Herbaceous Wind Barriers for Irrigated Lands in Arizona

Abstract

Herbaceous wind barriers are tall grasses or other non-woody plants established in narrow strips spaced across the field perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction. They are used on cropland to protect soils and crops from damaging effects of wind and wind-borne soil particles. They should also provide food and cover for wildlife. In Arizona, there is a need to identify herbaceous plants, commonly used for crops, which are effective in controlling soil erosion caused by wind on cropland. This trial was conducted at the Tucson Plant Materials Center and is composed of three hybrid grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. bicolor) types (‘SG-677’, ‘DS9300’, and ‘KS-735’), one forage sorghum (‘NK300’), one silage corn (Zea mays L.) type (‘N91-19’), and two grain corn types (‘Mexican June’ & ‘DX-93’). All sorghum types had good height, excellent retention of upright foliage, and excellent second year sprouting. It is apparent that sorghum can be a multi-year herbaceous wind barrier and when established will require minimal amounts of irrigation water to keep it growing and functioning as a multi-year herbaceous wind barrier. The two best performers for the sorghum varieties are ‘KS-735’ and ‘SG-677’. This information can be applied to the conservation practices such as Herbaceous Wind Barrier (603) and Cross-Wind Trap Strips (589C).