Oats Help in Frost Prone Areas
DONALD - May 20/02 - SNS -- Australian growers are being advised to consider planting oats in areas which may be prone to frost shortly after seeding because it is one of the most frost-tolerant cereals.
Properties which make it easier for oats to avoid frost damage are the panicle density and shape which allows airflow circulation, and avoids pockets of cold air condensing around individual grains.
"With the current demand both internationally and domestically for good quality oats, this crop has the potential to achieve the same economic returns as other commodities," argues Department of Agriculture development officer Natasha Littlewood.
"The Oat Agronomy Group, in conjunction with several grower groups across the State are setting up simple farm-scale demonstrations of oat varieties. This will demonstrate the likely performance of oats in comparison to other crop rotations.
"The plots can be monitored by growers to track tiller production and survival, together with final grain yields, to assess the agronomic and economic performance of oats."
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