 farmers at the time of this survey. Therefore, all the
adopters were taken, along with 30 non insurer banana growing households randomly selected from the adjoining
village which resulted in the sample of 60 growers. The data collected were analyzed using qualitative and empirical
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methods.
Econometric analysis: Binary Logistic Regression
For binary dependent variable, a logistic regression has been used (Gujarati, 2004). In order to estimate the
probability of a farmer having Insurance in banana crop, a logistic regression was used. It is a multivariate
statistical tool with the help of which dichotomous dependent variables can be predicted from the dependent
variables (Agresti and Finlay, 1986; Gujarati, 1999). It is based on the cumulative logistic probability function.
For a single independent variable Xi, the probability Pi of an event occurring can be written as:
Pi = (Y= i/Xi) = b0 + b1X1 + m ……….. (i)
Pi = 1/1+ e- (b0 + b1X1) …………………. (ii)
Where, b0 and b1 are coefficients to be estimated from the data, Xi is independent variable, Y is dependent
variable, and e is the base of the natural logarithms.
Equation (ii) denotes the cumulative logistic distribution function for a single variable. If there is more than one
independent variable the model could be written as
Pi = 1/(1+ e-Zi)…………………(iii)
Where, Zi is the linear combination of independent variables
Zi = b0 + b1 X1 + b2X2+. ……………+ bnXn …………(iv)
Here the equation (iii) represents what is known as the cumulative logistic distribution function for n number of
independent variables. If Pi is the probability of an event occurring, then the probability of an event not occurring
is given by 1-Pi. Therefore,
1-Pi = 1/(1+ eZi) …………….(v)
Therefore we can write,
Pi/(1-Pi) = (1+eZi)/(1+e-Zi) = eZi …………………..(vi)
If we take the natural log of the odds equation (vi), the following result is obtained which can be written as:
Li = ln (Pi/(1-Pi)) = Zi …………….. (vii)
= b1+b2 Xi
where L is the log of the odds ratio or logit.
The logistic regression model was run considering the dependent variable as adoption of agriculture insurance in
Banana crop (‘Yes’ or ‘No’) against various explanatory variables to predict the probability of adoption on
Agriculture Insurance. Here the Adoption of Agriculture Insurance in Banana crop was the dichotomous
dependent variable. The explanatory variables tested in the model were perceived claim settlement procedure (1
easy, 2 difficult); Knowledge of Insurance from Group/Cooperative (1 for yes, 0 otherwise); Banana cultivated
Area (Kattha); Total land (Kattha); education of the household head (1 for higher secondary and above, 0
otherwise); Economically active population (number); Knowledge about subsidy given on insurance premium by
government (1 for yes, 0 otherwise).
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Current status of banana insurance in Chitwan
Banana is being grown since time immemorial in home yards for home consumption purpose (Gautam and
Dhakal, 1994). Now farmers started to cultivate it in commercial scale. According to Banana Farms Promotion
and Development Center, the Chitwan district is the leading bananas producing district earning NRs 150 million
before 2010/11. Banana production in the district increased by a whopping 566 percent over the past decade
(Hamal, 2014). In the year 2014/15, 1320 hectare of land has been used in commercial banana farming by 525
households in the district. During the survey period, only 30 farmers were involved in Agricultural insurance
program covering 79 hectares of land. This number now has increased to 180 with value of NRs 14.5 crore (NRs
14.5 million) in the year 2016. Prudential Insurance, Nepal Insurance and Shikhar Insurance were the major
insurance providers in the district covering 60%, 35% and 5% of insurance market (Personal Communication with
Mr. Bishnu Hari Pant, Chairman of Banana Producers Association of Chitwan district, August 2016).
