Effect of nitrification inhibitors on quality, yield and economics of cauliflower cv. PSB K1 in <i>Typic Eutrochrept</i> under mid hills of North Western Himalayas
The study was focused on identification of potentially effective and environmentally
feasible nitrification inhibitors for cauliflower in order to minimize
the losses of applied N fertilizers under mid hill conditions. Field
experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2018–19 & 2019–20)
on late sown cauliflower cv. Pusa Snowball K1 with eight different doses of
inhibitors supplemented with NPK fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM) in
Randomized Block Design (RBD) replicated thrice. Results showed that recommended
dose of fertilizer [N, P & K (125:76:72 kg/ha)] with neem cake
(20 g/kg soil) þ FYM (250 q/ha) registered maximum pooled NPK concentration
in curd (3.40, 0.69 & 1.93%), leaf (2.85, 0.49 & 1.86%) and root (1.34,
0.35 & 1.24%). Maximum plant NPK uptake (95.4, 29.4 & 61.4 kg/ha) and
curd yield (283.97 q/ha) on pooled basis was recorded under the similar
treatment, the results were comparable to CaC2 treatment with NPK
uptake of 92, 28 & 58 kg/ha, respectively and curd yield of 278.90 q/ha.
Application of neem cake resulted in highest soil NH4
þ-N accumulation
(137.71 kg/ha) with comparatively lower NO3
--N retention (46.18 kg/ha).
Regarding economics, maximum net returns (Rs/ha 4,36,662) with a highest
benefit: cost ratio of 3.89 was registered under melia application@
20 g/kg soil. Besides neem cake, melia provided better results on crop
growth over pomegranate application. Therefore, two years of field study
identified neem cake and melia as prominent and cost effective nitrification
inhibitor module for cauliflower under mid hilly conditions.
feasible nitrification inhibitors for cauliflower in order to minimize
the losses of applied N fertilizers under mid hill conditions. Field
experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2018–19 & 2019–20)
on late sown cauliflower cv. Pusa Snowball K1 with eight different doses of
inhibitors supplemented with NPK fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM) in
Randomized Block Design (RBD) replicated thrice. Results showed that recommended
dose of fertilizer [N, P & K (125:76:72 kg/ha)] with neem cake
(20 g/kg soil) þ FYM (250 q/ha) registered maximum pooled NPK concentration
in curd (3.40, 0.69 & 1.93%), leaf (2.85, 0.49 & 1.86%) and root (1.34,
0.35 & 1.24%). Maximum plant NPK uptake (95.4, 29.4 & 61.4 kg/ha) and
curd yield (283.97 q/ha) on pooled basis was recorded under the similar
treatment, the results were comparable to CaC2 treatment with NPK
uptake of 92, 28 & 58 kg/ha, respectively and curd yield of 278.90 q/ha.
Application of neem cake resulted in highest soil NH4
þ-N accumulation
(137.71 kg/ha) with comparatively lower NO3
--N retention (46.18 kg/ha).
Regarding economics, maximum net returns (Rs/ha 4,36,662) with a highest
benefit: cost ratio of 3.89 was registered under melia application@
20 g/kg soil. Besides neem cake, melia provided better results on crop
growth over pomegranate application. Therefore, two years of field study
identified neem cake and melia as prominent and cost effective nitrification
inhibitor module for cauliflower under mid hilly conditions.