Some effects of treated municipal wastewater on oats (Avena sativa L.).

Abstract

Experiments were conducted in 1970 at Tucson, Arizona, to study some effects of treated municipal wastewater on growth, yield, and quality of oats (Avena sativa L.) grown for pasture forage and grain. When first and second pasture cuttings were combined no differences were noted between irrigation and fertilizer treatments or cultivars for plant height, tillers per plant, green forage production, and dry forage production. Generally, oat pasture grown with wastewater contained more protein than did forage grown with well water and suggested amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Oat grain data showed no differences between irrigation and fertilizer treatments for maturity, plant height, flower blasting, lodging, panicles per unit area, seeds per panicle, seed weight, yield, and protein. Cultivars responded similarly in grain production for flower blasting, lodging, seeds per panicle, and seed weight. Cultivars differed in grain maturity dates, plant height, panicles per unit area, yield, and protein content. Treated municipal wastewater can be utilized to produce high yields of excellent quality oat pasture and grain for horses.