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.

Based on consumptive use, the last irrigation in wheat may be applied by the soft dough stage on the average sandy loam soil without loss of yield or shriveled grain. In two of the three locations reported here, this was the case although one of the soils was a clay loam. At the Buckeye location, applying the last irrigation at the soft dough stage resulted in a yield loss of 406 lbs /acre, but this yield loss was not statistically significant at conventional probability levels. Nevertheless, terminating irrigation at the soft dough stage is somewhat risky, and a less risky time to terminate irrigations may be between soft dough and hard dough for a sandy loam soil. The problem with this generalized recommendation is that neither soft dough nor hard dough are well -defined crop growth stages and sandy loam soils may vary greatly in their water -holding capacity. Also, it may be profitable to apply a final irrigation to carry late, green tillers to maturity. Assuming a water cost of $15 per irrigation and a grain value of $8 /cwt, a yield increase of 190 lbs /acre would pay for a final irrigation. Therefore, if water is inexpensive, terminating wheat irrigations unnecessarily early is not worth the risk of decreased revenue. Once the heads have turned color from green to brown, the crop has reached maturity and additional irrigations at this time will not affect yield even if other parts of the plant are green.

Little information is available to the jojoba industry on the performance of clones selected from superior female plants. Nineteen jojoba clones from the U.S., Chile and Australia were planted in the spring of 1995 in replicated tests at the University of Arizona Maricopa and Citrus Agricultural Centers. The Maricopa location is being used to evaluate clones for cold hardiness and the Citrus Farm location will provide growth and production comparable to commercial growing areas in Arizona. The planting at Maricopa was evaluated for frost damage following the 1995-96 and 1996-97 winters which had temperatures low enough to injure foliage and kill flower buds. The Citrus Farm had milder winter temperatures and seeds were produced in 1996 and 1997. In order to determine seed yield potential of jojoba clones it is necessary to measure yields for at least five years after planting.

Two common sudangrass varieties (Piper and Sweet Sudan), four sudangrass hybrids (NK Trudan 8, Cargill HS 35, NC+ 200, and Germaine 's G 555), and three sorghum - sudangrass hybrids (DK SX 17, TE Haygrazer II, and Pioneer 877F) were evaluated for hay yield and quality at four cuttings in large field plots located at Quail Mesa Farms in southwest La Paz County. Results from four hay cuttings at one location are presented showing that of the nine sudangrass varieties examined in this study, Piper, NC+ 200, and Germaine 's G 555 sudangrass varieties had superior hay tonnage and quality.

A yield summary of selected varieties from the National Dry Bean Nursery from 1992 to 1995 are contained in this paper. Average and individual yields vary from year to year depending on the planting dates and the weather of the given year. Looking at a four year average for a variety gives a better estimate of its yield potential than any single year study.

Several Kenaf varieties have been grown at the Safford Agricultural Center over a period of 5 years. Plants harvested green have produced yields in excess of 40 tons per acre. Air dried stems that would be useful for commercial products have yielded as high as 9.5 tons per acre and two varieties, Tainung 2 and Everglades 71, have averaged nearly 7 tons per acre. In addition to yields and other agronomic values of the varieties tested, an economical discussion is made on the feasibility of Kenaf production on southeastern Arizona.

The potential of various types of small grains for winter forage production was investigated in this study. Two varieties of red wheat, durum wheat, barley, and oats were harvested at various stages. Harlan if barley produced the most forage at the early cutting while Mesa oats yielded the most forage at the later cutting. Gustoe barley produced the highest grain yields.

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Three studies were performed in two different geographical areas in Graham County in 1998. A Bt hybrid comparison and a non-Bt hybrid comparison were grown in the Bonita area and a mixed (Bt and non-Bt) study was grown in the Eden area. Results of these three field studies are reported in this paper. Pioneer 33A14 was the leading cultivar in the Bonita Bt study with a yield of 13426 pounds per acre. Pioneer 32J55 had the highest yield in the non-Bt study in Bonita with a yield of 14630 pounds per acre. Novartis N7639 produced the highest yield in the Eden study but with a yield considerably lower than those seen in the Bonita area.