Inter-relationships among different quality traits in leaves and culms of oat (Avena sativa L.)

In twelve varieties of fodder oats (Avena sativa L.), in leaves, protein content was positively correlated (P< 0.01) with ash content and negatively correlated (P< 0.01) with nitrogen-free extract, whereas in culms, protein content was negatively correlated (P< 0.01) only with nitrogen-free extract. Cellulose and hemi-cellulose were also negatively correlated (P< 0.01) in culms only. Hemi-cellulose had high positive direct effect, whereas nitrogen-free extract and ether extract had high negative direct effects on culm dry matter yield. Hemi-cellulose had high negative direct effect whereas nitrogen-free extract had high positive direct effect on leaf dry matter yield. Crude protein content had moderate direct effect whereas ether extract, ash content and in vitro dry matter digestibility had low direct effect on both culm and leaf dry matter yields.