Impact of oat varieties, nutrient management, and seed rates on soil properties and economic returns of fodder oat production in semi-arid regions

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of different oat varieties, nutrient management practices, and seed rates on soil properties and economic returns of fodder oat production over two years. A split-plot experiment was conducted with four oat varieties (Kent, HJ-8, HFO-114, JHO-851), four nutrient treatments (125% RDF, 100% RDF, 75% RDF+PGPR, 75% RDF+PGPR+FYM), and three seed rates (75, 90, 105 kg/ha). Soil pH, EC, organic carbon, and available N, P, and K were analyzed after harvest. Economic parameters including cost of cultivation, gross returns, net returns and benefit-cost ratio were calculated. Results showed that nutrient management significantly affected soil properties, with 75% RDF+PGPR+FYM generally improving soil nutrient status. The JHO-851 variety produced the highest net returns (Rs. 56,511/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (2.42). Application of 100% RDF and seed rate of 90 kg/ha were most economical. This study provides insights for optimizing fodder oat production practices to enhance soil fertility and economic returns in semi-arid regions.