Effect of Different Nitrogen Levels and Varieties on Growth, Yield and Economics of Fodder Oat
Ranjana Dawar
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (MP) 482004, India.
A. K. Jha
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (MP) 482004, India.
P. S. Yadav
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (MP) 482004, India.
Badal Verma *
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (MP) 482004, India.
Smriti Singh
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (MP) 482004, India.
M. P. Sahu
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (MP) 482004, India.
K. S. Tripathi
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (MP) 482004, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Multi-cut fodder oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivation has gained prominence as a strategic approach to meeting the demand for high-quality forage in livestock production systems. This can be achieved by applying an optimum amount of nutrients, particularly nitrogen. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of different nitrogen levels and oat varieties on the growth, yield, quality, and economics of multi-cut fodder oat. The experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2022-2023 at the All India Coordinated Research Project on Forage Crops, JNKVV, Jabalpur. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design involving five varieties as main-plot treatments, viz., PLP 27, JO 05-304, JHO 20-3, OL 1949, and RO 19, and four nitrogen levels as sub-plot treatments, viz., 0, 70, 105, and 140 kg/ha. Observations on various crop growth and yield parameters were recorded at the first and second cuts. The results indicated that growth parameters and yield were higher at the second cut than at the first cut. Among the varieties, JO 05-304 was superior, recording higher LAI (4.04 and 4.25) and leaf:stem ratio (0.76 and 1.18), along with the highest green fodder, dry fodder, and crude protein yields. Similarly, 140 kg N/ha produced the highest growth, green fodder yield (22.98 and 51.89 t/ha), dry fodder yield (3.53 and 8.89 t/ha), and crude protein yield. The combination of JO 05-304 and 140 kg N/ha recorded the highest gross and net returns (Rs. 99,507/ha and Rs. 64,107/ha, respectively). Thus, JO 05-304 with 140 kg N/ha was the most productive and economically favourable treatment under the agro-climatic conditions of Jabalpur.
Keywords: Multi-cut oat, nitrogen levels, fodder yield, dry fodder yield, crude protein yield, leaf area index, oat varieties, nitrogen management, economic returns, forage productivity