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The best chufa fields have one thing in common — few weeds. Prior to planting, treat chufa plots with a pre-emergent herbicide to suppress weed growth.
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Chufa — sowing buried treasures
With origins in ancient Egypt, chufa is one of the oldest known domesticated crops. Egyptians used it to make breads, cakes and drinks.
The Arabs introduced chufa to Spain, where it is still used to make a popular drink called horchata.
People aren’t the only ones who find the nut-like tubers of this sedge grass tasty. Hunters in the United States have found that wild turkeys and ducks also have a fondness for chufa.
In Florida, where Spaniards likely first introduced the plant in the States, records dating back to the 1940s tell of farmers using chufa fields to fatten hogs. They probably noticed how well chufa attracted wild turkeys, as well.
Today, turkey hunters and landowners can grow their own fields of buried treasure by planting NWTF’s Turkey Gold chufa. And the best time to sow these “seeds” of turkey success is summer.
“Wild turkeys begin scratching for chufa during the fall, after the foliage above ground has turned brown,” said James Earl Kennamer, Ph.D., the NWTF’s chief conservation officer. “They will continue to feed on chufa until it’s gone, which is usually late spring.”
Here are some tips to ensure landowners strike Turkey Gold.
Growing Chufa Gold
The best chufa fields have one thing in common — few weeds. Prior to planting, treat chufa plots with a pre-emergent herbicide to suppress weed growth. An application of a pre-emergent herbicide, such as Prowl (active ingredient pendimthalin) or Treflan (active ingredient trifluralin), can keep a chufa plot grass- and weed -free for up to 45 days. A weed-free plot gives chufa a great start and allows for excellent tuber production. The pre-application of herbicide only requires an extra disking to fully incorporate it in the soil.
Chufa experts recommend performing a soil test prior to planting to determine nutrient needs. However, in the absence of a soil test, apply 400 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per acre. Also, apply one ton of lime per acre approximately four to six months prior to planting chufa. The preferred soil pH reading for chufa is 6 to 7.5.
Ground Rules
Plant chufa either using a broadcast spreader or a row planter.
Using a hand spreader, cyclone spreader or an ATV spreader, broadcast approximately 50 pounds of chufa per acre to ensure good coverage. Cover broadcasted seed with a disk harrow. Seeds planted too shallow will not germinate — a common mistake when planting chufa.
Row planting is the more precise and efficient way to plant chufa. Set the planters on three-foot rows and space the plants out every 10 to 12 inches to allow the chufa root and tuber system to fully develop in the soil. Use a larger seed plate, such as a peanut plate or corn plate, but make sure the seeds aren’t crushed by the planter. Set the planting depth for 1½ inches. Row planting rates for chufa are 25 to 30 pounds per acre.
Weed Free Chufa
Weeds can really hurt a chufa crop, but there are several herbicides that can help or at least suppress noxious intruders. For broadleaf control, apply 2,4 D-B. The B stands for butyric acid. This form of 2,4-D is friendliest to the chufa. If applied correctly, it will cause only minor yellowing of the plant, which chufa will outgrow in a week or two. Apply the herbicide at a rate of 1 to 2 pints per acre, which should be effective on pigweed, sicklepod, crotalaria, morning glory and other common broadleaf weeds.
If grasses are a problem, spray a form of sethoxydium. Common brands are Poast, Poast Plus or Fusilade (active ingredient fluazifop-p-butyl). Grass herbicides should be applied at a rate of 1 to 2 pints per acre, as well. — Greg Boozer, NWTF biologist
Get your Turkey Gold Chufa in time for summer planting!