POLY4 Positively Improves the Growth, Fodder Yield and Quality of Oat (Avena sativa L.) in Semi-Arid Tropics of Central India

Abstract

A study was carried out to examine the effects of different potassium fertilizer sources on growth, fodder yield and quality at the Research Farm, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. The experiment was conducted under semi-arid climatic conditions in a simple Randomized Block Design (RBD) with ten treatments (control, 100% NP, 100% recommended dose of potassium (RDK) through MOP, 100% RDK through SOP, 100% RDK through POLY4, 75% RDK+ 1% RDK foliar spray (30 days after sowing and 30 days after fodder harvest) through POLY4, 100% RDK through schoenite and 75% RDK+ 1% RDK foliar spray (30 days after sowing and 30 days after fodder harvest)  through schoenite, 75% RDK through MOP + KSB (potassium solubilizer bacteria, Seed treatment), KSB alone (Seed treatment) and three replications. Results showed that application of 75% RDK+ 1% RDK foliar spray (30 days after sowing and 30 days after fodder harvest) through POLY4 recorded the significantly highest growth and yield contributing parameters, which is beneficially resulted in increased green fodder yield (159%) as compared to control. However, it was at par with the application 75% RDK+ 1% RDK foliar spray (30 days after sowing and 30 days after fodder harvest) through schoenite. The fodder quality parameters viz. CP, ADF, and NDF were also remarkably improved with the application of 75% RDK+1% RDK foliar spray (30 days after sowing and 30 days after fodder harvest) through POLY4 in oat crop. The results imply that farmers may apply 75% RDK+1% RDK foliar spray through POLY4 to achieve good quality higher green fodder in sandy clay loam soil for oat production.