A Detailed Guide to the Latest Sowing Time and Methods for Oats
Oats are a crop with high nutritional value, rich in protein. They have extremely strong adaptability and are more cold-tolerant than other crops, and are also known as wild oats. So how should oats be sown and raised as seedlings? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction.
1. Sowing preparation
First, select high-quality, plump oat seeds, and choose a plot with flat terrain and sufficient sunlight, preferably loose, fertile soil with good drainage. Before planting, prepare the land and apply fertilizer, clear away weeds and leftover plant residues, and if conditions permit, the soil can also be disinfected. After this is completed, wait to sow.
2. Seed treatment
Before sowing, choose a sunny, windless day and spread the selected seeds in a layer 2-3 cm thick, then sun-dry them for 3-5 days. This can promote seed germination, increase the germination rate, and make the seedlings emerge earlier. In addition, the ultraviolet rays of the sun can kill disease-causing bacteria carried on the seed surface, reducing disease damage. Before sowing, to reduce pests and diseases, carbendazim can be used to dress the seeds, which can prevent diseases such as smut and rust. For underground pests, phoxim or carbofuran can be used for seed dressing as a preventive measure.
3. Sowing time
Generally, sowing can be carried out in early spring once the soil has thawed to about 10 cm. The usual sowing time is from late March to mid-April, and the best sowing time is around Qingming. It should not be later than the Guyu period at the latest. When sowing, it is also necessary to take local rainfall conditions into account. Sowing while there is sufficient soil moisture is especially key, and securing seedlings is one of the main measures for high yields of dryland oats.
4. Sowing methods
For sowing oats, mechanical sowing or manual furrow drilling in rows is best. Broadcasting is not suitable, because oat seeds are relatively light and will drift with the wind when broadcast, making sowing density difficult to control. For drilling in rows, the row spacing should be controlled at about 15-20 cm, and the sowing depth should preferably be 3-5 cm. Replanting and missed sowing should be prevented, the sowing depth should be consistent, and sowing should be uniform. After sowing, harrow the ground so that the soil and seeds are tightly combined, to avoid air leakage and damage to the sprouts. Generally, the sowing rate is about 10-15 kg per mu.
The above is an introduction to the sowing time and methods for oats. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.