Scientists of Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) here have developed an improved variety of oats, 'OS 377'.
This variety has been released for cultivation in central zone of the country, said Vice-Chancellor Dr K S Khokhar here today.
The new oats variety is better in yield and nutritional quality, he said.
He said the Central Sub-Committee on Crops Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties for Agricultural Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, has released and notified this variety for central zone of the country comprising the states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
He said this was the second variety of oats of the university released for central zone of the country.
Earlier, in 2010, an oats variety 'OS 346' had been released for this zone.
Enumerating characteristics of 'OS 377' variety, Dr Khokhar said that it was a single cut variety suitable for timely sown and irrigated conditions.
It provides 537 q/ha of green fodder and high dry matter of 122 q/ha, and it contained protein content as high as 8.5 per cent.
Besides, its seeds yield potential was 25 q/ha and it was moderately resistant against leaf blight disease, he added.
