Abstract:
Oat (Avena sativa L.) is the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia. However, the
productivity of the crop is affected due to varieties commended along with rates of blended
NPSB fertilizer and seeding rate. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Chencha,
Southern Ethiopia Regional State during 2023 cropping season. The experiment consisted of
three seeding rates (70, 100 and 130 kg ha-1) combined with two oat varieties ( Souris and
Goslin ) and four levels of blended NPSB fertilizer rates (0, 50,100 and 150 kg ha-1) and laid
out in factorial arrangement in split plot design with three replications. The seeding rates
combined with oat varieties were assigned as main plot, and the blended NPSB fertilizer
rates were assigned in a subplot. Data on crop phenology, growth, yield and yield
components were collected and subjected for analysis. The results showed that, plant height,
spike length, biomass yield, number of grains spike-1, grain yield, thousand seed weight and
harvest index were significantly (p≤0.05) affected by variety combined with seeding rate and
blended NPSB fertilizer rates. The maximum grain yield of 3589.5 kg ha-1 was recorded from
variety Souris combined with seeding rates of 100 kg ha-1 and with blended fertilizer
application rate of 100kgha-1. But the minimum grain yield of 1495 kg ha-1 was recorded
from oat variety Goslin combined with seeding rate of 130 kg ha-1 and blended fertilizer
application rate of 0 kg ha-1. The maximum biomass yields 21,348.3kg ha-1 was recorded
from variety Souris combined with seeding rate of 130 kg ha-1 and with blended NPSB
fertilizer application rate of 100 kg ha-1. However, the minimum biomass yield of 9927.5 kg
ha-1 was recorded from oat variety Goslin combined with seed rate of 100 kg ha-1 and
blended NPSB fertilizer rate of 0 kg ha-1. From partial budget analysis of the highest net
benefit and MRR 214,466.1 birr was obtained from V1SR2 and 100 kg ha-1 of blended NPSB
fertilizer rate and the lowest net benefit and MRR of combined mean effect of variety seed
rate and blended NPSB 124,337.05 birr was obtained from V2SR3 and 150 kg ha-1 of NPSB
fertilizer rate. Therefore, oat variety Souris when combined with the seed rate of 100 kg ha-1
and blended NPSB fertilizer rate100kgha-1was found to be important for oat growth and
yield at Chencha. However, further study needs to be done under different seasons and
locations to utilize the recommendations of the present study.
