~ 1144 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies 2020; 8(1): 1144-1146 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2020; 8(1): 1144-1146 © 2020 IJCS Received: 25-11-2019 Accepted: 27-12-2019 Anjali Verma Department of Soil Science and Water Management Dr. Y S Parmer University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India D Tripathi Department of Soil Science and Water Management Dr. Y S Parmer University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India Uday Sharma Department of Soil Science and Water Management Dr. Y S Parmer University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India Meera Devi Department of Soil Science and Water Management Dr. Y S Parmer University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India Corresponding Author: VU Raut Department of Soil Science and Water Management Dr. Y S Parmer University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India Influence of drip fertigation on yield and economics of cauliflower cv. PSBK- 1 Anjali Verma, D Tripathi, Uday Sharma and Meera Devi DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/chemi.2020.v8.i1o.8404 Abstract The present studies were undertaken during 2013-14 and 2014-15 to investigate the influence of drip fertigation on yield and benefit cost ratio of cauliflower cv. PSBK-1. The field experiments were laid out in randomized block design with four replications and six fertigation levels (100, 90, 80, 70, 60 and 110 per cent of recommended dose). Fertigation with recommended dose significantly, increased the curd weight and curd yield by 17.8 and 17.9 per cent over 60% RD, and also this treatment had better water and nutrient utilization. Furthermore, fertigation applied in ten equal splits led to an optimum supply of nutrients to cauliflower at different growth stages thus leading to higher curd weight and yield. The highest benefit cost ratio (B:C) was recorded under 100 per cent recommended dose (3.75:1),closely followed by 110 per cent (3.56:1) while the lowest of 3.13 :1 was recorded with 60% RD with the differences in benefits related to the higher marketable yield and nutrient availabilities. The study suggests that application of recommended dose of fertilizer through drip irrigation in 10 equal splits leads to higher and sustainable cauliflower production. Keywords: Fertigation, drip system, nutrient availability, cauliflower yield and benefit cost ratio Introduction Enhancing the productivity is a prime objective to feed the ever growing population from shrinkage resources. There is an imperative need to produce more from less arable land and water. The continuous improvement in productivity with optimum utilization of water, fertilizer and natural resources is essential for sustainability of any production system. Apart from the economic considerations, the adverse effect of injudicious use of water and fertilizers can also have adverse implications on the environment. Hence, there is a need for technological interventions that will help in minimizing the use of precious resources (fertilizer and water) and maximizing crop production without any detrimental effects on the environment. Among the various techniques of water and nutrient application, the micro irrigation practices are very efficient and water conserving. The drip or trickle irrigation is important due to the many unique advantages it provides like conservation of soil moisture, optimum utilization of water resources, lesser wastage of nutrient, proper and sustained water and nutrient availability to the crop. It delivers water and nutrients directly to the root zone of the crop and water is applied in precise amount which synchronizes with the requirement of the crop. Application of plant nutrients by dissolving them in irrigation water with the drip system is termed as fertigation, prevents the leaching and voltalization losses of nutrients. The major advantages of fertigation are in saving of labour, appropriate timing of application of water and nutrients and their uniform distribution (Raina, 2002) [8] . Apart from other advantages like minimum leaching and voltalization losses, higher fertilizer use efficiency besides higher crop yields (Raina et al., 2011) [7] . Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) is an important member of Cole crops and belongs to family Cruciferae. It is one of the most important winter vegetables of India. In India, cauliflower is grown on an area of 402 thousand ha with a production of 7887 thousand metric tonnes and productivity of 19.6MT/ha (NHB, 2013) [5] . Cauliflower is one of the important winter vegetable crop of mid hill region of Himachal Pradesh. The area under cauliflower cultivation in Himachal Pradesh as about of 79.5 thousand hectares with annual production of 1521.1 thousand metric tonnes and productivity of 19.1MT/ha (NHB, 2013) [5] . Drip irrigation is the most suitable method for uniform head size and high quality produce.