The Influence of Nitrogen Rate, and Source On Biomass Yield of Teff Grown for Livestock Feed in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

The Influence of Nitrogen Rate, and Source On Biomass Yield of Teff Grown for Livestock Feed in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

A. Ozzie Abaye, Katherine Hurder, Chris Teutsch Teutsch, Lindy Tucker and Benjamin Tracy, 245 Smyth Hall, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. & State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA

Abstract Text:

Teff where it is commonly grown as a grain crop in Ethiopia, provides two-thirds of the food consumed by the population. Teff is adapted to a wide range of climatic and soil conditions. As nitrogen fertilization is increased to stimulate yield, the chance of nitrate accumulation in commonly used summer annual grasses also increases, especially when growth is limited by moisture stress. Experiments were conducted at two Virginia (Blacksburg and Steeles Tavern) to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilization rate and source on the yield, nutritive value, and nitrate content of Teff.  In early June, a conventional seedbed was  prepared and plots were seeded using a cultipacker type seeder at a seeding rate of 6.7 kg ha^-1.  Nitrogen (N) was applied at 0, 45, 90, and 135 kg plant available N ha^-1 as a single application of either ammonium nitrate (AN) or broiler litter (BL). Nitrogen treatments applied at seeding were incorporated into the seedbed by disking once with a finishing disk.  Plant available nitrogen (PAN) for the BL was calculated by multiplying organic-nitrogen by 0.6, AN by 0.9 and summing the two.  The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a two-factor factorial treatment arrangement (N rate and source) and four replications.  Plot size was 2.7 x 4.6 m.  Plots were harvested when the Teff plants reached the late boot stage through the center of each plot using a self-propelled sickle bar-type forage harvester.  Biomass was determined on dry matter basis.  There was no rate by source interaction. At both locations, no yield advantage was found beyond 90 kg N rate. The nitrogen source that resulted in the highest biomass yield differed by location. At the Blacksburg location BL yielded 302 kg/ha more than AN.  However, the reverse was true at the Steeles Tavern location. Over all, nitrogen rate affected biomass yield more than source.

Title:

The Influence of Nitrogen Rate, and Source On Biomass Yield of Teff Grown for Livestock Feed in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

DOI:

10.2135/AnMtgsAbsts2009.55245

Submitter's E-mail Address:

cotton@vt.edu

Preferred Presentation Format:

Poster

Selection:

Forage Grass Performance

Scheduled Date:

Monday, November 2, 2009