YOGENDER KUMAR AND SATYAWAN ARYA
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding,
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: yogenderkgulia@gmail.com)
(Received: 10 September 2024; Accepted: 25 September 2024)

SUMMARY

The current study aimed at genetic assessment of 14 dual purpose barley genotypes for their relative performance and identification of component traits based on eleven agro-morphological characters. The experiment was conducted at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during 2023-24 crop season under timely sown irrigated conditions. The experiment was laid in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four replications where each genotype occupied a plot size of 6.9 m2. The results indicated highly significant differences among the genotypes with wide range for all the traits that offered score for selection of desirable types. The number of tillers per meter row, number of grains per spike, biological yield and grain yield indicated high estimates of GCV and PCV, whereas, plant height, spike length and 1000-grain weight exhibited medium; and days to heading and maturity were recorded with lower estimates of GCV and PCV. The study also revealed high heritability coupled with genetic advance for grain yield, number of tillers per meter row, number of grains per spike, biological yield, green fodder yield, 1000-grain weight and spike length. The association analysis showed significant positive correlation of grain yield with number of tillers per meter row, plant height, 1000-grain weight, biological yield, harvest index and green fodder yield. The findings of path coefficient analysis depicted positive direct effect of biological yield, harvest index, number of tillers per meter row, spike length and 1000-grain weight towards grain yield. PCA study found first four components with eigen value more than one that explained about 86.24% of the total variation. The genotypes, RD 2552, JHSBE 16, JHSBF 28 and JHSBF 21 displayed their position in first quadrant were found superior with respect to PC 1 and PC 2. Consequently, the present findings could be considered while setting the selection criterion for dual purpose barley improvement program.

Key words: Barley, biplot, dual purpose, genetic parameters, PCA

126-133

AMARPREET KAUR*, POONAM KATARIA AND AVNEET KAUR
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-140 001 (Punjab), India
*(e-mail: 913amarpreet@gmail.com)
(Received : 7 September, 2024; Accepted : 26 September, 2024)

SUMMARY

This paper estimates the feed and fodder resources in Ludhiana district using primary data from 90 farmers spread over standard land holding categories. By referring to the standard values, i.e. a requirement of 4.02 kg of dry matter, most of the farmers of each farm size category attained the overall adequate status in the rainy season (83.3%), followed by the winter season (63.3%), and summer season (44.4%), which means that almost half of the sampled farmers (56% to be exact) had insufficient dry matter availability from green fodder during the summer season. The roughage to concentrate ratio observed for all the three seasons has been recorded as, summer (68.9:31.1), rainy (79.3:20.7) and winter (72.1: 27.9) against the standard normative requirement of 67:33. Overall 94.7 per cent of large, 88.5 per cent of medium and 73.1 per cent of the small farmers had adequate total dry matter intake on their farms. It can be concluded that Punjab state is lucky to have relatively enough dry matter availability on an overall basis, which may be related to a greater degree of awareness about the relevance of feed and fodder in enhancing livestock output. However, the nutritionally insufficient dry matter intake from green fodder during lean seasons in the majority of farms points to the need to sensitize farmers about better land resource management and appropriate fodder crop selection to provide year-round availability of green fodder.

Key words: Availability, adequacy, dry matter, green fodder, requirement

134-140

SATPAL*, N. KHAROR, K. K. BHARDWAJ#, R. PANCHTA, S. ARYA AND POOJA GUPTA SONI
Department of Soil Science, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding (Forage Section)
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004, Haryana (India)
*(e-mail: satpal_fpj@hau.ac.in)
(Received : 8 September 2024; Accepted : 20 September, 2024)

