Effect of Sowing Methods and Nitrogen Levels on Growth, Yield and Economics of Oats (Avena sativa L.) under Mid-Hills of Himachal Pradesh, India

In Himachal Pradesh, farmers typically possess small land holdings where machinery isn't practical for various sowing techniques, limiting them to broadcasting. Regarding nitrogen, it facilitates more vegetative growth by enhancing the photosynthetic rate. The higher the nitrogen content, the greater the vegetative growth potential. Therefore, present investigation titled “Effect of Sowing Methods and Nitrogen Levels on Growth, Yield and Economics of Oats (Avena sativa L.) under Mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh, India” was conducted during rabi season of 2022-23 at Chamelti Agriculture Farm, MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The field experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design comprising twelve treatments with three replications. The experiment consists of three sowing methods in main plot i.e., (S1) Broadcasting, (S2) Line sowing and (S3) Crisscross and four levels of nitrogen N0 (0 kg ha-1), N1 (75 kg ha-1), N2 (100 kg ha-1) and N3 (125 kg ha-1) as sub plot. OL 12 variety of oats was used for sowing. Sowing methods and nitrogen levels were done as per treatment. Other crop management practices were followed as per the recommendation of the area. Results indicated that among the sowing methods, (S3) crisscross, recorded significantly higher growth and yield, over line sowing and broadcasting which was on par with (S2) line sowing over the rest of the treatments except for grain, straw and biological yield. In case of nitrogen levels, (N3) application of 125 kg N ha-1 recorded significantly higher growth and yield of oats, over rest of the nitrogen levels and was on par with 100 kg N ha-1. Economically, (S3) crisscross sowing with application of (N3) 125 kg N ha-1 resulted in higher gross returns, net returns and B: C ratio under Mid Hills of Himachal Pradesh.