Oats
Oat (Avena sativa L) are rabi cereal fodder crop in India. It has fast growth habit and quick recovery
after cutting and produces good quality herbage. It is a crop of Mediterranean origin, the domestication dates
back to ancient times. Oat seeds are reportedly found in 4000 year old remains in Egypt. The genus Avena
comprises of about seventy species, only a few are cultivated. A. sativa and A. byzantina are the main oats
grown for fodder and grain. Oat rank sixth in world cereal production following wheat, maize, rice, barley, and
sorghum. It is important winter forage in many countries and is grown as multipurpose crop for grain, pasture,
forage or as a rotational crop. It has excellent growth habit, good recovery after cutting and mineral content. It is
palatable, succulent and nutritious and has very high fiber content. In2016, global production of oats was 23
million tonnes, led by the European Union with 35% of the world total, followed by Russia with 21% of the
total, Canada with 13% of the total. Other substantial producers were Poland, Australia, and Finland, each with
over one million tonnes In India it is cultivated in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, U.P., M.P.. Punjab, Maharashtra,
Rajasthan and West Bengal. The crop occupies maximum area in U.P. (34%) followed by Punajab (20%) Bihar
(16%), Haryana (9%), and M.P. (6%).
Economic Importance: Oats has assumed considerable importance as feed for animal and functional
food for human being. It contains manganese 96%, molybdenum 64%, phosphorus 29% , copper 27%, biotin
26%, vitaminB1 25%, magnesium 17%, fiber 17%, chromium 15%,zinc 14%, and protein 13%. Oats, oat bran,
and oatmeal contain a specific type of fiber known as beta-glucan. Consumption of oats and oat-based
products significantly reduces total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations without
adverse effects on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglyceride concentrations. Oats reduces the risk of
developing colorectal cancer. A diet including plenty of whole-grains (such as oats or wholemeal bread) is just
as effective as taking anti-hypertensive medication in lowering blood Pressure. Whole grains are often
recommended for their beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Oats have potential health effects ranging
from improved immune health to reducing the risk of obesity and chronic disease. Also, oats and their fiber
content help keep the gastrointestinal tract running smoothly; they can help reduce constipation. Oats contain a
range of molecules that act as antioxidants; this includes avenanthramides, which are polyphenols.
Avenanthramides may play a role in keeping blood pressure low by increasing nitric oxide production. They
could also have anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties when applied topically to the skin.
Climatic requirement:
Oats are well adapted to cooler environment. Best growth occur in cool moist climate and can be sensitive to
hot, dry weather from head emergence to maturity.. Its optimum growth is attained in site with 15-250C
temperature in winter with moist conditions. Although, it can tolerate frost up to some extent but its fodder yield
and quality is reduced due to hot and dry condition.
Soil: Oats are most versatile of the cereals with regards to soil types. It is grown in a variety of soils except,
sodic and waterlogged soils. Oats grow the best in the fertile well drained loam to clay loam soil with adequate
drainage. It can tolerate slightly saline and acid soils but not above 8.5pH. It produces satisfactory yields on
heavy or light soils with proper moisture.
Land Preparation: The land preparation for sowing of oat is similar to that of wheat and barley. Ploughing by
mould board plough followed by 2-4 harrowing is ideal for oat. However, the number of tillage operation is
determined by soil type and soil moisture content.
Seed rate and sowing: A seed rate of 60-70 kg/ha is recommended for uniform stand in oats. Low tillering
varieties should be sown with 20-25 cm row spacing while higher tillering type should be sown 30 cm apart.
Sowing of seed should preferably be done in line with seed drill or pora/ lkera behind the plough at a depth of
2-5 cm. Sowing time varies from one location to other. Normally, oat sowing should be started in early October
to end of November in North-West to East Zone of the country. For regular supply of fodder from December to
March, scattered sowing is also advocated.
Varieties: A number of improved varieties have been developed by IGFRI and SAU,s for specific growing
environment ( Table1).
Variety Varietal characteristics Area of cultivation
HFO-114( Haryana Javi-114 Early sown, good tillering, Entire country
synchronus flowering and suitable
for two cuts. Green fodder yield
50-55t/ha.
Algerian Tall, slow initial growth, green Irrigated condition
fodder yield is 40-45t/ha
Brunker-10 Quick growing, fine smooth Entire country
leaves and yields 45t/ha
FOS-1/29 Slow early growth, profuse Punjab, Haryana, U.P. and Delhi.
tillering, fine narrow leaves.
Green fodder yield is 40-45 t/ha.
