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Irrigations for Aldura wheat and two varieties of barley were scheduled using AZSCHED software. Planting of the crops was delayed by adverse weather so the cropping season was compressed from normal. No statistical differences were seen between the three irrigation treatments, but it was felt that AZSCHED tracked the crop water needs during the season.

'Solum' barley was planted in four large acreage demonstration studies in Maricopa County from 1990 -92. In two of the four demonstrations, a single fruit set cotton production strategy was implemented resulting in a double crop/rotation in the same year. Barley yields were 4672, 4460, 4305, and 4721 pounds per acre respectively. These yields were accomplished with 13 -20 acre inches per acre of water both from irrigation and rainfall sources. All demonstrations resulted in a positive net return of from 150 to 200 dollars per acre. In addition, physical soil characteristics such as tilth, water holding capacity, and intake rate were significantly improved. A cotton yield of roughly two bales per acre was measured in one location with the 1992 yield to yet be determined.

Russian wheat aphid (RWA) were found for the first time in Mohave county, bringing, to seven of the fifteen counties in the state that have now reported incidence of the pest. RWA presence in the southeastern part of the state came about a month later than was noted in 1990, and in most cases didn't reach threshold numbers until after heading. Hence, only 23 % of the fields surveyed were sprayed. Economic damage was considered lighter than usual throughout the state.

Twenty two varieties of durum wheat were tested at the Safford Agricultural Center in 1994. One of the experimental lines, PH888-216, had the highest yield at 4152 pounds per acre. This yield was nearly 38% higher than Aldura, which has been the standard variety for many years. Durex was the highest yielding registered variety with a yield nearly 23% over that of Aldura It also achieved a top score for quality.

Durum grain quality is affected by many factors, but water and nitrogen are factors that the grower can control. The purpose of this research was to determine 1) the nitrogen application rate required at pollen shed to maintain adequate grain protein levels if irrigation is excessive or deficient during grain fill and 2) if nitrogen applications during grain fill can elevate grain protein. Field research was conducted at the Maricopa Agricultural Center using the durum varieties Duraking, Minos, and Turbo. The field was treated uniformly until pollen shed when nitrogen was applied at rates of 0, 30, and 60 lbs /acre. During grain fill, the plots were irrigated based on 30, 50, or 70% moisture depletion. In a separate experiment, nitrogen fertilizer was applied at a rate of 30 lbs N /acre at pollen shed only, pollen shed and the first irrigation after pollen shed, and pollen shed and the first and second irrigation after pollen shed. Irrigation had no effect on grain protein level, although increasing nitrogen rates at pollen shed from 0 to 30 and 30 to 60 lbs N /acre increased protein by 1 percentage point. Nitrogen fertilizer application at the first irrigation after pollen shed increased grain protein content from 10.4 to 11.4% and application at the first and second irrigation after pollen shed increased grain protein content further to 11.9% averaged over varieties. Irrigation management during grain fill may not play as large a role in controlling grain protein content as was originally thought except perhaps on heavy soils, and nitrogen fertilizer application during grain fill may not be too late to increase grain protein content.

No description available.