Economics of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) cv. snowball as influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus levels

Abstract:

The present investigation was carried out during the winter season of 2009-10 at the Research Farm of the Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences, Allahabad, to evaluate the economics of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) cv. Snowball as influenced by different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (4 × 3 factorial) comprising four levels of nitrogen (0, 40, 60 and 80 kg ha⁻¹) and three levels of phosphorus (0, 100 and 150 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) with three replications. The economics was computed based on cost of cultivation, gross returns and net returns. Among the different treatment combinations, N₂P₁ (60 kg N ha⁻¹ + 100 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) recorded the maximum net returns (₹ 2,40,950 ha⁻¹) with a benefit-cost ratio of 5.91, followed by N₂P₂ (60 kg N ha⁻¹ + 150 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) with net returns of ₹ 2,14,800 ha⁻¹ and B:C ratio of 5.18. The control treatment N₀P₀ recorded the minimum net returns (₹ 65,800 ha⁻¹) with B:C ratio of 1.88. The study concluded that combined application of nitrogen @ 60 kg ha⁻¹ and phosphorus @ 100 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ with uniform dose of potassium @ 100 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ was economically most viable for chrysanthemum cv. Snowball under Allahabad conditions.