Kent Medium late, erect type with long Entire country
droopy leaves. Resistant to rust.
Yield 50t/ha.
Weston11 Semi erect, height 155cm. Yield Punjab
50t/ha
Palampur-1 Medium maturity, profuse Himachal Pradesh
tillering and resistant to lodging.
Yields 40-45t/ha
UPO-94 Medium late erect [Link] North and North-Eastern plains.
to rust, blight and lodging. yielgds
4045t/ha.
OS-6 and OS-7 Early vigour, tall, broad leaves, Entire country
medium bold seeds. Yield 54t/ha
OL-9 Cross between [Link] X Northern states, North West and Southern
Kent,40-50 t/ha yield. hills
Bundel Jai-822( JHO-822) Multicut variety, yield 50t/ha. Central Zone of India
UPO-212 Multicut variety, yields 60t/ha. North and Central India.
Haryana Jai-8(HJ-8) Fast growth, good regeneration, Haryana
suitable for 2 cuts,yield 65t/ha
SKO-7 Profuse tillering suitable for dual Temperate area of Kshmir, high altitude of
purpose. Jammu.
Bundel Jai-851(JHO-851) Fast regeneration, high tillering, Entire country
multicut, erect growth, high
protein. 47t/ha green fodder and
8t/ha dry fodder, and 1.2t/ha grain
yield
Bundel Jai-992(JHO99-2) Medium plant height, yields North-East and North –West India
50t/[Link] fodderand 19t/ha dry
fodder.
Harita (RO-9) Multicut variety, selection from Maharashtra
Kent and yields50t/ha green
fodder and 9.5t/ha dry fodder
Bundel Jai 9991 (JHO-99-1) Singlecut variety. 30t/ha green Hiils
fodder and 7t/ha dry fodder
Bundel Jai 2001-3 (JHO-2001-3) Prostrate to erect,51t/ha green North –Westand Southern India
fodder and 10.4t/ha dry fodder
Manures and fertilizers: Soil deficient in nutrients leads to less vigorous growth, small leaves and panicle and
poor root development, especially during first half of crop growth. The requirement of oats for manures and
fertilizers is less as compared to other Rabi cereals. It depends upon number of cuts taken. In general, addition
of 20-25 tonnes of farmyard manure (FYM) before 10-15 days of sowing with the application of 80 kg N, 40
kg P2O5/ha to single cut and a dose to 120 kg N, 40kg K2O/ha to multicut varieties attains good crop growth. In
double and multicut varieties, top –dressing of 40 kg N/ha after first cut and two equal split doses of 40 kg N/ha
after first and second cut should be done respectively.
Irrigation: Oats require 4-5 irrigations including the pre-sowing irrigation. If soil is dry, first irrigation is given
before preparing the seedbed. Subsequent irrigations are given at intervals of about one month mostly after each
cut. Timely irrigation improves the tillering remarkably, which contributes to higher forage yield.
Weed control: Oats is infested with winter season grassy and broad-leaved weeds mostly found as in wheat.
Effective control of weeds in oats can be obtained with weeder- cum- mulcher at 4 week crop stage followed by
application of 2, 4-D @ 0.37 kg a.i./ha at 6 weeks crop stage.
Harvesting: Proper stage of harvesting determines the herbage yield and quality of Oats. The harvesting of
single cut oat varieties is done at 50% flowering (about 50-55 days of sowing). In a multicut management
system, the first cut is usually done at 65 days after sowing, and then after 40-45 days. The green forage yield
ranges from 30-45, 45- 60 tonnes/ha in single, double and muliticut varieties, respectively. The fodder is highly
nutritious and palatable. Besides, green fodder oats yield 30-35 q/ha grains and 25-30 q/ha dry fodder
High Yielding Forage Sequences involving oat as component
Area for cultivation Crop-sequence Green fodder
yield
(tonnes/ha)
Northern India [Link]-cut-sorghum-Napier-bajra hybrid-oat 260
Irrigated [Link]+cowpea-maize+ cowpea-turnip-oat 200
[Link] sorghum-oat-maize 190
Eastern India [Link]-bajrahybrid+maize+cpowpea-teosinte/ 190
sorghum+ rice-bean-maize+ cowpea=berseem-oat
[Link]-bajrahybrid+maize+rice-bean-berseem+oat 180
Central and Western 1. MP chari(sorghum)-turnip-oat 192
India 2. Maize+cowpea-oat-maize+cowpea 168
3. oat-bajra+ cowpea-maize+ cowpea 148
