A field experiment was conducted during the 2003 growing season to evaluate the effect of multiple application rates of biosolids material on Sudan grass yield. Growers in the Mohave Valley region of the state have been using biosolids for the past several years principally as a source of nitrogen (N) and secondarily as a soil amendment. Mineralization rates vary widely based on environmental factors, in particular temperature and soil moisture. Little research been conducted in this particular growing region to refine recommended application rates. The objective of this study was to compare the typical agronomic rate that is currently recommended to several other rates and determine the effects on Sudan grass yield. Results showed that the current recommended application rates produced the greatest yield. However, due to space limitations and logistics, the study was laid out in large treated blocks and was not replicated. As such, definitive conclusions from results are difficult to draw.

Small plot replicate trials were established to test seventeen durum wheat varieties. This year the study was looking at quality issues as well as yield, to verify which varieties were high enough quality for high dollar export. Duraking, a variety from World Wide Wheat, was the leading variety, with a yield over 5500 pounds per acre. A four year summary of yields and percent protein is also provided in this paper.

Fourteen herbicide treatments were evaluated for the control of littleseed canarygras in durum wheat. Hoelon produced marginal (65%) control, Achieve fair (77%), Control and Puma good (92%) control. Tank mixes of Achieve and Puma with MCPA and Aim resulted in reduced canarygrass control. New ALS inhibitors, Olympus and F130060, produced good to excellent (85 to 95%) control except when mixed with crop oil concentrate and liquid nitrogen.

The AZSCHED irrigation scheduling software was developed in the early 1990's to be used in a DOS environment on computers (1). Since it’s development it has been extensively used for irrigation scheduling on the Safford Agricultural Center. Changes in computer systems from DOS to Windows has made it imperative that a new Windows version of AZSCHED be developed. That version has been developed and is now in use at our location (2). This report covers the use of this software in scheduling irrigation for barley and wheat.

This study was initiated in response to a push by one of the grain buying companies to produce more durum wheat for export from Arizona. The export market required a minimum of 13% protein and other quality constraints. A nitrogen timing regime was established by the University to provide the crop with this nutrient according to its physiological development. This study had four nitrogen application treatments addressing different ways to provide the crop with its nitrogen needs. No significant differences were seen in yields but slight differences in percent protein were observed. An economic analysis is included to show the profitability of nitrogen applications.

Twenty six alfalfa varieties with fall dormancy ratings of 8 or 9 were tested in a replicated small plot trial on a sandy clay loam soil on the Safford Agricultural Center. This was the fourth year of the study. Coronado was the highest yielding variety in 2002 with Mecca III and ZX9393 following closely behind. All three varieties produced a yield over 6 tons per acre and averaged over 8 tons per acre over the 4-year period.

"A number of products with miticidal activity were applied both in the spring and summer of 2002 to alfalfa in the Blythe, CA, area to evaluate their efficacy for twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) control. These two application periods differed in regards to presence of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), a predator of spider mites. Western flower thrips populations were high in the spring but essentially absent during the period following the summer application, providing contrasting data for effects of western flower thrips interactions with many miticides for spider mite control. Miticides tested included those currently utilized for mite control in alfalfa hay production as well as a number of new and/or potential products for alfalfa hay. In the spring testing, most treatments had more spider mites than the untreated check at three days post treatment when western flower thrips were present and actively feeding on spider mites. Two fertilizer treatments that contained high amounts of sulfur also had more spider mites than the untreated check at three days post treatment, thought due to repellency of adult western flower thrips. Many of the treatments that had more spider mites than the check following the spring application are known to have thrips activity (Zephyr, Trilogy, Dimethoate, Lorsban, etc.). Fewer motile (adults and immatures, not eggs) spider mites than in the check were noted only from the Capture + Dimethoate 400, Capture, and the combination of the two Gowan numbered products (1528, 1549) at three days after treatment. Products that provided excellent (90%+) control throughout the duration of the summer part of the experiment included two numbered compounds from Gowan (1528 and 1549), Capture + Dimethoate 400, Danitol, Zephyr + Trilogy, and a numbered compound from Valent USA (V-1283). The wide disparity in the two data sets indicate that western flower thrips presence/absence should be considered as part of the decision making process for spider mite control. "

Six treatments containing carbohydrates and/or fertilizer were applied to alfalfa shortly after cutting in July 2002 to help ascertain if foliar applied carbohydrates would be helpful in overcoming summer slump of alfalfa hay production in the desert southwest. No significant differences were noted for any treatment for yield or quality when compared with the untreated check, although a trend for increased quality from treatments was noted. Highest yielding treatment was DC34, which increased tonnage by less than 0.1 tons/acre compared with the untreated check. DC34 was also among the highest in alfalfa quality. Alfalfa treated with Amaze® had the highest quality, but no affect on yield. As applications were made when little green foliage was available, most of the applied treatments did not actually contact green tissue but brown/dessicated alfalfa tissue or bare soil. Applying treatments during the regrowth cycle when more foliage is available may result in improved results as suggested by the trends noted from this experiment's treatments, however further testing will be necessary to verify such results.