Productivity, Profitability and Energetic of Baby Corn - Chinese Cabbage - Onion Cropping System as Influenced by Nutrient Management

Abstract

A long term experiment on ‘nutrient management in Baby corn-Chinese cabbage-onion
cropping system’ was initiated in kharif 2003 and continued till 2014-15. Seven treatments involving
organic nutrient, pure inorganic and integrated nutrient management were evaluated for production
potential, economic feasibility, energy relations and effects on soil fertility in an unreplicated trial. To
find out treatment differences, analysis of yield data from 2003 to 2014-15 was taken considering years
as replicates. To minimize the year to year variation in yield, three years moving averages were worked
out. The results revealed that the baby corn yield was maximum under INM treatment and was
minimum under the pure inorganic treatment. Under INM treatment the mean yields of Chinese
cabbage and onion were 2.06 and 10.3 times higher than pure inorganic treatment, respectively. The
highest baby corn equivalent yield was recorded in INM (T1). Organic treatments resulted in higher
cost of cultivation than INM and pure inorganic. 50% NPK (inorganics) + 50% N (FYM) (T1) gave
significantly higher net return, B: C ratio and energy output. 50% N (FYM) + Azospirillum + Rock
phosphate + PSB (T5) resulted in highest energy output: input and energy productivity.