Abstract

ESPITIA RANGEL, Eduardo et al. Optimum cutting time for yield and quality of forage oats varieties. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2012, vol.3, n.4, pp.771-783. ISSN 2007-0934.

Oats cultivation is an important alternative in the region of the Highlands, because of its forage and grain production, requiring agronomic studies to optimize its management. In this study the objectives were to determine the optimal cutting time for obtaining more and better forage, and compare varieties in terms of forage yield. Twenty-four genotypes were evaluated (18 advanced lines of the oats breeding program of INIFAP and 6 commercial varieties) in eight rainfed environments of the high valleys of the States of Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, México City and México State in the spring- summer, 2007 and 2008, using an experimental design of randomized complete block with three replicates at each location. There were six samplings inthe stages of booting, half emerged inflorescence, anthesis, milk development and dough development. The variables measured were plant height in cm, total green área in kg ha ^-1, total dry matter in kg ha^-1, protein percentage, calculated by the method of Larry and Charles, protein per hectare and dry matter accumulation kg ha^-1 day¹. A combined analysis of variance was made and, Tukey test was applied at 5 % for comparison of means. Highly significant differences were found in all the variables for the factors changing of locations, sampling and varieties as well as for the interactions localities by samplings and localities by varieties. Cutting stages with the highest forage quantity were the milky and dough development stages, harvesting up to 191 ha ^-1 of dry matter and, for quality, the best one was the booting stage, recording up to 24% protein. The best forage yield was obtained in Juchitepec in 2007, while Saia variety had the highest percentage of protein. Some lines exceeded the control varieties in quantity and quality of forage produced, indicating that there is potential to implement future selection schemes and, eventually for offering options to the farmers for greater quantity and quality of forage.

Keywords : Avena sativa L.; forage quality; phenological stages.

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