Effect of cutting management on productivity, profitability and quality of dual purpose oat (Avena sativa) cultivars in Shiwalik foothill plains

A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) seasons of 2018–19 and 2019–20 at research farm of Sher- e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir to assess the effect of cutting management on productivity and profitability of dual purpose oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars. Experimental results revealed that the yield attributes and productivity of dual purpose oat cultivars were significantly influenced by cutting management. Dual purpose oat cultivar treatments with single cut recorded significantly higher number of tillers/m2, number of grains/panicle, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, straw yield and harvest index as compared to treatments with double cut which recorded significantly higher forage yield, grain equivalent yield, net returns and B:C ratio. Among the oat cultivars evaluated in the experiment, JHO-2000-4 consistently outperformed the other cultivars in both cutting managements. In the single cut management system, JHO-2000-4 achieved significantly highest grain equivalent yield compared to all other single cut treatments. Similarly, in the double cut management system as well, JHO-2000-4 exhibited significantly higher forage yield, grain equivalent yield, gross returns, net returns, and B:C ratio. These results contribute to our understanding of the potential benefits of specific cutting management strategies and cultivar selection for optimizing oat productivity and profitability. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the cultivation of oat cultivar JHO-2000-4 using double cut approach involving cuts 60 DAS and 105 DAS can provide superior forage yield, grain equivalent yield, and higher economic returns.