Published Paper Details:

ABSTRACT Horticultural crops play a unique role in Indian economy by improving the income of the rural people. India, with its diversified soil and climate comprising several agro- ecological regions, provides the opportunity to cultivate different crops and varieties of horticultural crops. The Cauliflower has been recognized as an important food article due to its palatable taste and rich supply of minerals, vitamins, protein, carbohydrates and gives more profit also. With this view a study was conducted in Latur district of Maharashtra on effect of integrated nutrient on cauliflower production to know the cost of cultivation and profitability of the crop in the selected area. In order to investigate, an experiment was conducted using Randomized Block Design with three replications. The experiment comprised of 14 different treatment combinations comprising of three different sources of nutrients including inorganic, organic and bio-fertilizers. The study revealed that the highest net monetary returns (Rs. 1,18,033 ha-1) and gross monetary returns (Rs. 1,80,040 ha-1) were recorded in treatment of 75 % RDF + FYM + Azotobacter + Azospirillum (T6) followed by T2. The benefit: cost ratio was maximum (2.97) in treatment of 100 % RDF + Azotobacter + Azospirillum (T3) followed by T6 (2.90). The minimum net returns (Rs. 31,763 ha-1) and gross monetary returns (Rs. 64,000 ha-1) recorded in treatment control (T14) with low B: C ratio (1.93). From the studies it can be inferred that the application of 75 % RDF + FYM @ 5 t/ha along with Azospirillum and Azotobacter was found to be the most effective treatment combination for getting enhanced post harvested parameters in cauliflower with saving of 25 per cent chemical fertilizers.