Oat Cultivation Technology Tutorial: Detailed Explanation of the Latest Planting Methods

Oats are an annual plant of the genus Avena in the grass family, called wild oat and wild wheat in the "Compendium of Materia Medica", and belong to the minor coarse grains. The grain is used for grinding into flour for food or as feed, and has very high nutritional value. It has been recognized by the US FDA as a functional food, and has the effect of lowering cholesterol and stabilizing blood sugar, giving it high cultivation value. Now let us take a look at the cultivation technology of oats!

The cultivation environment of oats

1. Temperature: Oats like cool conditions but are not cold-tolerant. The northern temperate zone is most suitable for planting. The seeds can germinate at 2-4°C, and the seedlings can endure low-temperature environments of -2 to -4°C, making them the most cold-tolerant among wheat crops. In northern and northwestern China, where winters are cold, they can only be sown in spring. In more southern areas, they can be sown in autumn, but must mature before the arrival of high summer temperatures.

2. Water: Oats grow in cold, high-altitude desert regions, but when the seeds germinate they need about 65% of their own weight in water. Their transpiration coefficient is higher than that of barley and wheat, and they also consume relatively more water. If water is insufficient during the growth period, the grains often fail to fill out and yields decrease. Therefore, the roots and stems of oats often reach about one meter long so that they can absorb more water.

3. Soil: Under good cultivation conditions, oats can achieve good harvests in soils of various textures, but moist soil rich in humus is best. Their adaptability to acidic soil is stronger than that of other wheat crops, but they are not suitable for cultivation in saline-alkali soil.

Sowing technology for oats

1. Seed treatment: Before sowing oats, choose clear and windless weather. Spread the seeds thinly to a thickness of 2-3 cm and sun-dry them for 3-5 days. Sun-drying can promote early germination of the seeds, increase the germination rate, and bring about earlier emergence. In addition, ultraviolet rays in sunlight kill pathogens on the seed coat, which can reduce disease. Treat seeds with 0.2% of the seed amount using seed-dressing bis or carbendazim to prevent oat loose smut, rust, and other diseases. In areas with severe underground pests, phoxim or carbofuran can also be used for seed dressing.

2. Sowing time: Sowing can begin in early spring when the soil has thawed about 10 cm. The suitable sowing period for oats is from March 25 to April 15, with the best sowing period around Qingming, and no later than Guyu. According to rainfall conditions, sowing while taking advantage of soil moisture is especially critical. Securing seedlings is one of the main measures for high yields of dryland oats.

3. Sowing method: Oats are best sown mechanically or by artificial furrow drilling, and broadcast sowing is not advisable. The row spacing for drilling is 15-20 cm, and the depth should preferably be 3-5 cm. Prevent repeated sowing and missed sowing. The sowing depth must be uniform and the seeding even. After sowing, harrow the ground so that the soil and seeds are closely combined, preventing air leakage and damage to sprouts. The sowing rate is 10-15 kg per mu; for grain harvest, it may be reduced as appropriate.

Field management of oats

1. Loosening soil and weeding: If rain or snow occurs before oat emergence, harrow lightly in time to break up surface crusting. During the entire growth period, weed 2-3 times. During the three-leaf stage, cultivate and loosen the soil and weed. Weed early and shallowly to increase soil temperature, reduce water evaporation, promote early rooting and rapid rooting, and preserve the full stand of seedlings. Weed twice before jointing, and remove weeds in time in the middle and late stages. If the planting area is not large, manual weeding can be used. When the planting area is relatively large, chemical herbicides can be used. At the three-leaf stage, use 72% 2,4-D butyl ester emulsifiable concentrate at 60 ml/mu, or 75% tribenuron-methyl dry suspension at 1—2 g/mu, and spray evenly on a sunny, windless day with no dew.

2. Fertilization and irrigation: During the tillering and jointing stage of oats, apply 25 kg of ammonium sulfate per mu in combination with irrigation. In dryland, topdress according to rainfall. During the flowering and grain-filling stage of oats, a 0.2-0.3% monopotassium phosphate aqueous solution can be mixed with a 20% urea solution for foliar topdressing, spraying 70 kg of solution per mu, and spray once again after 7 days to promote grain filling. Apply foliar fertilizer at the appropriate time to increase grain weight. In places with irrigation conditions, if spring drought occurs, irrigate once from the three-leaf stage to the tillering stage of oats, and irrigate once during the grain-filling stage.

3. Harvest and storage: Oats can be cut twice from jointing to flowering for green feed. The first cutting is when the plant height is 50-60 cm, leaving stubble 5—6 cm. After 30-40 days, cut a second time without leaving stubble. Oat silage can be harvested from the heading stage to the dough stage. If whole-plant silage of oats with mature grains is needed, it can be harvested at the early stage of full ripeness. Oat grain is harvested at the dough stage.