Integrated nutrient management in forage oat (Avena sativa)

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the productivity and economics of forage oat (Avena sativa L.) during 1997–2000. Treatments consisted of FYM or vermicompost at 10 or 5 tonnes/ha, 100 or 50% recommended NPK and the combination of 50% NPK with 5 tonnes of either FYM or vermicompost and both. Application of 50% recommended NPK level of 40: 20: 0 kg/ha fertilizer + vermicompost + FYM each at 5 tonnes/ha, recorded higher green fodder yield of 40.5 tonnes/ha and the crude protein yield of 1.63 tonnes/ha which were comparable with that of 100% recommended NPK fertilizer to fodder oat. In addition, application of 50% recommended NPK fertilizer of 40: 20: 0 kg NPK/ha gave the highest net return of Rs 4,296/ha with a benefit of Rs 1.72 for every rupee invested on cost of cultivation.