Oat : A Multi-functional Grain

The oat ,sometimes called the common oat,is a species of cereal grain grown for its seed .oat is one of the important, well adapted cereal fodder and cultivation is similar as wheat crop. While oats are suitable for human consumption and livestock feed. Oat are usually considered a secondary crop ,i.e derived from weed of the primary cereal domesticates .It is mainly grown in temperate and subtropical climate .

During the survey In 1992, farmers indicated that landlords of the Terai, who kept elephants, grew oats more than 100 years ago; it is believed that they brought seed from India. In Nepal it is also called as “jau”.

VARIETIES: HFO114,UPO94,kent,JHO-851,RU-19,OS-6,OS-7 etc.

CULTIVATION OF OATS:
Oats are grown in temperate regions . They can tolerate rain ,unaffected by late frosts and snow and required lower summer heat .Oats are an annual plant and can be planted either in Autumn (for late summer harvest ) or in the Spring (for early autumn harvest ).

SOIL: Oat grows well on sandy loam to heavy clay .Soil with good drainage .Acidic soil is suitable for oats however saline soils are not suitable . pH:5-6.6 is optimum for oats.

CLIMATE :

Temperature :20-30℃
Rainfall :80-100 mm
Sowing temp :20-25℃
Harvesting :25 -30℃

FIELD PREPARATION: Land should be properly prepared to form a weed free field. Ploughing should be done 6-8 times to gain higher yields.Propagation in oats is done through seeds.

SOWING TIME: Second week of October to last week of October is optimum for sowing seeds.
SPACING:25-30 cm between rows
SOWING DEPTH:3-4cm
METHODS OF SOWING: 75-80kg/ha however bold seeded variety like kent requires 100-125kg/ha.
SEED TREATMENT:Seed should be treated with Captain or Thiram@ 3gm/kg of seeds to protect seeds from various fungal and pathogenic diseases.

MANURE AND FERTILIZER: Required 15 tonnes of FYM 10 -15 days before sowing .In addition to this application ;80kg/ha N ,40 kg/ha P2O5 for single cut and 120kg/ha N ,40 kg/ha k2o for multicut varieties .

HARVESTING: After 4-5 months of sowing

PEST AND DISEASES: Root rot and leaf blotch are major diseases in oat .In leaf blotch long brick red blotches appear on young plants in third and fourth leaf stage .Seed treatment with Thiram@3 gm/kg of seed reduces the infestation of these diseases .Root Rot is caused due to root parasite .It can be cured by proper seed treatment during seed sowing.

BENEFITS: Oats are among the healthiest grain on earth .Nutrient compost of oats is well balanced .

1.Oats are incredibly nutritions : They contains important vitamins ,minerals and antioxidant plant compounds.Half a cup (78grams )of dry oats contains:
Manganese :191% of the RDI
Phosphorous :41%of the RDI
Magnesium:34% of the RDI
Copper :24% of the RDI
Iron :20%of the RDI
Zinc 20%of the RDI
Folate :11%of the RDI
VIT.B1:39% of the RDI
VIT.B5:10%of gthe RDI

2.Whole oats are rich in antioxidants including Avenanthamide which may help lower blood pressure level by increasing the production of nitric oxide.It have anti-inflammatory and anti -itching effect .

3.Oats contain powerful soluble fiber called Beta-glucan .It reduces LDL and total cholesterol level .Also reduced blood sugar .

4.Oat meal is very filling and may help to lose weight .

5.Decrease the risk of childhood Asthma .

6.Oats may help relieve constipation :oat bran ,the fiber rich outer layer of the grain ,may help relieve constipation.

7.Oat silage contains higher crude protein and a higher percent of digestable protein than other silage .