Keeping disease organisms and insects at low levels reduces the risk of unexpected yield loss and the need for chemical pesticides. Oats greatly reduce the need for herbicides. Oats are solid-seeded and, when planted early, develop a dense cover that shades competing weeds. The weed suppression effects of an oat crop can carry over to subsequent row crops if oats are included regularly in a crop rotation program. As a result, reduced herbicide use in oat production helps prevent contamination of surface and ground waters.
Agricultural crops are distinct in terms of the amount of nutrients they take from the soil.
For example, heavy applications of fertilizers, particularly nitrogen sources, are needed for maintaining high yields with continuous corn. Reducing excess fertilizer applications is important for reducing both surface and groundwater nitrate contamination. Oats provide excellent soil erosion control. Row crops leave a substantial surface area of soil exposed to wind and water erosion. The dense cover provided by oats helps prevent soil erosion.