SUMMARY

field experiment was carried out during Rabi season, 2022-23 at Forage Section Research Farm Department of G&PB, CCS HAU, Hisar to in order to assess the effect of different nitrogen (N) levels on forage yield and quality of promising entries of single cut oat. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with ten promising entries of single cut oat (Seven test entries i.e. HFO-1003, HFO-1009, HFO-1013, JO-08-37, SKO-244, OL-1977, OL-1980 + 2 national checks i.e., Kent and OS-6 + 1 zonal check i.e. OS 403 (North-West Zone, North-East Zone and South zone) in main plot and three nitrogen doses (80, 100, and 120 kg N/ha) in sub plot. Findings revealed that entry OL-1980 recorded highest green and dry fodder yields (482.69 and 87.96 q/ha, respectively) which were on a par with OS-6 and OL-1977. OL-1980 also gave highest per day productivity of green fodder (4.68 q/ ha/day) and dry matter (0.85 q/ha/day) which was statistically at par with entry OS 6 (NC) and OL- 1977. Maximum B: C ratio (2.14) was fetched with entry OL-1980 followed by OS-6 and OL-1977. Highest crude protein content (13.24 %) was estimated with OL-1980 which was on a par with OS-6, OS-403, SKO-244 and JO-08-37. Among different nitrogen treatments, the application of 120 kg N/ha resulted in highest green fodder and dry matter yield (438.69 q/ha and 80.43 q/ha, respectively) which were on a par with 100 kg N/ha but significantly higher than 80 kg N/ha. The maximum crude protein content was also estimated with the application of 120 kg N/ha (13.08 %), which was on a par to 100 kg N/ha but significantly superior over 80 kg N/ha. Maximum B:C ratio (1.91) was also fetched with the application of 120 kg N/ha but it was same with 100 kg N/ha which indicated that nitrogen application was remunerative up to 100 kg N/ha in single cut oat.

Key words: Single cut, oat, entries, fodder, nitrogen levels, crude protein

141-146

RAKESH KUMAR, HARDEV RAM*, PRAVEEN B. R., CHETHAN BABU R. T., SUPRIYA AND BHARTI DEVI
ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001 (Haryana), India
Tea Research Association, North Bengal Regional R & D Centre, Nagrakata, Jalpaiguri-735 225 (West Bengal), India
Teaching Associate, Department of Agronomy, S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati-517502, India 3G.S.G.D Girls Agriculture College, Padampur-335041, India
*(e-mail: devagron@gmail.com)
(Received: 2 September 2024; Accepted: 25 September 2024)

SUMMARY

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2019-20 at Research Farm, Agronomy Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (Haryana). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with eight treatments, i.e., T₁ (Absolute control); T₂ (100% RDF); T₃ (100% RDF + Cow urine foliar spray); T₄ (100% RDF + PGPR); T₅ (100% RDF + PGPR + Cow urine foliar spray); T₆ (75% RDF + Cow urine foliar spray); T₇ (75% RDF + PGPR) and T₈ (75% RDF + PGPR + Cow urine foliar spray) with three replications. Study indicated that the growth and yield parameters of fodder pearl millet significantly affected with different nutrient management practices and found plant height (178.3 and 307.5 cm), leaf length (86.5 and 110.4 cm), no. of leaves/ plant (11.4 and 15.3), no. of tillers/plant (11.3 and 13.1), leaf width (4.3 and 5.1 cm) and stem girth (2.2 and 3.7 cm) at 40 DAS and harvest respectively, while, yield of green (54.58 t/ha) and dry fodder yield (11.17 t/ha) at harvest significantly increase up to application of 100% RDF+PGPR and they further increase with application of 100% RDF+PGPR+CU, but doesn’t reach up to significance level over 100% RDF+PGPR. However, both were remains statistically at par to each and found significantly higher than other treatments. Maximum net return was recorded with T₄ followed by T₅, T₂ and T₇ treatment. However, maximum B:C ratio was found with T₄, followed by T₇ and T₅ treatments. Which, will further strengthen and sustain crop productivity and profitability.

