I ntroduction. Oat Variety Screening in the Klamath Basin, 1995 R.L. Dovel and G. Chilcote'

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1 Oat Variety Screening in the Klamath Basin, 1995 R.L. Dovel and G. Chilcote' I ntroduction Oats have been a major crop in the Klamath Basin in the past. Although local oat acreage has declined to about 5,000 acres in Klamath County, it remains an important commodity in the area. Klamath Experiment Station has cooperated in the Uniform Northwestern States Oat Nursery since the 1970s. Over the years, several outstanding varieties have been identified and adopted by the agricultural industry. Such varieties include Cayuse, Appaloosa, Border, and Ogle. Most of these varieties are still in use today; however, there are several experimental lines that appear to have higher yield potentials than the currently grown varieties. Several high yielding lines are also more lodging resistant and have higher test weights than current industry standards. The Uniform Northwestern States Oat Nursery is planted at KES each year to identify promising new oat lines for release by public and private breeding programs. Procedures The Uniform Northwestern States Oat Nursery was established at KES on Fordney fine sandy loam that is moderately deep and somewhat poorly drained. The previous crop was potatoes. The crop was irrigated by a solid set sprinkler system. The trial was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Seed was planted on May 18 at a depth of 2 inches and a seeding rate of 100 lb/a. All plots were fertilized with 80 lb N, 100 lb P 205, and 60 lb S/A at time of seeding. Plots measured 5 x 20 feet with a row spacing of 6 inches. Bromoxynil and MCPA were applied at labeled rates to control broadleaf weeds. Plots were harvested in late September using a plot combine with a 5-foot wide header. Grain yield was recorded for all plots. Test weight was measured in only one replication. Results and Discussion The Uniform Northwestern States Oat Nursery produced a higher average grain yield than most other variety trials at KES in 1993, 1994, and In 1993, oat yields were higher than other small grains at the station due to infestations of wheat stem maggot and common root rot in barley, wheat and triticale, while oats were relatively unaffected. In 1995, wheat and barley yields were reduced due to poor emergence and common root rot. Oat yields in 1994 were significantly higher than in 1995 and slightly higher than in 1993 (Tables 1 and 2). The highest yielding entry in the 1995 trial was 90AB It was the second ranked entry in 1994 and over a two-year period it produced more grain than any other entry in the trial (Tables 2 and 3). Other entries producing yields in 1995 not significantly lower than 90AB1322 were 87AB4983, Ajay, Rio Grande, and Prairie. Over a three-year period, 87AB4983 was the highest yielding entry, followed by Rio Grande, 87AB5125, and Ajay. Rio Grande, a newly released oat variety developed in Idaho, has performed well at 1/ Associate Professor and Research Technician, respectively, Klamath Experiment Station, Klamath Falls, OR. 40 KLAMATH EXPERIMENT STATION 1995

2 Oat Variety Screening in the Klamath Basin, 1995 KES over an extended period of time. It is slightly shorter than Border and more lodging resistant, with test weights similar to Border and superior to Cayuse. Field scale planting of this variety on small acreages is needed to examine the adaptation of this promising new variety on a larger scale. Ajay is another variety that may fit some production niches. It is a semi-dwarf line recently released by the University of Idaho. Commercial quantities of this variety are now available. It is generally 8-12 inches shorter than Cayuse and is very resistant to lodging, even at high N fertilization rates. In a N fertility management study conducted at KES, Ajay produced grain yield equivalent or superior to Cayuse and Monida at all fertilization rates, and was much less prone to lodging (see 1990 Crop Research at KES). Due to lodging resistance and high yield potential, Ajay may be a viable option in high N situations where traditional oat varieties would not be a wise choice. Seed of both 83Ab3250 and 86Ab664 is being increased in preparation for varietal release in other states. Over a five-year period from 1990 to 1994, lodging of 83Ab3250 and 86Ab664 was 3.6 and 12.2 percent, compared to 15.0 and 10.2 percent for Cayuse and Border. Test weight of 83Ab3250 was superior to both Cayuse and Border over the same period. Superior yield, test weight, and lodging resistance make 83Ab3250 a promising oat line. Efforts to secure its release will continue. KLAMATH EXPERIMENT STATION

3 Table Northwestern Uniform Oat Nursery. Grain yield, test weight, lodging, plant height, and date of 50% heading in Julian days (number of days after January 1) of spring wheat lines planted in the 1995 Northwestern Uniform Oat Nursery. Plots were established on May 18 at Klamath Experiment Station, Klamath County, OR. Entry selection Test wt Lodge Height 50% Heading lb/a lb/bu inches Julian 1 Park Cayuse Otana Monida Ogle Calibre Rio Grande (81Ab5792) Valley (ND ) Ab Ajay (82Ab1142) Ab Ab Ab Ab Newdak ND Ab Ab Ab Derby Ab Ab Ab IA H Whitestone (ND ) Paul (ND ) Ab Ab Celsia Prairie Ab Ab Mean LSD (0.05) CV (%) KLAMATH EXPERIMENT STATION 1995

4 Table 2. Three-Year Summary of Northwestern Uniform Oat Nursery. Summary of grain yield of the Northwestern Uniform Oat Nursery grown from 1993 to Two-year averages represent 1995 and 1994 grain yields. Plots were established at Klamath Experiment Station, Klamath County, OR. selection year Avg lb/a lb/a lb/a lb/a rank lb/a rank Park Cayuse Otana Monida Ogle Calibre Rio Grande (81Ab5792) Valley (ND ) Ab Nay (82Ab1142) Ab Ab Ab Ab Newdak ND Ab Ab Ab Derby Ab Ab Ab IA H Whitestone (ND ) Paul (ND ) Ab Ab Celsia 5120 Prairie Ab Ab Mean LSD (0.05) CV r KLAMATH EXPERIMENT STATION

5 Table 3. General Summary of Northwestern Uniform Oat Nursery. Grain yield, test weight, lodging, plant height, and date of 50% heading in Julian days (number of days after January 1) of spring wheat lines planted in the Northwestern Uniform Oat Nursery from 1993 to Values represent three-year average of plots at Klamath Experiment Station, Klamath County, OR. Entry selection Test wt Lodge Height 50% Heading lb/a rank Ib/bu inches Julian 1 Park Cayuse Otana Monida Ogle Calibre Rio Grande Valley Ab /Nay Ab Ab Ab Ab Newdak ND Ab Ab Ab Derby Ab Ab Ab IA H Mean LSD (0.05) CV (`)/ KLAMATH EXPERIMENT STATION 1995