Nitrogen Management for Teff Hay Production
Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports
D. H. Min 0 1
J. L. Moyer 0 1
0 Kansas State University , USA
1 Min , D. H. and Moyer, J. L. (2016) "Nitrogen Management for Teff Hay Production," Kansas Agricultural , USA
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Nitrogen Management for Teff Hay Production
Summary
Fertilization of teff with the ESN source of nitrogen (N) at the higher rates, 100 and
125 lb N/a resulted in increased seasonal forage production. The primary increase oc‑
curred in the second of three cuttings.
Introduction
Teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is a warm‑season annual grass that can fill a short‑
term summer void with high‑quality forage. However, little is known about the needs
or responses of teff to different N levels, or how it would respond during its season of
growth to different sources of N, such as ESN (Environmentally Smart Nitrogen®).
Experimental Procedures
The plot area at the Mound Valley Unit, Southeast Agricultural Research Center was
seeded with 6.5 lb of pure, live seed/a of ‘Tiffany’ teff by hand broadcasting. Individual
plot size was 30 by 5 ft.
Nitrogen (N) treatments were rates and sources, arranged in a 5 by 2 factorial, plus a
check, with four replications in randomized complete blocks. Rates were 25, 50, 75,
100, and 125 lb of N; sources were urea (46% N) and ESN (44% N). Plots were fertil‑
ized on June 10, just after seeding, then harrowed lightly.
Plots were harvested on July 14, August 17, and October 6, 2015. Harvest was con‑
ducted with a Carter 3‑ft flail cutter at a height of 3 in. The remainder of the area was
clipped at each harvest to the same height. A forage subsample was taken from each plot
for moisture determination and analysis of forage N and fiber content.
Results and Discussion
Forage yields responded to N fertilizer treatments in cut 2, and for total seasonal yield
(Table 1).
In both cases, only ESN at the higher rates increased yield above the check (0 N) plots.
There was an overall tendency (P < 0.10) for ESN treatments to yield more than urea in
cut 3. No significant N rate by N source interaction was found in any of the harvests.
Urea 1.07 0.74 0.59 2.33
ESN 1.04 0.84 0.67 2.52
LSD (0.05) NS NS NS2 NS3
1Single degree of‑freedom contrast shows zero N yielded less than (P < 0.05) treatments that received 125 N.
2Pr > F = 0.075.
3Pr > F = 0.107.
Means, N Rate
25
50
75
100
125
LSD (0.05)
Means, N Source
0.91
1.05
1.08
1.09
1.12
NS
0.66
0.73
0.81
0.86
0.90
NS
0.60
0.59
0.62
0.64
0.72
NS
2.14
2.21
2.49
2.57
2.72
0.38 (...truncated)