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Elemental Composition of Developing Oat Plants¹

The utilization of elements by oats (Avena sativa L.) and their distribution within the plant at various stages of development were of interest as background information for determination of fertility requirements, as data for determination of nutritional value of oats forage, and as a basis for further investigations on the physiology of elemental uptake and redistribution.

Shoots of two oat cultivars, ‘Dal’ and ‘Froker,’ were harvested at various intervals during development. Concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Al were determined by emission spectroscopy in leaf blades, culm plus leaf sheaths, and panicles. Sampling was from a measured plot size, and the amount of each element contained in each plant part per unit land area was calculated.

Phosphorus was the only element whose concentration increased with maturity in the panicle. In leaf blades, concentrations of Ca and Mg increased between 46 and 74 days after planting, and concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Al increased between 67 days and maturity. Because of increasing dry weight with maturity, the amount per hectare of most elements increased in the panicle, although the increase for K was slight. Amount of K (kg/ha) in the culm and leaf sheath fraction increased. Iron and Al amounts (g/ha) hi leaf blades increased after panicle emergence. Of those elements measured, accumulation of K by the entire shoot was greatest, about 79 kg/ha at maturity. The amounts of P, Ca, and Mg accumulated were similar, approximately 20 kg/ha each. Microelement accumulation was greatest for Al (653 g/ha) and Fe (555 g/ha). Lesser amounts of Mn and Zn were contained in the shoots at maturity.

Cultivar differences were most pronounced for Mn concentration, which was considerably lower in Dal than in Froker in all plant parts.

Key Words: Phosphorus • Potassium • Calcium • Magnesium • Iron • Zinc • Manganese • Aluminum • Emission spectroscopy • Avena sativa L.

² Plant Physiologist, ARS, USDA and Assistant Professor of Agronomy; Associate Professor of Agronomy; Research Chemist, ARS, USDA and Associate Professor of Agronomy.

Received for publication February 22, 1974.