Cold Tolerant Oats as Summer Forage in Temperate Environment of Bhutan

Abstract

The number of oat varieties used in extension program is limited and there is a need to provide more options to the dairy farmers by identifying additional oat varieties with good yield and quality. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate forage yield and nutrient content of new oat [Avena sativa L.] varieties in comparison with the varieties currently used in extension. The new oat varieties were: Gansu oat 1, Gansu oat 2, Gansu oat 3, Lina oat, and Qingyin oat. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with six replications and measuring plot size of 4.5 m2 [1.5×3 m]. The variety Gansu oat 2 and Qingyin oat produced significantly higher green forage and dry matter yield than variety stampede. However, there was no significance difference in essential nutrient [Crude protein] content between new and existing oat varieties. The study concluded that variety Gansu 2 and Qyingyin oat can be suitable for forage production in summer under temperate climatic condition of Bhutan.