Oat agronomy - response to seeding rate applied and time of sowing

2015

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Raj Malik
Blakely Paynter
Georgie Troup
Year(s) 2015
Contributor Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Trial location(s) Cunderdin, WA
Holt Rock, WA
Merredin, WA
Oat agronomy -  response to seeding rate applied and time of sowing locations
Aims
  • To evaluate the responsiveness of Bannister and Williams oats to increasing plant density.
  • To quantify the effect that plant density has on oat grain quality if a crop is sown early versus late.
  • To determine if Bannister and Williams oats are suitable for lower rainfall regions.
Key messages
  • Seeding date had a greater influence on oat grain yield, oat grain quality and return per hectare ($/ha) than variety selection or seed rate in 2015.
  • Delaying seeding from early May to early June reduced grain yield by 32% and return per hectare by 45%.
  • In lower rainfall environments Bannister is a better option than Carrolup, Williams and Yallara.
  • When released, WA02Q302-9 will be a useful oat variety in situations where low hectolitre weight is consistently a problem or with later seeding opportunities.
  • Maximum return per hectare was achieved between a target density of 100 to 200 plants/m2, which is in line with the suggested target density for grain oats in low rainfall areas of 160 plants/m2.
  • The return per hectare of Bannister oat was maximised at a higher density than for Carrolup, WA02Q302-9, Williams and Yallara, suggesting Bannister should be sown at a higher target density than those varieties. This is a preliminary observation and more research is needed to confirm the optimum target density for the new milling oat varieties.
Lead research organisation Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source DAFWA DAW00227
Trial funding source GRDC DAW00227
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge the technical support of Helena O’Dwyer, Sue Cartledge, Rod Bowey, Michelle Sampson and the DAFWA Research Support Units at Northam, Merredin and Katanning. This research is supported by the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia with co-funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation.


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Forage: Oats
Treatment type(s)
  • Sowing: Rate
  • Sowing: Timing
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Blocked

Cunderdin 2015

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Seed treatment Not specified
Other trial notes

Early seeding was the key to producing optimal grain quality, high grain yield and maximum return per hectare from oat grain production in our seed rate trials in lower rainfall areas in 2015. When sowing was delayed from early May to early June grain yield reduced by 32% and this was reflected in a 45% reduction in returns per hectare and a higher proportion of Oat2 quality grain produced. Variety choice and seeding date had a larger impact on what grade of oat was produced than plant density (Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6). Plant density did influence hectolitre weight and screenings, but the effects were generally small and often not large enough to change the grade.

Carrolup was the poorest performing variety in this study.

Although Williams performed well in this study as a high yielding oat variety, its tendency for low hectolitre weight and high screenings, which is consistent with the observations of Troup et al. (2015), suggests tha

Holt Rock 2015

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Seed treatment Not specified
Other trial notes

Early seeding was the key to producing optimal grain quality, high grain yield and maximum return per hectare from oat grain production in our seed rate trials in lower rainfall areas in 2015. When sowing was delayed from early May to early June grain yield reduced by 32% and this was reflected in a 45% reduction in returns per hectare and a higher proportion of Oat2 quality grain produced. Variety choice and seeding date had a larger impact on what grade of oat was produced than plant density (Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6). Plant density did influence hectolitre weight and screenings, but the effects were generally small and often not large enough to change the grade.

Carrolup was the poorest performing variety in this study.

Although Williams performed well in this study as a high yielding oat variety, its tendency for low hectolitre weight and high screenings, which is consistent with the observations of Troup et al. (2015), suggests tha

Merredin 2015

Sow rate or Target density Sown to achieve target densities of; 50, 100, 200 and 400 plants/m2.
Sowing machinery

Trials were established into canola stubble and were direct-drilled with a small plot air-seeder with on-row packing press wheels.

Sow date 8 May 2015 First week of May and first week of June.
Harvest date 2 November 2015
Plot size 10m x 1.85m
Plot replication 3
Fertiliser

An NPK compound fertiliser was banded below the seed at 180 kg/ha, with 43 kg/ha of urea top-dressed in front of the bar, supplying a total of 40 kg N/ha, 25 kg P/ha and 9 kg K/ha.

Seed treatment Seed was treated with Vibrance and Emerge at label rate.
Other trial notes

Early seeding was the key to producing optimal grain quality, high grain yield and maximum return per hectare from oat grain production in our seed rate trials in lower rainfall areas in 2015. When sowing was delayed from early May to early June grain yield reduced by 32% and this was reflected in a 45% reduction in returns per hectare and a higher proportion of Oat2 quality grain produced. Variety choice and seeding date had a larger impact on what grade of oat was produced than plant density (Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6). Plant density did influence hectolitre weight and screenings, but the effects were generally small and often not large enough to change the grade.

Carrolup was the poorest performing variety in this study.

Although Williams performed well in this study as a high yielding oat variety, its tendency for low hectolitre weight and high screenings, which is consistent with the observations of Troup et al. (2015), suggests tha

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Site Depth Type pH EC P K N A OC CAT
Merredin, WA 0 - 10cm Red sandy earth 5.20 0.14 39.00 135.00 21.00 5.00 1.24
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Cunderdin, WA Not specified
Holt Rock, WA Not specified
Merredin, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Cunderdin, WA Sodosol
Holt Rock, WA
Merredin, WA Sodosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Cunderdin WA Holt Rock WA Merredin WA
2015 212.2mm365.3mm426.1mm
2014 199.8mm404.0mm408.2mm
2013 232.8mm475.7mm440.9mm
2012 211.9mm445.9mm436.2mm
2011 193.5mm407.6mm410.7mm
2010 169.6mm356.7mm388.4mm
2009 219.9mm442.9mm426.0mm
2008 208.0mm476.2mm409.6mm
2007 195.1mm446.9mm377.6mm
2006 214.2mm415.5mm426.3mm
2005 168.3mm471.3mm386.1mm
2004 184.5mm447.6mm418.5mm
2003 207.6mm460.8mm426.3mm
2002 153.7mm471.0mm366.4mm
2001 159.6mm379.0mm411.5mm
2000 240.3mm446.9mm425.5mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Merredin WA 2015


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 211mm

Derived climate information

Cunderdin WA

Holt Rock WA

Merredin WA

Cunderdin WA

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Holt Rock WA

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Merredin WA

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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.



Trial last modified: 05-12-2019 15:21pm AEST