Cost and Return Analysis of Kinnow Mandarin (Citrusreticulata Blanco) with the Foliar Application of Potassium and Plant Growth Regulators

Kinnow mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) belongs to family Rutaceae. In India, Kinnow is being grown in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh. To evaluate the most profitable treatment, economic analysis of treatments was worked out in terms of net return and Cost benefit ratio (C: B) ratio. The cost incurred on basin preparation per tree ( 40), Cost of FYM per tree ( 60), Cost of Urea per tree ( 3), Cost of DAP per tree ( 12.60), Cost of MOP per tree ( 30) and miscellaneous charges (Irrigation, plant protection measures, harvesting of fruits etc.) per tree ( 150) was found to be same in all the treatments. The cost incurred on the preparation of different solutions of potassium nitrate (KNO₃) in various treatments was found to be 18.60 for 3.0% KNO₃ per tree followed by 12.40 for 2.0% KNO₃ and 6.20 for 1.0% KNO₃ and in preparation of different solutions of potassium sulphate (K₂SO₄) it was found to be 9.90 for 1.5% K₂SO₄ per tree followed by 6.60 for 1.0% K₂SO₄ and 3.30 for 0.5% K₂SO₄. _{In case of preparation of ethrel in different treatments was found to be 6.75 for 450 ppm ethrel followed by 4.50 for 300 ppm ethrel and 2.25 for 150 ppm ethrel and the cost incurred for preparation of 75 ppm GA3 was found to be 22.60. It was found that 75 ppm GA3 treatment was best and showed highest net returns per tree 916.35. Thus, Kinnow mandarin trees treated with GA3 75 ppm was found to be best treatment combination as evidenced by cost: benefit ratio of 1: 3.88.}