Growth and Productivity of Oats (Avena sativa L.) as Influenced by Fly Ash and Phosphorous Levels in Indo-Gangetic Plains of India

Abstract

Background: Dairy farming is one of the oldest and well established subsidiary occupation and most widely adopted by all over farming community of Punjab state. Every farmer, if wish to start any entrepreneurship along with agriculture-First Think upon Dairy Farming. The latest training, new techniques and research work help in making this business work better. There is a need for substantial increase in the current yield of green fodder to provide complete and good quality feed to the animals. The current study aimed to study the effect of fly ash and phosphorous on the growth and fodder and grain yields of dual purpose oats. Methods: Field experiments were conducted at Research Farm, College of Agriculture, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda to study the effect of different levels of fly ash and phosphorous on growth and productivity of oats during rabi seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20. The trial was laid out in split plot design with three levels of fly ash (0, 5 and 10 t ha-1) in main plot and four phosphorous levels (0, 10, 20 and 40 kg P2O5 ha-1) in sub plot, replicated thrice. Result: Fly ash @ 10 t ha-1 recorded highest plant height, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, number of effective tillers/m row length, number of seeds/spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, straw yield and biological yield than control and 5 t ha-1. The per cent increase of grain yield in fly ash @ 10 t ha-1 was 8.69 and 18.11 over 5 t fly ash ha-1 and control, respectively. Phosphorous @ 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted in higher growth characters, yield attributing characters and productivity of oats. Phosphorous @ 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 (21.35 q ha-1) and 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 (20.87 q ha-1) treatments produced statistically similar grain yield of oats. Phosphorous @ 20 and 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 recorded 20.29 and 23.05% higher grain yield than 0 kg P2O5 ha-1, respectively. Application of P2O5 @ 40 kg ha-1 along with application of fly ash @ 5 and 10 t ha-1 produced statistically similar fodder yield of oats. The highest grain yield (22.97 q ha-1) was recorded in plots treated with the application of P2O5 @ 40 kg ha-1 along with the application of fly ash @ 10 t ha-1 and it was statistically at par with 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and application of fly ash @ 10 t ha-1. The highest grain yield (22.97 q ha-1) was recorded in plots applied with P2O5 @ 40 kg ha-1 along with fly ash @ 10 t ha-1 and it was statistically at par with 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and fly ash @ 10 t ha-1.