Key words: Cow urine, Fodder, Growth, Pearl millet, Yield

147-153

RENU, ANIL KUMAR, RAJ SINGH AND MEHAK NAGORA
Department of Agricultural Meteorology, CCS HAU, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
Department of Agronomy, CCS HAU, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: renuthurdak5454@gmail.com)
(Received: 10 July 2024; Accepted: 28 September 2024)

SUMMARY

The field study was conducted during Rabi 2019-20 at University Research farm of Department of Agricultural Meteorology, CCS HAU, Hisar. The two factor study comprised of four sowing dates as factor (A) namely (D1) -15th November, (D2) – 30th November, (D3) – 15th December and (D4) – 30th December, and four cultivars as factor (B) viz. (V1)- BH 393, (V2)-BH 902, (V3)- BH 946 and (V4)-BH 885. The experiment was laid out in factorial RBD design with three replications. The crop growth and phonological observations were found significantly highest in early crop sown on 1st fortnight of November (D1) that resulted in better overall growth and in terms of yield and yield contributing attributes and in variety BH 393(V1) that resulted in better overall grain and biological yield as compared to others. With respect to agrometeorological indices highest GDD, HTU, PTU were accumulated in crop sown on 2nd fortnight of December (D4) and in variety BH885 (V4) and highest TUE and RUE were found in crop sown on 1st fortnight of November (D1) and in variety highest TUE was found in BH 393 (V1) and highest RUE was found in BH 902 (V2) as compared to others.

Key words: Barley, GDD, RUE, PTU, growing environments and fortnight

154-158

SUMIT BHARDWAJ*, NAVEEN KUMAR, JHABAR MAL SUTALIYA, KRISHAN KUMAR BHARDWAJ AND SATPAL
Department of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
Regional Research Station, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
MAP Section (GPB), CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
Department of G & PB (Forage Section), CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India *(e-mail : sumitbhardwaj909@hau.ac.in)
(Received: 1 September 2024; Accepted: 16 September 2024)

SUMMARY

The present study was conducted during 2022-23 and 2023-24 at research farm, Department of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The experiment consisted of four crop establishment methods and residue management treatments in main plots (T₁: Conventional Tillage without residue incorporation (CT-R), T₂: Conventional Tillage with residue incorporation (CT+R), T₃: Zero Tillage-Permanent beds without residue retention (PB-R), T₄: Zero Tillage- Permanent beds with residue retention (PB+R) and five nutrient management treatments in sub-plots (F₁: 75% RDF, F₂: 87% RDF, F₃: 100% RDF, F₄: 113% RDF, F₅: 125% RDF) accommodated in split plot design with three replications. The dry matter accumulation in PB+R at 60 DAS (444.8 and 455.9 g/m.r.l.), 90 DAS (695.2 and 707.8 g/m.r.l.) and at harvest (805.5 and 819.8 g/m.r.l.) was significantly higher than other crop establishment methods except for PB-R during 2022 and 2023, respectively. Among nutrient management treatments, the maximum dry matter accumulation was found with 125% RDF at 30 DAS (191.6 and 196.6 g/m.r.l.), 60 DAS (437.5 and 442.8 g/m.r.l.), 90 DAS (681.5 and 688.7 g/m.r.l.) and at harvest (788.4 and 811.8 g/m.r.l.) during 2022 and 2023, respectively. The stover yield of maize was significantly higher under PB+R (8788 and 10423 kg/ha) as compared to CT+R and CT-R during 2022 and 2023, respectively. Among different nutrient management treatments, the highest stover yield was obtained with 125% RDF (8554 and 9779 kg/ha). The maximum dry matter accumulation of wheat was recorded under PB+R at 60 DAS (44.9 and 48.1 g/mrl), 90 DAS (207.0 and 222.7 g/mrl), 120 DAS (324.5 and 346.6 g/mrl) and harvest (333.5 and 355.4 g/mrl) during 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively. Among crop establishment methods and residue management, the maximum straw yield was found with PB+R (6852 and 7007 kg/ha) during 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively which was significantly higher than CT+R (5820 and 6203 kg/ha) and CT-R (5553 and 5647 kg/ha) during 2022-23 and significantly higher than all the other treatments during 2023-24. It was recorded maximum with 125% RDF (6455 and 6544 kg/ha) which significantly outyielded all other treatments except 100 and 113% RDF during 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively.

