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 and 2016, we evaluated 10 varieties and/or breeding lines each of quinoa and hulless barley on two no-till farms in Washington and Idaho.  This will be repeated one final time in 2017. Results from these trials summarized over years will inform us on which varieties of each crop that will perform best, measured across a diversity of traits, on no-till farms in the Palouse region. 2015 and 2016 were very different in terms of rainfall and temperature extremes, and one final year of variety trials will be important in identifying the best varieties over time.

Agronomic trials for each crop were conducted in 2016 on two no-till farms and be repeated again in 2017. These 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), 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 was disseminated in 2016 through various  annual field days and oral presentations. 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 three objectives targeted in Year 2 of the project (2016):

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

2. Determine the effect of seeding rate of quinoa and hulless barley on agronomic traits and seed yield of quinoa and hulless barley;

3. 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 2 of the project (2016), 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 two no-till farms in 2015 and evaluated for agronomic and yield traits. Final data gathering and analysis is currently underway. Preliminary results show significant differences among varieties for yield, plant height, days to maturity, and post-harvest seed traits.

2. Determine the effect of seeding rate of quinoa and hulless barley on agronomic traits and seed yield of quinoa and hulless barley.

Two food barley and one quinoa variety were grown in separate but similar agronomy trials on two no-till farms in 2016. The focus of these trials was to identify optimum seeding rates and nitrogen fertility rates. To this end, five nitrogen fertility rates and three seeding rates were tested across varieties and locations. Differences were significant especially for nitrogen fertility rate. Interactions were also found across seeding rate and fertility rate. Final multi-year results will be analyzed after the second year of these trials, which will occur in 2017.

3. 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 2016 where this trial and preliminary results were discussed. Results were also shared during an oral presentation at the Cascadia Grains conference in Olympia, Washington.  Stakeholders in attendance included no-till and conventional till farmers, consumers, chefs, and other scientists. These field days, or variations thereof, will be conducted again in 2017, with emphasis on expanding our outreach and diseminating our final, multi-year, multi-location results.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Impacts and outcomes will be fully realized and reported after the 2017 field season. Our preliminary observations indicate enthusiastic and growing interest in the potential for growing both food barley and quinoa in dryland systems in the Palouse.

Collaborators: