Cost–Benefit Analysis of Eco-Friendly Nutrient Sources in Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum Morifolium Ramat.) Cultivation

The agronomic performance and economic viability of eco-friendly nutrient sources compared to conventional chemical fertilization in chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) was evaluated in a one-year field experiment (2024-2025) at the agriculture farm of the Department of Agriculture, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut. Nine treatments of nutrient management consisting of the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), farmyard manure, vermicompost, microbial biofertilizers such as Azotobacter, phosphate- and potassium-solubilising bacteria, fermented liquid organics known as jeevamrutha and panchagavya and their integrated combinations were implemented in a randomised block design with three replications. The evaluated parameters included growth, flowering, flower yield, post-harvest soil health and a complete cost and benefit analysis (cost-of-cultivation, gross and net returns, and benefit-to-cost ratio). The highest flower yield (134 q ha^-1), net returns (?4,38,200 ha^-1) and benefit-to-cost ratio (3.14) were produced by T6, which was the integration of 50% RDF and vermicompost (5 t ha^-1) and biofertilizer consortium, followed by T₉ which was the reduced-chemical integrated treatment (B:C 3.05). T8 (the fully organic package) increased Organic carbon and microbial activity in soil but had a higher cost of inputs; thus, it had a lower benefit-to-cost ratio of 2.59 in comparison to the integrated treatments. T1 (chemical control) provided a profit (B:C 2.66) but degraded post-harvest soil indicators consistently. According to the findings, replacing some amount of mineral fertilizers with vermicompost or biofertilizers is an economically rational and ecologically sustainable nutrient management method. Additionally, you can balance profitability and soil health by using these alternatives.