Studies on Growth, Productivity and Economics of Oats Fodder as Influenced by Different Levels of NPK Fertilizers and Foliar Spray of ZnSO₄ and Borax in Red and Lateritic Soil of West Bengal

A field experiment was carried out during November, 2020-January, 2021 and November, 2021-January, 2022 at Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, West Bengal, India to evaluate the response of NPK fertilizers and foliar application of ZnSO₄ and borax towards growth, yield attributes, productivity and economic return from fodder oats cultivation. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design having four levels of NPK fertilizers (viz., no fertilizer, 60:30:30, 80:40:40 and 100:50:50 kg ha^-1) and three foliar spray [(viz., no foliar spray/water spray, ZnSO₄ at 0.5%, borax at 0.2% and ZnSO₄+borax at (0.5%+0.2%)] with three replications. Experimental findings revealed that NPK fertilizers with 100:50:50 kg ha^-1 registered highest growth attributes (plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of tillers, leaf area index and crop growth rate), green fodder (36.46 t ha^-1), dry fodder (9.18 t ha^-1), gross return (₹ 54,685 ha^-1), net return (₹ 25,681 ha^-1) and return rupee^-1 invested (1.89). Foliar spray of ZnSO₄+borax was significantly superior to sole application of borax and ZnSO₄ with respect to growth attributes, green fodder (28.54 t ha^-1), dry fodder (6.37 t ha^-1), gross return (₹ 42,812 ha^-1), net return (₹ 15,517 ha^-1) and return rupee^-1 investment (1.54) in oats. Thus, NPK fertilizers at 100:50:50 kg ha^-1 and combined foliar spray of ZnSO₄ and borax appeared to be the best option for higher fodder yield and profitability of fodder oats.