Oats cultivation in India: Best Varieties, Cultivation Guide & Health Benefits

We clearly know that obesity is reaching the hype in India as it has become a serious matter of concern. A report of 2025 says that in India 80% of the population is overweight.

However, it is important to change the lifestyle and diet of individuals to control such issues. You can start with having a healthy diet that helps to maintain your ideal weight, such as fruits, vegetables, detox drinks, and oats.

Adding oats to our diet is a good choice for promoting weight loss. By promoting satiety and stabilizing blood sugar levels, oats can help regulate appetite and support healthy weight loss efforts. Let's Explore oats more deeply: 

Understanding Oats deeply

Oats are signified as a cereal crop that is famous for its nutritional benefits and versatile role in culinary use. In the Latin language, it is known as Avena, if we search about the historic value of plants we will get to know that oats have been used for thousands of years, with domesticated varieties appearing in Europe around 3000 years ago.

Oats are believed to be the natives of the Asiatic region, specifically in Asia Minor. They are cultivated as animal fodder and then used as a human food source. As awareness of their nutritional benefits continues to grow, oats are likely to remain an important crop within India's agricultural landscape.

Also Read: Mushroom Cultivation in India

Different varieties of oats in India

In India, several varieties of oats are cultivated to develop fodders and for human consumption. All varieties have their agroclimate natures and different characteristics. Here are some of them:

1. Bundel Jai991 JHO 991

• This variety was developed by the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI) in Jhansi and released in 207 for cultivation. 
• The main characteristic of this variety is the resistance to pests, mainly grasshoppers and aphids. From the day of planting it takes 12 to 125 days for flowering of 50% and mature under 150 to 155 days.
• It is considered a valuable crop for livestock due to its high yield capacity which can produce 30 tons per hectare (t/ha) of green fodder and approximately 7 t/ha of dry fodder.

2. OS 346

• This crop is generally cultivated in central India and is also popular for its high yield potential and adaptability to irrigated conditions. It was released in 2009 by developing the method of pedigree breeding.
• It can be differentiated from others easily because of its physical appearance, it is tall reaching an average height of 124 cm including a favorable leaf-to-stem ratio, which enhances the nutritional quality and palatability of fodder.
• The green yield potential of this variety of oats is 534.7 quintals per hectare (q/ha), which is about 11% higher than the best check variety JHO 822. The dry yield represents a 13.3% increase over JHO 822 around  110.8 q/ha.

3. HFO 806

• It is a new variety of oats that was introduced in 2022 majorly cultivated in the South and Hill zones of India. It was developed by the  CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, with the same method as OS 346.
• It has high and crude protein levels that separate it from other oats varieties.  It offers a dry matter yield of 83.9 q/ha, outperforming Kent (65.9 q/ha) by 27.3% in the south zone, about 71.6 q/ha, which is slightly better than OS 6 (67.9 q/ha).

Cultivation of oats in India

By following some steps farmers can adversely grow high-yield crops that emphasize timely sowing, proper soil management, adequate irrigation, and appropriate nitrogen application to maximize yield potential, let's take an overview:

1. Sowing of Oats

• Generally, oats are sown from the month of October to November which is in RABI season. That is mainly suitable for  North-West to East zones of India, such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
• Sowing seeds timely has its own significance on crops as it allows crops to take advantage of favorable climate conditions, Delayed sowing can lead to reduced yields and lower quality fodder due to suboptimal growing conditions.

2. Soil requirement

Oats are very well known for their versatility among crops, there are some specific soil requirements for healthy growth as oats require loamy soils with good drainage to avoid extra moisture.

It can also thrive in slightly sandy soil with a good pH balance that ranges between  5.0 and 6.5.

3. Land preparation

• For cultivating any type of crop the most crucial step is preparing for land which ensures soil fertility, and a good drainage system, for the healthy growth of plants, removing weeds from the field, and plowing multiple times to achieve a fine tilth.
• Appling well-rotted farmyard manure (FYM) at approximately 15 tons/ha before sowing. It is important to apply fertilizers to provide essential nutrients to the soil.

4. Spacing and seed rate

• Proper spacing and seed rating are important for the air circulation of plants while they mature. The seed rate for oats is typically around 100 kg/ha.
• There must be spacing of  20 cm to 30 cm approximately 8 to 12 inches between the seeds in a row.

5. Suitable climate

• Oats can easily thrive in temperatures of  15°C and 25° C. That means cool weather, this is the ideal temperature to support healthy growth and development throughout the crop cycle.
• An ideal rainfall for oat cultivation is 80 to 100 mm. Accurate amount of water is important for the germination and early growth stages.

6. Irrigation practices

• Oats are mainly known as water-loving plants as they require constant irrigation for the moisture that helps to achieve heavy growth of crops. There are 4-5 ways to irrigate the crop field of oats.
• Flood irrigation, drip irrigation, and sprinkler systems are some common irrigation methods. It is important to apply water according to the soil type and capacity.

7. Harvesting

• Oats require proper timing for harvesting when the kernel moisture content is between 30% and 36%. Along with it that specific indication like when the panicles turn yellow or brown, and the least mature kernels have turned a cream color.
• Crops get fully mature after  150 days of planting seeds and also ensure that the grains are well-developed, then only the harvesting process should take place.

Also Read: Important facts on enhanced cucumber cultivation

Health and nutritional benefits of Oats

1. Hub of nutritions: Oats are rich in manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, folate, and vitamin B1 which clearly shows how much it is beneficial to health.
2. Weight management: Due to its high fiber content oats are suggested to be the better food source for maintaining an ideal weight, which can also help to control appetite and reduce overall calorie intake.
3. Support skin health: Finely ground oats are often used in skin care products due to their soothing properties. They can relieve itchiness and irritation associated with conditions like eczema and dermatitis thanks to their anti-inflammatory effects.
4. Heart health: Oats Are useful for controlling bad cholesterol and enhancing heart health because they are packed with beta-glucan, a soluble fiber.