Influence of fertilization modules on economics and profitability of rooted carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) cutting production

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the economics and profitability of rooted carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cutting production influenced by fertilizer modules. Four commercial carnation cultivars, viz. White Wedding, Farida, Niva, Madras and five fertilizer modules were undertaken for investigation at the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan. Maximum net returns and benefit cost ratio was obtained from cultivar Niva (` 12 34 091.20 and 8.55:1) followed by Farida (₹ 11 40 851.20 and 7.90:1) and Madras (₹ 11 35 811.20 and 7.87:1) with fertilizer module comprising of 20-5-5 g/m2 NPK as basal dose and 200 ppm N + 280 ppm K as fertigation twice a week (FM5), while, lowest was associated with cultivar White Wedding. The cultivar White Wedding showed maximum net returns (₹ 10 95 435.43) and benefit cost ratio (7.59:1) with fertilizer module FM4 composed of 20-15-10 g/m2 NPK as basal dose and 175 ppm N + 245 ppm K as fertigation twice a week. However, the minimum benefit cost ratio was noticed in the cultivars White Wedding (5.86:1), Farida (5.46:1) and Madras (6.26:1), respectively, from fertilizer module FM1 comprised of basal fertilizer dose of 20-20-10 g/m2 NPK and fertigation with 100 ppm N + 140 ppm K twice a week except the cultivar Niva (5.33:1) where fertilizer module FM2 composed of 20-15-5 g/m2 NPK as basal dose along with 125 ppm N + 175 ppm K given as fertigation twice a week was predominant. Thus, farmer can get average net income ranges ₹ 7 68 206.57 with fertilizer module FM2 to ₹ 12 34 091.20 with fertilizer module FM5 in cultivar Niva from 500 meter square area. Further, this fertilization module may be undertaken to produce the desired quantity of rooted carnation cuttings to meet the demand and to get the maximum returns.