Effect of Different Sowing Methods and Nitrogen Levels on Fodder Yield of Oat in Salt Affected Soil

Abstract

T is a great deficit in the current demand and supply of green fodder to feed rapidly expanding livestock industry in Pakistan. This dearth can be partially bridged by utilization of marginal lands through strengthening research and development activities in salt affected soils. Salinity drastically reduced the yield of nearly every conventional crop; so introducing non-conventional salt tolerant fodder crops might be a suitable option in salt affected soil. Cultivation of oats in winter season is worthwhile as it can provide green fodder for 60-70 days during lean periods when availability of fodder is scrimpy or negligible. Oat fodder is soft, palatable and rich in crude protein (10-12%). According to Younis and Azam (2003), oat mixed with Berseem provides a balanced feed to milch animals. Furthermore, efficient nutrients management of oat crop might be helpful to improve the potential for producing high quality fodder (Mohr et al., 2004). The present scenario urged the agronomists to develop a comprehensive site specific agro technology to boost up fodder yield of oat in salt affected soils by improving some basic components of the prevailing oat production technology in Pakistan. Among various agro management factors, optimum level of nitrogen and sowing methods are of great importance to recognize maximum potential of oat in saline-sodic field. Nitrogen application assumes greater importance regarding the yield and quality of fodder (Fageria and Moreira, 2011). It is one of the most yield limiting plant nutrients under most Abstract | Scarcity of the feed and fodder availability in winter season has been considered as the foremost bottleneck in harnessing the potential of the livestock sector in Pakistan. In this perspective a field study was conducted for three consecutive years (2013 to 2015) at Soil Salinity Research Institute, PindiBhattian, Hafizabad, Pakistan to evaluate different nitrogen levels and the cost-effective sowing technique for oat forage production under salt affected conditions. Two sowing methods i.e. broad cast and drill sowing with 30 cm apart rows and four nitrogen levels (75,100,125 and 150 % of N recommended dose i.e. 150kg ha-) were tested. Recommended dose of PK fertilizer (85-60 PK kg ha-1) was used uniformly with experimental N rates. Data on plant height (132.00 cm), number of plants (91.33 m-2), number of tillers (146.00 m-2), number of leaves tillers-1 (5.66), total dry matter (17.70 t ha-1) and fodder yield (60.90 t ha-1) showed that nitrogen application @ 150 % N of recommended dose with drill sowing proved to be the most cost effective technique for fodder oat production in salt affected soil as compared to other treatments. Muhammad Qaisar Nawaz