Response of zinc and iron on quality parameters of fodder oat

Forage crops are essential for feeding livestock and can be utilized in various forms, including forage, silage, and hay. Bio fortification is indeed a valuable technique aimed at increasing the nutritional value of forage crops. Method focuses on enhancing the content and bioavailability of essential micronutrients like vitamins and minerals in crops. By the targeted aim and objective, an experiment on “Role of zinc and iron on forage quality of oat” was conducted at Main Forage Research Station, AICRP on Forage Crops and utilization, Anand Agricultural University, Anand during a winter season of 2021-2022 with ten treatments and three replications. Application of 25 kg ZnSO₄ and FeSO₄ through soil fb foliar application (30 and 40 DAS) along with the recommended dose of fertilizer (T₁₀) to fodder oat observed significantly higher dry matter digestibility (60.273%) and total digestible nutrient (53.62%). Dry matter intake (1.790%), relative feed value (83.33%) and relative feed quality (77.96%) were significantly higher by application of recommend dose of fertilizer along with 25 kg ZnSO₄ and FeSO₄/ha each (T₄). Significantly lower calculated feed value like dry matter intake, total digestible nutrients, relative feed value and relative feed quality was observed in treatment where no application of fertilizers to crop.