Management of N levels and time of cut in rabi forage oat (Avena sativa L.)

During the 2016-17 rabi season, a study on “Management of N levels and time of cut in rabi forage oat ( Avena sativa L .) ” was conducted at Agronomy Instructional Farm, SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar with twelve treatment combinations comprised of four N levels viz., 80 kg ha -1 (N 1 ), 100 kg ha -1 (N 2 ), 120 kg ha -1 (N 3 ) and 140 kg ha -1 (N 4 ) and three cutting management practices, 45 days after sowing (C 1 ), 55 days after sowing (C 2 ), and 65 days after sowing (C 3 ), were conducted in four replications of a randomised block design (factorial concept). Plant growth, yield and quality characteristics were all significantly increased when the rabi forage oat was fertilised with 140 kg nitrogen ha -1 . Cutting at 65 days after sowing resulted in significantly higher growth attributes and nitrogen uptake, and crude fibre content. Fertilizing rabi forage oat with 140 kg nitrogen ha -1 and 65 days after sowing cutting can result in higher green forage yield, net monetization and benefit cost ratio.