Oats are second only to rye in their ability to survive in poor soils. Oats can be suitable as a pioneer crop, the first crop sown after breaking in new land. It is best after a root crop and not after another cereal especially rye. Oats is cultivated in larger areas in Russia, Canada, United States of America, Ukraine, Poland, Australia, etc.
It is usually grown for a double harvest of both grain and straw: a farmer can feed their livestock the straw and themselves the grain. Oats have traditionally been used to feed horses and cattle, but the global use of oats as feed has been steadily declining, whereas its food use is on the rise.
Oats require relatively lower amount of thermal heat units to mature. Oat production is pronounced between 35 – 65 ° N latitude. Oat is mostly sown in spring, but autumn planting is in vogue in hilly tracts.
Oats are ready to harvest when the grain changes from green to cream.
Growing oats
