Intercropping of perennial ryegrass grown for seed production with milling oat

Demonstration of intercropping turf-type perennial ryegrass with milling oat using different oat seed placement and oat seeding rates

In year one of our demonstration, we found that establishing perennial ryegrass for seed production by planting oat as a companion crop does not have a negative impact on oat seed yield.

As a recommendation based on 2022 results at Melfort, using the oat variety CDC Arborg, an oat seeding rate of 0.5X (68 lb/ac) placed sideband may be favourable to maintain oat grain yield, reduce lodging, not significantly delay maturity, and prevent excess nitrogen available in the fall that could be vulnerable to loss. However, a year with different moisture and temperature conditions may impact these results. The success of this two-year rotation will be confirmed in year two with the overwintering and seed production of the perennial ryegrass variety CE-1.

For additional information about intercropping turf-type perennial ryegrass with milling oat, see last year's ADOPT reports from Redvers and Prince Albert locations.