Nitrogen and phosphorus: Impact on forage oat (Avena sativa L.) growth, yield and its quality attributes

A field trial was carried out to examine the comparative efficacy of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers alone and in different combinations on yield and quality contributing factors of oat (Avena sativa L.) during 2008-09. The experimental treatments as T1 (control), T2 (N:P2O5 @ 150:60 kg per ha, T3 (farm yard manure @ 4000 kg per ha), T4 (poultry manure @ 3000 kg per ha), T5 (N:P2O5 + poultry manure @ 112:45 + 750 kg per ha), T6 (N:P2O5 + farm yard manure @ 112:45 + 1000 kg per ha), T7 (N:P2O5 + poultry manure @ 37.5:15 + 2250 kg per ha), T8 (N:P2O5 + farm yard manure @ 37.5:15 + 3000 kg per ha) were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) in triplicate run. Statistically maximum plant height (146.3 cm), number of leaves per plant (6.867), number of tillers per plant (8.023), number of tillers m-2 (336), leaf area per plant (128 cm2), fresh weight per tiller (30.1g), dry weight per tiller (5.01 g) and green fodder yield (74.67 t per ha) were recorded in inorganic fertilizers providing nutrients in sufficient amount for the growth, yield and quality parameters as compared to control, organic manures and combinations of inorganic and organic fertilizers. Contribution of organic manures was also statistically significant when compared with control, but lower than the inorganic fertilizers recommended dose alone. Also inorganic sources (N:P2O5 @ 150:60) responded well for maximum crude protein (10.76%), crude fibre (37.00%) and ash (15.14%) contrast to other treatments. Combinations of organic manure and mineral fertilizer T5 (N: P2O5 @ 112:45+ Poultry manure @ 750 kg per ha) and T6 (N: P2O5 @ 112:45 + Farm yard manure @ 1000 kg per ha) showed significantly greater influence than other combinations and organic manure alone.