Wild Oats (Avena fatua) is a common weed species in a varieties of regions. The Wild Oats growing degree day model developed by researchers, uses heat units and time as a method to estimate plant phenological stages through the growing season. This can be helpful to predict plant emergence, leaf development, spike emergence and culm elongation.

Calculating Growing Degree Days

For this model, a lower temperature threshold of 41F is used to calculate growing degree day accumulation. For the Northern Hemisphere, April 1st, should be used as a biofix, the date when to start growing degree day accumulation. Growing degree days can be calculated from daily high and low temperatures, or via the Pest Prophet app, which uses hourly temperature data for a given field. This can be used to track the development through leaves 1-8, then the flag leaf, boot, spike and culm elongation.

Learn More:

Cudney, D. W., L. S. Jordan, C. J. Corbett, and W. E. Bendixen. 1989. Developmental rates of wild oats (Avena fatua) and Wheat (Triticum aestivum). Weed Science 37: 521-524.