Productivity of fodder oat (Avena sativa) under different sowing times, fertility levels and cutting management in temperate environment

In Jammu and Kashmir there is acute shortage of fodder for livestock husbandry particularly during winter. To improve the productivity of animals availability of adequate quantity of nutritive fodder is a prerequisite. An experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2009–10 and 2011–12 at Srinagar on silty clay loam soil, to study the effect of different sowing times, fertility levels and cutting management on fodder production potential of oat (Avena sativa L.). The treatments consisted of 3 sowing dates, viz. 20 September, 30 September and 10 October; 3 fertility levels, viz. 150 kg N + 30.8 kg P + 33.3 kg K, 125 kg N + 26.4 kg P + 24.9 kg K and 100 kg N + 22 kg P + 16.6 kg K/ha; and 2 cutting management, viz. single cut at 50% flowering and double cut on 15 December and 50% flowering stage. Highest green fodder (37.3 t/ha) and dry-fodder yield (10.2 t/ha) were recorded with 30 September sown crop, which was at par with crop sown on 20 September. Net returns ( 33,858/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.96) were higher with crop sown on 30 September. Application of 150 kg N + 30.8 kg P + 33.3 kg K/ha recorded significantly higher green fodder (36.2 t/ha) and dry fodder yield (10.2 t/ha). Net returns ( 32,990/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.83) also improved with this treatment. Among cutting management practices, double cut recorded significantly higher green and dry fodder yields than single-cut practice. Double-cut practice registered higher net returns ( 30,634/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.7).