Standardization of spacing and nitrogen requirement of fodder oat (Avena sativa L.) in AEU 20

Abstract

The study entitled “Standardization of spacing and nitrogen requirement of fodder oat (Avena sativa L.) in AEU 20” was undertaken during 2020-2022 at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, with the objective to standardize spacing and nitrogen level for fodder oat production in AEU 20 (Wayanad Eastern Plateau). Field experiment was laid out at RARS, Ambalavayal, in randomized block design with nine treatment combinations in three replications during rabi 2021- 2022. Treatments consisted of two factors viz., row spacing (S) and nitrogen levels (N) at three levels each viz., s1 (15 cm), s2 (25 cm), s3 (35 cm) and n1 (60 kg N ha-1), n2 (90 kg N ha 1), n3 (120 kg N ha-1) respectively. The variety sown was Kent. Spacing had significant effect on all growth and yield attributes except plant height whereas, N levels and S x N interaction was found to have significant influence on all the growth and yield attributes. Within spacing, s3 recorded the highest number of tillers hill-1 whereas GFY and DFY were highest at spacing s1. Within N levels, n3 recorded highest values for growth and yield attributes viz., plant height, number of tillers hill-1, GFY and DFY. Among S x N interactions, s3n3 recorded the tallest plant (111.19 cm) and a greater number of tillers hill-1(9.29). In case of GFY (30.14 tha-1) and DFY (6.03 tha-1), s1n3 recorded the highest yield and were on par with s2n3. Weeds predominantly present in the field were Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Digitaria sanguinalis, Eleusine indica, Digitaria ciliaris, Phyllanthus niruri, Amaranthus viridis, Chenopodium album, Eclipta prostrata and Cyperus rotundus. Highest weed density and weed dry matter were recorded at spacing s3. N levels and S x N interactions had no significant influence on weed density and weed dry matter. Relative weed density recoded highest at spacing s2 (grasses) and s3 (broad leaved weeds) and at N level n3 (grasses) and n2 (sedge). The treatment combination, s2n3 had the highest relative density of grasses (41.82 %) and this result was on par with s2n1 and s1n3. In sedge, s1n2 and s2n2 had the highest relative weed density (32.76 %). Spacing and S x N interaction had no significant effect on chlorophyll content but N levels had significant influence on it. Within N levels, n3 recoded the highest chlorophyll content. Spacing, N level and their interaction had no significant effect on crude fibre content. In case of crude protein content, spacing and S x N interaction had no significant influence while N levels had significant influence on it. Among nitrogen levels, n3 recorded the highest crude protein content. Spacing, N levels and their interaction had no significant effect on the soil pH, EC and OC content of soil. Spacing, N levels and their interaction had significant effect on available N, P and K content in soil after the experiment. Spacing s3 recorded highest value of available N, P and the results were on par with s2. Spacing s2 recorded the highest amount of available K and was on par with s3. Within N levels, n3 recorded significantly higher amount of available N and n1 recorded the highest available P and K. Among S x N interaction, s3n3 recorded the maximum available N and the result was found on par with s2n3. In case of P and K, s2n1 had the maximum available P and K. Spacing and S x N interactions had no significant effect on the N content of fodder oat whereas N levels had significant effect on it. Within N levels, n3 recorded significantly higher N content and it was on par with n2. Spacing, N levels and their interaction had no significant influence on the P and K content of fodder oat. Spacing, N levels and their interaction had significant influence on N, P and K uptake of fodder oat. Within spacing, s1 recorded the highest N, P and K uptake. Among N levels, n3 recorded highest value of N, P and K uptake. The treatment combination s1n3 recorded highest value of N (120.97 kg ha-1), P (27.91 kg ha-1) and K (100.46 kg ha-1) uptake and the results were on par with s2n3. Spacing and S x N interaction had no significant influence on LAI and LAD, but it had significant effect on SLA. Spacing s2 and s2n3 interaction recorded the highest SLA. N levels had significant influence on LAI, LAD and SLA. Within N levels, n3 recorded the highest LAI (30 DAS & harvest), LAD and SLA. S x N interaction had significant effect on net income and B:C ratio. Among treatment combinations, s1n3 recorded the highest net income and B:C ratio (1.87). From the study, it can be concluded that fodder oat can be profitably cultivated in AEU 20 at a row spacing of 15 cm with application of 120 kg N ha-1 in two splits at basal (60 %) and 40 DAS (40 %) along with basal application of 15 t ha-1 FYM, 40 kg ha-1 P2O5, 40 kg ha-120