1 La Semilla, The Seed, Volume 13, Issue 1

La Semilla, The Seed, Volume 13, Issue 1

A Newsletter for the Tucson Plant Materials Center ☼ Spring 2018

Greetings from Tucson! We are working on, and have participated in, some exciting work since our last newsletter. Cover crops, pollinators, soil amendments, oh my! Additionally, several more upgrades to the facility have been completed. By the end of this summer, we will be working in a facility that looks brand new. Given that our buildings were constructed in 1934, that is a tall order. However, we will have fresh coats of paint on the headquarters buildings and new asphalt in our parking lot.

Please take a moment to read about our work and give us a call, stop by and visit sometime!

Sincerely, The Tucson PMC Staff

PMC Releases

‘Loetta’ Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica)

Saltillo germplasm cane beardgrass (Bothriochloa barbinodis)

‘Stevan’ plains bristlegrass (Setaria leucopila)

Cochise germplasm spike dropseed (Sporobolus contractus)

Vegas germplasm alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides)

Pima germplasm whiplash pappusgrass (Pappaphorum vaginatum)

Batamote germplasm desert zinnia (Zinnia acerosa)

Moapa germplasm scratchgrass (Muhlenbergia asperifolia)

Bonita germplasm Plains lovegrass (Eragrostis intermedia)

Farm Developments

National Cover Crop Trials

Incorporating cover crops into a cropping system improves soil health, conserves energy, builds resilience, and manages climate risk. Utilizing a mix of leguminous and non-leguminous cover crop species can provide multiple benefits. While cover crops provide numerous agronomic and environmental benefits, these benefits are not fully achieved unless cover crop varieties/cultivars are planted that meet the objective of the cover crop planting and the producer’s expectations.

This year was our third and final year of the National Cover Crop study. Each year the trial has been established in a different field to gauge the response of the plants to different soil conditions. The data gained from these plantings, established at all PMCs nationwide, provides cover crop adaptation and growth data for different geographical regions of the U.S. and will inform local recommendations for cover crops. Data analysis is ongoing, and regional technical notes are expected next fiscal year.

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We ran into a new problem with the trial this year, one that we believe highlights the importance of our work. Mary noticed a strange insect attacking our radishes. After some investigative work, we discovered that the 31TUBagrada bugU31T had found our fields. Control methods were implemented immediately. This pest problem shows that cover crops must be monitored and managed like any crop in order to maintain the health and economic viability of the cropping system.

Figure 1: Mary evaluating the National Cover Crop Adaptation Trial

Figure 2: Bagrada bugs on a radish cultivar

Field Plantings

This summer we are collaborating with the University of Arizona and Pima County to evaluate the abilities of biochar and compost to improve the ecological function of long abandoned soils. We will assist with the field planting establishment in June. Two of our releases, Arizona cottontop and Pima pappusgrass, will be used in the trial. The planting will be monitored for the next several years, and the information gained may be used to adjust revegetation recommendations for severely degraded sites.

Figure 3: A landscape view of the site of the field planting Figure 4: Lining up to incorporate biochar into the soil

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On Farm Plantings

In January, we established a pollinator mix study based on requests in the Plant Materials Needs Assessment. The study evaluates three commercial pollinator mixes and one developed here at the center for their adaptation and performance. One of our primary questions is whether the mixes will meet NRCS standards for pollinator habitat. Some of the data we are collecting to answer that question includes bloom phenology, the time it takes for the mixes to reach 80% cover, and persistence. The study will continue until 2021.

Figure 5: Team PMC evaluating seeding depth of the pollinator mix trial

Figure 6: The trial in May 2018

On Farm Improvements

We are continuing to improve PMC equipment, facilities, and capabilities through this fiscal year. We have a new greenhouse under construction, a new tractor, and ongoing building maintenance. Stop by for a tour and/or to lend us a hand. We also have new hoes for the tried and true method of weed control, hand rogueing.

Figure 7: The new greenhouse under construction Figure 8: The delivery of the John Deere 5075 GN Specialty Tractor

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Outreach

The PMC has hosted multiple tours and participated in several events since the beginning of the fiscal year. PMC personnel gave members of the University of Arizona’s Vegetation Management and Plant Propagation courses tours. Heather gave a presentation at the annual Dust Storm Workshop and participated in a grower panel for the Southwest Seed Partnership. We hosted a Xerces sponsored short course, Farming with Beneficial Insects for Pest Control, and gave tours and technical assistance to multiple other groups and field staff. We also continue to provide support annually to the Tohono O'odham Youth Range Day.

Figure 9: Tour attendees learn about the National Cover Crop Adaptation Trial

Personnel

Alvaro Campos, a Pathways Intern, and Jodi Poole, a PMC Earth Team volunteer, have found other positions within the state field staff. Alvaro is moving into a position with the Tucson Field Office as a Soil Conservationist. Jodi was selected as a Pathways Intern in the Sells Field Office. Congratulations Alvaro and Jodi!

Figure 10: Jodi, Heather, Jeff, Alvaro, and Mary