Responses of dual purpose oats (Avena sativa L.) to sowing date, method and level of zinc with or without thiourea in irrigated arid ecosystem

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for four consecutive winter seasons of 2011-12 to 2014-15 on dual purpose oats to record the responses of sowing date, method and level of zinc with or without thiourea on growth, yield, quality and economics in irrigated arid ecosystem. The treatment consisted in main plot three dates of sowing viz., 1st November, 15th November and 30th November; and in sub plot five methods and levels of zinc with or without thiourea namely control (without zinc and thiourea), basal application of ZnSO4 @25 kg/ha, basal application of ZnSO4@12.5 kg/ha + foliar spray (0.5% ZnSO4 ), basal application of ZnSO4 @12.5 kg/ha + foliar spray (0.5% ZnSO4 + 0.05% thiourea) and basal application of ZnSO4 @12.5 kg/ha + foliar spray (0.05% thiourea). Two foliar spays were done on re-growth foliage at 10 and 25 days after cutting for green fodder as per the treatment. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with four replications. The results showed that maximum green fodder production (114.73 q/ha), grain yield (16.33 q/ha) and straw yield (46.15 q/ha); crude protein per cent (15.52%) and protein yield (12.89 q/ha); zinc content (55.47 ppm) and uptake (460.68 g/ha); zinc use efficiency (0.52 kg grain/g Zn) and dry fodder (2.65 kg dry fodder/g Zn) and water use efficiency for grain (6.4 kg/ha-mm) and dry fodder (32.7 kg/ha-mm); and net returns (Rs. 43294 /ha) and B: C ratio (2.37) were recorded with 15th November sown oat crop. Different methods and levels of zinc application with or without thiourea indicated that maximum yields of green fodder (99.18 q/ha) and grain (15.75 q/ha); zinc content (53.62 ppm) and zinc uptake (392.23 g/ha); net return (Rs.37394 /ha) and B:C ratio (2.10) were recorded with basal application of ZnSO4 (12.5 kg/ha) + foliar spray (0.5% ZnSO4 ). Whereas higher crude protein per cent (16.39) and protein yield (11.71 q/ha) was recorded with basal application of ZnSO4 @ 12.5 kg/ha + foliar spray (0.5% ZnSO4 + 0.05% thiourea).