Oats Cultivation Guide: Suitable Climate, Land Selection, Field Preparation, Sowing and Harvesting

Oats are one of the crops grown during the Rabi season. It is an important Cereal crop as well as fodder crop. Oats offer numerous health benefits like they are rich in protein and fiber, so it is helpful in reducing weight, controlling blood pressure and increasing the power of fighting diseases. Oats are also used as straw or dried fodder. Cultivation of Oats and wheat crop are almost the same. Temperate and Subtropical climates are best for growing oats. So let’s discuss in detail about oats cultivation;

Cultivation of Oats

Suitable climate

• The cold and dry climate is considered suitable for the cultivation of oats

• Temperature of 15 to 25 degree centigrade is considered best for its cultivation.

• Rainfall should be 80-100 mm

• Sowing Temperature should be between 20-25°C

• Harvesting Temperature should be between 25-30°C

Land selection

• Oats can be cultivated in all types of soil, but loam soil is best for its cultivation.

• pH should be between 5 - 6.6 for oats.

Field preparation

To get a good germination of oat crop, it is necessary to prepare the field properly, for this, run two or three plows from the native plow in the field or once in the tractor powered equipment once after running the cultivator. After that, the field should be flattened by running the Pata. Make proper arrangements for drainage in the field.

Advanced Oats varieties

HFO 114:- It is also known as Haryana Oats 114. It is a high yielding variety of 500 quintals of green fodder per hectare, which grows very fast after harvesting, usually 2 to 3 cuts are taken.

UPO 94 :- This variety of oats is very good in yield, it gives 500 to 550 quintals of green fodder per hectare. This variety is resistant to diseases and scorching diseases.

Kent :- This variety cooks in medium time, which is useful for the plain mountain regions of northern India. It is resistant to diseases and scorching diseases. Yield capacity is 500 to 550 quintals per hectare of green fodder.

Algerian :- This type of plant remains green for a long time. It is an early maturing variety of 145 to 155 days, about 400 to 500 quintals of green fodder is available from one hectare.

Other species :- FOS-1, UPO-13, UPO-50, UPO-92, UPO-123, UPO-160, OS-6, S-8, O- S7, O- S9, O- L88, O L- 99, JHO- 817, JHO- 822K- 10, Wide leaf Palampur- 1, N. P.-1, N. P.- 2, N. P-1 Hybrid, NP-3 Hybrid, NP-27 Hybrid, BS-1, B-2S, Biston-2 Biston-11, Brackle-11, Brackle-10 etc. Variety is also very popular.

Sowing of Oats

Time of sowing

November is the most suitable time for sowing of oats to get more production, but depending on the conditions and supply of fodder, its sowing can be done till December first week.

Spacing

Spacing of 25-30 cm should be kept between rows.

Depth

Depth should be kept between 3-4 cm.

Method of sowing

It is done through drilling method, zero tillage drill.

Seedling and treatment

Seed Rate

For fodder :- 100 kg of seeds per hectare.

For grain :- 80 kg of seeds per hectare is

Seed Treatment

To protect seeds from various fungal and pathogenic diseases, it should be treated with Captan or Thiram at 3 gram per kilogram.

Fertilizers Requirement (kg/Acre)

Urea      SSP        MOP

66           50           -

Nutrients Value (kg/Acre)

Nitrogen Phosphorus     Potash

30                 8                        -

Weed Control

• The oat crop left for fodder requires less fertility because weeds do not thrive due to the high number of plants, but weed control is beneficial in crops taken for seed production.

• To control wide-leaf weeds, spray 500 g 2, 4-D using 600 liters of water per hectare.

Irrigation

• First irrigation should be done on 20 to 25 days after sowing.

• Proper drainage should be done.

• The amount of irrigation depends on the type and temperature of the land.

• 3 to 4 irrigation is necessary, for good production.

• For the production of healthy seeds, there should be moisture in the fields.

• Due to lack of moisture, seed production decreases.

Oats Harvesting

• After 75 to 85 days of sowing, 50% of the oat crop can be harvested.

• Harvesting 50% of crop can give about 400 quintals of green fodder.

• The crop taken for two harvesting should be harvested in 55 to 60 days and the second harvesting should be done after 50% flowering.

• This harvesting will give about 550 quintals of green fodder per hectare.

• First harvest of the plants should be done at a height of 4 to 5 centimeters.

• They are fully mature and ready to harvest after 4-5 months of sowing or you can say they can be harvested in early April month.