Collaborative breeding with farmers can be effective

Plant breeding efficiency is increased by better taking into account the needs of the clients. This can sometimes be helped by involving farmers in selection in the segregating generations. We describe a rice-breeding programme in Nepal where the use of simple breeding methods optimised the benefits from such collaboration. Farmers grew in their fields large populations that were bulks derived from the F₂ generations of single crosses. They selected within them starting in a generation where selfing was sufficiently advanced for the between-plant heritability to be high. Poorer bulks were soon rejected by farmers. A high proportion selected within the bulks and a significant proportion did so over several generations. An increasing number of farmers grew the best of the selected bulks because they spread from farmer to farmer without the need of intervention from scientists. Varieties selected from these bulks were preferred by farmers in on-farm trials and had a superior combination of yield and maturity compared with the later breeders’ selection from the same bulk. Levels of participation were higher with the better performing bulks and even when training was not provided, provided the germplasm performed acceptably well sufficient farmers selected in the bulks to make collaborative breeding cost effective. Collaborative breeding can be successful but demands different types of resources than those for on-station breeding so its cost effectiveness will vary with circumstances. It can be used to increase the probability of selecting segregants that perform well across environments by using methods that pool bulks selected by different farmers and it is also extremely useful for decentralising breeding programmes.     

Variation in sterility among wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes in response to boron deficiency in Nepal

Two field experiments were carried out at the Khairanitar Farm, Nepal during the winter season of 1993 to investigate whether wheat genotypes differ in their sterility response to low soil boron and whether boron added to soil can correct sterility. A nursery consisting of 41 diverse genotypes from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, China, Pakistan and CIMMYT/Mexico were evaluated in a plot where severe sterility had been observed in previous years. The second experiment involved six genotypes of known sterility responses to boron grown with or without an application of boron at 1 kg ha^-1. Large differences were observed among genotypes in terms of number of grain set per ear (range 0.5 to 30 ) and sterility (5.5% to 97.5%). About one third of all the genotypes had <25% sterility and 16 of them suffered >75% sterility. The genotypes Fang-60, Sonalika, De Mai 6-22, BUC/FLK/MYNA/VL and HDW-234 were highly tolerant to boron deficiency with <10% sterility. In sharp contrast, genotypes BOW/BUT, SERI/THB, Glennson, SW-41, Yunmai-33 and UHU were highly susceptible and set virtually no grains in the boron deficient plots. Strong responses to boron application were observed and genotypic variations were evident. Boron at 1 kg ha^-1significantly reduced the number of late ears, increased number of grains per ear and grain yield in boron-responsive genotypes. Tolerant genotypes were not influenced by added boron. Given these striking genetic differences, progress in breeding wheat for B-deficient soils in Nepal should be worthwhile. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Diversity Analysis of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Germplasms Available in Nepal Based on Morphological Characters

A total of 179 garlic (Allium sativum L.) accessions were collected from various parts of Nepal in 2000. Each accession was planted in each of a plot of 2.25 m² at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) Horticulture farm (225 m asl) and at the Agriculture Research Station, Dailekh (1400 m asl) of Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) in the first week of November 2000. All accessions were characterized for leaf erectness, leaf color, leaf wax, leaf cross section, bulb regularity, bulb skin color, bulb outer scales number, days to emergence, bulbing period, number of green leaves at 135 days after planting, days to maturity, plant height, bulb weight, bulb diameter, number of cloves per bulb, clove diameter and bulb yield. Data were analyzed by using principal component and cluster analysis procedures to reveal three major clusters. Four principal components were identified explaining more than 86% of total variation. Major characters included in the principal components were bulb weight, diameter, yield, number of cloves per bulb, maturity, plant height, number of green leaves at 135 days after planting, and bulbing period. The level of variation found in the collection showed the great potentiality of improving agronomic characters in garlic.     

Assessment of Potato Dry Matter Concentration Using Short-Wave Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

The utility of short-wavelength near-infrared spectroscopy (over the wavelength region 750–950 nm), used in a partial transmittance optical geometry, was assessed as a means of estimating the dry matter concentration of potato tubers. The sampling optics did not involve contact with the sample, and could be used on a moving stream of product. A prediction accuracy of R ² (correlation coefficient of determination) of 0.85 with a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 1.52% for intact, whole tubers and R ² = 0.95 and RMSEP = 0.50% for sliced tubers was achieved. We conclude that short-wavelength near-infrared technology using a partial transmittance optical sampling geometry can be a useful tool for rapid assessment of tuber dry matter concentration prior to processing.     

