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N management in oats to increase grain protein, reduce lodging and maintain test weight

The overall objective was to determine if a split application of nitrogen (N) or side banding ESN at seeding can decrease lodging, increase protein, and maintain test weight and yield of milling oat relative to putting all the N down at seeding. Dribble banded UAN and side banded ESN were applied at 30 lb N/ac to based rates of 80 and 110 lb N/ac of soil + side-banded urea. The efficacy of the dribble banded UAN were determined for applications made at the 4 leaf versus boot stages.

Also, Mike Hall conducted an Oat Variety Testing trial (duration 2019-2025 for Grain Millers. Hall produced a video outlining the results from the trial. To view the video, click here. 

Project Details

  • Listing ID: 6428
  • Project Status Completed
  • Principal Investigators Mike Hall, East Central Research Foundation - Suncrest College
  • Projects With Results Projects with Results
  • Project Dates April 1/25 - April 1/26
  • Abstract/Summary Trials were established at Yorkton, Indian Head, Swift Current, Scott, Melfort, Prince Albert, and Redvers to determine if delaying the crop’s access to nitrogen could decrease lodging, increase protein, and maintain test weight and yield of milling oat. Applying a portion of the total N as dribble banded UAN (4 leaf vs boot stages) or side banded ESN was compared to side banding all the N as urea. These comparisons were made at total N levels of 110 and 140 lb/ac (soil + fertilizer). Some benefits from managing N were detected, however, they were rare and inconsistent. While yield and protein did not typically differ between levels of N management at most sites, applying a portion of the total N as UAN at the boot stage decreased both yield and grain protein at Indian Head. This highlights the environmental risks associated with split applications. However, there were a couple instances where supplying a portion of the N as ESN or dribble banded UAN did increase grain protein by providing late season N to the crop. Levels of lodging were very low at most locations, making it difficult to detect any differences between N management. However, even at sites where lodging was high, no significant effects were detected. Maintaining oat test weight with UAN at the boot with the use of ESN was detected in a couple of instances at Swift Current. However, these effects were not detected at any of the other locations despite test weight being responsive to added N at 4 of the locations. In conclusion, there was limited evidence that applying a portion of the N requirement as ESN or dribble banded UAN could maintain yield and test weight, increase grain protein, or reduce lodging. Effects were inconsistent between sites and even between levels of total N within a site.