Fertilizer prescription equations for desired yield targets of cauliflower under integrated plant nutrient system based on targeted yield model

The Soil Test Crop Response study (STCR) was conducted for cauliflower under IPNS on Inceptisols (Typic Ustropept) in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. In order to develop a scientific base for prescribing fertilizer recommendations for cauliflower, two field experiments were carried out with sorghum as gradient crop and cauliflower as test crop. From the soil test and crop response data, the basic parameters were computed and the fertilizer prescription equations for recommending fertilizer doses were developed for cauliflower. The fertilizer estimates under IPNS clearly indicated better utilization of added fertilizer nutrients by recording of high response ratio. Since the conjoint application of organics with fertilizers resulted in saving of 35, 25 and 28 kg ha⁻¹ of N, P₂O₅ and K₂O respectively. Further inclusion of bio-fertilizer viz., Azospirillum @ 2 kg ha⁻¹ resulted in the saving of 10 kg ha⁻¹ of fertilizer N.