Assessment of economic potentiality and employment generation through integrated nutrient management in coconut-based cropping system

Field experiment was carried out at Regional Coconut Research Station, Bhatye (DBSKKV, Dapoli), Maharashtra (India) during 2013-2018 to study the assessment of economic potentiality and employment generation through integrated nutrient management (INM) in coconut-based cropping system. INM practices viz., T1-75 % of RDF+25 % of N through organic recycling with vermicompost, T₂-50 % of RDF+50 % of N through organic recycling with vermicompost + vermiwash application + bio-fertilizer application + in situ green mannuring (cowpea), T₃-fully organic:100 % N through organic recycling with vermicompost + vermiwash application + bio-fertilizer application + in situ green mannuring (cowpea) and green leaf mannuring + composted coir pith, husk incorporation and mulching with coconut leaves were imposed in coconut based cropping system involving nutmeg, cinnamon, banana and pineapple. For comparison, T₄- control: monocrop of coconut with recommended NPK and organic manure was maintained. Four treatments were laid out in a block of 0.45 ha area each. Among the different INM practices, treatment T₁ recorded highest net returns Rs.131605/- with highest B:C ratio 2.69 followed by T₂ recorded Rs.122868/ - and 2.29 as net returns and B:C ratio respectively. In contrast, the treatment T₄ - coconut monocrop alone had recorded Rs.38735 and 1.60 as net returns and B:C ratio respectively. Employment generation due to cropping system was one of the objectives under the study and it was observed to be very high in the treatment T₁ (297 man days ha^-1 year^-1) followed by the treatment T₂ (284 man days ha^-1 year^-1), whereas, it was the lowest in coconut monocrop (T₄). Productivity of the system was higher in the intercropping garden. The coconut nut yield (5-year average) was higher under T₁ (147.2 nuts palm^-1 year^-1), followed by T₂ (138.4 nuts palm^-1 year^-1) and T₃ (123.6 nuts palm^-1 year^-1), whereas, monocrop had recorded a significantly lower number of nut yield (97.2 nuts palm^-1 year^-1). INM practice involving T₁-75 % of RDF+25 % of N through organic recycling with vermicompost is most sustainable, productive and economically viable treatment with highest employment generation compared to other treatments.