Research Projects

1. Varietal Development

A.1. Open Pollinated Varieties (OPVs)

Development of open pollinated full season maize for different production environments of Nepal (OPVs full season).
Development of early maturing maize varieties for terai and hills of Nepal.
Development of QPM varieties for terai and mid-hills of Nepal.
Development of maize genotypes under drought stress condition.
Utilization of local landraces for the development of maize varieties suitable for different production environments.
Development of maize varieties for Karnali region.
High value maize varieties development for Nepal.
Maintenance of released maize varieties for Nepal.
OPV’s/Synthetic varieties development/advancement

A.2. Hybrids

Performance of full season and hybrid maize variety throughout the year in Rampur, Chitwan.
Development and evaluation of inbred lines.
Seed increase of promising inbred lines by controlled pollination.
Characterize inbred lines and hybrids based on morpho-physiological traits.
Development of conventional (single cross) & non-conventional (top cross) hybrids.
Evaluation of crosses for similar agronomic traits.
Formation of synthetic population.
Evaluation of hybrids and synthetic population in Coordinated Varietal Trials (CVT).
Evaluation of hybrids under Coordinated Farmers Field Trials (FFT).
Carry out on station and on farm hybrid and synthetic seed production.
Open pollination of the selected lines in isolation
Evaluation of CIMMYT Hybrids
Evaluation of NMRP hybrids using PVS in hybrids growing pockets
Test cross or diallel cross for GCA and SCA and evaluation of crosses
Seed production of inbred lines
Seed production of two way cross hybrids
Seed production of three way cross hybrids
Hybrid seed production training to seed entrepreneurs
Multi-stakeholder’s visit to NMRP and hybrid growing areas
Source seed production of Rampur Hybrid-2
Multilocation testing of multinational company hybrids

2. Crop Management

Field experimentation in testing the performance of hybrids and OPV of maize under conventional tillage and no tillage with or without residue in Terai, Nepal.
Identification of best bet technology (nutrient management, plant densities, time of planting etc) on hybrids and OPVs of maize and their verification in Terai.
Performance studies of Conservation Agriculture (CA) under maize based system in Nepal.
Verification of best-bet CA based crop management practices under maize based system in Nepal.
Studies on various weed management methods in maize.
Water management studies in spring and rainy season maize.
Performance evaluation of manual and power operated corn shellers.
Studies on the intercropping of hybrid and OPV of maize with different legume species in Nepal.
Studies on the intercropping of maize and potato in Terai and hills.

3. Disease Management

Management of maize diseases through host resistance.
Score and screen the inbred lines and hybrids and composite against the major diseases and insects.
Development of grey leaf spot tolerant maize varieties

4. Insect paste management

Survey surveillance of Armyworm at different locations.
Life cycle study of armyworm at lab condition.
Mass rearing of Rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica) as host insect of Trichogramma
Laboratory rearing , maintenance of Trichogramma in lab and application of Trichogramma in seed production block at NMRP.
Establishment of botanical pesticide garden at NMRP, Rampur.
Management of storage pest through the use of indigenous botanical pesticides.
Evaluation of effect of packing materials and seed moisture content on storability of maize (Zea mays) seeds.

5. Soil fertility Management

Nutrient management for summer and spring season maize.
Enhancing soil phosphorus availability and P- uptake in maize based cropping system.
Assessment of soil fertility status of NMRP’s outreach research sites.
Updating the fertilizer dose for extra early, normal, and hybrid maize variety.
Variety cum fertilizer trial (VCFT) on improved maize genotypes on acid soils of Rampur.
Fertilizer management for pipeline inbreds of RML32 and RML17 , RML4, RML95 and RML96.
Testing and evaluation of precision technology in nitrogen management of maize.
Grain yield estimation of different maize varieties sown on different date using optical sensor (Green seeker crop sensor).

6. Outreach Research

Participatory varietal selection
Farmers acceptance test (FAT)
IRD and Minikit distribution of maize
Dissemination of maize varieties and technology through frontline demonstrations.
Verification and demonstration of intercropping of maize and rajma bean in the farmers field of Terai
Diamond trial on nutrient management for maize based cropping system
Survey and surveillance of maize insect pests in three outreach research sites of NMRP
Verification of farm machinery and crop establishment method in farmer’s field
Inter and intra regional OR tours by researchers and farmers
Publication of leaflets, booklets and brochures.
Three months farmers-scientist program (2 farmers) on maize seed production
SMS (research and extension) trainings

7. Source seed production