Response of organically grown cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) to different sources and rates of organic manures in Indo-Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was carried out during during winter (rabi) 2009–10 at Kanpur, India under organic environment with aimed to find out the response of different organic manures (farmyard manure, vermicompost and neem cake) on curd yield and economics of organically grown cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis). Curd yield of cauliflower was significantly influenced by the application of different sources and rates of organic inputs. Results revealed that sole application of vermicompost emerged as better organic nutrient source over sole farmyard manure (FYM) and neem cake. Higher doses of these orgaincs exerted more encouraging results over their lower doses. The maximum curd yield (9.20 t ha⁻¹) was realized with the sole application of vermicompost (7.5 t ha)⁻¹, closely followed by FYM 30 t ha⁻¹ (9.01 t ha⁻¹). Further, combined application of organics established their superiority over sole application of either of these organics. Among the treatments which received organics in combination revealed that maximum curd yield (12.62 t ha⁻¹) and calorific values (3155 × 10³ kcal) were produced in the plots receiving FYM 10 t ha⁻¹ + vermicompost 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + neem cake 0.1 t ha⁻¹ in combination. All treatments receiving organic inputs gave higher gross and net returns compared to the control, when a price premium (10–30%) was assigned to organic cauliflower. Combined use of FYM 10 t ha⁻¹ + vermicompost 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + neem cake 0.1 t ha⁻¹ recorded highest gross (₹ 126.20 × 10³ ha⁻¹) and net return (₹ 70.87 × 10³ ha⁻¹) at normal prices, which was significantly superior over other treatments. Application of FYM 10 t ha⁻¹ + neem cake 0.1 t ha⁻¹ recorded maximum benefit: cost ratio (2.70) at normal prices.