Economics of Peach (Prunus persica L.) Production under Different Nitrogen Regimes through Neem Coated Urea and Calcium Sprays

An investigation was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (ICAR-VPKAS), Kafligair-Bageshwar (Uttarakhand) during the years 2016 and 2017 in peach cv. Red June planted at 3 m x 3 m spacing with varying nitrogen regimes through neem coated urea along with three sprays of calcium chloride. There were ten treatments i.e., 375g N/tree + 0.5% Ca Cl₂ (T₁), 375g N/tree + 1.0% Ca Cl₂ (T₂), 375g N/tree + 1.5% Ca Cl₂ (T₃), 500g N/tree + 0.5% Ca Cl₂ (T₄), 500g N/tree + 1.0% Ca Cl₂ (T₅), 500g N/tree + 1.5% Ca Cl₂ (T₆), 625g N/tree + 0.5% Ca Cl₂ (T₇), 625g N/tree + 1.0% Ca Cl₂ (T₈), 625g N/tree + 1.5% Ca Cl₂ (T₉), 500g N/tree + water spray as control (T₁₀). The fruits were harvested at uniform maturity, packed and stored at ambient conditions. Economic analysis was done according to the average of two years data. Fruit yield, quality and storability at ambient conditions were measured and depending upon organoleptic acceptability at different storage intervals (0, 3, 6 and 8 d of harvest) and prevailing market rates the sale price was calculated. Cost of all the inputs and operational cost were calculated and summed up as cost of production. The benefit-cost ratio was highest under T₂ i.e., 2.99 followed by T₅ (2.88), T₃ (2.81) and T₆ (2.68), whereas the minimum was found with T₁₀ (1.71).