Nitrogen and potassium .. Important for oat hay yield and quality

Production of oats for hay and grain is increasing in Western Australia, particularly for the export hay market. Initially, some growers suspected that high rates of fertilizer could have a negative impact on hay quality. However, this study found that adequate nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilization enhanced the yield and quality of oat hay and grain. Nitrogen increased hay and grain yield, and hay protein content. While it appeared that K was less important than N for hay yield, K improved hay quality parameters important for the export market. There was no evidence that high rates of N or K decreased hay quality.