Response of cabbage to soil test-based fertilization coupled with different levels of drip irrigation in an inceptisol

The profitable production of cabbage is primarily constrained by improper irrigation and fertilizer management. A field experiment comprising of four drip irrigation levels (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of ASMD) and four fertilizer levels (RDF @ 150:60:90, STCR 50 @ 215:115:150, STCR 55 @ 258:148:203 and farmers’ conventional dose @ 92:240:240 kg NPK ha −1 ) was conducted on cabbage in an inceptisol during rabi season in two consecutive years. The results revealed that drip irrigation at 0% ASMD with STCR 55 -based fertilization produced the tallest plant (27.39 cm), greatest leaf area per plant (4208 cm 2 ), the highest LAI (1.75), and the greatest length of head (18.86 cm), diameter of head (17.78 cm), fresh weight of head (951 g), and head yield (73.9 t ha −1 ). Conversely, the lowest plant height (21.34 cm), leaf area per plant (3433 cm 2 ), LAI (1.43), length of head (15.12 cm), diameter of head (14.33 cm), fresh weight of head (722 g), and head yield (51.4 t ha −1 ) were produced by drip irrigation at 75% ASMD and the farmers’ conventional dose. Irrigation water at 323.44 mm through the drip system was found to be optimal for water-yield production function. Deficit irrigation at 75% ASMD with STCR 55 -based fertilizers recorded the highest CWP (50.13 kg m −3 ). The crop yield response factor (Ky) for the total crop growing period was found to be 1.19 ( R 2 = 0.91). The maximum FUE (0.21 t kg −1 of nutrient applied) was obtained with drip irrigation at 0% ASMD with general RDF. The moisture component (volumetric moisture content) was introduced in TYE to enhance its predictability using machine learning algorithms. Based on higher yield, CWP, FUE, and economic analysis, the imposition of drip irrigation at 0% ASMD coupled with STCR 55 -based fertilization may be recommended to the cabbage growers of the Indo-Gangetic inceptisols of West Bengal, India or, those in similar agro-climatic condition.