Robert W. Gooding and Larry D. Herald(2)
Horticulture & Crop Science Series 200
The Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
1999 Ohio Oat Growing Conditions and Production:
Dry weather during the last
two weeks of March permitted farmers to prepare fields and plant
the oat crop about 11 days earlier than the 5-year average.
Therefore, the normal progression of the crop from emergence
through maturity resulted in a harvest that was essentially
complete by the first week of August, two weeks ahead of average.
Early planting probably contributed to a favorable production climate even though the growing season was drier and warmer than normal. At an average of 75 bu. per acre, Ohio's oat yields were over 15 percent higher compared to yields in 1998. Harvested acres remained stable compared to previous years at 100,000 acres for an overall production in Ohio of 7.5 million bushels, an increase of 1 million bushels compared to the previous year.
Nationally in 1999, at 162 million bushels, oat production declined by three percent compared to 1998. Oats stored in all positions on September 1 totaled 148 million bu., 8 percent below the previous September. Indicated disappearance during June to August, 1999 totaled 102 million bu., 24 percent higher than the same period in 1998.
Statewide Drilled Plot Yield Test:
The objective of this oat cultivar evaluation is to provide an unbiased evaluation of cultivar characteristics and performance expectations for the soils and climates of Ohio. In 1999, spring oat performance trials were sown at the following four agricultural research stations located in Ohio (Fig. 1):
Entries in the test were limited to experimental lines from the Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center oat breeding program and cultivars thought to have potential for good performance in the soils and climates of Ohio.
Fertilization at each site was
uniform and conformed to fertilizer recommendations published in
the Ohio Agronomy Guide. Nitrogen was applied at 40 to 60 lbs/a
at each location depending on soil organic matter content. All
locations were drilled in 7-inch rows, 7 to 11 rows per plot and
averaged 100 feet in length.
Test Results:
Table 1 presents yield data from the four locations planted in 1999. The Vegetable Crops Branch was the most productive followed by OARDC Wooster, Southern Branch, and Western Branch. Armor was ranked first for yield when averaged across the four locations followed by experimental lines: OH1149, OH1128, OH1131, OH1146, OH1101,and OH1148. Statistically, none of these lines was significantly different in average yield from Armor.
Table 2 compares test weights of the 16 entries at the four locations. OH1149, OH1128, GR65, OH1101, and Armor were the top five entries ranked for test weight. Note that OH1149, OH1128, OH1101, and Armor were also in the top group ranked for yield in the previous table.
Table 3 presents additional agronomic data averaged across the four locations. Chairman was ranked first for date headed. MF9225-120 was ranked first for plant height as the shortest of the 16 entries, and was also ranked first for lowest lodging percentage; this is as expected considering that short stature often translates to low lodging scores.
Tables 4 through 7 provide 1999 data as well as long term
data when available from each of the four test sites. Table 8 provides long-term yield data from 1982
through 1999 and Table 9 presents a summary of averaged data
describing agronomic characteristics for spring oat varieties
entered in these tests since 1982.
Brief Descriptions of Spring Oat Cultivars
Armor - Armor was released by the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in 1991. It is stiff-strawed with excellent yield potential, exceeding Noble, Ogle, and Porter in yield in statewide Ohio tests. Armor is a midseason cultivar with medium height. It is resistant to BYDV but susceptible to crown rust.
Brawn - This cultivar was released by the University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA in 1993. Brawn has large, "brawny", yellow kernels. It has been equal to, or slightly better than, Ogle for yield in Illinois trials and in Ohio. It has crown rust and smut resistance and is moderately tolerant to BYDV. Brawn is a day later in maturity than Armor and several days later than Ogle.
Burton - Burton was released in 1996. It is a productive oat cultivar bred for Ohio and surrounding states. Burton is a high-yielding line, similar to Armor, averaging over 16% higher in yield than Ogle in Ohio tests from 1992 through 1994. Burton is similar to Armor in appearance and in resistance to lodging but is somewhat taller. It is midseason in maturity being equal to Armor and a day later than Ogle. Burton has excellent test weight averaging over 35 lbs/ bu in Ohio tests. Burton is less tolerant to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) than either Armor or Ogle but is similar to Noble. Burton does not possess resistance to prevalent races of crown rust and should not be grown in areas in which this disease is a problem.
Chairman - Chairman was officially released by the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in September, 1995. Chairman was released because of its high yield potential and early maturity. It is comparable to 'Ogle' and 'Armor' in yield while being two and three days earlier, respectively, in maturity. Chairman is susceptible to current races of crown rust (Puccinia coronata) showing a reaction similar to Ogle to this disease.
