Grasses - Oat - Forages of Florida - Solutions for Your Life - UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Click on photo to view full size.

Oat
Species:	Oat
Scientific Name:	Avena sativa
Cultivars:	Recommended varieties by maturity: Medium: Horizon 270, Horizon321, Horizon 474, SS76- 40, RAM, LA99016, NK- Coker 227 (some years might be affected by virus), Harrison (old cultivar susceptible to rust). Late: TAMO 406. For the cool-season forage variety recommendations report, cl ick this link.
Growth Habit:	2-4 feet tall, bunchgrass. Leaves wider than other small grains. Membranous ligule, auricles absent.
Life Cycle:	Annual. If planted Dec.1st by they will be at soft dough stage by April 15th to 30th. Time from planting to germination 3 to 10 days (depends mainly on moisture) Time from germination to pollination 130 to 150 days, followed by 3-4 weeks for starch build up and drying. If the drying is only 2 weeks, it indicates adverse weather conditions (too dry/hot)
Origin:	Europe
Production Season:	As early as December if planted for grazing; In 4 to 6 weeks after planting, they can be lightly grazed (plants will be small and rotational stocking is recommended to prevent livestock from grazing them off) January to April for grain.
Nutritive Value:	Very palatable. If frozen, cell content will leach, and nutritive value will drop.
Use:	Grazing, hay, dual purpose (grazing then grain), grain.
Adaptation
Soil:	Sandy-loam, clay-loam
pH:	5.5 - 7.5
Rainfall:	25-65 inches
Temperature:	Susceptible to freeze injury. Freeze damage (wilting) will be noticeable after 1 or 2 days.
Management
Planting Date:	October 15 to November 15 (for grazing). November 15 to December 15 (for grain). Planting for grain can be as early as October 15th, planting prior to this date is not advised in southern regions due to disease pressure.
Planting Depth:	1-2 inches
Seeding Rate:	100 to 120 lb/acre or 4 Bu (32 lb/bushel) for grazing, pasture, and hay; 60 to 90 lb/acre for grain or 3 Bu
Seed Cost:	Harrison ($0.53/lb; $50 to 56/acre), Coker ($0.33/lb; $30 to 33/acre)
Fertilization:	Fertilizer recommendation after soil test and apply fertilizer when oats have 2-3 leaves present. For additional info click this link
Production:	4000 to 6000 lb/acre
Notes
Graze at 8-12 inches and stop at 3-5 in; rest period: 7-15 days High fertilization may cause lodging, or nitrate poisoning (at early stages) No prussic acid problems Affected by Barley Yellow Dwarf virus (drought stress); appears immune to Bipolaris leaf spot formerly Helminthosporium Wet conditions: bunt and smut diseases may be present;<30% of field with smutted oats might be OK for non-pregnant cattle;smaller animals and animals under heat or dehydration stress may show lethargy or hyperactivity; horses more susceptible to toxic effects.

Oat

Adaptation

Management

Notes