Assessment of integrated organic and inorganic nutrient management practices for enhancing yield and economics of khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata L. Blanco) compared to farmer’s practice

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in mandarin cultivation, specifically for Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata L. Blanco), is an approach that combines the use of organic & inorganic fertilizers to improve soil health, optimize nutrient availability, with increase crop yield and quality. INM aims to make the best use of available nutrient sources while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the farming system. An experiment has been carried out in a farmer's field in the Kokrajhar district in order to investigate the influence of integrated nutrient management on the yield, quality, as well as economics of Khasi mandarin farming. The research experiment had been designed employing a Randomized Block Design, comprising five treatments & three replications. The application of various combinations of inorganic as well as organic nutrients, FYM, neem cake, VAM, PSB, Azospirillum, along with Trichoderma harzianum affected the yield of Khasi mandarin in comparison to the farmer's practice (control). Research results demonstrated an integrated application of 75 per cent of the required fertilizer dosage, i.e 450 g N, 225 g P2O5, 450 g K2O + 5.625 kg Neem oil cake + 500 g VAM + 100 g PSB + 100 g Azospirillum + 100 g Trichoderma harzianum per plant per year in 2 splits i.e. in March/April & September/October improved soil chemical properties compared to farmer’s practice. The plant height, fruit yield, juice percent, acidity, TSS, ascorbic acid and TSS/acid ratio were comparatively higher under treatment, T4 with organic and inorganic nutrient management combined with 75% RDF compared to control. The combination of organic & inorganic treatments with 75% RDF (T4) produced the maximum benefit-cost ratio (4.28), while farmer's approach produced the lowest benefit-cost ratio (3.52).