| Scientific name: | Eragrostis tef (Zuccagni) Trotter |
| Cultivars: | Reprieve XL, Dessie, Stallion, Cascade, Charger |
| Origin: | Ethiopia |
| Growth Habit: | Bunch type; 3 to 4 ft tall; short day length |
| Life Cycle: | Annual |
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| Use |
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| Production: | 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 ton/acre per harvest use as emergency crop |
| Nutritive Value: | High; CP: 15 to 20% with adequate managementComplete amino acid profile |
| Herbaria Image: | Click this link |
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| Identification |
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| Seed Head: | Panicle |
| Seed: | very small; 1,300,000 seeds/lb; coated seed 650,000 seeds/lb3 to 5 days to emergence |
| Shoot: | Fine stems |
| Leaf: | Wide blades |
| Auricles: | Absent |
| Ligule: | Present, membranous, medium length |
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| Adaptation |
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| Soil: | wide adaptation, from sandy to waterlogged clay |
| pH: | 6 to 6.5 |
| Moisture: | Requires 17 inches of rainfall to produce grain |
| Temperature: | 65°F (germination) |
| Other: | Excellent for erosion control |
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| Establishment - Management |
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| Seeding rate: | 8 to 12 lb/acre (alone; 4 to 5 lb/acre (in mixes) |
| Seed cost: | $2 to2.5/lb; $20-30/acre (mono culture) $6 to 10/acre (mixes) |
| Planting date: | Late May-early June |
| Planting depth: | <1/4 inch |
| Frost seeding: | Can be frost seeded, emergence after germination is 3 to 5 days |
| Fertilization: | 50 lb of N/acre at planting, with smaller amount (25 to 30 lan) after cutting. Excess N causes lodging. |
| Grazing: | Rest period 28 to 30 days. |
| Hay: | Harvest pre-boot for best quality (45-50 days after planting) 3 to 4 inch stubble |
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| Notes |
| Highly palatable hay, specially for horses |
