A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, to study the effects of sewage sludge loading rates on the vegetative growth, yield, and heavy metal contents of wheat grain and straw. Vegetative growth, grain and straw yields were similar whether wheat was fertilized with the recommended rate of inorganic N (112 kg/ha) or equivalent amounts of plant-available N from sewage sludge. Sewage sludge loading rates higher than three times the recommended plant- available N level delayed maturity and decreased wheat stands in the seedling stage; however, grain and straw yields were similar for all sewage sludge loading rates. Concentrations of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in wheat grain and straw and in the soil following each harvest were low and similar for all fertilizer treatments.

Small grain varieties are evaluated each year by University of Arizona personnel. The purpose of these tests is to characterize varieties in terms of yield and other attributes. Variety performance varies greatly from year to year and several site-years are necessary to adequately characterize the yield potential of a variety. A summary of small grain variety trials conducted by the University of Arizona can be found online at http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/crops/az1265.pdf.

Two wheat varieties were grown in Graham county as a follow -up to a previous field demonstration. AC79-97, a red wheat developed by the University of Arizona for the Safford area, yielded 6719 pounds per acre, compared with 6359 pounds per acre for Super-X. The protein differential made the crop values even more important than the yield comparison. AC79-97 produced $454 per acre, compared to $423 for Super-X. Using two year's data, AC79-97 produced 85 more pounds of protein per acre than Super-X, with a protein supplement replacement value of $28 per acre.

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A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, to study the effects of liquid sewage sludge loading rates on the vegetative growth, yield, and quality of barley grain and straw. Vegetative growth, grain yields, and straw yields were similar whether barley was grown with inorganic N or equivalent amounts of plant-available N from sewage sludge. Sewage sludge loading rates higher than three times the recommended plant-available N rate decreased barley stands in the seedling stage. The loss of stand was compensated for by higher tillering later in the season. High sludge loading rates tended to delay maturity, increase tillering and increase straw yield; however, they did not affect grain yield. Concentrations of cadmium (Cd), copper, (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in barley grain and straw and the amounts of heavy metals recovered in the soil following each harvest were similar to the control for all sewage sludge treatments.

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Attempts to characterize nitrogen (N) status of irrigated spring wheat by using basal stem nitrate - N (NO₃⁻N) tissue tests have shown contradictory results, due to the wide range of agronomic conditions existing in Arizona. Seven N fertility trials were conducted at the Maricopa and Safford Agricultural Centers over the 1985-88 crop years to examine the effects of N rate, N fertilizer form, residual soil N, soil texture and contrasting varieties on basal stem NO₃⁻N concentrations, yield and quality of irrigated durum wheat. Fertilizer N treatments were broadcast at planting then at the 5-6 leaf, boot and anthesis growth stages to simulate fertigation in conjunction with the first four basin irrigation events. Stem tissue samples were taken from all plots at the 3-4 leaf 5-6 leaf joint, boot and anthesis growth stages for NO₃⁻N analysis with a nitrate electrode. Diagnostic levels for durum wheat basal stem tissue NO₃⁻N tests at these growth stages are presented.

Collecting additional data to calibrate and refine current guidelines for interpreting soil and plant test values is an ongoing need in Arizona. An experiment was conducted at the Safford Agricultural Center during the 1987 -89 crop years to evaluate the response of 'Aldura' durum wheat to a range of residual soil and fertilizer P levels. Maximum grain yields exceeding 5,500 lbs./A were obtained by banding 50 lbs. P₂O₅/A as triple superphosphate with the seed at planting in 1988. Residual P front phosphorus fertilizer applications up to 80 lbs. P₂O₅/A had no significant effect on grain yields of the succeeding wheat crop. Basal stem PO₄-P tissue analysis seemed reliable in monitoring P nutrition of durum wheat during the vegetative growth period. Observed critical levels of POD P in basal stem tissue for durum wheat at the 3-4 leaf, joint and boot growth stages were 2000, 1200 and 500 ppm, respectively.