To study the effect of nitrogen on growth of oat (Avena sativa L.)

Abstract

Agriculture and Animal husbandry is complementary enterprises and it plays a vital role in Indian economy. All India summary reports of the 17th livestock census released in July 2006 points out that India possesses the largest livestock populations in the world after Brazil. It accounts for about 56 per cent of the world’s buffalo population and 14 per cent of the cattle population. It ranks first in respect of buffalo and second in respect of cattle population, second in goat population and third in respect of sheep in the world. Animal husbandry output constitutes about 30 per cent of the country’s agriculture output (Indian Economy, 2007, pp. 23). At present, the productivity of existing stock of cattle and buffaloes is very poor which can be increased if they are fed with balance and adequate quantity of quality fodder and feeds (Singh and Singh, 2002). Inspite of that we are highly deficient in various livestock products, though we have about one-fourth of the total cattle population of the world. The analysis of this situation reveals that one of the main reasons for the low productivity of our livestock is malnutrition, under-nutrition or both, besides the low genetic potential of the animals.