Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield and Economics in Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) under Rainfed Condition of Ramgarh District, Jharkhand, India

An on-farm trial (OFT) was conducted during the rabi season of 2017–18 under rainfed conditions in the red soil region of Chhotkipoona village, Bargaon, Barka Chumba block of Ramgarh district, Jharkhand, to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) on growth, yield, and economics of cabbage (B. oleracea L. var. capitata) Cv.Pusa Hybrid 1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design under farmers’ participatory mode with three nutrient management practices: T₁ (Farmers’ practice) – FYM @ 2 t ha⁻¹ + N₈₀P₄₀K₀, T₂ – FYM @ 10 t ha⁻¹ + N₁₀₀P₄₀K₂₀, and T₃ – Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF: N₁₂₀P₆₀K₆₀) + FYM @ 20 t ha⁻¹. Result revealed that T₃ recorded superior growth parameters, including higher plant height (34.7 cm), number of folded leaves (22.3), head diameter (14.25 cm), head compactness (32.61%), fresh head weight per plant (948 g), early head formation (45 days), and reduced days to maturity (70 days). Consequently, the highest marketable yield (32.01 t ha⁻¹) was obtained under T₃, representing a yield increase of 48.88% over farmers’ practice. Economic analysis indicated that highest B:C ratio (3.45) found in T3 followed by T₂. The lowest yield and economic returns were recorded under farmers’ practice. The improved performance under INM may be attributed to balanced nutrient supply, improved soil physical and biological properties, and enhanced nutrient use efficiency. The study concludes that application of RDF combined with FYM @ 20 t ha⁻¹ is a profitable and sustainable nutrient management strategy for cabbage cultivation under rainfed red soil conditions of Jharkhand.