Genetic diversity in home garden species
The measurement of genetic diversity in home gardens of hill and terai sites has shown that
home garden species found in hill regions have more diversity than those in the terai eco
sites (Table 5). This was reflected due to high values of species richness (H’), evenness (J)
and low values of dominances (λ). It may be due to diverse agro-geographical conditions in
hill regions creating different micro-environments suitable for diverse species to maintain in
the home gardens while the terai region represented more uniform agro-geographical
conditions and limited options available for the farmers to grow different home garden
species. Similarly, at individual sites level, the home garden species recorded from Ilam of
the hill region and Jhapa of the terai region have shown comparatively more diversity than
other sites of the respective regions. The easy access to the market and well institutionalized
system of marketing of home garden species in both sites may have resulted high diversity
in home garden species. In Rupandehi site only a few Pahadiya community farmers were
found to be involved in selling their home garden species in the local weekly market ‘Hatiya’
and in Gulmi there is no access to the market, farmers still used the home garden species
for the domestic consumption only.
Table 5. Shannon-Weaver (H’), Evenness (J) and Simpson Indices (λ) estimated for home
garden species diversity in two different agro-ecological zones of Nepal
Diversity Hill Terai
indices Gulmi Ilam Total Rupandehi Jhapa Total
H 4.642892 4.933305 5.162597 4.398174 4.64889 4.788248
J 0.866763 0.847204 0.843824 0.858353 0.841359 0.823977
λ 0.013159 0.011034 0.008959 0.017158 0.014853 0.013442
Diversity in different compositions of home gardens across the sites has shown that
vegetables and ornamental plants were found in the highest diversity across the regions.
However, in two different agro-ecological regions the case differed (Table 6 & 7). This is also
reflected in the different compositions of home garden species in two different agro
ecological regions. In the hills, the great diversity was recorded in vegetables, religious
plants, ornamental and fodder species while in the terai it was found the highest in
vegetables, ornamental and fruit trees.
Extent and Distribution of home garden species diversity
Distribution and use of vegetables
In the home gardens surveyed, a total of 94 different vegetables were recorded, and it
represents the major composition of Nepalese home gardens. The twenty five most common
vegetables in two different agro-ecological zones were provided according to their frequency
distribution in the home gardens (Table 8). This shows the distinct abundance of different
species in home gardens in different agro-ecological zones. Over 50% of the total surveyed
home gardens have grown radish, potato, cucumber and taro in hills whereas sponge gourd,
okra, broad leaf mustard and radish have been maintained in the terai. Vegetables like
potatoes, cowpeas and peas have been grown in larger systems and also maintained in
home gardens.
Different plant parts of vegetable species such as green leaves, young shoots, petioles,
flowers/inflorescence, fruits/pods and root-tubers are consumed to meet the daily food and
nutrition requirements of family members.
- Green leaves: Broad leaf mustard, amaranthus, bethe (Chenopodium album),
radish, spinach, fenugreek, chamsur (Lepidium sativum), tori (Brassica
campestris var. toria), coriander, watercress, lafa sag (Malva verticilata), lettuce,
swis-chard, lude kanda (Amaranthus viridis).