SARDA Ag Research

Β-glucan Oat Variety Trials

By Shelleen Gerbig, BSA, P.Ag., SARDA Ag Research and Sandeep Nain, GRO

Beta-glucan (β-glucan) is a type of soluble fibre responsible for many of the healthpromoting properties of foods like oats, wheat, and barley. It has been studied extensively for its effects on heart health, cholesterol levels, boosts immunity and stabilizing blood sugar levels. Another potential benefit is that it may enhance the activity of natural killer cells, a part of the immune system that recognizes and attacks cancer cells. A minimum of 4% β-glucan is required for companies to be able to label their products with the Heart Healthy Claim. This trial investigates the impact of genotype (variety) and growing conditions on the yield and β-glucan content of milling oat varieties in Northern Alberta. One trial was set up in the South Peace Region and one trial in the Westlock area from 2016 to 2021

Oat production in Alberta has been on a relatively steady decline since 2011. Many millers will not accept oats from Alberta or look to Alberta only after Manitoba, and Saskatchewan’s supply is depleted. The two main varieties grown in Alberta, Morgan and Derby, contain low amounts of β-glucan. Therefore, oat producers in Alberta need an oat variety that can consistently beat the yields of Morgan and Derby but has the higher β-glucan levels that the oat miller desire.

Oats are a valuable part of crop rotation and are beneficial to producers. They provide disease and insect breaks for wheat, barley, and canola. Their rapid establishment and growth provide excellent weed suppression. Oats also work well as a “catch crop” for taking up and storing excess nitrogen, and the straw provides a nutrient source for the following year’s crop. The straw also protects against soil erosion and contributes to increasing the soil’s organic matter content (Campbell et al., 1991). Well-planned management and appropriate variety selection make oats a profitable crop due to their low input requirements, high productivity and favourable effects on succeeding crops in a rotation.

Test weight is the most commonly used indicator of grain quality, and buyers desire high test weights. However, functional attributes such as β-glucan solubility and viscosity are the main criteria for the processing industry. The β-glucan content in oat may vary with changes in growing conditions (Perez Herrera et al., 2016). The current trial will provide valuable agronomic information for the producers in Alberta to grow oat varieties with higher yields and increased β-glucan levels.

We saw significant effects from the location and variety on yields and β-glucan levels in 2016-2021. Environmental conditions affect the yield capacity more than the effect on Beta-glucan levels. Although β-glucan levels were affected by growing degree days, the inherent genetic makeup of the variety had a greater effect. Fortunately, the environmental conditions over the five years hit both extreme high moisture, extreme drought and points in-between. The following tables summarize the results of both yield and β-glucan levels throughout the trial years in both locations.