Oat agronomy - response to applied nitrogen 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 applied nitrogen and time of sowing locations
Aims

Growers in medium to low rainfall regions are keen to grow oats as a break crop, either for hay or as a profitable grain crop; however, there is a need to identify management inputs and varieties that consistently meet quality specifications. Currently there is considerable interest in the high yielding milling oat varieties Bannister and Williams but they have not been adequately evaluated in lower rainfall environments in WA. Oat agronomy trials conducted in 2014 suggested that the grain quality of Banister and Williams was more sensitive to nitrogen inputs than established varieties like Carrolup in lower rainfall regions (Troup et al. 2015) but these trials were only sown in late May at the end of the ‘modern oat grower’ sowing window for milling oats.
The aims of this study are to:

  • 1. quantify the impact of delayed seeding and N inputs on the yield and quality of hay and grain production,
  • 2. evaluate the responsiveness of Bannister and Williams oat varieties to applied nitrogen,
  • 3. determine if Bannister and Williams are suitable milling oat varieties for lower rainfall regions.
Key messages
  • Time of sowing had a greater influence on oat grain and hay yield, and oat grain quality than variety selection or level of applied nitrogen in 2015.
  • High screenings limited the ability of grain to meet Oat1 quality standards, this was due to the detrimental impact of delayed seeding and/or applied nitrogen in excess of that required in lower rainfall environments.
  • Applying more than 20 kg N/ha did not improve the return per hectare ($/ha); rather, applying 80 kg N/ha consistently reduced return per hectare ($/ha).
  • Screening of Williams and Carrolup were more sensitive to applied nitrogen than WA02Q302-9, Bannister and Yallara.
  • WA02Q302-9 appears a suitable replacement for Yallara and Carrolup, and should achieve a better hectolitre weight than Bannister at similar or lower yields.
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 Oat agronomy and industry development in the Western Region
Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge the research support of Mark Seymour, and technical support of Helena O’Dwyer, Sue Cartledge and the DAFWA Research Support Units at Northam, Merredin and Katanning.


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

Method

Crop type Forage: Oats
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: 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

Screenings limited the ability of the grain to meet Oat1 specifications more than hectolitre weight at our trials in 2015.
Screenings increased significantly when sowing was delayed, and when additional nitrogen was applied.
Bannister and Williams responded similarly to applied nitrogen. When grown for hay, applying nitrogen increased hay
yield, but decreased its quality because stem thickness increased. When grown for grain, applying nitrogen increased
screenings and decreased hectolitre weight. Screenings of Williams and Carrolup were more sensitive to applied
nitrogen than WA02Q302-9, Bannister and Yallara.
All varieties exceeded the Oat1 minimum hectolitre weight receival limit of 51 kg/hL regardless of nitrogen rate or
seeding date. Overall, the hectolitre weight and screenings of Bannister were better than Williams, making it a more
suitable milling oat option than Wil

Holt Rock 2015

Sow rate or Target density 160 plants/m2
Sowing machinery

This study was undertaken in 2015 at three medium to low rainfall sites (Cunderdin, Holt Rock and Merredin) to compare the performance of six milling oat varieties/lines (Bannister, Carrolup, WA02Q302-9, Williams and Yallara, and 05096-32) when sown on two seeding dates (May and June, 4 weeks apart) and fertilised at four different nitrogen rates (0, 20, 40, and 80 kg N/ha). Oat seed was direct-drilled (2 to 3 cm depth) into canola stubble using a small plot air-seeder with trailing on-row press wheels; CSBP Super CZM was banded below the seed at 120 kg/ha. Urea was top dresses across select plots, 6 to 7 weeks after sowing (WAS), at 20 or 60 kg N/ha to fully implement N treatments. Soil samples were taken just before seeding and analysed for soil physical and chemical properties. Based on soil parameters, rotation and expected rates of mineralisation, we used the Select Your Nitrogen (SYN) tool to calculate total available nitrogen at each site.
Variety seeding r

Sow date 8 May 2015
Harvest date 3 November 2015
Plot size 10m x 1.85m
Plot replication 3
Fertiliser

CSBP Super CZM was banded below the seed at 120 kg/ha. Urea was top dresses across select plots, 6 to 7 weeks after sowing (WAS), at 20 or 60 kg N/ha to fully implement N treatments.

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

Screenings limited the ability of the grain to meet Oat1 specifications more than hectolitre weight at our trials in 2015.
Screenings increased significantly when sowing was delayed, and when additional nitrogen was applied.
Bannister and Williams responded similarly to applied nitrogen. When grown for hay, applying nitrogen increased hay
yield, but decreased its quality because stem thickness increased. When grown for grain, applying nitrogen increased
screenings and decreased hectolitre weight. Screenings of Williams and Carrolup were more sensitive to applied
nitrogen than WA02Q302-9, Bannister and Yallara.
All varieties exceeded the Oat1 minimum hectolitre weight receival limit of 51 kg/hL regardless of nitrogen rate or
seeding date. Overall, the hectolitre weight and screenings of Bannister were better than Williams, making it a more
suitable milling oat option than Wil

Merredin 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

Screenings limited the ability of the grain to meet Oat1 specifications more than hectolitre weight at our trials in 2015.
Screenings increased significantly when sowing was delayed, and when additional nitrogen was applied.
Bannister and Williams responded similarly to applied nitrogen. When grown for hay, applying nitrogen increased hay
yield, but decreased its quality because stem thickness increased. When grown for grain, applying nitrogen increased
screenings and decreased hectolitre weight. Screenings of Williams and Carrolup were more sensitive to applied
nitrogen than WA02Q302-9, Bannister and Yallara.
All varieties exceeded the Oat1 minimum hectolitre weight receival limit of 51 kg/hL regardless of nitrogen rate or
seeding date. Overall, the hectolitre weight and screenings of Bannister were better than Williams, making it a more
suitable milling oat option than Wil

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
Holt Rock, WA 0 - 10cm Shalow sand over clay 5.60 0.10 28.00 105.00 27.00 5.00 1.02
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Cunderdin, WA Not specified
Holt Rock, WA Shallow sandy duplex
Merredin, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
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 212.2mm365.3mm354.0mm
2014 199.8mm404.0mm321.7mm
2013 232.8mm475.7mm352.6mm
2012 211.9mm445.9mm335.9mm
2011 193.5mm407.6mm329.4mm
2010 169.6mm356.7mm278.1mm
2009 219.9mm442.9mm334.6mm
2008 208.0mm476.2mm316.3mm
2007 195.1mm446.9mm301.9mm
2006 214.2mm415.5mm360.6mm
2005 168.3mm471.3mm311.7mm
2004 184.5mm447.6mm330.6mm
2003 207.6mm460.8mm342.4mm
2002 153.7mm471.0mm300.5mm
2001 159.6mm379.0mm327.5mm
2000 240.3mm446.9mm379.8mm
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

Loading

Climate

Holt Rock WA 2015


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 140mm

Derived climate information

Cunderdin WA

Holt Rock WA

Merredin WA

Cunderdin WA

Loading
Loading
Loading

Holt Rock WA

Loading
Loading
Loading

Merredin WA

Loading
Loading
Loading

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 15:23pm AEST