Nutritive value and forage accumulation of a black oat germplasm in northeastern United States

Authors: Jaramillo, David; Soder, Kathy; BLOUNT, ANN - University Of Florida; DUBEUX, JOSE - University Of Florida; HARRISON, STEPHEN - Louisiana State University

Submitted to: Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2024
Publication Date: 3/23/2024
Citation: Jaramillo, D.M., Soder, K.J., Blount, A., Dubeux, J., Harrison, S. 2024. Nutritive value and forage accumulation of a black oat germplasm in northeastern United States. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20484.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20484

Interpretive Summary: The objective of this research was to evaluate the forage accumulation and nutritive value of a black oat germplasm consisting of 10 lines in central PA. Black oat might be especially attractive as a forage option in the northeast US since it is more heat tolerant, and capable of providing forage resources during hot summers, when other cool-season grasses have reduced productivity. Thus far, this species has not been evaluated in the region. This research demonstrated that black oat has merit as a forage species in the region, but further work is still required to evaluate management strategies, such as harvest regimes and planting dates that can maximize production and nutritive value. There were minimal differences within the ten black oat lines evaluated in terms of forage accumulation and their nutritive value, likely due to the effects of drought during the experimental period. This research will be useful to make further selections in plant breeding programs for future commercial release.

Technical Abstract: Black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) might be an attractive forage species in the Northeast US, since it is generally more heat tolerant and disease resistant than other cool-season grasses. Black oat is currently recommended for USDA Plant Hardiness zones 8b-10a, which is beyond the Northeastern US (Zones 2a-6a). The objective was to evaluate 10 black oat breeding lines (referred to as ‘UF1’ through ‘UF10’) for forage accumulation, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (aNDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentrations. The experiment was carried out on April-July 2022 in State College, PA. Triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack cv. ‘TriCal 342') and ‘Legend 567' oat (Avena sativa L.) were included as controls, as well as ‘Haden’ oat and ‘Gunner’ triticale, as regionally-recommended cultivars. The forage accumulation within the black oat germplasm ranged from 364 to 864 lb DM acre-1, observed in UF7 and UF9, respectively, during the first harvest. During the second harvest, forage accumulation within black oat ranged from 1,048 to 1,408 lb DM acre-1, from UF8 and UF1, respectively. Crude protein concentrations ranged from 16 to 23% across all black oat, with no differences found within the germplasm. The IVDOM concentrations averaged 78% across all treatments during the first harvest and decreased to 66% during the second harvest. Overall, this study showed that black oat has merit for further evaluation as forage species in the Northeastern US, but further studies are required to validate results and address management of the species.