Funded by Saddle Hills County
Objective
To provide unbiased information to Saddle Hills County producers on the agronomic performance under Saddle Hills conditions of different Oat varieties to assist them in selecting varieties that are best suited for their county.
Methods
The project was carried out in the spring of 2023 at Conrad Dolen’s farm located at the junction of Hwy 725/TR 814 in Fourth Creek, AB. Site soil information from the surface soil (0-6" soil depth) before seeding: pH=6.3, organic matter = 6.7, electrical conductivity = 0.38 dS/m, while the nutrient analysis of the soil gave N = 11 ppm, P = 17 ppm, K = 283 ppm and S = 5 ppm. Soil base saturation was 87.0% (Ca 58.5%, Mg 20.7%, Na 3.7%, K 1.1%).
The previous crops on the site were Peas (2022) and Barley (2021). The trial was a randomized complete block design with four replications on small plots measuring 8 m x 1.14. A total of 12 Oats varieties were evaluated (see Table 1). Seeding was carried out using a 6-row Fabro Plot Drill equipped with disc-type openers on 23 cm row spacing complete with mid-row banding.
Observations
Aside from the widespread grasshopper issue in the Peace Country this year, no other pest-related problems, such as fungal, bacterial, or viral diseases, were observed on the plots.
Results
The results for the Oat variety trial are shown on Table 2.
Plant Height and Lodging
Plant height ranged from about 72 to 96 cm with the AC Mustang, CDC Haymaker and CDC Endure all registering more than 90 cm in height while SO1 and Ore3542M were 72 cm and 78 cm respectively. No lodging was observed amongst Oat varieties.
Grain Yield
Oat yield widely ranged (107 - 162 bu/acre) and also differed significantly between varieties. AAC Douglas, Kalio and Kyron produced 122%, 118% and 117% respectively compared to the check variety, CS Camden. The yield from the shorter varieties SO1 and Ore3524M, were 81% and 76% of the check variety respectively.
Oat Grain Test (Bushel) and Kernel Seed Weight
Oat test or bushel weight ranged from 39 - 46 lbs/bu while TKW ranged from about 35 - 42 g/1000 seeds and varied significantly between varieties.
Conclusion
The significant variation in Oat grain yields observed suggests that certain high yielding varieties could be more adaptable to the specific growing conditions of Saddle Hills. This is further corroborated by the observed differences in traits such as plant height, test weight and seed weight among the varieties, highlighting the need for continued assessment and confirmation of these findings in subsequent trial years.
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