Priyanka Chand, Jaidev Sharma, Pradeep Rajput, Pradeep Kumar Kanaujiya and Aman Parashar
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) practices on mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cultivation under rainfed conditions in Madhya Pradesh focusing on yield attributes and economic viability. The study aimed to identify optimal nutrient management combinations including chemical fertilizers, organic amendments and bio-fertilizers and evaluate their impact on crop performance and profitability. A range of treatments was tested combining different ratios of recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF), Vermicompost, Farm Yard manure (FYM), Poultry Manure (PM), and Microbial inoculants like Azotobacter and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB). The results showed that treatment T10 which involved 50% NPK + vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + ZnSO @ 40 kg/ha + Azotobacter, produced the highest values in key parameters: number of siliquae per plant, siliqua length, number of seeds per siliqua and seed yield. Specifically, T10 yielded 21.46 q/ha in 2021-22 and 21.86 q/ha, with the highest stover yields and harvest index. Economically T10 achieved the highest gross and net returns, with benefit-cost ratios of 2.02, demonstrating the most favourable economic outcome among the treatments. In contrast, traditional farmer practices (T1) yielded the lowest returns and benefit-cost ratios. These findings underscore the importance of adopting integrated nutrient management practices for optimizing mustard yield and economic returns in rainfed areas.