Journal of NACAA

Production Potential of Teff Grass as a Forage Crop in Mississippi

ISSN 2158-9429

Volume 9, Issue 2 - December 2016

Editor: Linda Chalker-Scott

Abstract

Teff grass (Eragrostis tef) is a relatively new warm-season summer annual grass that is gaining popularity as a forage crop for livestock producers and hay producers in the southern USA. Two studies were conducted from 2010 to 2011 and in 2014 with the objective of evaluating forage yield and quality of teff grass depending on the fertility regime, establishment method, harvest maturity and cutting height. Both studies were conducted at the Henry H. Leveck Animal Research Farm on the campus of Mississippi State University in a Stough fine sandy loam soil. Study #1 was a 3 x 6 factorial in a randomized complete block design with all treatments replicated three times. Three cultivars were used in the study in 2010: ‘Tiffany’ teff grass, ‘Red River’ crabgrass and ‘Quick-N-Big’crabgrass. In 2011, the teff grass cultivar ‘Dessie’ was added to the study. Six nitrogen treatments were applied to each cultivar. Nitrogen treatments consisted of 0, 30, 60, and 90 lb N/ac as single application or split applications using urea ammonium sulfate (33-0-0). The 60 lb N/ac rate was split in 30 lb/ac applications while the 90 lb N/ac was split in 45 lb/ac applications when plants achieved three inches of growth after planting and after the first harvest. There was a significant N treatment interaction (P<0.0031) and cultivar interaction (P<0.0010) in 2010 growing season for seasonal biomass yields. No significant differences in biomass production were observed in 2011 for the N treatments (P<0.2757) or the cultivars (P<0.3452). In 2010, there was a significant N application rate effect for CP (P<0.0155) and a significant cultivar interaction for NDF (P<0.0078) and FRUC (P<0.0263).  Study #2 was a 2x3x2 factorial in a split-split plot arrangement replicated three times. The main plots were the planting methods (broadcast and drilled), the subplots were the three growth stages [vegetative (10 inches of growth), boot stage (when the developing seed head begins to push through the uppermost leaf sheath), and seed head (seed heads were completely visible)] and the sub-subplots were the two cutting stubble heights (3 and 5 inches). There was no significant differences between the establishment methods or growth stages. However, drilling the seed produced 12% greater yield than the broadcast method.