GANGADHAR NANDA* AND NILANJAYA
AICRP on Forage Crops and Utilization
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa-848125 (Bihar), India
*(e-mail: gnanda@rpcau.ac.in)
(Received : 28 November 2023; Accepted : 24 December 2023)
SUMMARY
The response of different fodder oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes to varying nitrogen levels was studied in a field experiment at Pusa, Bihar. Ten genotypes (HFO-1009, HFO-1013, HFO-1003, JO-08-37, SKO-244, OL-1977, OL-1980, Kent, OS-6 and OS-403) were accommodated in the main plots of the split plot design and three nitrogen levels (80, 100, and 120 kg/ha) were used in sub-plots. Results revealed that OS-403 produced the maximum plant height (163.3 cm), green forage yield (516.5 q/ha) and production efficiency in term of green forage yield (5.07 q/ha/day) among the genotypes. However, the genotype OL-1980 produced the maximum dry matter yield and production efficiency in terms of dry matter yield and crude protein yield among the genotypes. The maximum gross (Rs. 103309/ha) and net returns (Rs. 72153/ha) and B:C ratio (3.32) was noted with OS-403 which was at par with OL-1980. The highest nitrogen level (120 kg N/ha) resulted in the highest green fodder (441.3 q/ha), dry matter (128.5 q/ha) and crude protein yield (11.8 q/ha) which significantly higher than rest of the N levels. N application enhanced the gross (Rs. 88267/ha) and net returns (Rs. 56850/ha) and B:C ratio (2.81) up to 120 kg/ha which was notably higher over other levels. The N fertilizer rate for maximum green forage yield and economical optimum N fertilizer rate for fodder oat was found to be 140.2 and 138.5 kg/ha, respectively.
Key words: Genotypes, fodder oat, nitrogen use efficiency, economical N fertilizer rate, energy use efficiency