Assessment of some major yield-limiting factors on maize production in a humid temperate environment

Despite the availability of modern hybrids and better agronomic practices, there existed large gaps between attainable yield of maize (Zea mays L.) grown with recommended practices and producers’ harvest yields in the humid temperate regions of eastern Canada. A field experiment was conducted for 3 years in Ottawa, Canada, to determine the most important management yield-limiting factor(s) on rainfed maize grain production. A package of recommended practices (RP) was composed with the recommended levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), micronutrients, chemical weed control, and plant population density (PPD). Each factor was modified from the RP, making a total of 11 treatments. Under the low occurrence of diseases or insects, weed infestation was the most important yield-limiting factor, which reduced grain yield by 27–38%. While lack of preplant N application (100 kg ha⁻¹) reduced yield by 10–22%, there was no yield increment with additional sidedressing N (50 kg N ha⁻¹). Grain yield was reduced by 8–13% with low PPD (60,000 plants ha⁻¹) in all years, whereas increasing PPD to 90,000 plants ha⁻¹ did not improve yield, compared with the RP. Withhold P application did not affect yield in all years, but yield was reduced by up to 13% in the absence of K, and by 10% and 12% without Zn or Mn, respectively, in 1 year. Our results indicated that lack of weed control (i.e. herbicide use) was the major yield-limiting factor followed by fertilizer N and PPD. The responses of grain yield to K, Zn, and Mn were site and/or year specific. Our study provided experimental data and an insight understanding of yield gap between genotype's yield potential achievable with recommended practices and yields with producers’ practices.     

Evidence of User Participation in Community Forest Management in the Mid-hills of Nepal: A Case of Rule Making and Implementation

User participation in Community Forestry (CF) regarding forest-related activities from user group formation to implementation of an operational plan is crucial for evaluating the social and biophysical outcomes of a CF program. This study assesses factors responsible for the participation of member households in the planning and implementation process of a CF program in Nepal. Data were collected through a survey of 116 households from six community forest user groups, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Simple random sampling was used to collect both qualitative and quantitative information from 10 % of households participating in CF, utilizing a semi-structured questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors associated with participation in planning and implementations of CF activities. Six socio-demographic and biophysical explanatory variables were included in the analysis, of which Caste, Sex, Age, and Forest Condition were found statistically significant. The results indicate that if the condition of the community forest is perceived as satisfactory, User Committees receive higher user participation in regards to forest development activities and fund mobilization. The results also suggest activities involving physical work attract younger participants. The existing equal access to forest products does not promote equity. However, promoting women and disadvantaged user participation in CF activities may help achieve higher equitability of CF user groups.     

Variation in oil content and fatty acid profile of Calophyllum inophyllum L. with fruit maturity and its implications on resultant biodiesel quality

Variation in oil content and fatty acid profile (FAP) of Calophyllum inophyllum; a potential biodiesel feedstock species were studied at different maturity stages and biodiesel quality parameters were estimated based on the FAP. A steady increase in oil content was observed with maturity. Variation in palmitic (16:0) and linoleic (18:2) acids followed exactly opposite trends where palmitic acid content has decreased and linoleic acid content has increased 77 days after anthesis. Oleic acid (18:1) content has shown a steady increase. Stearic acid (18:0) content remained steady up to 68 days after anthesis and then felt slightly in 77 days after anthesis. Linoleic and eicosanoic acids were found to exist in low concentrations demonstrated very little compositional variation with fruit maturity. Estimated biodiesel parameters of all maturity stages were found to comply with industrial standards. Even though 48 days after anthesis had the most ideal FAP for biodiesel production, ∼77 days after anthesis is preferred point to harvest due to higher oil content.     

An Evaluation of the Introduction of Modified Cropping Practices in Yunnan Province, China, Using Surveys of Farmers' Households

Problems associated with land degradation are serious in China. Sloping land in South China has experienced a decline in crop productivity by 30-60% due to soil erosion and it has been predicted that most topsoil will be lost within the next 100 years if current erosion rates continue. Considering these situations, an agro-environmental research and development project (Sustainable Highland Agriculture in South-East Asia - SHASEA) was conducted in a catchment in Yunnan Province, China, to address the objectives of increasing crop productivity in sustainable and environmentally-friendly ways. A range of cropping practices was developed and implemented in a rural upland catchment (Wang Jia). At the end of the project, farmers were surveyed to evaluate project effectiveness. All farmers from Wang Jia Catchment, who were involved in project implementation, were surveyed. A sample of farmers working in an adjacent catchment (not associated with the project) was surveyed for comparative purposes. Farmers had different perceptions of the cropping practices employed. Contour cultivation was preferred and likely to be adopted. Others practices such as straw mulching and intercropping were seen as less appropriate and unlikely to be adopted. Polythene mulch was recognized as effective, but likely to be adopted only if financial returns were favourable. The availability of relevant information had an important impact on the extent of technology testing by farmers and their willingness to adopt the practices in the future.