Economic Performance of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) cv. PSB K-25 as Influenced by Different Nutrient Sources

Abstract

The present investigation evaluated the economic performance of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) cv. PSB K-25 under nine nutrient-source combinations during the rabi season from September 2024 to February 2025 at the Experimental Farm of the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design with three replications. The treatments combined different proportions of recommended NPK, farmyard manure, vermicompost, sheep manure and Azotobacter, and seedlings were transplanted at 60 × 45 cm spacing. Economic evaluation considered total curd yield, gross income, total cost of cultivation, net income and benefit-cost ratio. Treatment T9, comprising 50% recommended dose of NPK + farmyard manure at 125 q/ha + 25% vermicompost at 25 q/ha + sheep manure at 50 q/ha + Azotobacter, recorded the highest total curd yield (353.53 q/ha), gross income (Rs 5,30,293.50/ha), net income (Rs 3,35,361.55/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (2.72). In contrast, T6 recorded the lowest curd yield (266.04 q/ha), net income (Rs 66,662.30/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (1.20). The findings indicate that T9 provided the most favourable economic outcome under the tested low-hill subtropical conditions of Himachal Pradesh by combining higher curd yield with improved net returns.