Fall - Auburn University Repository

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Timely Planting
Ups Oat Yields
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F. S. McCAIN and C. C. KING, Dept. of Agronomy and Soils
P LANTING OATS at the right time can
put more dollars in your pocket. Research
results show that yields of oats
can be increased by planting earlier
than is the usual practice.
Experiments on dates of planting oats
were conducted during 1952-57 by the
Auburn University Agricultural Experiment
Station. The tests at seven locations
were designed to measure effect
of date of planting on yields of oats
grown for grain only and for forage and
grain combined.
Two Management Systems Tested
Oats were seeded at the rate of 3 bu.
per acre. Two series of plots were used
at each location with one series managed
for grain production only. These plots
received adequate rates of phosphate
and potash fertilizers at planting. Fifty
lb. of nitrogen was applied as a topdressing
about March 1.
Another series of plots was managed
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for production of forage (grazing) and
grain. These plots received the same
phosphate and potash fertilization at
planting as those managed for grain
only. In addition, a topdressing of 50
lb. of nitrogen per acre was applied
when oats were up to a stand. Forage
removal was discontinued about March
1 and an additional 50 lb. of nitrogen
per acre was applied. All. plots in both
series were allowed to mature a crop of
grain and grain yields were measured.
When consumed as green pasturage,
1 lb. of dry matter from oat forage is
considered equal in feed value to 1 lb.
of oat grain. This factor was used to
convert forage yields to grain equivalents
in measuring yields.
As shown in Figure 1, forage yields
for comparable dates were highest in
southern Alabama. There was little difference
in forage yields for comparable
dates between central and northern
areas of the State. Highest grain yields
SNorthern Central Southern Northern Central Southern
FIG. 1. Yields of oat forage from different
planting dates during the 1952-57 test
years are shown by the graph above.
12
FIG. 2. Shown above is a comparison of
grain yields from clipped oats from different
planting dates during 1952-57.
on clipped plots for all planting dates
were produced in northern Alabama,
followed in order by central and southern
regions, Figure 2.
A comparison of Figures 2 and 4
shows that yields of grain were decreased
by clipping, but the forage obtained
more than compensated for the loss.
When forage and grain yields were combined,
there was little difference in maximum
per acre production of feed in
all regions, Figure 8. However, there
was a difference in the best date to plant
for maximum yields.
Best Planting Dates
Recommended planting dates for forage
and grain production in the three
regions are: northern Alabama, September
1 to September 20; central Alabama,
September 1 to September 30;
and southern Alabama, September 20 to
October 20. Planting dates did not materially
affect yield of oats grown for
grain only in any of the regions, Figure
4. The maximum difference, 8 bu. per
acre, occurred between the September
10 and October 20 planting dates in
central Alabama. This indicates that
most any of the planting dates in any of
the State's regions is satisfactory for
grain production only.
Yield,
pounds per acre
3,20 0
1400
S Forage and grain
Grain only
FIG. 3. Combined yields of forage and
grain from oats planted at different dates
during 1952-57 are shown in the graph.
Aug. Sept Sept Oct Aug. Sept Sept Oct.N S S pO ct.00 6.
20 130020 20 10320 10 103020 10
Northern Central Southern
FIG. 4. Shown here are yields of oats managed
for grain only from different planting
dates in 1952-57 experiments.