Maize varietal research at agricultural research station, Lumle 2000/2001

The research highlights summarised the findings of maize varietal research conducted at ARS Lumle during 1999/2000, with the objectives of developing high yielding disease resistant varieties suitable for maize based cropping system in the mid and high hills of Western Development Region (WDR) Nepal. In observation nursery, different F1 crosses (7.23-8.79 t/ha), Arun-4 (7.20 t/ha) and white hill pool (6.86 t/ha) were highly promising in NMRP's set whereas yellow hill pool (3.55 t/ha), white hill pool (3.45 t/ha) and BA 03/21262 (3.03 t/ha) in ARS, Lumle's set. Some of the F1 crosses in NMRP's set were earlier and short stature than Arun series. The Indian OPV maize varieties included in ARS Lumle's set were significantly lower yielders. In early maize variety development, Arun-1, Arun2 and Arun-4 including Landruk seto and Patlekhet Panhelo were highly promising with yield ranging from 4.0 to 6.4 t/ha at in AER sites Maduwa and Chamas. In CVT, Ganesh-1 (4.81 t/ha), Pool-21 (4.66 t/ha) and white hill pool (4.449 t/ha) were promising at ARS Lumle's set conducted at AER Bhakimle, whereas Arun-2 (4.86 t/ha) Farmers' local (4.69 t/ha), Across 9223 (4.50 t/ha) and Rampur composite (4.50 t/ha) in NMRP's set conducted at ARS Lumle. Arun-1 Arun-2 and Arun-4 including farmers' local as checks were earlier than other genotypes tested in both the locations. The millet grain yield was higher when intercropped with Arun-2 and Arun-4 at ARS Lumle. In EVT 168 five exotic genotypes were superior to White hill pool and fourteen genotypes to local check. Many of the exotic genotypes were promising for developing new high yielding varieties. The population 44C10 (7.39 t/ha). P42C9 X P44C10 (7.22 t/ha). DPT-Wc8F2 (6.82 t/ha). Harare 9644 (6.80 t/ha) and Population-42 C9 (6.47 t/ha) were high yielding and surpassed the yield obtained by both the checks. In ILPoP, many genotypes were highly promising and surpassed the yield obtained by both the checks. The SADVI F1 (7.34 t/ha), DRACOSYN F1/DRBCOSYN F1 (6.95 t/ha), Chitibu (Malawi) (6.45 t/ha). Lat AC1F1 X Lat BC1F1 (6.34 t/ha) and [TSEQZIM] C2F2 (6.32 t/ha) were high yielding. The standard check had 12th position whereas local check in 21st position in yield rank. In EPoP, many genotypes were highly promising and surpassed the yield obtained by the checks (Local, Arun-1 and Arun-2). The SADV1F1 (8.31 t/ha). SADVEF1 (8.16 t/ha) and SADVIIF1 (7.84 t/ha) were found highest yielders. The checks were earlier in maturity than tested genotypes. None of the varieties tested in varietal evaluation trial were free from turcicum leaf blight disease except difference in disease scoring. The higher yield was recorded from TLWD EL C3 (6.77 t/ha), Ganesh-1 (6.27 t/ha) and pool 21 (6.08 t/ha) with variety mean of 5.64 t/ha, where as Arun-2 (7.14 t/ha), Rampur-2 (6.82 t/ha), Population-22 (6.79 t/ha) and population 30C8 (6.38 t/ha) with variety mean of 5.35 t/ha. The Kalipare panhelo rated 4 scale for H. turcicum. The grain yield was not reasonably affected due to normal sowing time and occurrence of disease after milking stage. The maximum yield of 7 t/ha and minimum of 3 t/ha were recorded from both the sets. The normal sowing crop escapes the disease epidemics due to low humidity and dry-warm temperature. The high epidemic of disease was observed after milking stage followed by high-humidity and cool-warm temperature. Nitrogen-use-effieient (NE) lines have high grain yield at both high and low N, where as nitrogen use-inefficient (NI) lines yield well at high N but much less under low N. so two of the recommended and a promising varieties were tested with different levels of N at top dressing to observe yield trend. The yield was not statistically significant due to variety and N levels except numerical yield difference among the varieties and N levels at both the locations. In CFFT, upahar (4.16 t/ha), Arun-2 (3.83 t/ha) and Arun-4 (3.79 t/ha) where high yielders at Lumle but Arun-4 (6.22 t/ha) uphar (5.91 t/ha) and Narayani (5.49 t/ha) at AER site, Maduwa and among FFT, population-22 was the highest yielder at all AER sites (Bamga 9.72 t/ha), (Chhahara 6.94 t/ha), (Maduwa 8.44 t/ha), (Bhakimle 6.85 t/ha) and (Lumle 6.13 t/ha) but white hill pool (9.49 t/ha) at Bagun. The across location grain mean yield was highest at Bagun followed by Bamga and Maduwa. Population-22 had produced higher across varietal grain mean yield followed by pool 9A and white hill pool. The grain and straw yield of intercropped millet were high with farmers' variety (1.34 t/ha) followed by Manakamana-2 (1.27 t/ha) and Ganesh-2 (1.22 t/ha) whereas straw yield with Manakamana-2 (11.63 t/ha) followed by Ganesh-2 (11.25 t/ha) and Farmers' variety (10.0 t/ha). In pop corn variety evaluation, the local checks khujuro panhelo was the highest yielder followed by yousufwala pop corn and Arghum local. The popping capacity ranged from 58 to 88.5 percent and volume expansion from 5.87 to 17.14 times due to popping. The lumle yellow popcorn and promising white pop corn developed by recombining local and exotic genotypes are in recurrent selection for grain plant type and popping quality. The identities of popcorn variety are governed by plant type grain type, popping capacity, volume increased by popping, maturity and consumers' preference. In baby corn variety development, the pool-21, khumal yellow, Arun-2, Arun-4, Lumle and yellow popcorn hand produced more than 1 t/ha fresh baby shoot. This trial was conducted during winter at ARS, Malepatan under rainfed condition. The total fresh baby shoots produced by some of the entries were nearly equal to some of the hybrid baby corn varieties developed in Thailand.