When is the best time to sow oats? Detailed explanation of sowing time and methods
Oats are a crop with high nutritional value, rich in protein. They have extremely strong adaptability and are more cold-resistant 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 plot and apply fertilizer, remove weeds and leftover plant residues. If conditions permit, the soil can also be disinfected. After that is done, wait for sowing.
2. Seed treatment
Before sowing, choose a good day that is sunny and windless, spread the selected seeds in a layer 2-3 cm thick, and 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 also kill pathogens carried on the seed surface, reducing disease damage. Before sowing, in order 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 to prevent them.
3. Sowing time
Generally, sowing can be carried out in early spring when the soil has thawed about 10 cm. The usual sowing time is from late March to mid-April, the best sowing time is around Qingming, and the latest should not exceed Guyu. When sowing, it is also necessary to take local rainfall conditions into account. Sowing to catch soil moisture is especially critical, and securing seedlings is one of the main measures for high yield of dryland oats.
4. Sowing methods
For oat sowing, it is best to use mechanical sowing or manual drilling in furrows. 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, the row spacing should be controlled at about 15-20 cm, and the sowing depth should preferably be 3-5 cm. Prevent repeated sowing and missed sowing. Sowing should be consistent in depth and uniform. After sowing, harrow the ground so that the soil and seeds are tightly combined, so as to avoid air leakage and damage to sprouts. Generally, the sowing rate is about 10-15 kg per mu.
The above is an introduction to oat sowing time and methods. I hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.