Evaluating the Effectiveness of Rhizobium Inoculants and Micronutrients as Technologies for Nepalese Common Bean Smallholder Farmers in the Real-World Context of Highly Variable Hillside Environments and Indigenous Farming Practices

Malinda S. Thilakarathna, Tejendra Chapagain, Bhawana Ghimire, Roshan Pudasaini, Bir Bhahadur Tamang, Khem Gurung, Khem Choi, Laxmi Rai, Samjhana Magar, Bishnu Bk, Shankar Gaire and Manish N. Raizada
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Malinda S. Thilakarathna: Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Tejendra Chapagain: Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Bhawana Ghimire: Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Box 324, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Roshan Pudasaini: Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Box 324, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Bir Bhahadur Tamang: Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Box 324, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Khem Gurung: Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Box 324, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Khem Choi: Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Box 324, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Laxmi Rai: Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Box 324, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Samjhana Magar: Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Box 324, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Bishnu Bk: Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Box 324, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Shankar Gaire: Department of Plant Pathology, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan 44209, Nepal
Manish N. Raizada: Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada

Agriculture, 2019, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Studies have shown the potential of rhizobia and associated micronutrients to enhance symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes. Tens of millions of smallholder farmers, however, farm on mountain hillsides in highly variable soil and microenvironments, with different crop rotations, inputs and cultural practices. Here, on the terraces of the Nepalese Himalayas, we evaluated rhizobium inoculants (local, exotic), micronutrients (molybdenum, boron) and their combinations as technologies for smallholder farmers under highly variable microenvironments and traditional practices. The study was conducted as a series of participatory on-farm trials with 39 terrace farmers in two mid-hill districts of Nepal (Dhading, Kaski) from 2015 to 2017. Plots were measured for relevant agronomic traits. As expected, when comparing treatment plots with adjacent control plots within each farm, the results demonstrated tremendous farm-to-farm variability for nodulation, vegetative biomass, shoot nitrogen content, grain yield, and grain N content. Despite the variation observed, the data showed that the number of farms that showed yield increases from the rhizobium interventions, compared to those that suffered yield losses, was generally 2:1. We discuss potential experimental and socio-agronomic reasons for the variable results, including rainfall, which appeared critical. The results demonstrate the promise of rhizobium interventions for hillside smallholder farmers, even in a highly variable context.

Keywords: common bean; legume; nodule; nitrogen fixation; terrace farmer; micronutrients (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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