Response of Oat (Avena sativa L.) to Levels of Nitrogen and its Time of Application for Seed Production

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi, 2014 at Agronomy Instructional Farm, C.P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, to study the “Effect of nitrogen levels and its time of application on seed production of oat (Avena sativa L.) Treatments consisted of three levels of nitrogen i.e., N₁: 60 kg/ha, N₂: 90 kg/ha and N₃: 120 kg/ha and three time of nitrogen application, respectively T₁: Two equal splits at basal and 30 DAS, T₂: Three splits: 50% at basal, 25% each at 30 and 45 DAS and T₃: Three equal splits at basal, 30 and 45 DAS in randomized block design with factorial concept laid out in four replications. The results revealed that the application of 120 kg N/ha with three equal splits i.e. at basal, 30 and 45 DAS recorded the higher values of growth and yield attributes, seed and straw yields and nitrogen uptake than the application of 90 kg N/ha with three splits i.e. 50% at basal, 25% each at 30 and 45 DAS. However, the effect of time of nitrogen application was found non significant onnitrogen content, phosphorus content and uptake. Interaction between nitrogen levels and time of application was found non significant. Considering the statistical values, the higher seed production and net realization of oat can be achieved with the application of 90 kg N ha⁻¹with three equal splits of N i.e. at basal, 30 and 45 DAS or three equal splits of N i.e. 50% at basal, 25% each at 30 and 45 DAS during rabi season in loamy sand soil of North Gujarat Agro-climatic condition.