Effect of Nitrogen Level and Cutting Management on Yield and Quality of Different Varieties of Oat Fodder

An experiment involving five levels of nitrogen (0, 40, 80, 120, & 160 kg/ha), three varieties of oat (Kent, UPO-212, & UPO-240) under two cutting management (single cut taken at 50% flowering and two cuts i.e first cut taken at 55 days after sowing & second cut at 50% flowering) was conducted. Variety UPO-240 recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher yield of green forage, dry matter, digestible dry matter and crude protein than other varieties. These parameters were also increased (P<0.05) with increased level of N up to 120 kg/ha. Yields of green forage, DM, DUM and CP were higher (P<0,05) in single cut than in two cut system. The DM and ADF contents were higher in single cut, however the CP, DDM and ash contents were higher in two cut system. The difference among the varieties in terms of DM, CP, DDM, ADF and NDF content were nonsignificant. Increased nitrogen level increased the CP and NDF content significantly but decreased the DM content.