CLIPPING OF OATS AT VARIOUS INTERVALS ON HERBAGE YIELD, FORAGE QUALITY AND SEED YIELD

摘要

Oats cultivar Avon was clipped for fresh herbage yield, dry matter yield, seed yield, and forage quality under various clipping intervals at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad during three consecutive years (1987-89). Forage yield, seed yield, and crude fibre contents increased while crude protein contents decreased with advance in maturity. Highest forage yield with inferior forage quality was recorded at the 50% flowering stage. Maximum seed yield and superior forage quality as determined by maximum crude protein and minimum crude fibre contents was observed when the crop was clipped after 70 and 85 days of planting. Minimum forage and seed yields were observed in the fodder clipped after 70 and 115 days of planting respectively. It was noted that a satisfactory forage and grain yield of oats cultivar Avon could be obtained if clipped after 115 days of planting. It was also observed that if the farmer is interested in forage yield only, then harvesting oat at 50% flowering stage would produce maximum fodder yield with minimum forage quality. On the other hand, if the forage quality factor is to be combined with herbage yield then oat crop should be clipped after 100 days of planting.