How to Influence Oat Quality
The factors that affect the quality of oats are variety, soil type, fertilization and plant protection.
The weather conditions during the growing season also have a significant effect on the quality especially mould and toxin contents.
Oat quality targets will depend on the end user’s required specification e.g. livestock feed or for milling. The main traits to consider are grain protein (%), size (1000 grain weight, TGW) and specific weight (kg/hl).
Macronutrient affects on oat quality
Nitrogen and Potassium are the most influential of the macronutrients on grain quality. Nitrogen is important for grain size and protein content whilst potassium maintains the crop structure to prevent lodging that reduces grain size and specific weight.
Micronutrient affects on oat quality
The secondary nutrients sulphur and magnesium influence grain protein and specific weight respectively, whilst the micronutrient zinc and molybdenum also helps nitrogen metabolism that improves grain protein concentrations.
Related articles
How to Increase Oat Grain Size and Weight
Oat grain size is determined by the plants genetics i.e. variety, and the length of the grain filling period.
Oat Agronomic Principals
The fundamental agronomic principals behind oat production are to first build an efficient leaf canopy and then keep this photosynthetically active for as long as possible through to harvest.
Oat Nutritional Summary
A correct balance between macronutrients and micronutrients is essential to obtain the best results possible from any crop.
Recommended Yara fertilisers for oats