Dal - Released by the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station in 1972, it is moderately late in maturity and of medium to tall height. It has good lodging resistance, large, plump kernels, high test weight and high groat protein. Dal has excellent resistance to smut and leaf rust, but is susceptible to Septoria and barley yellow dwarf virus. A U.S. Protected Variety, seed of this variety can be sold only as a class of certified seed.
Dane - Released by the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station in 1990, it is early in maturity, averaging 5 days earlier than Ogle in both Wisconsin and Ohio tests, and has excellent yield potential. Dane has yellow kernels with high groat percentage. Test weights are average and straw strength is excellent. Although susceptible to barley yellow dwarf virus in screening tests, Dane has demonstrated field tolerance under severe natural infection.
GR 65 - A new white-seeded oat that is well adapted for production in humid states where spring oats are grown and crown rust is not a problem. GR 65 has averaged about 4% lower in yield than Ogle and is slightly taller and later in maturity. It has somewhat better lodging resistance than Ogle and produces well-filled, white seed that averages a 2 to 4 lb/bu heavier test weight than Ogle.
Hercules - A 1986 release by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, Hercules is a high yielding variety with excellent lodging resistance and test weight. It is resistant to currently known races of loose smut, and moderately resistant to BYDV, but susceptible to prevalent races of crown rust and stem rust.
Ida - Released by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station in 1997, Ida is a large-seeded white oat with good test weight. It is medium in height with good lodging tolerance. Ida is one day later than Ogle in maturity. Ida has consistently been one of the highest yielding oat lines in Michigan tests.
MF HiProN - A new naked-seeded spring oat that is adapted for production in the spring oat regions where oat crown rust is not a problem, MF HiProN is similar to Ogle in plant height, maturity, lodging resistance, and yield when adjusted for its lack of hulls. It has excellent expression of the naked-seeded trait and the grain should be especially useful for feeding horses and young animals with a high energy requirement.
Newdak - A 1990 cultivar released jointly by the Agricultural Experiment Station of North Dakota State University and Cornell. Newdak is about a day earlier than Ogle in Ohio tests. It has excellent resistance to crown rust and tolerance to BYDV. Newdak has white hulls under unweathered conditions.
Noble - A 1973 Indiana release, it has good yield, good test weight and stiff, medium-short straw. It is medium-early in maturity, with moderate resistance to barley yellow dwarf virus and some of the oat rusts. A U.S. Protected Variety, seed can be sold only as a class of certified seed.
Ogle - A 1981 Illinois release, it has excellent yield capabilities with good test weight and will yield well under a wide range of environments. Ogle is medium-early in maturity with medium-short, stiff straw and moderate resistance to oat rusts. It has excellent resistance to barley yellow dwarf virus.
Pennuda - A 1987 release by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, Pennuda is an early maturing, lodging resistant naked-seeded cultivar with a relatively high yield potential. When compared to other cultivars on a dehulled basis, Pennuda yields comparably to cultivars such as Noble and Hamilton. It is high in protein and digestible energy and is especially useful in rations for poultry, swine and young animals. Pennuda is moderately resistant to BYDV but is susceptible to crown rust and loose smut.
Porter - A 1982 Purdue University release, it is rather late in maturity, but has an excellent yield record. It is resistant to barley yellow dwarf virus and moderately resistant to crown rust. A U.S. Protected Variety, seed of this variety can be sold only as a class of certified seed.
Rodeo - Released in 1996 by the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Illinois in cooperation with the USDA-ARS, Rodeo is a spring oat adapted to north-central and northeastern United States. It heads 2 days earlier than Ogle. Rodeo is moderately tolerant to BYDV and moderately resistant to moderately susceptible to crown rust (Puccinia coronata). Rodeo is susceptible to loose smut (Ustilago avenae) and to most races of stem rust (Puccinia graminis). Rodeo has yellow kernels and is nonfluorescent under UV light. Non-twisted awns occur infrequently.
The cultivars Armor, Burton,
Chairman, MF HiProN, Noble, and Ogle were grown by Ohio
Certified Seed Producers in 1999. All other cultivars may not
be available from Ohio suppliers unless purchased or produced
out-of-state.
1. Acknowledgment is given to the farm managers and crews of the Wooster Horticulture and Crop Science Research Farm and branch research facilities of The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center for their excellent cooperation.
2. Senior Research Associate and Research Associate, respectively, Small Grains Breeding, Department of Horticulture & Crop Science, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH 44691.