Stanworth Consultants is conducting a replicated experiment to analyze the potential effects on soil chemistry by the use of applications of large amounts of beet lime on calcareous soils. A replicated experiment is now underway with 4 treatments of different phosphorus fertilizer types including an untreated check. The plots are split with an application of beet lime on one half and none on the other replications.
Crop grown is durum wheat.
Soil Columns with soil moisture sensors on left.
Irrigations on the columns are being predicated upon by Echo soil moisture sensor data.
SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR DATA, SEE ROOT DEPTH INDICATED.
Chemical analysis of plants and soils and yields will be measured at season end. Reports will follow.
苜蓿草的合理养护要点：土壤准备
苜蓿草是源自西南亚（现在的伊拉克）的豆科植物。它于公元5世纪引进到欧洲。然后经过西班牙引进到南美洲。最终，在19世纪中期经由智利引进到美国加州。苜蓿能很好的适应石灰石土壤 （碱性pH）。因此，它能够种植在美国西部，如今，单单是在加州就已经种植超过1百万英亩（6百万亩）。苜蓿草非常适合在中国种植。
根部区域：苜蓿草有非常深的根系。一株苜蓿草的有效根部区域超过1米。苜蓿草适合很多土壤类型，从粉壤土到很粗的砂质土壤。保证其高产的要点是要有良好的排水性。苜蓿草在积水很长时间的土地上很难生长良好。苜蓿草喜欢碱性pH和适中的土壤盐度，但过高的土壤盐度又会限制苜蓿生长。Stanworth 实验室定期为农场提供苜蓿生长可行性的咨询。这就需要对土壤进行检测。因为土壤的排水性和根部区域很重要，通常土壤取样要达到2米深（见图）。一块土地的土壤要对多个区域取样，通常每5公顷的区域挖1个坑。土壤的取样要深入到地下2米。每33厘米的深度的土壤要分别检测。这样可以帮我们判断有没有限制根生长的土壤层。土壤的分析检测包括：土壤盐分，湿度（排水性），土壤质地，和养分。这里要尤其注意的是寻找可能限制水流动的土壤层。
土壤准备：好的土壤准备对作物的成功种植是非常必要的。苗床必须准备好，要松并且不能土块太多。土壤和种子接触良好对良好的根系建立是很必要的。土块多的土壤会导致零星发芽和植群稀少。苜蓿草种子较小而且没有足够的资源在艰难的环境下生长。所以良好的整地很必要。通常，种植者在种植前深耕土壤。这样为主根深入创造出一个很好的土壤环境。拖拉机拖拽深至1米的钢爪经过底土，来打碎可能限制根或者水份流入土壤的硬质土壤层。表面土壤结皮可能也会影响苜蓿的培植，因为幼苗很难向上推出土壤表面。
水分要求：在播种前，为土地提供足够的水十分重要。在土壤准备好接受灌溉之后，最好再次注满水使整个根部区域湿润。如果土壤很干，这也许需要大量的水，花费几天的时间灌溉使土壤准备就绪。水量可以估计。举个例子，如果为壤土灌溉，为了让水充满地下一米的土壤需要13cm的水（想像在土地表面上蓄水13cm）。如果土地是指针灌溉的，这意味着连续灌溉10天！这样灌溉可以保证两点：1. 为幼苗提供良好的湿度来扎根到土壤；2. 使竞争的杂草发芽以保证在植株建立前得以控制。种植后，有时候可能需要轻度灌溉来使表面结皮松软利于幼苗破土。苜蓿草的根生长迅速而且惊人的深。在一株苜蓿幼苗建立的过程中，低于10毫米高的幼苗通常有一个250毫米深的根。在植株建立后，高产苜蓿需要大量的水来保证高产。使灌溉尽量接近收割是一个很好的做法，因为良好的水分对植物的重新生长十分必要。如果让缺水的植物在捡捆后等待灌溉，那是要付出代价的。
肥料要求：苜蓿对磷和钾肥的反应良好，如果土壤检测的结果显示需要这两种肥的话。因为苜蓿是豆科植物，一般不需要施氮肥，但是种子接种根瘤菌来帮助植株固氮很重要。为植株施磷肥的最重要的时间是在播种前。磷对根系的发展很重要，所以播种区必须有丰富的磷以保证植物发芽时的良好的摄取。通常播种前施磷肥的比率为从50到150千克/公顷的磷酸盐。在土地整理好之后，通常需要额外的磷和钾肥来保证良好的产量。施肥的比率因产量潜力不同而不同，产量越高，需肥越多。估计肥料需求的最好方法是基于土壤分析。在植株建立之后，施肥的最佳时机是收割之后。原因是在收割后苜蓿根生长迅速并于土壤中增殖，所以收割后第一次灌溉这个时机适合作物摄取养分。
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Soil Sampling Pit to 2 meter depth
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Soil Surface Crust reducing Alfalfa Establishment and vigor.
