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Tolerance of Teff (Eragrostis tef) var. “Tiffany” to Several Selective Herbicides. Brian Jones Agronomy Extension Agent September 2009. Background. Teff is a warm season C4 annual grass African origin, used as a grain crop Gaining popularity as a summer annual forage
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Tolerance of Teff (Eragrostis tef) var. “Tiffany” to Several Selective Herbicides Brian JonesAgronomy Extension Agent September 2009
Background • Teff is a warm season C4 annual grass • African origin, used as a grain crop • Gaining popularity as a summer annual forage • Primarily marketed as high quality horse hay • Ongoing study examining applicability as grazing for backgrounding/finishing operation
Objective • Limited literature exists on selective weed control in teff • Objective was to examine the effect of several common selective forage herbicides on teff growth and yield
Establishment • Variety: “Tiffany” teff • Planting date: 3 June, 2009 • Seeding rate: 7 lb/A • Seeding tool: Brillion seeder • Previous crop: Barley harvested as silage • Site prep: • Turbo-till vertical tillage (23 May) • Pasture harrow (25 May) • Fertilizer applied 31 May: • 64 lb 0-0-62.5 • 83 lb 10-34-0 • 52 lb 30% UAN • Burndown herbicide applied 31 May • 1.5 qt/A Gamoxone Nteon
Herbicide Treatments • Treatments applied on 10 August in a randomized complete block design with four replications
Teff on 10 August • Treatments applied to teff after 17 days of re-growth occurred from hay cutting
Weed Species Composition • Number of common forage weed species present, including • Canada thistle • Bull thistle • Pigweed spp. • Horsenettle • Broadleaf dock • Weed composition and cover varied between treatments • Teff stand was consistent and above 90% ground cover in all treatments
Teff Yield • Teff harvested on 22 September (6 WAT) • Sample weight and dry matter determined
P ≤ 0.05 NS NS NS NS NS
Milestone Grazon P+D Control Rifle 2,4-D
Summary • No difference in teff yield observed between treatments • No visual difference in teff performance noted between treatments • A more thorough investigation of herbicide application at different teff growth stages should be performed