Evaluation of Phosphorus and Boron Fertilization on Yield and Economic Returns of Carrot (Daucus carota L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024-25 at the Postgraduate Research Block, Bahadri Farm, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, to evaluate the influence of phosphorus and boron fertilisation on the yield attributes and economic returns of carrot (Daucus carota L.). The experiment was arranged in a factorial randomised block design with three replications and sixteen treatment combinations. Four phosphorus levels, namely P1 (30 kg/ha), P2 (50 kg/ha), P3 (70 kg/ha) and P4 (90 kg/ha), were combined with four boron levels, namely B0 (0 kg/ha), B1 (1 kg/ha), B2 (2 kg/ha) and B3 (3 kg/ha). Observations were recorded for root length, root diameter, fresh weight of root, dry weight of root and root yield, and the economic analysis was based on gross income, net income and benefit-cost ratio. Phosphorus and boron significantly influenced the measured yield and economic parameters, whereas their interaction was non-significant. Among the phosphorus treatments, P3 (70 kg/ha) recorded the highest root length (26.53 cm), root diameter (3.69 cm), fresh root weight (87.43 g), dry root weight (11.23 g), root yield (213.48 q/ha), gross income (Rs. 213475/ha), net income (Rs. 161025/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (3.07). Among the boron treatments, B3 (3 kg/ha) recorded the highest root length (25.34 cm), root diameter (3.64 cm), fresh root weight (81.58 g), dry root weight (11.02 g), root yield (217.14 q/ha), gross income (Rs. 217141.67/ha), net income (Rs. 164746.67/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (3.14). Based on these findings, phosphorus at 70 kg/ha and boron at 3 kg/ha were the most favourable individual levels for improving carrot yield and profitability under the conditions of the study.