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HOME / FACTSHEETS / WEEDS & PESTS /

Wild Oats(Avena fatua L.)

Introduction

Wild Oats is an annual weed with the ability to germinate anytime throughout the growing season. Because this weed is a major problem in many local cereal fields on Prince edward Island, a combination of good cultural and chemical controls is required to combat this agricultural pest.

Wild Oats is an annual grass plant which is very difficult to distinguish from the cultivated oats grown on Prince Edward Island until the plant heads out. Wild Oats are generally taller than most of the cultivated oat varieties grown. The seed of the Wild Oat has a prominent bent and twisted awn with a "sucker-mouth scar". The seed is usually black or dark brown. In some cases, the Wild oats has the same color as cultivated oats. Another distinguishing mark are tufts of hair on the base of the seed next to the sucker -mouth scar.

The Wild Oat plant will generaly shatter and drop its seeds onto the ground slightly earlier than most cultivated oats grown on P.E.I..

When the seeds fall to the ground they have the ability to bury themselves into the soil by the twisting action of the seed's awn. Because of changes in humidity, the awn will contract and expand the causing a burrowing action to take place. These seeds can remain dormant in the soil for many years even though the majority of the seeds will germinate in the fall of the same year they were produced

Cultivated oat varieties will produce mutations known as fatuoids. These fatuoids have a sucker- mouth scar and a dark awn. The seed color is the same as the cultivated oat variety. The fatuoids do not have the dormancy which makes Wild Oats a problem to farmers.

Do not introduce Wild Oats to a farm. Select seed free of Wild Oats. Ensure feed grains are ground well to destroy any Wild Oats in the feed. Do not bring feed grains contaminated with Wild Oats onto a farm. Ensure all grain handling equipoment (i.e. seeders, combines) are free of Wild Oat seed. Remember, Wild Oat seeds will survive in manure piles and silos.

If Wild Oats is a problem in cereals, rotate the crops as much as possible. Wild Oat populations build up very quickly where spring grains are grown continuously.

Early planted spring grains will often have more Wild Oats than late seed grain or winter cereal crops. By delaying planting, Wild Oats will germinate and can be killed when discing or harrowing to prepare the seed bed.

Rotate crops with perennial forages to adequately control Wild Oats. Other crops which will allow herbicide and / or cultivation to control this problem weed are soybeans, potatoes, and winter cereals.

When Considering Chemical Wild Oat control consult Publication 75 - Guide To Weed Control where reference is made under the crop for annual grass control.

When applying herbicides to control Wild Oats especially wheat and barley stands ensure the proper leaf stage of Wild Oats is reached for the particular herbicide being used. If Spring Wheat or Barley are to be treated with Wild Oat herbicide, ensure the crop has reached the proper leaf stage for applying the hebicide.

For further information contact Brian Craig tel # (902) 368-5637 or your local Agricultural District Office of the P.E.I. Deparment of Agriculture and Forestry.