Key words: Fodder productivity, protein content, quality, nutrient management, crop establishment

159-164

GANGADHAR NANDA*
AICRP on Forage Crops and Utilization,
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa-818 425 (Bihar), India
*(e-mail: gnanda@rpcau.ac.in)
(Received : 8 September 2024; Accepted : 22 September 2024)

SUMMARY

During Rabi season of 2022-2023 a field study was conducted to examine how varying phosphorus levels affected performance of berseem genotypes. Six genotypes (PC-114, JB-08-17, JHB-20-1, JHB-20-2, Wardan and bundel berseem-3 (BB-3)) and three phosphorus levels (60, 80 and 100 kg P2O5/ha) with three replications were evaluated in the split plot design. Results indicated that the genotype BB-3 produced the best green forage yield (GFY) and gave the highest net return and B:C ratio among the genotypes. Similarly, GFY, dry matter yield and crude protein yield with 100 kg P₂O₅/ha were 8.3, 20.0 and 22.6%, respectively greater than those of 60 kg P₂O₅/ha and gave the highest net return. BB-3 and JHB-20-2 among genotypes and lower dose of P (60 kg P₂O₅/ha) recorded the highest phosphorus use efficiency. The P fertilizer rate for maximum yield and economical P fertilizer rate was found to be 101 and 97 kg/ha, respectively.

Key words: Berseem, P management, Economical P fertilizer rate, production economics and phosphorus use efficiency

165-169

VANDANA KHANDELWAL*, BALDEV RAJ KAMBOJ, PAWAN KUMAR AND RAJESH ARYA
Department of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
Department of Genetics and Plant breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: vandana.bhankhar@gmail.com)
(Received: 20 September 2024; Accepted: 29 September 2024)

SUMMARY

The investigation entitled “Response of Garden cress [Lepidium sativum (L.)] to different row spacing and sources of nutrients” was conducted at the Medicinal, Aromatic and Potential Crop Section (MAP) Research Area of the Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding at CCS Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar, India, during the rabi seasons of 2022-23 and 2023-24. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications, comprising of three row spacing levels viz. 40cm x 10cm (S₁), 30cm x 10cm (S₂) and 20cm x 10cm (S₃) in main plots and seven nutrient management levels viz. control i.e. no fertilizer (N₁), NPK @ 80:40:40 kg ha^-1 (100%)(N₂), 50% N through inorganic fertilizer + 50% N through FYM (N₃), 50% N through inorganic fertilizer + 50% N through Vermicompost (N₄), 50% N through inorganic fertilizer + 25% N through FYM + 25% N through Vermicompost (N₅), 100% N through FYM (N₆) and 100% N through Vermicompost (N₇) in sub-plots. Based on two years pooled mean, it was concluded that the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK) content in seed and stover of garden cress crop was not influenced by row spacing levels in both the years. Application of different nutrient management levels gave significant results in respect to nitrogen and potassium content in both seed and straw, but the results were non-significant in case of phosphorous content in stover. Different nutrient management levels also significantly affect nutrient uptake in seed as well as in straw. Maximum uptake was observed with the treatment N₅ (application of 50% N through inorganic fertilizer + 25% N through FYM + 25% N through Vermicompost) followed by N₂ (NPK @ 80:40:40 kg ha^-1). The NPK uptake was more in 2023-24 than 2022-23 in both seed as well as in stover. The uptake of NPK in seed and stover was found significantly highest with spacing of 30 cm x10 cm. The data on total uptake of NPK followed the same trend as observed in their uptake in seed and stover.

Key words: Garden cress, row spacing, nutrient management, NPK content and uptake

170-175

SABAVAT SANDHYA SREE*, SHARU S. R., USHA C. THOMAS AND GAYATHRI G.
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), India
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), India
*(e-mail: sandhyasandy62477@gmail.com)
(Received: 20 September 2024; Accepted: 28 September 2024)

