Developing Agronomic Strategies to Optimize Production of Quinoa and Hulless Barley on No-till Farms in the Palouse Region of Idaho and Washington

Developing Agronomic Strategies to Optimize Production of Quinoa and Hulless Barley on No-till Farms in the Palouse Region of Idaho and Washington

Summary

In an effort to increase crop diversification, no-till farmers in the Palouse region of North Idaho and Eastern Washington have expressed a need for increased knowledge and awareness of appropriate agronomic practices for both quinoa and hulless barley.  Each of these crops possesses the potential to add value to traditional no-till farming rotations in the Palouse through the marketing of their enhanced nutritional value and heart-healthy characteristics. Quinoa is recognized worldwide as an important gluten-free crop with high nutritional content and as a source of phytonutrients and fiber for human health. Quinoa is mostly imported from South America, has a high yield per acre, and is highly adaptable to adverse growing environments. Quinoa production in the Palouse will create a secure domestic supply of the cereal for U.S. consumers. At present, little is known about either the best management practices or the best available varieties for quinoa and hulless barley.

In 2015, we evaluated 10 varieties and/or breeding lines each of quinoa and hulless barley on four no-till farms in Washington and Idaho. At present, data is still being gathered and analyzed. This will be repeated in 2016. Results from these trials will inform us on which varieties of each crop to use for our agronomic trials to be held on two no-till farms in 2016 and 2017. Agronomic trials will focus on determining optimal nitrogen and seeding rates for each crop on no-till farms in the Palouse.  Each no-till farm represents a distinct rainfall zone and/or soil type. Agronomic traits of interest include: speed and rate of emergence, juvenile growth habit, leaf and stem color, plant height at maturity, disease resistance, lodging tolerance, weed suppression and seed yield. End-use quality and nutritional traits of interest include seed protein content, seed size, test weight, β-glucan content (for barley only), saponin content (for quinoa only), total phenolics, and extrusion properties.

Measurable outcomes include the identification and/or quantification of:
1) existing quinoa and hulless barley varieties with strong agronomic characteristics, high yields and good end-use quality for immediate production;
2) quinoa and/or hulless barley lines that are adapted to no-till farming systems and would be potential candidates for variety release; and,
3) nitrogen and seeding rates that optimize weed suppression, grain yield, nutritional value and seed end-use quality. 

Information will be disseminated through various extension pathways, including annual field days, an extension bulletin, an extension fact sheet, conference posters and oral presentations, one webinar, a continually updated project webpage, and two to three scholarly, peer-reviewed publications. No-till farmers in the Palouse, as well as Shepherd’s Grain representatives, have been intimately involved in the conception, design, and planning stages of this proposal and will be critical in the successful implementation and extension of this project.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Below are the two objectives targeted in Year 1 of the project (2015):

1. Identify specific varieties and/or breeding lines of quinoa and hulless barley that perform well on no-till farms in the Palouse.

2. Conduct field days in Idaho and Washington to increase knowledge of and awareness about the agronomic and market capacity of quinoa and hulless barley.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Below are the two objectives targeted in Year 1 of the project (2015), with accomplishments summarized below each.

1. Identify specific varieties and/or breeding lines of quinoa and hulless barley that perform well on no-till farms in the Palouse.

Ten quinoa and 10 barley breeding lines and varieties were grown on four no-till farms in 2015 and evaluated for agronomic and yield traits. Final data gathering and analysis is currently underway and results will be available for year 1 by March of 2016

2. Conduct field days in Idaho and Washington to increase knowledge of and awareness about the agronomic and market capacity of quinoa and hulless barley.

Two on-farm field days were held in 2015 and a third speaking engagement was conducted on an off-site, all-day workshop. Stakeholders in attendance (n=120) included no-till and conventional till farmers, consumers, chefs, and other scientists. These field days, or variations thereof, will be conducted again in 2016 and 2017, with continued emphasis on expanding our outreach and diseminating our results.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

It is too early in the project to properly assess impacts and outcomes. We expect to have all 2015 data finalized by March 2016, and the number of plots being tested in 2016 will be double that of 2015.

Collaborators: