ARS | Publication request: Planting date effects on the yield and nutritive value of fall-grown oat cultivars

Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: November 21, 2011
Publication Date: December 13, 2011
Citation: Coblentz, W.K. 2011. Planting date effects on the yield and nutritive value of fall-grown oat cultivars. Popular Publication. pp. 18-19.

Technical Abstract: For the dairy industry within the north-central U.S., options for producing emergency forage are limited when late-summer or fall inventories are inadequate, primarily because of the relatively short growing season. Fall-grown cereal crops can fill this niche, but knowing what to plant and when to plant it can be a challenge. Recent research has compared different systems for fall-grown cereal crops, and some concrete recommendations have emerged. Considering both agronomic and nutritional characteristics, results of Wisconsin studies show that the late-maturing ForagePlus cultivar is likely to maximize both yield and nutritive value throughout central Wisconsin when planting dates are extended as late as the first week of August. When planting dates are delayed beyond the first week of August, the slower maturation rate of ForagePlus becomes an increasing liability. With late establishment dates, it is likely that more rapidly maturing grain-type cultivars will exhibit greater yields of DM before winter than forage-type cultivars. In addition, differences in nutritive value between grain and forage-type cultivars become less distinct following a delayed, mid-August establishment; therefore, under these circumstances, selection of a grain-type cultivar may be a more solid recommendation to producers.