Abstract This study evaluated the dual‐purpose potential of oat ( Avena sativa L.) under varying cutting stages and plant densities in the Mediterranean climate of southern Turkey. Field trials were conducted over two growing seasons (2021–2022 and 2023–2024) using a split‐plot design with three replications, evaluating four cutting stages (control = no cutting; Zadoks 25, 30, and 35) and three plant densities (400, 500, and 600 plants m −2 ). Forage yield, nutritive value, and grain performance were assessed to identify optimal management strategies. Plant height increased from 51.4 cm at Z25 to 86.1 cm at Z35, while biomass and dry matter accumulations rose from 21.2 to 46.9 Mg ha −1 and 2.8 to 5.9 Mg ha −1 , respectively. In contrast, crude protein concentration declined (255.5–180.4 g kg −1 DM), and fiber fractions increased, resulting in lower digestibility, estimated dry matter intake, and relative feed value. Higher plant density enhanced biomass accumulation and crude protein concentration but had limited benefits for forage digestibility. Grain yield decreased markedly with delayed cutting, from 4.2 Mg ha −1 in the control to 1.6 Mg ha −1 at Z35, mainly due to a reduction in grains per panicle. Overall, delayed cutting and higher plant density enhanced biomass production but reduced grain yield and forage quality. Defoliation at the Zadoks 30 stage, particularly under plant densities of 500 and 600 plants m −2 , provided the most balanced compromise by improving grain quality and forage nutritive value, highlighting its suitability for sustainable dual‐purpose oat production under Mediterranean conditions with increasing climate variability.
Atis et al. (Sun,) studied this question.