Guyang Oats

Guyang Oats

Guyang Oats is a geographical indication protected product.

　　Guyang specialty — oat flour, scientifically known as oatmeal, is one of the Three Treasures of Guyang. It grows in the pristine environment of Guyang, cultivated traditionally by farmers without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. It is purely green, pollution-free, with a unique flavor and rich nutrition, making it an excellent health food.

　　Guyang oats belong to "naked oats," which are annual herbaceous plants that are cold-resistant and drought-tolerant, with a long growth period. They grow in high-altitude, cold regions. The leaves are long and pointed, the flowers are light green, and the spikelets have slender awns. The seeds are edible. Oats rank first among the five grains in terms of protein and fat content, and also contain various nutrients such as phosphorus, iron, calcium, and vitamins. Oat flour is made from processed oats and, after refined production, becomes a food product. In Inner Mongolia, Guyang oat flour is considered the best, earning the reputation of "Guyang oats are the finest under heaven."

　　Legend has it that during Emperor Kangxi’s campaign against Galdan in the Qing Dynasty, he tried oat noodles in Guyang and spoke highly of them. During the Qianlong era, oat noodles were sent to the capital as tribute for the emperor. In the 1950s, Commander-in-Chief [Zhu De] visited Inner Mongolia twice for inspection and specifically requested to eat Guyang oat noodles. He mentioned that back when he was campaigning in northwestern Shanxi, he had often eaten oat noodles at the warm kang beds of local families and had also heard the legend that oat noodles were one of the "Three Treasures of Guyang." Those firm yet fine oat noodles had supported the great struggle of revolutionary soldiers in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei-Suiyuan-Shaanxi base areas, and the Commander never forgot them.

　　Guyang Oats

　　The administrative regions currently under the jurisdiction of four towns in Guyang County, Baotou City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region: Yinhuang Town, Huaishuo Town, Xingshunxi Town, and Xidoupuzhen Town

　　Report by the People's Government of Guyang County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Defining the Protection Scope of the Geographical Indication Product "Guyang Oats," Guy Zheng Fa [2011] No. 275; Inner Mongolia Baotou Agricultural Local Standard: Meng QBT/T139-2012 "Cultivation Technical Regulations for Guyang Oats"

　　I. Varieties

　　Varieties include Neiyan No. 5, Yanke No. 1, Nongda Youmai No. 1, Nongda Youmai No. 2, Mengnong Da Yan No. 1, Mengnong Da Yan No. 2, Bayou No. 1, Bayou No. 3, and others.

　　II. Site Conditions

　　Within the production area, elevation above 1,000 meters, selecting plots with medium to high soil fertility. The terrain should be flat, contiguous, easy to manage, and have good irrigation conditions.

　　III. Cultivation Management

　　1. Land Preparation: Autumn or spring plowing is acceptable. Plowing depth ≥20 cm.

　　2. Fertilization:

　　(1) Farmyard Manure: Apply 15 to 22.5 m³/hm² of high-quality farmyard manure as base fertilizer during autumn or spring plowing.

　　(2) Seed Fertilizer: Apply nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer (with 15% nitrogen, phosphorus pentoxide, and potassium oxide respectively) ≥300 kg/hm² during sowing.

　　3. Pre-sowing Irrigation: For plots with irrigation capability, after autumn or spring plowing, create ridges and borders and conduct border irrigation.

　　4. Seed Selection: Seed purity and cleanliness should reach over 98%, with germination rate over 85%.

　　5. Sowing:

　　(1) Sowing Method: Mechanical sowing is used.

　　(2) Sowing Period: From early to late May.

　　(3) Sowing Rate: 120 to 150 kg per hectare, ensuring 4 to 4.5 million plants per hectare.

　　(4) Sowing Depth: When using a fertilizer-layered seeder, sowing depth is 3 to 5 cm.

　　(5) Planting Row Spacing: Oat row spacing is 20 to 25 cm.

　　6. Field Management:

　　During tillering or jointing stage, following the principle of promoting early and controlling later, apply 75 to 120 kg of urea (containing 46% pure nitrogen) per hectare before irrigation or rainfall.

　　7. Harvest:

　　(1) Harvesting period: Harvest at the right time during the wax maturity stage.

　　(2) Drying: After threshing, promptly dry and clean the grains until the moisture content drops below 12.5%, then safely store in storage facilities.

　　8. Environmental and safety requirements: The use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other inputs must comply with national regulations, and environmental pollution must be avoided.

　　IV. Quality Characteristics

　　1. Sensory characteristics: Full grains, light yellow seed coat, moderate hardness, with grain shapes being long oval or oval.

　　2. Physical and chemical indicators: Moisture ≤12.5%, protein ≥14.0%, β-glucan ≥5.0%, fat ≥5.0%.

　　3. Safety and other quality technical requirements: Product safety and other quality technical requirements must comply with national regulations.