Studies on Relative Economics of Apple Nursery Production under Different Weed Management Practices in Kashmir Valley, India

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess the relative economics of various weed management practices in apple nursery in Kashmir valley, India. Study Design: A Randomized Complete Block Design with seven treatments and three replications was employed as the experimental design. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was laid out at the Experimental Farm, Division of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India during the year 2020. Methodology: Seven weed management treatments (manual weeding, pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i. ha-1, pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i. ha-1 + manual weeding, paddy straw mulch-6 cm thick, black polyethylene mulch-200 micron), weed-free and weedy check) were tested in apple nursery (cv. Silver Spur grafted on M9-T337). The input costs and output in terms of monetary values were calculated under different treatments at prevailing market rates. The net return and benefit-cost (B:C) ratio was worked out based on input and output values under each treatment. Results: The treatment paddy straw mulch showed the highest input cost (₹9543725.90) while black polyethylene mulch resulted the maximum output (17113252.80). The maximum net returns of ₹78,02,726 from grafted apple nursery plants were recorded under black polyethylene mulch with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.83 followed by pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i. ha-1 + manual weeding with net returns of ₹71,60,541 and benefit-cost ratio of 1.77. Conclusion: Black polyethylene mulch resulted highest net return and B:C ratio, hence it found to be most profitable weed management practice in apple nursery. Pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i. ha-1 + manual weeding can also be considered as alternative weed management option.