Partial substitution of conventional nitrogen fertilizers with nano urea and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in fodder oats

Abstract

Oats are an important winter-season cereal fodder crop in India. The field trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of nano urea and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on the fodder oats during the Rabi season of 2021-22 to 2022-23. A field experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with eight treatments and four replications. Results of two years experiment revealed that different nutrient management practices caused significant variations in growth as well as green and dry fodder yield. Application of 75% RDN+ PGPR+ nano urea sprays recorded statistically similar results concerning plant height, number of tillers per running metre, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, stem growth, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, green and dry fodder yields with 100% RDN and 100% RDN+ PGPR during first and second fodder cutting.Treatment 75% RDN+ PGPR+ nano urea obtained 49.15% higher green fodder yield over control. Nano urea and PGPR achieved equal yields with 100% RDN by reducing 25% RDN.