NUTRITIVE VALUATION OF WINTER FORAGE CEREALS HAY UNDER VARIABILITY OF AGRO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND NITROGEN REGIMES AT BOOTING STAGE

The fundamental relation between forage growers of rain fed areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan is intense fodder shortage in winter season. The study focused to investigate the inconsistency of winter forage cereals WFCs (barley, oat, rye and triticale) to compute precise dose of nitrogen (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg.ha-1) for the assessment of nutritive evaluation of WFCs, hay at booting stage BS under temperate conditions of (Rawalakot) and subtropical conditions of (Rawalpindi). The two years (2016-2017, 2017-2018) field experiments were, examined at research farm (Chottagalla) of University of Poonch Rawalakot and research farm of (Koont) Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi. In both locations at BS, the hay samples were properly harvested, tagged and arranged. During corresponding years, Rye (12.9%, 13.1%) at Rawalakot while oat (11.2%, 11.5%) at Rawalpindi produced more crude protein contents in response with N @ 225 kg ha-1. The extreme amount of crude fiber contents, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber contents were documented, for rye at Rawalakot, whereas for oat at Rawalpindi conditions in response to N @ o kg ha-1. Throughout both years, the highest ash contents were recorded, for rye (13.27%, 13.48%) at Rawalakot, whereas triticale (11.42% 12.11%) and oat (11.2%, 11.89) were statistically same under Rawalpindi conditions with application of N @ 225 kg ha-1. It is concluded; from experimental results, there is dire need for nitrogen application to optimize the yield and nutritional value of WFCs under both climatic conditions.