Can teff handle high winds? This on-farm trial aims to find out.
Written by Mary Hathaway, OFRF’s Research & Education Program Manager
Ledoux Grange, situated at 7,400 feet in Mora, New Mexico, is an organic-certified, 34-acre operation focused on regenerative agriculture. Farmer Kristin Swoszowski-Tran has been cultivating Lilium species (a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, including lilies) and hybrids – since the 1990s, registering novel cultivars with the Royal Horticultural Society in Great Britain. As a member of the Southwest Grain Collaborative, Ledoux Grange also specializes in growing drought-tolerant, high-altitude pulses, legumes, grains, and cover crops, and is committed to bringing culturally rich, locally-grown produce to their community.
Testing Teff for Lodging Resistance
One of the grains that Ledoux Grange grows is Teff, an annual grass, a species of lovegrass native to Ethiopia, where it first originated in the Ethiopian Highlands. It was one of the earliest plants to be domesticated and is one of the most important staple crops in Ethiopia. Ledoux Grange is currently testing 14 teff accessions rated for their lodging resistance in its characteristically windy location. Teff’s versatility as human food, livestock fodder, and a drought-tolerant cover crop suited for high altitudes makes it a promising addition to their operation. The farm owner, Kristin, is enthusiastic about experimenting with various accessions, drawing inspiration from past successes with teff in the area. She has a broader interest in lovegrass species and is eager to observe their growth, hoping to identify types that will flourish and resist lodging in her environment.
Terminology Touch Point
ACCESSION: a distinct sample of germplasm representing a cultivar, breeding line, or a wild or cultivated population, maintained in a genebank for conservation and use. Its genetic stability is optimally preserved through careful monitoring and multiplication.
Source: GGCE
On Farm Trial Plan
The plot layout includes 12 accessions from a western regional station, all of Ethiopian origin, alongside two commercially available varieties: ‘Bolorosso’ from Experimental Farm Network and teff from Great Basin Seeds. The experiment includes four replications, and is laid out in the field as four blocks border rows on each end. Each packet contains 200 seeds, with 50 seeds per plot, weighed out for accuracy. Rows will be one meter long, with seeds distributed evenly within each plot area. Planting is scheduled for late June, following thorough bed preparation.
Trial Evaluation Metrics
Data collection will be comprehensive, focusing on key metrics such as days to emergence, vigor, time to flowering, time to maturity, tillering, height, and lodging. Grain yield and seed color will also be recorded. Vigor will be assessed using either GRIN standards or a custom scale. Lodging will be rated on a 1-5 scale. To assess the tillering, she will record the number of tillers on 10 plants per plot and calculate the average. Grain yield will be determined by weighing the collected seeds. Seed color will be evaluated with a pantone scale.
Plot Map
Looking Ahead
The evaluation of these teff accessions will help Kristin identify promising teff accessions, and will facilitate seed increases for subsequent on-farm research at Ledoux Grange. Looking to the future, Kristin aims to address key challenges for this specific environment, like lodging prevention and optimal timing for growth relative to the monsoon season. Ultimately, Ledoux Grange hopes to expand crop diversity in the region, provide the community with nutrient-rich food options, and create new market opportunities.
Farmer-researcher Kristin Swoszowski-Tran
“I believe that it is crucial to conduct trials in diverse agricultural ecotypes so that we can perpetuate and ensure suitable, local production to idiosyncratic conditions. It is an honor and privilege to work with OFRF staff members, Mary and Heather, to organize this trial. They’ve made an easy and seamless process to plan the implementation. My hope is that we can identify drought-tolerant candidates that can withstand our windy conditions here at this elevation. I’m eager to see what this trial produces!”
– Kristin Swoszowski-Tran, Ledoux Grange
Teff trial layout.
Stay tuned:
- Follow Ledoux Grange on Facebook to see photos and updates as the teff trial unfolds!
- Check back here for future blog posts on the trial’s progress.
This is part of a series of blogs highlighting farmers who are participating in OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials program. Farmers receive technical support to address their production challenges through structured on-farm trials. To learn more about OFRF Farmer-Led Trials Program, visit our website page at https://ofrf.org/research/farmer-led-research-trials/
To learn more about Ledoux Grange visit https://www.facebook.com/ledouxgrange