Comparative Study on Quantitative and Qualitative Characters of Different Oat (<i>Avena sativa</i> L.) Genotypes under Agro-Climatic Conditions of Sargodha, Pakistan

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to compare the forage yield and qualify of oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes (F-413, SGD-46, F-408, F-301, SGD-2011, SGD-3, SGD-37, SGD-40, SGD-5 and S-2000) at Fodder Research Institute, Sargodha, Pakistan during the year 2011 to 2012. Experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) having three replications and a net plot of size 1.6 × 5 m. The varieties were differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in yield, growth and quality parameters. The variety SGD-40 produced significantly higher green forage yield (80.00 t·ha-1) and dry matter yield (10.95 t·ha-1) than other varieties due to taller plants (145.73 cm), more number of tillers (7.78 m-2) and leaf area per plant (95.08 cm2). It also had the highest crude protein percentage (13.84%). Correlation analysis of quantitative and qualitative characters indicated the strongly positive association of green forage yield with dry matter, crude protein and ash content. While green forage yield was negatively correlated with the number of tillers per plant, keeping in view both forage yield and crude protein contents the genotype SGD-40 grown under the condition of Sargodha (Pakistan).