Evaluation of oats and barley varieties for fodder yield, quality and nutrient uptake potential under central Gujarat condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2012-13 and 2013-14 to study fodder yield, quality and nutrients uptake potential of different varieties of oats and barley. The trial consisted of fourteen treatments having eight notified varieties of oats, three notified varieties of barley and three combinations of mixed crop of oats variety (Kent) with different barley varieties. Single cut was taken when crop was at milking to dough stage for recording data. Overall, oats varieties produced more fodder yield compared to barley and mixed crop treatments. Among oats varieties, the highest mean green fodder yield (26.74 t ha-1) and mean dry matter yield (8.29 t ha-1) was recorded in oats variety JHO 822. Among barley varieties, RD 2715 recorded the highest mean green fodder yield (23.07 t ha-1) and crude protein yield (0.80 t ha-1). But the highest mean dry fodder yield (7.59 t ha-1) was observed in barley variety RD 2035. Among mixed crop treatments, Kent + RD 2552 recorded the highest mean green, dry and crude protein yield of 25.15, 7.54 and 0.73 t ha-1, respectively. Crude protein (10.5 to 10.8 %) and dry matter (31.97 to 35.12 %) contents were higher in barley varieties as compared to oats varieties (8.6 to 9.1 % and 29.18 to 34.72 %).