Grain yield of oat (Avena sativa) as influenced by sowing time and nitrogen levels under temperate conditions of Kashmir

A field study conducted on silty clay-loam soils of Sher-e-Kashmir Universi ty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Shalimar, indicated that the cr op sown on 20 September gave grain yield similar to that of the crop sown o n 5 October, but significantly higher by 22.9, 322.5 and 51.1% of their on 20 October, and 5 and 20 November respectively. The grain yield of oat impr oved consistently with increase in N rates up to 90 kg N/ha, whereas furthe r increase in N reduced the grain yield drastically due to lodging. The mag nitude of superiority in mean grain yield with 90 kg N/ha was 94.4, 35.1 an d 13.8% over that with 0, 30 and 60 kg N/ha respectively. The response of N was detectable only up to 60 kg N/ha under earlier sowing dates of 20 Sept ember, 5 and 20 October, but was evident significantly up to 90 kg N/ha und er delayed sowing dates (5 and 20 November). The optimum dose of N worked o ut for mean over all sowing dates was 95.2 kg/ ha. The highest benefit:cost ratio with 90 kg N/ha was 2.71.