EFFECT OF SALINITY, SODICITY AND BORON IN IRRIGATION WATER ON QUALITY AND FORAGE YIELD OF OATS

The experiment was conducted to find out the effect of EC, adjusted SAR and boron in irrigation water on yield and nutrient content of oat forage. Increasing level of EC, adjusted SAR and boron of irrigation water decreased the forage yield of oat. The considerable reduction in forage yield in both the cuttings was observed at EC above 6 dSm-1, adjusted SAR above 45 and boron above 1 mg kg-1. This shows that such waters can be used for growing of oat forage. The increasing level of EC and adjusted SAR increased N, Na and B content of both the cuttings in forage plant while decreased the content of P and K. Calcium content of both the cuttings decreased with increasing level of adjusted SAR while it increased with increasing level of EC of irrigation water. The increasing level of boron in irrigation water increased the boron content of both the cuttings while it decreased the calcium content.