Effect of Nitrogen Levels on Forage Yield of Different Varieties of Oat (Avena Satb·a L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in oat during Rabi season of 2006-07 on sandy loam soil at Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut. The experiment aimed to evaluating the effect of nitrogen levels on growth, forage yield, quality and uptake of nutrients of different varieties. In this investigation, two factor studies were planned. The first factor having, four levels of nitrogen; o, 40, 80, 120 kg/ha and the second factor having, three varieties Kent, JH0-851 and JH0- 822 were tested in split plot design. Study revealed that application of 120 kg Nlha proved superior than 0 and 40 kg N/ha followed by 80 kg Nlha in respect to growth, dry matter accumulation in plant parts, green and dry forage and protein yield and nutrient uptake. The maximum green forage yield (174.52, 394.38 and 568.90q/ha) and dry forage yield (21.91, 85.22 and 107.13q/ha) were recorded with application of 120 kg N/ha at first and second cut as well as total green and dry forage yield, respectively followed by 80 kg N/ha. Which gave180.37, 60.03 and 21.18 percent higher total green forage yield than 0, 40 and 80 kg N/ha, respectively. In respect of NPK content and uptake, 120 kg N/ha levels proved its superiority over rest of the levels of nitrogen. The highest 8: C ratio of (2.63) was recorded at 120 kg N/ha as compared to rest of the levels of nitrogen. As far as variety is concern, Kent variety was found superior over rest varieties. The growth, dry matter accumulation in plant parts, crude protein yield, green forage yield (133.81 , 286.34 and 420.15q/ha) and dry forage yield (19.49, 65.23 and 84. 72q/ha) at first and second cuts as well as total green, dry forage yield were higher recorded under Kent variety followed by JH0-851 and lowest under JH0-822. A significant difference was found between Kent, JH0-851 and JH0-822 in respect to growth, dry matter accumulation, crude protein, green forage and dry forage yields. Similarly Kent gave highest 8: C ratio (1.82) as compared to JH0-851 (1.63) and lowest in JH0-822 (1 .57). In respect of 'trogen, phosphorus and potassium content in plants and uptake by plant all ere highest under Kent.