Performance of cauliflower in north western Himalayas: Comparative assessment to integrated nutrient management practices

The present study was carried out at the Research farm of Abhilashi University, Mandi (H.P) during the rabi season of 2023 - 24. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications comprising seven treatments consisting of different sources of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers to assess the impact of integrated nutrient management on the growth, yield, soil and economics of cauliflower. The results revealed that treatment consisting of N: P: K (50%) + Biochar (25%) + Poultry Manure (25%) influenced all parameters like plant height (53.16 cm), number of leaves per plant (15.56), leaf length (47.07 cm), curd weight (656.04 g), curd diameter (13.16 cm), yield per plot (5.90 kg) and yield per hectare (218.70 q/ha). The higher soil pH (6.0) was recorded in treatment T₂ [N: P: K (100%)], the higher organic carbon (0.98%) was recorded in treatment T₅ [Biochar (50%) + Poultry Manure (50%)], higher water holding capacity was observed in treatment T₄ [Farm Yard Manure (100%)]. The higher available N (303.82 kg/ha), P (38.09 kg/ha) and K (274.01 kg/ha) were recorded under treatment T₂ [N: P: K (100%)]. The maximum net return (₹ 3, 20, 107) and B: C ratio (2.7:1) were also increased by N: P: K (50%) + Biochar (25%) + Poultry Manure (25%). Hence, application of NPK (50%) + Biochar (25%) + Poultry Manure (25%) can be recommended for its commercial use after verifications of results by way of conducting on farm trials across the cauliflower growing areas of Himanchal Pradesh.