Influence of Integrated Nutrient Management on Yield and Economic Returns of Flower and Tuber Production in Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis L.) cv. Zail Singh

This study evaluates the “Influence of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on
Yield and Economic Returns of Flower and Tuber Production in Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis L.)
cv. Zail Singh”, conducted during the winter seasons of 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 at the
Horticultural Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and
Technology, Meerut, UP. The experiment employed a Randomized Complete Block Design
(RCBD) with 19 INM treatments replicated three times, integrating varying levels of
chemical fertilizers, organic amendments, and bio-inoculants. Treatment T 12 significantly
enhanced flower production, achieving 20.33 and 25.00 flowers per plant, 241.75 and 243.17
flowers per plot, and 1,007,290 and 1,220,931 flowers per hectare. Corresponding flower
yields were 696.79 g and 724.07 g per plant, 8.19 kg and 8.36 kg per plot, and 34.84 tons and
34.14 tons per hectare across the two seasons. Treatment T 16 recorded superior tuber yields,
with tuber weights of 900.00 g and 877.50 g per plant, 10.80 kg and 10.53 kg per plot, and
45.00 ton and 43.88 ton per hectare, alongside tuber diameters of 65.30 cm² and 68.98 cm².
Treatment T 17 achieved the highest cost-benefit ratios (4.47 and 4.26), with 9.83 and 12.17
tubers per plant and 116.08 and 146.00 tubers per plot. In contrast, 100% inorganic fertilizer
(T 1 ) had a negligible impact on flower and tuber production. The study faced several
challenges, including variability in soil nutrient content, climate fluctuations, and the
complexity of effectively integrating different nutrient management practices. It highlights
the effectiveness of combining organic and microbial inputs with reduced chemical fertilizers
to improve yield and economic viability in dahlia cultivation.