Major issues associated with implementation of agricultural insurance scheme
Banana farming was exposed to various risks in Chitwan district. Windstorms was reported as the major risk by
more than 90 percent of the farmers both insurer and non-insurer in Chitwan district. Disease and insects rank
second and third important sources of risk respectively (Figure 1). Word Bank (2009) reported heavy losses of
banana due to wind in Chitwan and Nawalparasai district of Nepal. Majority of the banana growers in the study
area had also experienced huge crop losses from the windstorms in the past and were more attracted towards
current agricultural insurance schemes for preventing such losses. However, there was a problem for having
insurance on crops grown in the leased land because insurance company demands land entitlement certificate
(Lalpurja). Having inability to provide such documents, many farmers were not able to insure the crops despite
their willingness. Similarly, the provisions like a mandatory requirement of a recommendation from VDC secretary
for making claims on the losses is tedious to the farmers. Cases of incomplete claim settlements were found which
affected farmers’ decision to ensure their crops (Ghimire et al., 2016b). As a rational behavior, the farmers having
newly established banana orchard (one to two years old) were not interested for purchasing insurance policy due to
their perceived low minimum crop losses during the early years of crop plantation as compared to later productive
stages.
Similarly, a standard plant density of 1400 plant per bigha was fixed in the study area in order to find the number
of plant loss. Farmers generally tried to plant more dense and claim for number of damaged plants maintaining the
standard density. Insurance companies had also the tendency of reporting less number of damaged plants
(Ghimire et al., 2016b). Thus moral hazards were observed form both sides. Therefore, there is a need of
developing controlling mechanism for such moral hazards. The current insurance scheme for crops is based on
cost of crop production, which is mostly developed through DADO and with limited or no participation of
farmers and insurance companies. The cost of production calculated during 2012/13 was still in operation though
there was occurrence of many changes in price of the inputs, land rent and other cost items. Therefore, farmers
expressed a need of updating it with participation of the concerned stakeholders (farmers, insurance companies,
DADO and technical experts). Similarly, provision requiring land owner certificates for crop insurance also needs
to be revised so that crops grown in the leased land could also be insured.
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Risk reduction and management strategies adopted by farmers in banana
Farmers in the study area were using different indigenous techniques for risk minimization from the climatic
events such as growing of healthy saplings, variety change (shift to Malbhog from Green Banana eg. Harisal,
JhapaliHariyo to William hybrid, G-9), use of bamboo staking (Teka), row planting to protect from wind, clean
cultivation (removal of dead leaves, unwanted suckers), use of pesticides and insecticides and planting time
adjustment to avoid storms (Ghimire et al., 2016b). Adoption of banana insurance was slowly gaining pace in the
study area for minimizing the risks in banana farming. Besides insurance, use of pesticides/insecticides and staking
were the important tools used for risk minimization by the farmers. The practices like adoption of earthing-up in
banana crop were found higher in non-insurer farmers (43.34 percent) as compared to insurer farmers (23.3
percent) to protect bananas from the risk of wind. However, adoption of orchard management was higher in
insures as compared to non-insurers. Similarly, variety change was one of the options for climatic risk
minimization and adopted by more than 50 percent of both insurer and non-insurer farmers. Farmers were slowly
replacing the green variety with malbhog variety (eg. Harisal, Jhapali Hariyo to William hybrid, G-9) because of
more susceptibility of the green varieties to wind. Similarly the insured farmers were found planting the wind
breaks (perennial trees) and adjusting the planting time to escape fruiting time from March-April (Falgun/Chaitra)
at which there is high chances of windstrom occurrence leading to heavy damage to banana crop (Table 1). Higher
percentage of insured farmers were found having better knowledge and access to technology than non-insurer
farmers. Therefore, these farmers were found practicing orchard management, planting wind breaks and adjusting
planting times as compared non-insurers.
Sources of information
Table 2 shows the sources of information for the farmers about the agricultural insurance. Among different
sources available, farmers group (banana production groups) was found to be the major source of information for
majority (96.7 percent) of the insurer farmers and non-insurer (63.3 percent) farmers. District Agriculture
Development Office (DADO) remained as another major source of information for insurer farmers, whereas, for
non-insurer farmers, radio, TV were major source than DADO for the agriculture insurance related information.