SUMMARY

The present study entitled “Nitrogen management and foliar nutrition in fodder sorghum” was undertaken at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 2023-24. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of nano urea on growth, yield and economics of fodder sorghum. The field experiment carried out from December 2023 – February 2024, was laid out in Randomised Block Design with 13 treatments, replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of nitrogen management and foliar nutrition. The treatments were T₁ : 75% Recommended dose of nitrogen RDN + nano urea (0.2%); T₂ : 75% RDN + nano urea (0.4%); T₃: 75% RDN + nano urea (0.6%); T₄: 100% RDN + nano urea (0.2%); T₅: 100% RDN + nano urea (0.4%); T₆: 100% RDN + nano urea (0.6%); T₇: 75% RDN + urea spray (2%); T₈: 100% RDN + urea spray (2%); T₉: nano urea (0.2%) alone; T₁₀: nano urea (0.4%) alone; T₁₁: nano urea (0.6%) alone; T₁₂: KAU POP; T₁₃: control (without nitrogen). The fertilizer recommendation followed was 60:40:20 kg NPK ha^-1, along with the recommended dose of farm yard manure (10 t ha^-1). Foliar spray of nano urea and urea were applied each at 20 DAS and 40 DAS. Full P and K were applied as basal. The results revealed that 100% RDN along with foliar spray of nano urea 0.4% (T₅) recorded higher growth and yield attributes such as plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area per plant, leaf area index, number of internodes per plant, length of internode, 50 per cent flowering, green fodder yield, dry fodder yield and per day productivity. Similarly, higher gross return, net return and BCR were also recorded in T₅ and were on par with 100% RDN along with foliar spray of nano urea 0.6% (T₆).

Key words: Fodder sorghum, nitrogen management, foliar nutrition, nano urea and green fodder yield

176-182

ANIL KUMAR*, C. S. DAGAR, AMBIKA AND M. L. KHICHAR
Department of Agricultural Meteorology,
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : anilmeteo@gmail.com)
(Received: 26 June 2024; Accepted: 24 September 2024)

SUMMARY

An experiment was conducted under rainfed condition at Hisar, Haryana to study the influence of various agro-meteorological parameters (Agromet) i.e. temperature (Maximum & minimum), rainfall (mm), soil temperature (°C), radiation (MJm-1day-1), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in pearl millet. The research covers critical growing environments months of June, July and followed by 1 week of August (only in D3: 7 August 2021, late sown) in a semi-arid region, providing insights into how these factors interact and affect pearl millet development. The prevailing micrometeorological conditions within the canopy, wind speed (km/hr) and cloudiness on the growth and yield of pearl millet were impacted as the diurnal based. Results indicate that optimal growth is associated with specific ranges of rainfall, air temperature, soil temperature & moisture, and radiation components levels. On a rainy-day rainfall in the crop field reached a soil depth of 4.5 to 6 cm when a single day received ±2.5 millimetres of rainfall. The pearl millet crop was influenced as an average 12 rainy day and 9 crop rainy day required to complete the life cycle. An average ~49% deviation of rainfall over the normal was good and successfully harvested the pearl millet, in the positive %deviation of rainfall was negative or altered influenced to the third growing environment in this region. The grain and straw yield showed negative significant correlation with morning relative humidity.

Key words: Pearl millet, weather entities, semi-arid region, temperature, rainfall, crop yield

183-188

SRAVANTHI G., DHEERAVATHU S. N.*, LATHA P. AVINASH S., JACOB J., VIJAYA KUMAR G. AND VADITHE T. B.
Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad- 500030, (Telangana), India
Department of Crop Physiology, Agricultural College, Bapatla (ANGRAU) (Andhra Pradesh), India
Department of Crop Physiology, RARS, Tirupati, (Andhra Pradesh), India
*(e-mail: sevanayak2005@gmail.com)
(Received: 2 September 2024; Accepted: 26 September 2024)

SUMMARY

Heat stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that adversely affect morpho-physological and growth yield traits. In the present investigation, fifty sorghum accessions were tested for high temperature stress tolerance at seedling stage. Shoot length, shoot, and root fresh weight, shoot, root dry weight and, total shoot and root water content were significantly (p<0.001) affected by high temperature stress. The maximum root to shoot ratio was observed in five accessions viz., ECO533402(1.8), ICO319906 (1.5), ICO333362 (1.4), ICO332479 (1.4) and ICO333372 (1.4). Highest total shoot and root fresh weight was recorded in ICO305901(89g; 85g), ICO333356 (84g; 88g) and ICO305887 (83g; 82g) accessions. Among the fifty accessions, five (ICO305910, ICO305903, ICO305887, ECO533402 and ICO305887) accessions were found to exhibit heat stress tolerance compared to other accessions at high temperature (35°C). Positive significant correlation was found between root to shoot ratio (p<0.001).

