Fodder quality improvement and enrichment of oats with Cu through biofortification: a technique to reduce animal malnutrition

Enrichment of oats fodder with copper (Cu) through biofortification is gaining importance, as Cu deficient fodders lead to various health hazards and problems among animals. To achieve these objectives, the present study was undertaken to enhance the Cu content in oats fodder through biofortification. For this, two trails were conducted separately at research farm of Department of Soil Science, PAU, Ludhiana (location-I) and KVK, Tarn Taran (location-II) during rabi season of 2017-18. The results of two investigations revealed that the treatment (T-9) comprising two foliar application of Cu @ 0.2% sprayed at 60 and 90 days of sowing effected oats growth which recorded maximum enrichment of Cu, green fodder yield (405 q ha(-1)), dry fodder yield (95.8 q ha(-1)), plant height (141 cm) and Cu uptake (856.3 g ha(-1)) in oats fodder. However, when three foliar application of Cu @ 0.2% sprayed at 60, 90 and 110 days of sowing (T9), plant height increased upto 12% over control. Copper content in fodder increased to 21 from 7.7 mg kg(-1), both green and dry fodder increased by 28.9%. On the other hand fodder quality parameters viz. crude protein (8.7%) and crude protein yield (8.3 q ha(-1)) were recorded highest with foliar application of Cu @ 0.2% at 60 and 90 days after sowing. Thus, it can be concluded that foliar application of Cu @ 0.2% at 60 and 90 days of sowing enhanced the oats yield and quality which will certainly improve livestock production.