The oat, sometimes called the common oat, is a species of cereal grain grown for its seed .oat is one of the important, well-adapted cereal fodder and cultivation is similar to the wheat crop. While oats are suitable for human consumption and livestock feed. Oats are usually considered a secondary crop, i.e derived from the weed of the primary cereal domesticates. It is mainly grown in temperate and subtropical climates.

At the first introduction of oats (Avena sativa L.), called Jai locally, is not documented, although pande (1997) stated that they were introduced after the second world war. During the survey  In 1992, farmers indicated that landlords of the Terai, who kept elephants, grew oats more than 100 years ago; it is believed that they brought seed from India.

VARIETIES :HFO114,UPO94,kent,JHO-851 ,JHO-822, JHO-99-2, JHO -2004  JHO 2001,RU-19,OS-6,OS-7, Palampur-1 ,IGFRI-5-54,UPO-94 AND UPO-212

CULTIVATION OF OATS :

Oats are grown in temperate regions. They can tolerate rain, unaffected by late frosts and snow, and require lower summer heat. Oats are an annual plant and can be planted either in autumn (for late summer harvest ) or in the spring (for early autumn harvest ).

SOIL:

Oats grow well on sandy loam to heavy clay. Soil with good drainage. Acidic soil is suitable for oats however saline soils are not suitable. pH:5-6.6  is optimum for oats.

CLIMATE :

Temperature:20-30; Rainfall:80-100 mm; Sowing temp:20-25

Harvesting:25 -30degree Celsius temperature in winter with moist conditions.

FIELD PREPARATION :

Land should be properly prepared to form a weed-free field. Plowing should be done 6-8 times to gain higher yields. Propagation in oats is done through seeds.

SOWING TIME :

The second week of October to the last week of October is optimum for sowing seeds. For a regular supply of fodder from December to March, scattered sowing is also advocated. Its optimum growth is attained in sites with 15-20   temperature in winter with moist conditions.

SPACING: 25-30 cm between rows

SOWING DEPTH: 3-4cm

METHODS OF SOWING: 75-80kg/ha however bold seeded variety like kent requires 100-125kg/ha.

SEED TREATMENT: Seed should be treated with Captain or Thiram@  3gm/kg of seeds to protect seeds from various fungal and pathogenic diseases.

MANURE AND FERTILIZER: required 15 tonnes of FYM 10 -15 days before sowing. In addition to this application ;80kg/ha N ,40 kg/ha P2O5 for single cut and 120kg/ha N ,40 kg/ha k2o for multi-cut varieties .

HARVESTING: After 4-5 months of sowing. The harvesting of single-cut oat varieties is done at 50% flowering. In double-cut varieties, the first cut should be taken at 60 days followed by the second cut at the 50% flowering stage. However, in multicast varieties, the first cut is recommended at 60 days, the second cut at 45 days after the first cut, and the third cut at 50 % flowering. For seed production, the crop should be left for seed after the first cutting, which should be taken 50-55 days after sowing. For good re-growth, the first cut should be taken 8-10 cm above the soil surface.

YIELD: The average green fodder from single, double, and multi-cut varieties of oat ranges from 30-45,40-55 and 45-60 tonnes/ha respectively. If the crop is left for seed, 25 tonnes/ha green fodder from the first cut and 2.0 -2.5 tonnes /ha seed and 2.5 -3..0 tonnes/ha straw is obtained.

PEST AND DISEASES: Root rot and leaf blotch are major diseases in oat. In leaf blotch, long brick red blotches appear on young plants in the third and fourth leaf stage. Seed treatment with Thiram@3 gm/kg of seed reduces the infestation of these diseases. Root Rot is caused due by a root parasite. It can be cured by proper seed treatment during seed sowing.

BENEFITS: Oats are among the healthiest grain on earth. The nutrient composition of oat is well balanced.

1.Oats are incredibly nutritious: They contain important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant plant compounds. Half a cup (78grams )of dry oats contains:

  • Manganese:191% of the RDI
  • Phosphorous:41%of the RDI
  • Magnesium:34% of the RDI
  • Copper:24% of the RDI
  • Iron: 20%of the RDI
  • Zinc 20%of the RDI
  • Folate:11%of the  RDI
  • VIT.B1:39% of the RDI
  • VIT.B5:10%of the RDI

2.Whole oats are rich in antioxidants including Avenanthramide which may help lower blood pressure levels by increasing the production of nitric oxide. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-itching effect.

3.Oats contain a powerful soluble fiber called Beta-glucan. It reduces LDL and total cholesterol levels. Also reduced blood sugar.

4.Oatmeal is very filling and may help to lose weight.

5.Decrease the risk of childhood Asthma.

6.Oats may help relieve constipation: oat bran, the fiber-rich outer layer of the grain, may help relieve constipation.

7.Oat silage contains higher crude protein and a higher percent of digestible protein than other silage.

8.Its grain makes good fiber feed, particularly for horses, sheep, and poultry.

9.Oat contains 10-15% C.P,55-63%Neutral detergent fiber,30-32% acid detergent fiber 22-23.5% cellulose and 17-20% hemicelluloses.