Effects of Soil Moisture and Fertilization Treatments on the Agronomic Traits of Teff (<i>Eragrosis tef</i>) in Southern Kyushu, Japan

Abstract

This study investigated the agronomic characteristics of pot-cultured teff ( Eragrostis tef ) under soil moisture and fertilization treatments in southern Kyushu, Japan. In experiments examining the effects of soil moisture and fertilization, growth of teff and Setaria ( Setaria sphacelata ) as a reference species was compared under six treatments combining two soil moisture regimes, control (C) and high moisture (H) treatment, and three fertilizer applications, chemical fertilizer with manure (CF + M), chemical fertilizer (CF) and doubled level of manure (DM). H treatment did not decrease dry matter yield in teff two months after transplanting, except when combined with CF + M, compared with a decreasing tendency in Setaria . Top and underground dry matter yields and harvest index in teff increased significantly (P < 0.05) under H conditions with DM application. In experiments examining the effect of CF application level, growth of teff was compared under four CF levels (3.1, 6.2, 12.4 and 24.8 gN m ^-2 ); 6.2 gN m ^-2 is the standard level in the USA. Dry matter yield in teff did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) at CF application levels above 6.2 gN m ^-2 two months after sowing, suggesting that the optimum CF level of teff in southern Kyushu was comparable with that in the USA, and that teff had potential as an early-harvest forage crop two months after planting to replace summer forage in paddy fields of this region.