BIOMASS YIELD OF OAT CULTIVARS UNDER DIFFERENT CUTTING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Abstract

In the crop-livestock integration system, improper oat management can result in low biomass yield. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cutting management systems on the biomass yield of five oat cultivars with potential use in the crop-livestock integration system. A completely randomized blocks design with four replications, in a split-plot scheme, was used. The plots were represented by the oat cultivars Preta Comum, IAPAR 61, IPR 126, FAPA 2, and FUNDACEP FAPA 43. The Preta Comum cultivar features a short cycle, while the others have a long one. The sub-plots were represented by the following cutting systems: one single cut in the flowering stage, one cut in the vegetative and other in the flowering stage, two cuts in the vegetative and other in the flowering stage, and three cuts in the vegetative and other in the flowering stage. The long cycle cultivars (IAPAR 61, IPR 126, FAPA 2, and FUNDACEP FAPA 43) reached high forage yield, without affecting the subsequent fodder yield for soil covering, pointing out its ability to be used in crop-livestock systems. The management systems with three cuts in the vegetative stage maximizes the forage yield, however, concerning fodder yield, the best results were obtained by using up to two cuts in the vegetative stage, or a single one in the flowering stage.