Oats cultivation

Oat is planted for grain, straw or pasture, as a companion crop with legumes, and as a cover crop to prevent soil erosion.

The choice of cultivar by a producer depends mostly on the end-market for the production, e.g. grain, grazing or feed. Cultivars that are more suited for grazing and hay production have different characteristics, and a cultivar for grain production must be chosen according to the needs of the buyer and end-user of the product, but must also fit into the production system of the farmer. Breeding and selecting for both seedling and adult resistance to crown rust in particular is an important part of oat improvement programmes in many of the world’s oat grain producing areas.

Oats are better adapted to variable soil types and can perform better on acid soils than other small grain cereals crops. They are mostly grown in cool moist climates and they can be sensitive to hot, dry weather from head emergence through to maturity. For these reasons, world oat production is generally concentrated between latitudes 35 – 65°N, including Finland and Norway, and 20 to 46°S.

Although oats are widely adapted to moist soil conditions, they have generally similar soil requirements to wheat with regard to both macronutrients and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and Mo) that have a major influence on production. Soil acidity levels of pH 4, 8 to 5, 5 (KCI) are regarded as optimal. Oats are more acid tolerant (up to 15 % acid saturation) than wheat, but less saline tolerant than wheat and barley.

Preceding the planting of oats, the standard seed treatments against seed-borne diseases must be applied in grain production, while it is optional in grazing and hay production. The planting time for oats is from September to October in cooler areas and January to April in warmer areas.

The recommended planting rate for oats planted for grain is 27 to 40 kg per acre. The recommended planting rate for oats planted for forage is 40 to 55 kg per acre.

Oat seed should be placed in firm contact with enough soil to prevent rapid drying. Seed should be placed at depths of 3⁄4 to 1 1⁄2 inches. Deeper coverage may result in loss of vigor and failure of the seed to produce emerged seedlings.

The fertilizer application rates usually depend upon the desired yield level, fertility of the soil, and the previous crop cultivated on the field. In general, oat requires lower doses of fertilizers than wheat. Fertilizer doses of nitrogen vary from 50 to 100 kg/ha, while 30 to 40 kg/ha phosphate, and 15 to 30 kg/ha potash are generally applied to get good yields.
Oats cultivation