Evaluation of Different Fodder Oats (Avena sativa L.) varieties for their herbage mass and seed production potentials in Rasuwa, Nepal

Abstract

Purpose: Eleven fodder oat (Avena sativa L.) varieties were evaluated for herbage mass and seed production
under two cut management system at Pasture and Fodder Research Station (PFRS) Station, Dhunche, Rasuwa
for two winter seasons in 2022/23.
Methods: The oat genotypes used were: 1. Sweet oat, 2. Kona, 3. Titan 4. Baler No.1, 5. Monida, 6.
Longyan No.2, 7. Everleaf, 8. Longyan No.3, 9. Qingyin No.1, 10. Qinghai 444, 11. Parbati (as a check variety).
The experiment was conducted by using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with each treatment
replicated thrice, each in 6 m2 plot size. The seeds of respective varieties were sown in third week of October. The
seed rate, fertilizer and irrigation were applied as per recommendation of NARC. The half of each experimental
plot was used for growth and herbage mass evaluation and another half of the plot was left for seed harvest. A
total of two harvests was taken to assess herbage mass production. The production parameters viz: plant height,
leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf number/tiller, number of tillers/plants, green herbage, dry herbage, fresh straw
weight and seed yield were recorded. The collected data were analyzed by using GenStat.
Results: The results showed that the highest cumulative dry herbage (9.7 t/ha) was produced from Qinghai
444 followed by Titan, Kona, Parbati and Longyan No.3 whereas lowest herbage mass was obtained from Baler
No.1 p < 0.01. Likewise, the average seed yield was 3.3 t/ha which was statistically non-significant among the
evaluated oat varieties p > 0.05.
Conclusion: Findings of this research thus firmly suggested that there are varietal differences in terms of herbage
biomass as well as their seed production potentials of oats varieties; thus these important aspects are worthy to
consider while recommending specific varieties to the niche specific regions of Nepal.