A field experiment was conducted during rabi of 2006–07 and 2007–08 at Bikaner to find out the effect of different levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg/ha), biofertilizer (uninoculated and inoculated with Azotobacter) and sheep manure (0 and 10 t/ha) on performance of fodder oats (Avena sativa L). Results revealed that 150 kg N/ha significantly increased the growth attributes leading to higher dry matter (11.13 t/ha) and crude protein yields (988.7 kg/ha). Seed inoculation with Azotobacter increased the dry matter and crude protein yields by 5.93 and 7.00% over uninoculated control. Sheep manure @ 10 t/ha significantly increased the green fodder, dry matter, and crude protein yields to the extent of 21, 22.1 and 26.0% respectively over no sheep manure. Interaction effect of nitrogen and sheep manure was significant and dry matter yields recorded at 100 kg N/ha alongwith 10 t sheep manure/ha and 150 kg N/ha alone were at par. Highest values of net returns (Rs 23,285/ha), net B:C ratio (1.00), N, P and K uptake, energy responsiveness (8.32 MJ/Re) were recorded at 150 kg N/ha. However, maximum values of energy ratio (8.26) and energy productivity (458.9 g/MJ) were obtained with 100 kg N/ha, whereas, highest values of agronomic N-use efficiency (43.9 kg dm/kg-N applied) and physiological N-use efficiency (68.7 kg dm/kg N uptake) were recorded with 50 kg N/ha. Application of Azotobacter inoculation and sheep manure registered higher values of above traits than their respective control except agronomic and physiological N-use efficiencies, where control treatment recorded greater values. The residual soil organic carbon and available N contents were significantly influenced with application of nitrogen and sheep manure. The results show that nitrogen @ 100 kg/ha alongwith Azotobacter inoculation and sheep manure @ 10 t/ha may be applied for higher and quality fodder of oats.
Azotobacter, Economics, Energy conservation, Nitrogen, Nutrient uptake, Sheep manure