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Aron A. Quist, CPAg/SS
关于作者：艾伦奎斯特是Stanworth 咨询公司的总裁。 他是一个得到认证的农学家，土壤科学家和农业灌溉专家。Stanworth 农作物咨询公司自1974年起就配备了一个土壤和植物检测室内实验室。艾伦奎斯特在中东和中国地区有着丰富的国际顾问经验。
AWANA is a children’s ministry that is based upon learning about a loving God by studying His word. The children memorize scripture, play games and earn points for other activities. It is based upon 2nd Timothy 2:15. Which encourages children (Clubbers) to study hard, be good workers and think critically about scriptures in the bible and ponder them.
Cubbers Range in age from Kindergarten to High School.
Awards night.
Clubbers earn points by passing sections that teach them about God’s Word. They earn points (awana bucks) that accumulate through the year. These AWANA bucks can be spent at the AWANA store. Many children save these bucks and purchase Christmas gifts for their family members.
Balloon Pop Game
It’s not ALL fun and games, but a good portion is. The games accomplish a number of things. 1. is to help them shake off pent up energy, this allows them to concentrate on studies, 2. it helps them to develop a team spirit and 3. it helps build relationships and shared experience.
Drive In Movie Theme Night
Club night is made more fun by having theme nights. “Movie Night” is made a little different by making cars to sit in during the movie showing.
Pie in the Face Night
Clubbers are encouraged to work hard on their sections. Section point winners can throw a pie in the face of their selected Leader. Sometimes the leaders can put the pie in the face of the Clubber!
2011 Trek trip to Joshua Tree.
Clubbers are encouraged to explore God’s World. The AWANA program is designed to equip kids to experience a life that contains His joy supported by the word of God.
Max Kalakosky Discusses Soil Salinity
Last year Stanworth Consultants participated in Science Education Outreach Project at local schools.
Max Kalakosky, Chemist at Stanworth Lab helped children understand how soil quality can affect plant growth and the establishment of habitat plants.
Students Taking Soil Samples
Soil samples were taken of the proposed habitat area, the samples were extracted and analyzed for salinity. Determination of how these results would impact the restoration of native plants was discussed.
Analysis of Samples
The students learned how chemistry can be used to help improve the environment and grow plants more successfully.
Stanworth Consultants volunteered to participate in this Science Grant project coordinated by Jesse Yonkovich for the PVUSD. Many thanks for his efforts to support our students technical foundations.
Sometimes you stumble on some old work and say, wow did I write that? Below are some thoughts on the benefits of good irrigation scheduling.
Perhaps the most misunderstood, over looked, and under utilized practice in crop production systems today is proper irrigation scheduling; it encompasses the most critical input, water. Water is the catalyst for many phyto-chemical reactions within the plant that are necessary for the plant to obtain optimal health. Below is the rational and legitimacy of irrigation scheduling.
Irrigation scheduling should be utilized as a mechanism to respect the water consumption needs of plants through their various growth and developmental stages in order to attain high yields while maintaining soil quality and conservation of water.
- Target soil moisture depletion percentages should be utilized by to schedule the irrigation of fields.
- The “feel” method and other technologies should be used to properly monitor soil depletion levels.
- The calculation of moisture loss should be equated by utilizing evapo-transpiration in accordance with the modified penman equation and crop coefficients.
- Improve uniformity of irrigation applications by calculating flow rates and application efficiencies of the irrigation system being utilized.
- Influences such as moisture holding capacity, knowledge of the plant root depth, soil texture, salinity, and organic matter should be considered when determining plant available water.
- Improve soil absorption and pecolation efficiencies in order to properly leach accumulated salts through, and past, the root-zone profile by properly quantifying the target moisture level in the root profile and the amount of water to be applied.
- Critical growth stages should be considered and irrigation should be utilized to improve crop quality.
- Mitigation of ground water pollution from fertilizers by increasing plant root depth and allowing proper moisture transport through the soil profile and optimizing nutrient management.
Proper irrigation scheduling is vital in order to optimize plant and soil interactions. Water plays important roles in many facets of not only plant health, but also in soil fertility. That being the case, quantifying the amount of water and the time between irrigations has a direct affect in the quality of a crop.
Good alfalfa production depends on good irrigation scheduling in the desert. The most critical irrigation is the one prior to the cutting. Fields that lack sufficient water for good regrowth after the cutting suffer significant yield losses. Each day a cutting is delayed after an irrigation is worth 4 days in the windrow for curing (1.4 Kc vs 0.3 Kc). Below is a table to assist local growers in estimating the minimum time needed for the soil to be sufficiently dry to swath the field.
