Effects of growing site on oat quality

To assess the effect of growing sites on oat quality, 8 varieties were grown at 13 sites in New South Wales, Australia, in the 1995-96 and 1996-97 growing seasons. Grain milling quality, chemical composition, and pasting properties differed significantly between sites and were related to both variety and growing conditions. Varieties were the main determining factor of kernel size, kernel weight, and oil concentration, whereas growing conditions accounted for most of the variance in groat percentage and protein concentration. Breeding and selection offer opportunities for improving oat quality, and selecting suitable sites to grow oats could greatly improve milling quality and pasting properties, and ensure appropriate chemical composition.