EFFECT OF TILLAGE AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON FODDER YIELD, ECONOMICS AND ENERGETICS OF OAT (AVENA SATIVA L.)
BIRENDRA KUMAR* AND S. KARMAKAR
Department of Agronomy
Birsa Agricultural University,
Kanke-834 006, Ranchi (Jharkhand), India
*(e-mail : kbirendra1973@gmail.com)
(Received : 19 March 2015; Accepted : 20 May 2015)
SUMMARY
A field experiment was conducted at Ranchi (Jharkhand) to study the effect of tillage and nutrient management on fodder oat during rabi seasons of 2010-11 and 2011-12. Results showed that conventional tillage recorded higher green (354.6 q/ha) and dry fodder (78.7 q/ha) yield, higher gross returns (Rs. 79,689/ha), energy output (142985 MJ/ha) net energy returns (129471 MJ/ha) and energy use efficiency (11.7) over zero and minimal tillage. Zero tillage recorded higher B : C ratio (2.5) over minimal and conventional tillage, while net returns (Rs. 54,660/ha) and conventional tillage (Rs. 55,094/ ha) were at par. Among the nutrient managements, 125 per cent RDF recorded significantly higher green fodder yield (375.1 q/ha) as well as gross returns (Rs. 83,904/ha), net returns (Rs. 59, 353/ha), B: C ratio (2.41), gross energy output (146069 MJ/ha), net energy output (132245 MJ/ha) and energy use efficiency (10.56). Application of biofertilizer at 75 per cent RDF was as good as 100 per cent RDF in terms of GFY, DFY, economics and energetics. Thus, in order to produce highest green herbage conventional tillage at 125 per cent RDF is most appropriate and application of biofertilizer (PSB+Azotobacter) saves the 25 per cent of inorganic fertilizer in fodder oat.
Key words:Tillage, RDF, biofertilizer, nutrients, energetics, economics, fodder yield