This may be due to regular contact of insurer farmers with the DADO office and its staff. Only 20 percent of the
total farmers obtained agricultural insurance related information through the insurance agents indicating a need of
active involvement of such agents further for information dissemination.
Figure 1: Type of risks to banana farmers in Chitwan district
(Source: Field survey, 2015)
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Factor affecting adoption of Agriculture insurance in Banana
Logistic regression model was used to analyze the effect of different explanatory variables on adoption of
agricultural insurance in banana farming. Adoption of Agriculture Insurance in Banana crop was taken as the
dichotomous dependent variable. The explanatory variables tested in the model were perceived claim settlement
procedure (1 for easy, 2 for difficult); Knowledge of insurance from Group/Cooperative (1 for yes, 0 otherwise);
banana cultivated area (Kattha); Total land (Kattha); education of the household head (1 for higher secondary and
above, 0 otherwise); Economically active population (number); Knowledge about subsidy given on insurance
premium by government (1 for yes, 0 otherwise). R Square value shows about 46% variance covered by this
model. Among the different explanatory variables, farmers knowledge on claim settlement procedure (p=0.007),
and insurance scheme from groups and cooperative (p=0.033) were found to be the key factors for significantly
contributing the adoption of the insurance. The odds ratio indicated that it is about 94 percent likely to have
reduced adoption of agriculture insurance in banana if the farmers do not get information from organized
institutions such as group and cooperatives compared to those who were getting information from such
institutions. Similarly, it is more than 700 percent likely to have increased adoption of agricultural insurance in
Banana if farmers feel easier claim settlement procedure and build their faith on insurance company compared
farmers those who were finding difficulties in claim settlement procedure.
Different risk reduction strategies
Banana insurer(n=30) Banana non-insurer(n=30)
Frequency Percentages Frequency Percentages
Crop insurance 30 100 0 0
Use of pesticides/insectides 30 100 27 90
Staking 21 70 20 66.67
Orchard management 26 86.7 12 40
Use of compost/fertilizers 9 30 15 50
Earthing-up 7 23.3 13 43.34
Variety change 18 60 15 50
Planting wind breaks(Perennials trees) 5
16.7 NA NA
Adjustment in planting times 11 36.7 NA NA
Table 1: Different risk reduction strategies used
Table 2: Different sources of information on insurance
Sources of information for crop insurance
Banana insurer(n=30) Banana non-insurer(n=30)
Frequency Percentages Frequency Percentages
Insurance agents 6 20 3 10
DADO 12 40 9 30
Newspaper 7 23.3 8 26.67
Radio 6 20 10 33.33
TV 6 20 12 40
Farmers group 29 96.7 19 63.34
(Source: Field survey, 2015)
(Source: Field survey, 2015)
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Suggestion for improving the agricultural insurance
Various suggestions were received from both banana insurer and non-insurer farmers for improving the current
agricultural insurance scheme (Table 3). More than 70 percent farmers (both insurer and non-insurer) suggested a
need of making claim settlement procedure easy and quick than the existing. The result is also correlated with the
study of Abdulmalik et al. (2013) in Nigeria which showed that the major challenge faced by farmers in the course
of their participation in agricultural insurance was delay in indemnity payment. Only 20 percent insurer farmers
suggested increasing the indemnity level, which shows that farmers were satisfied with the current level of
indemnity. About 53 percent of insurer farmers and 46.67 per cent of non -insurer farmers suggested a need of
organizing awareness raising programs on agricultural insurance to the farmers. About 34 percent of both insurer
and non-insurer suggested for making documentation process easy because farmers feel tedious to fulfill all the
documentation process in the existing scheme. Among insurers about 34 percent farmers suggested to design
insurance products so that it covers more risk under the scheme.
