Corn yields were decreased in 1989 compared to 1988. The highest yielding yellow corn produced less than 10,000 pounds per acre. The weather was considered the largest factor in the yield reduction. Yellow corn hybrids were grown in two sites with two different cooperators. Yield differences may have been due to cultural practices. An auxiliary study on plant populations is also included in this report.

Ten corn hybrids of widely differing maturities were planted in Graham county to find which maturity would be optimal for double crop corn production. The highest yielding hybrid was the quickest maturing with a relative maturity of 98 days, it yielded 5629 pounds per acre.

Six pinto bean varieties were tested in the Bonita area of Graham county with excellent results, three of these varieties yielded over 3000 pounds per acre. These yields coupled with bean values above 30 cents per pound have created considerable interest in growing dry beans in Cochise and parts of Graham county.

Two bean variety studies were conducted in the southern part of Graham county in 1991. One was a replicated small plot trial in cooperation with the National Dry Bean Nursery which contained forty -one varieties from eight different commercial classes of beans. The highest yielding variety was CO-1760, a Great Northern variety which yielded 3340 pounds per acre. The second highest yielding variety was Bill-Z, a pinto variety, which yielded 3111 pounds per acre. Several other varieties of beans yielded nearly 3000 pound per acre and are potential alternative crops for the area. The other study was a pinto bean demonstration. In it, Olathe was the top yielding variety with a yield of 3260 pounds per acre with Bill-Z a close second with 3190 pounds per acre.

No description available.

Fourteen yellow corn hybrids were compared for silage yield at the Lunt dairy in Greenlee county. Silage yields, several agronomic variables and nutritional variables are also reported. Funks G4673B was the highest yielding hybrid in the trial with a silage yield over 20 tons per acre and net energy value nearing 10,000 megacalories per acre.

Ten yellow and twelve white corn hybrids were compared in check controlled strip trials in Cochise county. The best hybrids of both types of corn yielded just over 10, 000 pounds per acre. These yields were considered very good for the white hybrids.

Five safflower varieties were planted at five different dates on the Safford Agricultural to determine which date of planting and variety would be best for this part of the high desert of Arizona. The earliest date, February 2nd, had the highest yield across all varieties and there was no statistical difference between any of the varieties. Oil content of the seed also seemed to be highest with the earlier plantings.

Lesquerella is a potential crop plant that produces seeds containing hydroxy fatty acids similar to those in castor beans. An important step in the commercialization of this plant for Arizona farms is the development of an efficient agronomic production system. Research on cultural practices for lesquerella was conducted during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. Results of planting date experiments indicate that early fall planting dates are superior to late fall or winter dates in terms of dry matter production and seed yield. Lesquerella produced a marked response to nitrogen (N) in tests comparing different N rates. In a postemergence weed control test, several herbicides gave good control of small winter weeds.

Results of the 1992 and 1993 National Cooperative Dry Bean Nursery Trials are reported in this report. More than 30 varieties of seven classes of beans were tested in small plot, replicated studies. Yields, seed size, harvest index, biomass production and plant populations are among the variables recorded in the trials.