Early seeding dates improve oat yield and quality in the eastern prairies

Abstract

Demand for high quality oat (Avena sativa L.) for consumption by humans and race horses has increased, leading to increased oat production on the Canadian prairies. Little information exists on the best management practices for producing high-quality, high-yielding oat using direct seeding systems and cropping practices developed and adopted over the past 15 yr. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of early seeding on grain yield and quality of oat cultivars currently grown in the eastern prairie region. Four seeding dates and four cultivars were tested at Indian Head, Melfort, and Brandon over 3 yr. Moving the seeding date from mid-June to early May increased oat yield, seeds per panicle, kernel weight, test weight and plump seed by 76, 33, 10, 13 and 11%, respectively, when averaged across all locations and years. This increase in yield and quality was probably due to improved environmental conditions and a reduction in crown rust infection (Puccina coronata Corda). Crown rust has a larger effect on seed yield and quality as one moves east and south from Melfort, Saskatchewan, and as seeding was delayed from early May. Early seeding of oat decreases the risk of obtaining low yield and/or quality, and should be considered a best management practice for growing milling oats, especially in the southeastern prairies of Canada. Key words: Yield components, test weight, oat, Puccina coronata, lodging, plump seed, thin seed