Optimizing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Inputs for Enhanced Growth and Yield Performance of Oat (Avena sativa L.)

A field experiment was carried out during the rabi season of 2015–16 at the Agricultural Research Farm, R.B.S. College, Bichpuri (Agra), to evaluate the influence of varying nitrogen and phosphorus levels on the growth, yield, and yield components of oat (Avena sativa L.). The experiment followed a factorial randomized block design comprising four nitrogen levels (0, 80, 100, and 120 kg ha⁻¹) and three phosphorus levels (0, 40, and 80 kg ha⁻¹). Results indicated that nitrogen application significantly enhanced plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of ears per plant, ear length, grains per ear, grain yield, and straw yield. The highest nitrogen dose (120 kg ha⁻¹) recorded the maximum values for all growth and yield parameters, showing notable improvements over the control. Similarly, phosphorus application at 80 kg ha⁻¹ significantly improved these parameters compared to untreated plots. Grain and straw yield increases due to nitrogen application (80, 100, and 120 kg ha⁻¹) were 18.63%, 27.25%, and 34.53%, and 16.55%, 22.57%, and 30.04%, respectively, over control. Phosphorus application at 40 and 80 kg ha⁻¹ resulted in grain yield increases of 3.28% and 8.29%, and straw yield increases of 3.12% and 7.81%, respectively. These findings suggest that integrated application of 120 kg N ha⁻¹ and 80 kg P ha⁻¹ optimizes oat productivity under agro-climatic conditions of Agra.