Integrated nutrient management strategies for reducing chemical inputs without compromising yield in cauliflower

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) offers a pathway to reduce synthetic fertilizer use while maintaining or improving crop productivity and soil health. A field experiment conducted during Rabi 2020–21 at the Research Farm, Udai Pratap (Autonomous) College, Varanasi evaluated nine nutrient management treatments combining 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) with organic inputs (FYM, vermicompost) and the biofertilizer Azospirillum. Cauliflower cv. Pusa Snowball K-1 grown on a sandy‑loam soil with medium fertility showed that integrated packages substantially improved vegetative growth, accelerated curd initiation and maturity, and increased curd size and weight compared with no-input and inorganic-only controls. The combination T9 (50% RDF + FYM 5 t/ha + vermicompost 1 t/ha + Azospirillum 2.5 kg/ha) produced the greatest plant height (63.48 cm), leaf area (1,343 cm2), largest curd diameter (18.38 cm), highest curd weight (938 g) and maximum yield (341.78 q/ha), and delivered the highest net return and benefit:cost ratio. Treatment T8 (50% RDF + vermicompost 2.5 t/ha + Azospirillum 5 kg/ha) best preserved post‑harvest soil N, P and K, indicating superior residual fertility. Economic analysis demonstrated that selected INM packages can lower chemical input costs and enhance profitability without yield penalties. These results underscore that well‑designed INM strategies, integrating reduced inorganic fertilizers with organic amendments and biofertilizers, can sustainably maintain cauliflower yields, improve soil nutrient status, and increase farm returns, offering a scalable approach for reducing chemical dependence in vegetable production.