Priyanka Chand, Jaidev Sharma, Pradeep Kumar Kanaujiya, Pradeep Rajput and Aman Parashar
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi seasons of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to evaluate the economic feasibility of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on the yield and economic returns of mustard (Brassica juncea L.). The experiment included fourteen treatments and was replicated three times in a randomized block design (RBD). In the 2021-2022 season, the highest seed yield of 21.46 q/ha was recorded in treatment T10 (50% NPK + vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + ZnSO4 @ 40 kg + Azotobacter), while the lowest seed yield of 9.11 q/ha was observed in T1 (Farmerâs practice). Similarly, in the 2022-2023 season, T10 again recorded the highest seed yield of 21.86 q/ha, whereas T1 showed the lowest yield of 9.35 q/ha. The stover yield followed a similar trend, with T10 exhibiting the highest yields of 51.36 q/ha in 2021-2022 and 52.06 q/ha in 2022-2023. In contrast, T1 had the lowest stover yields, recording 27.41 q/ha and 27.85 q/ha in the respective years. From an economic perspective, in the 2021-2022 season, the T9 treatment (75% NPK + vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha + ZnSO4 @ 40 kg/ha + Azotobacter) proved to be the most economically feasible. It incurred a cultivation cost of Rs. 33,810, yielding a gross income of Rs. 105,798 and a net income of Rs. 71,988 per hectare. This was closely followed by T10 (50% NPK + vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + ZnSO4 @ 40 kg/ ha + Azotobacter), with a cultivation cost of Rs. 40,060, a gross income of Rs. 110,064, and a net income of Rs. 70,004 per hectare. In the 2022-2023 season, the T9 treatment continued to show favourable economic results, with a cultivation cost of Rs. 33,810, a gross income of Rs. 116,624, and a net income of Rs. 82,814 per hectare. Similarly, T10 recorded a cultivation cost of Rs. 40,060, generating a gross income of Rs. 120,827 and a net income of Rs. 80,767 per hectare. The benefit-cost (B-C) ratio further highlighted the economic viability of the treatments. In 2021-2022, T9 had a B-C ratio of 2.13, while T10 recorded a ratio of 1.75. In the 2022- 2023 season, the B-C ratio for T9 increased to 2.44, and for T10, it rose to 2.02. Overall, these results indicate that the T9 treatment (75% NPK + vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha + ZnSO4 @ 40 kg/ha + Azotobacter) was the most economically viable option for mustard cultivation across both years, offering higher net returns and a superior B-C ratio. Key words: Azotobacter, B:C ratio.