Abstract

VELAZQUEZ-MENDOZA, Lourdes Andrea; MICHELETTO, Rodolfo Heyn  and  VILLALBA-MARTINEZ, Carlos. Evaluation of nitrogen fertilization on the productive performance and nutritionalquality of avena sativa l. Rev. Soc. cient. Parag. [online]. 2026, vol.31, e3110.  Epub Mar 29, 2026. ISSN 0379-9123.  https://doi.org/10.32480/rscp.2026.e3110.

Forage requirements in Paraguay have increased in recent years due to the growing number of beef cattle. During the winter months, lower production occurs due to low temperatures and reduced solar radiation. Species such as oats exhibit adequate development between April and September, but low yields result from decreased nitrogen (N) availability in the soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization on oat yield and quality. Application levels of 0, 23, 45, 68, 90, and 113 kg N ha⁻¹ were used in a randomized block design. Forage production, nutritional quality, and nitrogen efficiency were evaluated. The results show that there were no differences in plant height between treatments. However, green forage (25,000 kg ha⁻¹) and dry matter (4,000 kg ha⁻¹) yields were higher with the application of 113 kg N ha⁻¹. Crude protein concentrations reached 16% with the application of 113 kg N (three times higher than the treatment without application). No differences were observed in total digestible nutrients (TDN) or neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Oat nitrogen uptake required 26 kg N per ton of dry matter produced, and the fertilizer recovery efficiency was 0.4, with an agronomic efficiency of 8.3. In conclusion, fertilization with N at a dosage of 150 kg ha-1 improves the yield and quality of oats, therefore, it is an alternative for forage production in the winter period of the eastern region of Paraguay.

Keywords : forage production; urea; animal feed; nutrient efficiency.

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