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The so called “small oat” was once grown on poor land across the whole of Europe but, as land improved, it was replaced by higher yielding common oats, except in harsher, more remote environments.  In areas like the Uists, crofters have maintained the Uist corn over centuries and now young, aspiring crofters are now involved in studying its diversity.

Maria Scholten is an SAC-based PhD student investigating the differences in small oats grown in different parts of Scotland and Europe.  She decided to relocate her small oat field trial planned for 2009 from Edinburgh to Benbecula, which seemed more appropriate.  Maria was aware of the new National Crofting Course, launched at Sgoil Lionacleit, and crofter-instructor Neil MacPherson and teacher Stephen Carter were enthusiastic about co-operating.

Taking the trial to the school offered students living material growing through the different stages from seeding, to heading, to maturity. The students would be able to observe small and common oat growing beside one another and be able to learn about research trials, genebank work and about landraces such as the Uist small oat. 

With funding from SAC Trust Fund, and tallies and tapes from SASA the seed was sourced on the Uists, Tiree, Orkney and Shetland.  For comparison, seed was obtained from genebanks in former small oat growing areas such as Denmark, Germany and Ireland.  Five Canadian big feed oat varieties were kindly provided by the Crop Development Center in Saskatoon. These big oats can stand the high alkalinity of the Canadian prairies, which is even higher than the Uist machair. 

The plot was fertilised with seaweed, spread out by students. The trial work started in May with the laying out of 32 square plots, raking the seedbeds and sowing seed by hand.

A good two months into the trial, differences have become visible. The Uist small oat spreads out and stays close to the soil while the common oats, the Irish and Welsh small oats grow straight and stand taller.  The Canadian common oats are doing well while the Welsh small oat cross grows very vigorously, perhaps due to hybrid vigour.  Two ringed plovers and an unknown number of rabbits have also discovered the plots.

Maria Scholten is delighted with progress so far and will keep SAC News readers abreast of developments as the season develops. While the trial site is open to everyone - no dogs please.  It is accessible by car, situated approximately 500 yards along the track on Lionacleit machair closest to the HIE off the B892, Lionacleit, Benbecula.  An overview of the plots will be available on site.

Further Information

Crofting course at Sgoil Lionacleit: Stephen Carter sjcarter8@btinternet.com
Trial, landraces and seed availability, genebank conservation:  Maria Scholtn at 07746671984 or maria_scholten@hotmail.com