Aims This study aimed to evaluate the effects of integrated nutrient management (INM) strategies involving reduced recommended fertilizer doses (RDF) and different micronutrient application methods on benefit-cost (B:C) ratio, fruit yield, and net income in medium-density Dashehari mango.Methods The two-year (2023–2024) experiment was conducted in a 13-year-old Dashehari mango orchard at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, using a factorial randomized block design with ten treatments and three replications. Treatments included 100, 75, 50, and 25% RDF combined with soil and/or foliar applications of micronutrients. Economic parameters (cost of cultivation, gross income, net income, B:C ratio) and yield were recorded and analyzed using two-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and PLS-SEM.Results The combination of 75% RDF plus two foliar micronutrient sprays (no soil application) recorded the highest B:C ratio of 2.96, maximum fruit yield (22.68 t ha⁻¹), and highest net income (508.88 × 10³ Rs. ha⁻¹). This treatment outperformed the 100% RDF control (B:C 1.84). Strong positive correlation was observed between B:C ratio and net income (r = 0.868, P < 0.001). PLS-SEM showed B:C ratio had a significant positive effect on net income (β = 0.560, p = 0.002) and explained 98.9% of its variance. Group culture and quality of experience positively moderated the B:C ratio to yield a relationship.Conclusion Reduction of RDF to 75% combined with two foliar micronutrient sprays without soil application proved most profitable and sustainable for Dashehari mango cultivation under medium density planting by enhancing economic returns and nutrient use efficiency while reducing fertilizer dependency.