An Evaluation of Variety--Interactions Under Conservation Tillage Wheat Cropping Systems

While many spring and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties have been evaluated for yield characteristics under Utah\u27s conventional dryland cropping systems, little is known about these same varieties under new conservation tillage farming management techniques. Farmers are rapidly adopting various reduced tillage systems and need information regarding proper varieties, fertility practices, weed control , etc. A two year field study, in Box Elder County, Utah on a DeJarnet Gravelly silt loam (Loamy-skeletal, mixed, mesic, Calcic Pachic Haploxeroll) and on a Mendon silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, mesic, Calcic Pachic Argixeroll) examined total dry matter, grain yield, percent protein, kernel weight, kernel volume, and average bushel weight responses to four fertility treatments superimposed upon five spring wheat and four winter wheat varieties. Also compared were one spring wheat variety Komar and one winter wheat variety Weston in a conventional verses conservation tillage dryl and c ropping system. Soi 1 moisture and soi 1 temperature (20 em and 10 em, respectively bel ow the soi 1 surface) readings were compared between the conventional and conservation tillage planting systems. The conservation tillage plantings were done with an air-seeding tillage planter and the conventional plantings were done with standard deep-furrow drills. Dry granular fertilizer (27 -12-0-4 sulfur) was applied to both deepfurrow and conservation tillage plots with the air-seeder. Rates were 0, 168, 224, 280 kg/ha fertilizer material applied. Significant differences were obtained for all spring wheat varieties. Conservation-tilled Komar yielded significant yield increases over conventional-tilled Komar . The opposite held true for Weston , with the conventional-tilled plots yielding a slightly significant increase in grain over conservation-tillage Weston . No relative difference in soil water or soil temperature were observed in either variety through time. However, at certain growth stages the differences were clearly discernable. Very little significant differences were established among the winter wheat varieties. Because of heavy infestations of snowmold (Calonectria graminicola) on all winter wheat plots, the true potential yield characteristics of conservation verses conventional tillage remain unproven on these winter wheat varieties

Introducing Big Sagebrush into a Crested Wheatgrass Monoculture

Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum or A. cristatum) has been effectively used to stabilize arid and semi-arid range sites for decades. Reestablishing native plant materials into these areas is often desirable to increase wildlife habitat and ecological diversity. Due to its competitive nature, efforts to reestablish native plants into crested wheatgrass monocultures have had limited success. Tillage will control the grass but leaves the soil vulnerable to erosion and weed invasion. This publication will report on a trial conducted near Nephi, Utah to find a method of introducing native plants into a crested wheatgrass monoculture without subjecting the resource base to degradation in the conversion process. In this trial, the effect of chemically controlling crested wheatgrass before transplanting big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) was studied. Small container grown plants of sagebrush were transplanted either directly into a 60 year-old stand of crested wheatgrass or after chemically controlling the grass. Three different subspecies of big sagebrush; Basin big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. tridentata), Mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. vaseyana (Rydb.) Beetle) and Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young); were planted to see if there would be differences among subspecies. Four years of data indicate that controlling crested wheatgrass prior to transplanting resulted in higher sagebrush survival and faster establishment. There were some differences among sagebrush subspecies. Basin big sagebrush survived equally well with or without grass control but grew faster with grass control. Chemical control of the grass was important for both the survival and growth of Mountain big sage and Wyoming big sage

Interseeding Forage Kochia into Established CRP Grass Stands

This fact sheet is a summary of a research project that documented that interseeding forage kochia into existing CRP can increase its potential use for fall and winter grazing by livestock

Re-Establishing Perennial Vegetation in Cheatgrass Monocultures

The Rangelands archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform March 202

Rehabilitating Salt-Desert Ecosystems Following Wildfire And Wind Erosion

The Rangelands archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform March 202

White Rocks Road Immigrant Forage Kochia Trial Seedings

This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management, the National Agricultural Library, and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Rangelands archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform March 202