Key words: Heat stress, sorghum, root to shoot ratio, total shoot water content, total root water content

189-196

PRIYANKA*, ANIL KUMAR YADAV AND SONIA RANI
Department of Agronomy, Department of Soil Science
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: priyakanger@gmail.com)
(Received: 1 September 2024; Accepted: 26 September 2024)

SUMMARY

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2021 at Research Farm Area of Bajra Section, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar to study the influence of different tillage and nutrient management practices on stover yield of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.). The experiment was laid out in split plot design having three replications with four main plot of tillage practices and four sub plot of nutrient management treatments The tillage practices include CT₁-Conventional tillage (two harrow + one cultivator and planking + two inter culture operations by kasola at 15-20 & 30-35 DAS), CT₂-Conventional tillage (two harrow + one cultivator and planking + one inter culture operations by kasola at 21-28 DAS), MT₁-Minimum tillage (one harrow + one cultivator and planking + two inter culture operations by kasola at 15-20 & 30-35 DAS) and MT₂-Minimum tillage (one harrow + one cultivator and planking + one inter culture operations by kasola at 21-28 DAS) whereas, nutrient management had F₁-100% RDF, F₂-75% N through RDF + 2.5 t/ha FYM, F₃-50% N through RDF + 5.0 t/ha FYM and F₄-100% N through FYM treatments. The tillage practice CT₁-Conventional tillage (two harrow + one cultivator and planking + two inter culture operations by kasola at 15-20 & 30-35 DAS) was found significantly superior from other treatments and recorded highest plant population (136.5 000/ha), plant height (185.9 cm), leaf area (1573.6 cm²), LAI (3.50) at 40 DAS and stover yield (77.25 q/ha) whereas, among nutrient management F₂-75% N through RDF + 2.5 t ha^-1 FYM had the highest plant population (134.3 000/ha), plant height (186.1 cm), leaf area (1573.5 cm²), LAI (3.50) at 40 DAS and stover yield (76.44 q/ha).

Key words: Pearl millet, conventional tillage, minimum tillage, FYM and stover yield

197-202

SHIVANGI KAITH*, NAVEEN KUMAR AND SUPRIYA
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture
CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176062 (H.P.), India
ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: shivkaith30@gmail.com)
(Received: 15 September 2024; Accepted: 28 September, 2024)

SUMMARY

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2022-23 at Fodder Research Farm, CSK HPKV, Palampur (H.P.) to evaluate the performance of nano urea in oat (Avena sativa L.) under field conditions and examine how well it can be combined with other N source. Eleven treatments comprised of combinations of three levels of nitrogen (100, 75 and 50 per cent recommended dose of nitrogen), three doses of nano urea (2, 4 and 6ml/l of water) along with the recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) 100 kg/ha, RDN + water spray at the time of nano urea spray and control (No N) were evaluated in the randomized block design with three replications in soils having acidic soil pH, low in available nitrogen and medium in available phosphorus and potassium. Application of 75 per cent recommended nitrogen + nano urea @ 6 ml/l of water resulted in significantly taller plant heights. The number of shoots was significantly increased through a conventional source as well as nano urea spray, where higher shoot numbers were recorded with the RDN; 100kg/ha which was remained at par with RDN + water spray and 75 per cent recommended nitrogen + nano urea @ 6 ml/l of water. Significantly, higher green (171.04 q/ ha) and dry fodder (62.34 q/ha) yield, and monetary returns viz., gross return (88089 Rs./ha), net return (51487 Rs./ha) and benefit-to-cost (1.41) ratio were recorded with the application of a recommended dose of nitrogen 100kg/ha. The results established that the use of nano urea in combination with conventional urea can improve the growth contributing characters to some extent whereas it could not establish the superiority of getting higher yields and profitability in fodder oat.

Key words: Conventional urea, nano urea, fodder oats, net return and yield

203-207