Below is an excerpt from Stanworth Crop Consultants Inc Research
Introduction: Questions regarding soil health in the SW deserts of the United States have been posed. Indigenous populations of micro-organisms may not be as effective in decomposition of organic matter or competitive with plant parasitic nematodes or soil borne diseases. Recent regulatory and environmental pressures have been put to growers to switch from caustic soil sterilants (methyl bromide) to alternatives. These alternatives include biological organisms as agents to help control soil borne diseases. Recently, benefits of these materials have been noted anecdotally. Increase in production and quality have been seen in treated versus untreated fields. Increase in plant analysis nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus have been observed on sugar beets. Decreases in nematode populations have been seen in treated vs untreated fields. A replicated treatment and untreated control experiment was proposed. This experiment was performed to test the efficacy of using Pure Ag Solutions micro-organisms and quantify benefits on nutrients, yields and quality of alfalfa hay.
Results: Alfalfa quality improved significantly in the treated plots. Median %ADF and %NDF decreased over 3% in treated versus untreated check plots. Energy calculations showed an increase in median Relative Feed Value from 119 to 133, TDN increased from 53.7 to 56.1. Median Crude protein increased over 1% in treated plots over the untreated check, but was not statistically significant. Yields increases were noted. Average yields of the treated plots were 1.23 tons/ac, the untreated plots averaged 1.09 tons/ac. This was not statistically significant however. Total bale counts showed there was no increase in yield, treated 1.46 tons/ac, untreated plots at 1.47 tons/ac. Bale weights were estimated at 105 lbs/bale. Comparison of soil nutrients between treatments revealed that there was no significant change in any of the soil nutrient tested in alfalfa soils treated with Pure Ag Solutions Micro-organism when compared to controls. Alfalfa plant tissue analysis of the top 6” of plants showed a similar lack of significant differences in nutrient content between treatments.
Discussion: Significant increases in alfalfa feed quality and moisture was noted in the treated over the untreated check of these fields. The mechanism of this increase is unknown. Increase in alfalfa leafiness, or higher leaf to stem ratio may be occurring in the treated areas. Possible influences from micro-organisms could be better tilthe and aeration of the soil allowing better uptake of water to the plants, giving more lush leafy growth. This experiment was performed during the peak of the desert summer. High heat stress on alfalfa causes a condition locally described as “summer slump”. Alfalfa quality and yields are depressed as plants struggle to survive through the heat. I recommend checking the same plots again in the fall as cool temperatures and un-stressed plants may respond in the treated plots.
Bibliography:
Undersander, Dan., et al. Forage Analysis Procedures. Omaha Ne.: National Forage Testing Association. July 1993
Zar, Jerrold H. Biostatistical Analysis. Englewood Cliffs N. J.: Prentice-Hall Inc. 1974
Pure Ag: http://pureagproducts.com/soil%20science/soilscience.html
Yield Estimate: http://aronquist.blogspot.com/2011/07/estimating-hay-yields-on-research.html
Below is a well written email post, it is published without permission.
Dear NIRS Consortium members, friends, and associates: It is with the deepest regret that I must tell you that Dr. John S. Shenk passed away this afternoon, Thursday, September 15 following surgery to remove a tumor on his kidney. For more than three decades, John has been an incredible driving force in the creation and advancement of NIRS technology. His unmatched passion to help everyone, everywhere benefit from NIRS brought success to scores of people and improved animal and crop production throughout the world. John accomplished this with the help, love, and unwavering support of his wife Gloria, his children, and his grandchildren. To so many of us, John’s love of our Lord was exemplified in the friendships he formed with everyone he met. Several times over the last quarter century he stated that his mission in life was to simply share with others the understanding of NIRS that God had so generously shared with him. And share he did! With each sample we scan, may we bring honor to Dr. John Shenk’s life’s work by remembering not only what he did, but who he did it for. Information on viewing, memorial services, and related information will follow soon. Sincerely, Tim Hoerner President, The NIRS Consortium
Estimating yields on alfalfa or other hay crops can be challenging. Hay harvesting in the desert SW United States involves a period of curing and baling on dew moisture. Raking and Baling may occur at 3 am in the morning. We like to rise early here in the hot desert, but unless one sleeps in the field, one will miss the bale count. So here is our compromise to the traditional bale count to estimate yields on large research plots. We have used this method for a variety of trials ranging from fertility to soil amendments to soil micro-organism trials (seen here).
Here is a list of items needed: A field that had been cut. A pick up truck with an arm swung out off the bed of the truck. A milk scale. A tarp. Rakes. Measuring tape. Zip lock baggies. Clipboard. Pen. And a couple of assistants.
First measure a length of windrow in replicated plot with the tape.
The length of windrow is raked onto the tarp.
The tarp is weighed, the weight is recorded on the clipboard (don’t forget to post the tare weight).
A sub sample of the hay is placed into the zip lock bag. The bag is returned to the lab for dry matter test.
Yield is estimated by back calculating the net weight of the hay to tons/ac. Moisture content is then corrected by dividing the yield by the percent dry matter found from the lab analysis. Yields are commonly reported on Dry Matter or 90% dry matter basis.
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