Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
Lalita H Saini, Dr. Laxmi Rani Dubey, AK Saini, JJ Makwana and Muniya Sapana S

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2019-20 on loamy sand soils of Agronomy Instructional Farm, Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat to assess the impact of nitrogen, phosphorous and FYM on growth, yield, quality and economics of forage oat. The soil of experimental plot was low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in potassium. The experiment was laid out in RBD (factorial concept) and replicated thrice. Twelve treatment combinations consisting three levels of nitrogen, two levels of phosphorus and two levels of farm yard manure were embedded. The results indicated that significantly highest growth and yield parameters viz., plant height, number of tillers per meter row length, leaf area index, leaf: stem ratio and thereby highest total green forage yield (401.2, 367.1, 369.4 q/ha), dry matter yield (94.3, 88.1, 88.0 q/ha) and crude protein yield (8.01, 7.05, 6.93 q/ha) with application of 120 kg N/ha, 60 kg P₂O₅/ha and 10 t FYM/ha, respectively. Total N and P uptake as well as available N and P₂O₅ were found highest with higher level of inputs i.e., N, P and FYM. The higher net returns (63095, 54231 ₹/ha) and B:C ratio (1.72, 1.45) were obtained with 120 kg N and 60 kg P₂O₅/ha while without FYM application treatment secured higher monetary returns from forage oat, respectively. Thus, it is concluded that for securing higher forage production and monetary returns with good quality forage, oat crop should be fertilized with 120 kg nitrogen and 60 kg phosphorus per ha.