OATS

Oat is an important Cereal crop as well as fodder crop. Cultivation of Oat is similar as wheat crop. It is mainly grown in Temperate and Subtropical climates. It can also thrive well in high-altitude tropics. They are very popular due to their health benefits. Oat meal is very famous food. Oats is rich in proteins and fiber. It acts as anti-oxidants. They also help in weight loss, controlling blood pressure and for building strong immune system. Also, it is used for straw or hay or silage making.

It can be cultivated on all kinds of soil. Well drained loamy soil rich in organic matter is suitable for cultivation. pH range of 5 - 6.6 is optimum for oats.

Brunker-10: It is a quick growing variety having fine, narrow, smooth leaves. It is resistant against drought. It can be cultivated in areas of Punjab, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

OS-6:  Suitable for cultivation in all areas of India. Gives average green fodder yield of 210qtl/acre.

OL-9: Suitable for cultivation in all irrigated areas of Punjab. Seeds are of medium size. Gives average seed yield of 7qtl/acre and fodder yield of 230qtl/acre.

Kent: It is suitable for growing in all areas of India. Average plant height is 75-80 cm. Flowering starts in 125 days. This variety is resistant to rust, lodging and blight. It gives fodder yield of 150qtl/acre. The variety gets ready in 180 days.

Bundel Jai 2001-3: Gives average green fodder yield of 20ton/acre and dry fodder yield of 4ton/acre.

OS 403: Developed by CSSHAU, Haryana. Suitable for timely sowing under irrigated conditions. Gives average yield of 183qtl/acre of green fodder.

Other state varieties:

Haryana Javi-114: Early sowing variety. Released by CCS HAU, Hisar in 1974.Suitable for all over India. The variety is resistant to lodging. Suitable for multi cut. It gives an average yield of 50-230qtl/acre green fodder.

Harita (RO 19): Released from MPKV, Rahuri in 2007. Suitable for multi cut variety. It gives an average yield of 200qtl/acre green fodder and 40qtl/acre dry matter. The variety is resistant to leaf blight disease.

Bundel Jai 2004 (JHO-2000-4): Released from IGFRI, Jhansi in 2002. Suitable for North East and North West regions. Suitable for single cut. It gives an average yield of 200qtl/acre green fodder and 40qtl/acre dry fodder. The variety is tolerant to crown rust, powdery mildew, leaf blight and root rot.

OL 125: Released from PAU, Ludhiana in 1995. Suitable for cultivation in north-west and central regions. Suitable for single cut or multi cut. It gives an average yield of 240qtl/acre.

(Bundel Jai 851) JHO 851 and OL 529 are also suitable varieties for oats.

OL-10: Suitable for cultivation in all irrigated areas of Punjab. Seeds are of medium size. Gives average fodder yield of 270qtl/acre.

HFO-114: It is suitable for cultivating in all oat growing areas. It was released in 1974 by HAU, Hisar. This variety is tall and it is resistant to lodging. It has bold seeds and has an average yield of 7-8qtl/acre of seed.

Algerian: This variety is suitable for irrigated areas. Average plant height is 100-120 cm. It has slow early growth and light green color leaves.

Bundel Jai 851:  Suitable for cultivation in all areas of India. It gives average green fodder yield of 188qtl/acre.

 

Land should be properly prepared to form a weed free field. Carry out ploughing for 6-8 times and bring soil to fine tilth. Oat crop can tolerate higher pH levels than barley and wheat.

Time of sowing
Complete sowing of oats in early of October to November end.

Spacing
For low tillering varieties use row spacing of 20-25 cm whereas for higher tiller variety use row spacing of 30 cm.

Sowing Depth
Depth should be 3-4 cm.

Method of sowing
For sowing, used seed drill method. Or used pore or kera method behind the plough.
 

Seed Rate:
Seed rate of 24 kg-28 kg is required for one acre land.

Seed Treatment:
Seed should be treated with Vitavax @2 gram/kg of seed to protect seed from covered smut.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply FYM or well decomposed cow dung@ 8-10 ton/acre, should be added at the time of land preparation. For single cut variety, apply 32 kg of Nitrogen in form of (Urea 70 kg) and 16 kg of Phosphorus (in the form of SSP@100 kg) per acre at time of land preparation.

For Multi-cut variety, apply Nitrogen@50 kg in form of Urea@110kg/acre and Phosphorus@16kg (in form of SSP@100 kg/acre). Apply 1/3rd of Nitrogen as top dressing afterward give remaining dose of nitrogen in two equal part at time of first and second cut.
 

Oats are mainly cultivated as rainfed crop. But if they are grown as irrigated crop, four to five irrigations are required. Depending upon soil moisture of land, apply pre-sowing irrigation. Apply remaining irrigation at monthly interval. Apply irrigation after each cut.

Weed is less likely to occur in oats. 1-2 hoeing can be given as intercultural operations. If weed is present in standing crop, apply 2,4D@ 250 gram /acre.

• Pest and their control:
  

Aphid: It is the main pest of oats. It causes considerable damage by sucking of cell sap. It results in distortion and mottling of leaves. Dimethoate 30EC @0.03% helps to prevent aphid attack. This fodder should not be fed to animals for at least 10-15 days after spraying.

• Diseases and their control:
  

Leaf Blotch: Fungus establishes itself inter-cellular, tends to produce conidiophores which emerges through stomata and bears single terminal conidia. These conidia are brown to black in color, tapered at apex, 4-6 spectate. Primarily infection occurs through these conidia. Secondary infection occurs through Air-borne spores. Seed treatment should be done properly to manage this disease.

Root Rot: It is caused due to root parasite. It can be cured by proper seed treatment during seed sowing.

Oats are fully mature and ready to harvest after 4-5 months of sowing. To avoid grain shedding, Crop should be harvested in early April month. It gives an average yield of 165-200qtl/acre.