The oat field pictured below was no-tilled into wheat stubble on 7/7/07. It was seeded with 90 pounds of “feed” oats from a local feed store. At emergence, 27 pounds per acre of actual nitrogen was applied in the form of 28% liquid.
The photos above were taken 9/13/07, 68 days after planting. 0.55 inch of rain was received since the photo below was taken. A total of 6.25 inches of rain have been received since planting on July 7. The oats are being ensiled, and forage analysis data will be posted here upon receiving it. Yield is estimated at ~ 3.1 tons/acre, however yields are being calculated precisely at this time and more detailed data will be available in coming days.
At the end of week #9 (above on 9/8/07), there is an average of 35 inches of oat growth. One tenth of an inch of rainfall was received on Friday evening, the day prior to this photo, and has been the only rainfall over the past 2.5 weeks. Average daily high temperature for the week was 89.5 degees F, with 2 days reaching into the 90’s. This resulted in average daily temperatures for the week being 6.8 degrees above normal. The oat heads you see are still not making seed, just empty hulls.
At the end of week #8 (above on 9/1/07), there is an average of 31 inches of growth. No rainfall was received over the past week. Average daily high temperature for the week was 85.6 degees F, with 2 days reaching into the 90’s. At this point, the oat heads you see are still not making seed, but possess an unfertilized “flower”.
At the end of week #7 (above on 8/25/07), there is an average of 27 inches of growth with a clipped and calculated dry matter yield of 4493 pounds per acre (oats only, excludes any yield from the corn plants). This is an increase of 682 pounds of dry matter in 7 days, or 97 pounds per day. Total rainfall over the past week was 2.4 inches. Average daily high temperature during the week was 88.3 degees F, with 3 days reaching into the 90’s. Note the nitrogen deficient appearance of the corn in the background, yet the oats seem to be “scavenging up” ample N. At this point, the oat heads you see are not making seed, but possess an unfertilized “flower”.
At the end of week #6 above (8/18/07), an average of 23 inches of growth with a clipped and calculated dry matter yield of 3811 pounds per acre (this, excluding any yield from the corn plants). Total rainfall over the past week was 0.5 inch. Average high daily temperature during the week was 84.9 degees F.
At the end of week #5 above (8/11/07), an average of 17 inches of growth with an estimated yield of 2000 pounds of dry matter. Total rainfall over the past week was 0.6 inch. Average high daily temperature during the week was 90.1 degees F.
At the end of week #4 above (8/4/07), an average of 14 inches of growth. Total rainfall since planting, 2.1 inches. The taller plants are some left over seed corn that was thrown into the grain drill at planting.
At the end of week #3 above, an average of 10 inches of growth.
At the end of week #2 above, an average of 6 inches of growth. Total rainfall since planting, 1.6 inches.
At the end of week #1 above (7/14/07). Total rainfall since planting, 0.6 inches.