Morphological features, economic aspects and nutritional profiles of Baksha and Oat grass

To accomplish the goals of the current study, a total of sixty (60) households from the Pathalia Union cluster area under Savar upazila of Dhaka district were surveyed and various morphological and productive parameters of Oat (Avena sativa L.) and Baksha (Family: Poaceae) fodder were recorded from thirty (30) households for each at the time of harvesting and samples were collected for knowing the nutritive value. The collected data were tabulated and analyzed following one-way ANOVA including descriptive statistics. It was observed that farmers related to fodder production only 2% were graduated, 33% were secondary passed, 32% were primary passed, 8% were higher secondary passed and 25% were illiterate. 45% of farmers used their own lands, 38% of farmers used leased lands and about 17% of farmers used leased lands accompanied by their own lands. In addition, about 22% Baksha fodder, 28% Napier fodder, 20% Oat fodder, 9% both Oat and Bahsha, 14% both Napier and Baksha, 5% all three fodder (Napier, Baksha and Oat) and only 3% farmers were cultivating other fodders. About 38% of cultivators in the study area used their produced fodder only for their cattle feeding and about 25% of cultivators sold their produced fodder directly in the market without resting any cattle feeding. 25% of farmers sold their produced fodder in the market accompanied by cattle feeding. The biomass yield (ton/hector/c) of oat grass was 27.05±0.15 whereas the biomass yield (ton/hector/c) of Baksha grass was 40.18±0.26. Crude protein (CP) percent (%) of Oat grass was 9.06±0.29, in the contest of 12.80±0.76 in Baksha. Production cost and selling price of Oat were 1190.83±12.40 BDT/ton and 449.87±6.40 BDT/ton and Baksha grass were 4381.84±24.51 BDT/ton and 5694.60±36.84 BDT/ton, respectively. Farmers can make a profit Tk. 3190±33.28 from selling 1-ton Oat grass whereas Tk. 5244.62±33.28 from selling 1-ton Baksaha grass. Oat and Baksha production and marketing at Savar is considered a profitable enterprise. The overall production and marketing status could be improved through facilitations of farmers cultivating fodder scientifically.