Optimizing Oat ( <i>Avena sativa</i> L.) Production Strategies to Mitigate Nitrate Toxicity Without Compromising Fodder Quality

Oat or Jai ( Avena sativa L.), a vital winter forage crop in India and several other countries, is frequently affected by nitrate toxicity, compromising animal health and fodder quality. This study aimed to identify optimal agronomic management practices that enhance fodder quality and reduce nitrate accumulation in the Trans‐Gangetic plains of India. Using a pooled split‐plot design, this experiment evaluated the effects of different oat varieties, nutrient management regimes, and seeding rates. The experimental results revealed variability in fodder quality across varieties. Increasing the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizer application by 25% above the recommended rate, coupled with 95 kg ha −1 of seed rate, significantly improved fodder yield, nutritional energy status, and reduced fiber fractions ( p &lt; 0.05). Conversely, reducing fertilizer application to 75% of the recommended dose and supplementing with manure and plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) markedly decreased the risk of nitrate accumulation. Specifically, the combination of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) or 75% RDF with PGPR and farmyard manure (FYM) at a seed rate of 90 kg ha −1 proved most effective for the JHO‐851 and Kent varieties in single‐cut systems and JHO‐851 and HJ‐8 varieties in multicut systems, achieving the highest dry matter yield and quality with minimal nitrate levels ( p &lt; 0.05). Future research should explore shade management, a potentially significant factor in nitrate accumulation, and its interaction with other management strategies.