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Managing Spring Planted Oats for Hay Production

Introduction 

Oats (Avena sativa) are a cool-season annual grass grown primarily as a highly nutritious forage or grain crop. Oats are commonly used in livestock feed and feedstock, for human consumption and as a cover crop. In Oklahoma, oats play a crucial role in forage production, offering excellent nutritional value for livestock on account of their high protein content and digestibility, especially when harvested at the optimal time. They are particularly valuable due to their fast growth, which allows them to be used as a quick source of forage in either the fall or spring, as well as their versatility in being used for grazing, hay or silage. Due to Oklahoma’s varied climate conditions, oats provide additional promise for the state because they tolerate drought conditions relatively better than other cereals.

 

Oats have a fibrous root system and grow best in well-drained soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. The optimal air temperature range for oat growth is between 59F and 77F, resulting in oats typically being planted in Oklahoma in the fall or early spring. The ideal seeding rate for oats in the state typically ranges from 80 to 120 pounds per acre depending on factors such as soil conditions, planting methods and seed costs. Adjusting the seeding rate within the recommended range allows farmers to balance costs with the desired plant density and crop performance, ensuring a productive oat crop that meets forage needs. Seeding depth can be as deep as 1 1/2 inches; however, a shallower depth of 1/2 to 1 inch in good environmental conditions can increase emergence rate.

 

Harvest of oats for hay should occur from late spring through early summer, just prior to early reproductive growth stages. Once the plant moves beyond early flowering and starts filling the grain, little to no forage yield will be added; however, a decrease in quality will occur as the plant matures. Another concern is that stored hay containing grain can increase pest pressure, resulting in a loss of useable hay. The optimal time to harvest oats for hay production in Oklahoma is typically during the boot to early heading stage, which usually occurs from April to early May depending on weather conditions. Peak forage quality is typically reached at the boot growth stage; however, this time of the year can have highly variable environmental conditions.

 

 

Optimal Planting Dates for Spring Oats 

The success of oat cultivation depends on various factors, and research at Oklahoma State University has shown that two very important considerations for spring planted oats for hay in the state are planting date and nitrogen (N) fertilizer application.

 

The decision on planting date should consider factors such as soil temperature, moisture level, final frost date and the desired harvest window. In Oklahoma, planting oats during the earlier portion of the spring provides the benefits of a mix between cooler temperatures and periods of warmer conditions to provide extended growing periods. Early planting can also lead to a higher yield potential, due to the later planted crop’s exposure to summer heat and increased pest pressures.

 

Mid- to late-February is traditionally considered the optimum time for spring planted oats to produce adequate biomass prior to reproductive growth. However, research conducted at Oklahoma State University has shown that oats planted from mid-February through mid-March can produce adequate forage growth (Figure 1). It is essential to note that delaying planting toward the latter part of this period does result in diminished production due to an abbreviated growth period prior to environmental conditions pushing the crop into the reproductive stages.

This graph has Forage dry weight (lbs/ac) on the left from 0 to 4,000. Mid-February from 0 to 2737, Late February from 0 to 2407, Early-March from 0 to 2407, Mid-March from 0 to 1992, Mid-February from 50 to 3154, Late-February from 50 to 3320, Early-March from 50 to 3485 and Mid-March from 50 to 2324 on the bottom.

Figure 1. Impact of planting date and N fertilizer application on oat forage dry biomass weight in Oklahoma.

 

 

Nitrogen Fertilizer Application 

Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for oat growth and development, playing a pivotal role in chlorophyll formation, photosynthesis and protein synthesis. Therefore, the application of N fertilizer can increase both forage yield and associated quality. However, in a short-season crop like spring-planted oats, the concern is the lack of a long enough period of N uptake to see a return on the fertilizer input cost. Figure 1 shows the value of adding 50 pounds N per acre on forage production of spring-planted oats. The value of the N fertilizer increases when the planting date is delayed beyond the optimal mid-February timeframe, with N adding 400 pounds per acre of forage production at the mid-February planting but over 1,000 pounds per acre of forage at the early-March planting. This result creates more flexibility in the timing of spring oat forage systems, allowing growers to potentially delay planting until adequate soil moisture conditions exist. Forage quality also increased with the application of N. Figure 2 shows an increase in forage protein due to N fertilizer at each planting date. The acid detergent fiber, total digestible nutrients and neutral detergent fiber in the forage were also affected by N fertilizer application, but planting date had a greater influence on those parameters (data not reported).

This graph has the numbers 15.0 to 25.0 on the left. Mid-February from 0 to 17.1, Late February from 0 to 17.4, Early-March from 0 to 18.9, Mid-March from 0 to 21.3, Mid-February from 50 to 18.7, Late-February from 50 to 19.4, Early-March from 50 to 22.3 and Mid-March from 50 to 23.7 on the bottom.

Figure 2. Impact of planting date and N fertilizer application on oat forage dry biomass weight in Oklahoma.

 

 

A green Oat field with a view of small white flags and big trees in the back.

Figure 3. Oat field.

 

 

Conclusion 

Oats are a versatile and valuable hay crop for Oklahoma producers. Nitrogen fertilizer applied at 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre, combined with an early spring planting date, can enhance both forage yield and nutritional quality, making oats a beneficial addition to crop rotations and livestock feed programs.

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