Note: *** Significant at 0.01, and ** significant at 0.05 ; S.E= Standard Errors
Table 3: Binary Logistic regression estimates predicting the effect of different explanatory variables on
adoption of insurance scheme in Banana
Explanatory Variables Odds Ratio
S.E P-value
Perceived claim settlement procedure (1 easy, 2 difficulties) 8.017 .776 .007***
Knowledge of Insurance from Group/Cooperative (If yes 1, 0 otherwise)
.058 1.335 .033**
Banana cultivated Area (Kattha) 1.001 .002 .623
Total land (Kattha) 1.003 .012 .794
Education of the household head ( 1 higher secondary and above, 0 otherwise)
1.054 .839 .950
Economically active population (no) 1.306 .291 .359
Knowledge about subsidy given to premium by government (if yes 1, 0 otherwise)
.000 10541 .998
Constant .186 1.442 .244
Log likelihood 46.26
Cox & Snell R Square .459
Different suggestion given
Banana insurer(n=30) Banana non-insurer(n=30)
Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage
Reduce premium 4 13.3 8 26.67
Quick settlement of the claims 26 86.7 22 73.33
Insurance service at door step 12 40 15 50
Raise the indemnity level 6 20 3 10
Awareness program should be launched 16 53.3 14 46.67
Should improve the implementation mechanism 13 43.3 5 16.67
Documentation process should be easy 10 33.3 10 33.34
Cover more risk under schemes 10 33.3 NA NA
Table 4: Suggestion for improving the agricultural insurance scheme
(Source: Field survey, 2015)
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CONCLUSION
Agricultural insurance is being practiced in Nepal largely through the governmental subsidy support and in
partnership with the private sector (insurance companies) since last few years. Agricultural insurance being recently
introduced, is growing but in a slow pace in Nepal. Banana farmers in Chitwan district are also increasingly
attracted and adopting current insurance schemes to prevent the huge crop losses from the various risks. More
than 90 percent farmer's major risk was found to be wind storms that was more likely to cause heavy damage to
their crops during the month of Feb/Mar-June/July. Disease and pest are also other important risks after
windstorm. Farmer's network was the major information source for banana insurance for the farmers. Banana
Entrepreneur Association was the key institution of farmer playing key role in organizing farmers for banana
farming and also involving them in crop insurance schemes. Farmer's knowledge on claim settlement procedure
and insurance schemes were found to be the key factors for significantly contributing the adoption of the
insurance scheme in banana crop. Therefore, it is suggested to develop easy and quick claim settlement procedures
and implement awareness raising programs through institutional sources for enhancing making more interactive
sharing on agricultural insurance and increasing its adoption among the farmers in Nepal. Some of the issues such
as requirement of land entitlement certificate for crop insurance; and, slow and incomplete (in some cases) claim
settlements for the crop losses were found to be the key factors for having limited participation of farmers on
banana insurance and it needs to be improved for ensuring more participation of farmers on existing insurance
scheme. Furthermore, it is found that newly established banana orchard (one to two years old) were not interested
for purchasing insurance policy due to their belief that there would be minimum crop losses during the early years
of crop plantation as compared to later productive years. However this factor was not considered due to
unavailability of household level data during econometric analysis, so it is suggested to include this factor in future
study. The current insurance schemes for crops are based on its cost of production which was not updated since
its implementation. Therefore, there is a need of updating the cost of crop production calculation with changing
time and participation of the concerned stakeholders.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We highly acknowledge World Bank for the financial support for this research through the project “Pilot Program
for Climate Resilience (PPCR)-Component D: Agricultural Management Information System”. We are also
grateful to the Project Director, Mr. Shib Nandan Prasad Sah and NARC Component Coordinator, Dr. Ananda
Kumar Gautam for their support in program planning. Researchers in Socioeconomics and Agricultural Research
Policy (SARPOD) under Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) are also thankful for their active
participation in collecting, compiling and processing information. The contents are the responsibility of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank and Nepal Agricultural Research Council
(NARC).
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