β-Glucan contents of groats of different oat cultivars in official variety, in organic cultivation, and in nitrogen ferilization trials in Finland

β-Glucan is a beneficial chemical compound in the diet of humans by decreasing the levels of serum cholesterol and blood glucose. The β-glucan contents of oat groats were studied in official variety trials (1997–1999), nitrogen fertilization trials (1997–1999) and organic variety trials (1997–1998) in Finland. Eight cultivars were studied in the organic variety trials. Two of them, cultivars Puhti and Veli, were cultivated also with a conventional method at the same fields. The years 1997 and 1999 were very warm and dry and 1998 very cool and rainy. The effects of year and cultivar on β-glucan content were significant in all three trial series. The Kolbu oat cultivar had a significantly lower βglucan content than other cultivars in all trials. N fertilization did not increase the β-glucan contents of oats in Finland. The effect of cultivation method (traditional vr organic cultivation) had no significant effect on the β-glucan content. The year x cultivar interaction significantly affected the β-glucan contents of oat groats in N fertilization trials. The reaction of different cultivars to weather conditions was different. Kolbu oat cultivar had significantly lower β-glucan contents in 1998 than in warm years in all three trial series.