Updating Nitrogen Recommendations for Oat Grown in Minnesota

What is this project about?

Oat is the second most harvested small grain in Minnesota, but current fertilizer guidelines are out of date and have not been evaluated in over 30 years. Getting nitrogen rates right is critical for oats: too little limits yield, while too much causes lodging (falling over) and harvest losses.

This project, led by Daniel Kaiser at the University of Minnesota, will test modern oat varieties across different nitrogen rates to update fertilizer recommendations for Minnesota growers, helping balance yield, crop standing, and grain quality.

Key Project Goals & Farmer Benefits

• Updated Guidelines: Revise statewide fertilizer guidelines for conventional oat production, including regional recommendations for southern and northern Minnesota.
• Reduce Lodging Risk: Identify application rates that maximize yield without triggering crop lodging and harvest loss.
• Protect Grain Quality: Evaluate how different nitrogen rates affect test weight and grain protein concentration—a key factor for oat processors (such as oat milk manufacturers).
• Variety-Specific Insights: Determine if different oat varieties (based on height and lodging resistance) require distinct nitrogen management strategies.

How the Study Will Be Conducted

• Locations: Four trial sites established each year—two in southern Minnesota (Rosemount and near Rochester) and two in northern Minnesota (Crookston and near Roseau).
• Nitrogen Rates: Testing 8 spring urea rates ranging from 0 to 140 lbs. N/acre in 20 lb. increments.
• Varieties Tested: Comparing 3 distinct varieties within the plots—’Reins’, ‘MN-Amber’, and SD-Momentum—to measure differences in height, test weight, and lodging tolerance.
• Measurements Taken: Initial soil nitrate-nitrogen, lodging scores near harvest, grain yield, test weight, and protein content via NIR analysis.