Waterhttp://hdl.handle.net/10150/1354012024-03-29T01:32:33Z2024-03-29T01:32:33ZEvaluating Forage Cover Crop Mixes for the Desert SouthwestSanyal, DebankurStackpole, CharlesMegdal, Sharon B.http://hdl.handle.net/10150/6711812024-03-12T01:21:02Z2023-08-01T00:00:00ZEvaluating Forage Cover Crop Mixes for the Desert Southwest
Sanyal, Debankur; Stackpole, Charles; Megdal, Sharon B.
Cover crops are essential tools to improve soil health and productivity1. Traditionally, cover crops are used as ‘green manures’ where the cover crops are not harvested but incorporated into the ground to boost soil health and fertility. Therefore, it has become a common perception that cover crops are meant to be incorporated into the soil. In the desert Southwest, water scarcity forces the producers to utilize water more strategically, and green manure cover crops may not be an economically sustainable option for farmers in the desert.
2023-08-01T00:00:00ZWater Irrigation Efficiency ProgramOrr, EthanMasson, RobertBrennan, Stephaniehttp://hdl.handle.net/10150/6711172024-03-12T01:13:49Z2023-02-01T00:00:00ZWater Irrigation Efficiency Program
Orr, Ethan; Masson, Robert; Brennan, Stephanie
Agriculture in the American Southwest provides the nation with high quality food, feed, and fiber. Blessed with hot summers, mild winters, and dry climates Arizona has become a center for growing specialty crops of unparalleled quality. In our current climate, one of the most limiting factors to crop production in Arizona is water availability, driving the desire for more conservative use on the farm. State funding has been allocated to assist commercial growers transitioning to more efficient wateruse practices. Reimbursement grants will be awarded up to $1,500 per acre to support infrastructure costs of farms transitioning away from flood irrigation to more efficient technologies, expected to provide a 20% or greater water savings. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension group is tasked with administering the reimbursement grants and will assist growers with understanding available options and development of best use practices.
2023-02-01T00:00:00ZCommunicating Research Results to Stakeholders: What Scientists Can Learn from Cooperative ExtensionMcLain, Jean E.Rock, Channah M.http://hdl.handle.net/10150/6700872023-11-12T01:14:33Z2018-07-01T00:00:00ZCommunicating Research Results to Stakeholders: What Scientists Can Learn from Cooperative Extension
McLain, Jean E.; Rock, Channah M.
A key task faced by all members of the water research community is to communicate the results of their research to stakeholder groups. Effective communication involves a range of tactics depending on the audience’s cultural background, level of understanding, and interest (financial, political, or other) in the research topic. Opportunities to communicate scientific results are also varied, ranging from peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific conferences, to conversations with community groups, to meetings with elected officials. Successful scientific communication involves gauging exactly what the audience needs to know and how to effectively deliver this information, either verbally or in writing. And yet, though early career water research professionals may leave their undergraduate or graduate studies well-versed in planning and conducting scientific study, upon graduation, their skill in communicating scientific results to stakeholders is often limited to peer-reviewed publications.
2018-07-01T00:00:00ZUnderstanding Ecological SitesBrischke, AndrewHall, AshleyMcReynolds, Kimhttp://hdl.handle.net/10150/6700762023-11-12T01:13:17Z2018-05-01T00:00:00ZUnderstanding Ecological Sites
Brischke, Andrew; Hall, Ashley; McReynolds, Kim
Today, land managers are challenged with synthesizing an overwhelming amount of scientific information concerning soils, hydrology, ecology, management, etc. Discrete and arbitrary land ownership boundaries with differences in regulations (or lack of regulations) will often dictate the management goals and objectives for our rangelands (Table 1). Adding to this complexity, natural systems seldom have distinct boundaries with respect to either space or time; therefore, managing landscapes have a certain amount of variability and uncertainty. Ecological sites are a conceptual landscape classification system used to interpret potential across the landscape. The fundamental assumption of ecological sites is that landscapes can be grouped with sufficient precision to increase the probability of success of site-specific predictions, decisions, and management actions (USDA-NRCS, 2011). Ecological sites incorporate abiotic and biotic environmental factors such as climate, soils and landform, hydrology, vegetation, and natural disturbance regimes that together define the site. Each ecological site is identified, differentiated, and described based on the relationships among these environmental factors and how they influence plant community composition and other environmental processes.
2018-05-01T00:00:00Z