Assessing the impact of improved crop management on naked oat quality for poultry production
Wade, Antony (2004)
Wade, Antony
Julkaisusarja
Agrifood Research ReportsMaa- ja elintarviketalous
Numero
51
Sivut
s. 120
MTT
2004
Tiivistelmä
This paper reports findings of field trials carried out on naked oats as part of the Avian Feed Efficiency from Naked Oats (AFENO) project. The project was established to conduct a coordinated research programme into the advantages of naked oats to the grower, poultry producer and consumer alike. The field trials aimed to evaluate how growers could use agronomic techniques to co-optimise grain quality and income. In each of three seasons (harvest years 2001 2003), three fully randomised and replicated field experiments were run at ADAS Rosemaund, Preston Wynne, Hereford. These investigated the effects of variety, seed rate, strobilurin fungicides, applied nitrogen; type, timing and rate on grain yield and quality. Additional sites in Scotland and the East of England were used to further test the interactions and validate results at different sites. Seed rate experiments carried out on a number of varieties in two years, established that economic optimum were between 82 and 132 plants m-2 indicating the possibility to reduce seed rates from current UK commercial practice. However growers have to take into account expected establishment and a degree of insurance before deciding on a seed rate. Plant densities also had a significant effect on grain quality. Reduced plant densities resulted in an increase in thousand grain weight and protein content but a reduction in oil content. Experiments on the effects of nitrogen timing indicated that in the absence of significant lodging the yield was largely unaffected by nitrogen timing. Earlier nitrogen timings tended to have a small positive effect on oil content whilst later nitrogen timings increased protein. Variety, soil fertility, and plant population affected the potential for improved yield from increasing nitrogen applications. On average every 1 kg/ha of applied nitrogen increased grain yield by 13 kg/ha. The project findings were that the quality of naked oats was relatively stable which is appealing to end users but that agronomic techniques can be used to fine tune grain quality for poultry production. This work was supported by the UK Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA)
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