Effect of integrated nutrient management on green forage, dry matter and crude protein yield of oat in oat-Lathyrus intercropping system

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at Central Research Farm, Gayeshpur, Bidhan Chandra KrishiViswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal during Rabi season of 2015-16 and 2016-17 to find out the effect of integrated nutrient management on green forage, dry matter and crude protein yield of oat under various oat-lathyrus intercropping system. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three (3) replications comprising 3 levels of cropping system (CS1- sole oat, CS2- intercropping of oat with lathyrus in 3:2 row ratio and CS3- intercropping of oat with lathyrus in 3:3 row ratio) in the main plot and 4 levels of nutrient management (N1 - Full RDF through inorganic source, N2 - 75% N through urea + rest N through FYM, N3 - 75% N through urea + rest N through vermicompost and N4 -75% N through urea + rest N through mustard oilcake) in the sub plot. Pooled results explored that maximum green forage yield (118.04 q ha-1), dry matter yield (24.69 q ha-1) and crude protein yield (2.67 q ha-1) of oat was obtained when 75% N through urea + rest N through vermicompost was applied. Oat performed best under 3:3 intercropping system due to the benefit of biological nitrogen fixation showing maximum green forage yield (116.09 q ha-1), dry matter yield (25.24 q ha-1) and crude protein yield (2.70 q ha-1). Fodder yield of oat and its quality were found highest in combination of 3:3 intercropping system with 75% N through urea + rest N through vermicompost and thus can be recommended.