Demonstration of Integrated Nutrient Management Practices on Yield, Yield Attributes and Economics of Pomegranate (cv. Bhagwa) in Arid Zone of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) demonstrations on pomegranate were conducted in 20 farmer fields in Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kalyandurg-operated mandals of Ananthapur district in Andhra Pradesh state during 2022-23 and 2023-24. The aim was to demonstrate the influence of INM practice on enhancing yield attributing features, yield and economics in farmer fields. According to the data, INM practice resulted in a larger number of flowers/plants, fruits/plant, fruit setting percentage, average fruit weight and yield/plant than farmer’s practice, who used chemical nutrient management alone. The demonstration of INM practice resulted in 11.56% and 10.52% higher fruit output than farmers' practices in 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively. The enhanced yield in INM practice can be attributed to more fruits per plant and heavier fruit weight. INM approaches also provided a greater economic advantage, and their adoption resulted in a better benefit-cost ratio (5.87) than farmers' use of inorganic nutrient management (5.40). From the findings It can be concluded that, under current circumstances, adopting INM practices in pomegranate cultivation could result in a higher economic benefit than farmers' practices, encouraging more farmers to adopt INM practices not only in pomegranate but also in other major fruit crops in Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh.