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Nitrogen Management of Oat Plus Field Pea Grown for Forage
A common annual forage crop mixture is oat plus field pea. Properly-inoculated field pea seed should supply the legume with adequate amounts of nitrogen (N). However, adequate soil N is needed by oat to optimize forage production. N recommended for oat in this forage mixture is 50 percent of the rate needed for oat grown as a grain crop. For example, a 90-bushel oat grain crop would require 120 lb N/acre or 60 lb N as a forage crop. A three-year (1995-97) study at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center was conducted to identify N response by oat plus pea. Forage yield (dry matter basis) was 4540 lb/acre when field pea seed was inoculated compared to 4360 lb without inoculation. Crude protein was similar between treatments. On soil containing 20 to 50 lb N/acre (0- to 24-inch depth), N fertilizer applied at 0, 25, 50, and 75 lb/acre, respectively. Crude protein averaged 12.2 percent without N fertilizer and 13.9 percent with 75 lb of applied N. This trial data indicates the importance of inoculating pea seed and supplying an adequate level of N fertilizer to optimize yield and protein of oat plus pea grown for forage.
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