Status, prospect and problems of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) in Nepal: a brief review

Although maize being the second most important staple crop of Nepal after rice in term of area and production, its productivity is very low as compared to other develop nation. Unavailability of location specific maize hybrids might be one of the major causes of low productivity. Hybrid yields 20–30...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genetic resources and crop evolution 2021, Vol.68 (1), p.1-10
Main Author: Kandel, Bishnu Prasad
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural research
Agriculture
Availability
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Corn
Cultivation
Hybrids
Irrigation
Life Sciences
Pesticides
Plant Genetics and Genomics
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
Productivity
R&D
Research & development
Review
Seed set
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Summary:Although maize being the second most important staple crop of Nepal after rice in term of area and production, its productivity is very low as compared to other develop nation. Unavailability of location specific maize hybrids might be one of the major causes of low productivity. Hybrid yields 20–30% more than open pollinated variety. National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, has registered and released seven maize hybrids but they are not suitable for all agro-climatic region of Nepal. This paper was prepared after intensive review of all the information obtained from all available resources i.e. journal article, NMRP and Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) annual report, book, proceeding as well as electronic sources. Hybrid maize covers only 10% of total maize area of Nepal. High price of hybrid seed, a wide gap in anthesis-silking interval, poor seed set, difficulties in early generation lines, untimely availability of inputs (irrigation, fertilizer, pesticides etc.), requirement for seed replacement in every season and high irrigation are the major problems associated with hybrid maize cultivation in Nepal. So, in order to increase the productivity of hybrid maize which will ultimately raise the economic standard of farmers, the emphasis must be given on hybrid maize research and development that suit to all agro-climatic region of Nepal.
ISSN:0925-9864
1573-5109
DOI:10.1007/s10722-020-01032-0