Forage Production of Four Crops Grown Under Two Different Production Cultures, 1990

Abstract

Forage trials of four crops grown under high-input and low-input production cultures were performed at the Maricopa Agricultural Center. Six varieties of each crop were grown to evaluate yield potential under both production cultures. Only a preplant irrigation was applied to the low-input culture, but up to four additional irrigations were applied to the high-input culture. No fertilizer application was given to low-input, but a total of 135#N/A and 75#P₂O₅/A was applied to the full production culture. Barley, durum, and wheat cultivars developed for grain yield under a low-input production culture were tested for forage production under both high- and low-input practices. No advantage in forage production was observed by using the following varieties in a low-input production culture: Stampede oats, Westford barley, Mexicali durum, and 911 wheat produced the highest yields in each of the four crops. Yields were greater from crops grown under a high-input culture: Stampede oats, Harlan II barley, Aldura durum, and 911 wheat were highest yielding varieties in each crop.