- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
- Author: Brenna J. Aegerter
Methods: The trial is a randomized complete block design (approximately 4.5 acres) with three replicates of each treatment. The soil type across the trial is a Valdez silt loam. Baseline soil samples were collected in July 2018 following wheat harvest but prior to tillage. Soil was sampled from 0-6, 6-12, 12-24, and 24-36 inch depths. On July 30, 2018, a cowpea cover crop (Vigna unguiculata cv. ‘Red Ripper', Figure 1) was inoculated with Rhizobium and planted after a pre-irrigation. Pre-irrigation was only applied to the cover crop plots. The cover crop was drill-seeded at 7-in row spacing with a planting density of approximately 50 pounds of seed per acre. A second irrigation was applied approximately one month after planting. End-of-season soil sampling (0-6 and 6-12 inch depths) occurred on October 23, 2018, prior to cover crop termination. Soil properties of interest include bulk density, soil moisture, salinity, pH, total nitrogen (N), and total carbon (C). Soil properties were analyzed by the following methods: pH from the soil saturated paste, salinity by the saturated paste extract, and total N and C by combustion method.
Preliminary Results: Soil properties are presented for the baseline condition (Table 1) and for the end of the first cover cropping season (Table 2). Bulk density averaged 1.0 g/cm3 across sample timings, depths, and treatments. Soil moisture (% by volume) was observed to increase from the baseline condition in the cover crop (“CC”) treatment. At baseline sampling, salinity increased with depth from 0.47 to 2.44 dS/m. After one cover cropping season, salinity increased in both treatments, but increased more in the no cover crop (“No CC”) treatment, averaging 1.22 dS/m from 0 to 12 inches. Soil was acidic, which is typical for the region. The pH averaged 5.5 across sample timings, depths, and treatments, but there may be a trend for cover cropping to increase the pH. Total N and C decreased with depth at the baseline sampling. After one cover cropping season, there was little change from the baseline condition in both treatments.
Summary: The Delta is a unique agricultural region with unique environmental challenges. Some soils in the region are subsided due to oxidation of organic matter, and some soils suffer from salinity, having limited ability to leach salts due to low permeability soils and shallow groundwater. Cover cropping is not a typical practice in the annual crop rotations of the region, and summer cover cropping is particularly rare. After the first year of a three-year study, cover cropping had no observed effect on bulk density, Total N, and Total C. Cover cropping may have slightly raised the pH in the top 12 inches, compared to dry fallow. The cover crop treatment, having received two irrigations, had lower salinity in the upper layers of soil compared to dry fallow. We also observed that the 2018-2019 triticale crop that was planted in the field germinated roughly five days earlier in the cover crop plots compared to the fallowed plots. Thus, it appears that summer cover cropping with a legume has the potential to improve soil tilth at a time of year when the field would otherwise be fallowed and dry with no soil cover, and there could be agronomic benefits to subsequent crops. We will continue to monitor these soil properties in 2019 and 2020, and additionally, we will monitor small grain yields and greenhouse gas (CH4, N2O) emissions.
We would like to thank Dawit Zeleke and Morgan Johnson (Staten Island), Tom Johnson (Kamprath Seed), and Margaret Smither-Kopperl and Valerie Bullard (USDA-NRCS) for their cooperation on this trial. We would like to acknowledge the California Climate Investments program for funding, and our UC colleagues who are cooperating on this grant in other parts of the state (Jeff Mitchell, Will Horwath, Veronica Romero, Sarah Light, Amber Vinchesi-Vahl, and Scott Stoddard).
Survey: We would also like to alert readers of a cover cropping survey that is being conducted by the Contra Costa County Resource Conservation District. The survey is found here. The purpose of the survey is to learn more about cover cropping practices and barriers to adopting cover cropping on-farm. Even if you farm in another county, please consider filling out the survey, which should take about 10 minutes. The survey is open through the end of June. Your responses will help inform CCC RCD and UCCE programming. Thank you for your participation.
- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
The annual UC Davis Small Grains and Alfalfa Field Day will take place on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at the Agronomy Field Headquarters (2400 Hutchison Drive, Davis, CA 95616). Registration opens at 7:30am, and lunch is provided between the small grains morning program and alfalfa afternoon program. The event is free and open to the public, and continuing education credits will be available. Directions are as follows:
The field day is located on Hutchison Drive, just west of Davis. Take the Hwy. 113 exit north from I-80, or Hwy. 113 south from Woodland. Exit west on Hutchison Drive. Take a right at the first roundabout, a left at the second roundabout, and the Agronomy Headquarters is about ¼ mile down in a clump of trees and buildings on the left.
The agenda is as follows:
8:00am – Noon: Small Grains Program
8:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:20 Depart for field (travel to breeding trials)
8:35 Malting Barley & Oat Breeding: Alicia del Blanco, UC Davis
8:45 Barley Breeding for Food, Feed and Forage: Allison Krill-Brown, UC Davis
9:00 New Wheat Varieties: Oswaldo Chicaiza, UC Davis
9:15 Breeding Triticales for Bread and Forage: Josh Hegarty, UC Davis
9:25 Increasing Grain Size and Number: Alejandra Alvarez, UC Davis
9:35 A New Gene Controlling Number of Grains Per Spike: Saarah Kuzay, UC Davis
9:40 Balancing Source and Sink to Increase Yield: Jorge Dubcovsky, UC Davis
10:00 Herbicide Programs for Barley and Wheat: small grain herbicides and maximizing efficacy for control: Lynn Sosnoski, UC Cooperative Extension
10:20 Italian Ryegrass: Updates on Cultivation vs Herbicide Trials: resistance and methods for control: Konrad Mathesius, UC Cooperative Extension
10:30 Warm-season legume cover crop between winter small grains: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, UC Cooperative Extension (This project was supported by the California Climate Investments program.)
10:45 Using Nitrogen Rich Reference Zones to Guide Wheat Topdress Decisions in the Sacramento Valley: Sarah Light, UC Cooperative Extension
10:55 Yield and Protein Stability for Wheat and Triticale Varieties Grown under N and Terminal Drought Stress: Mark Lundy, UC Cooperative Extension
11:05 Updates on UC Statewide Small Grain Trials: Seasonal conditions, pests and diseases, nitrogen management, and extension efforts: Mark Lundy, UC Cooperative Extension
11:15 Comments from breeders with entries in UC Statewide Small Grain Trials
11:30 UC Statewide Small Grain Trial Observations
11:50 Return for lunch
12:00 BBQ Lunch: Many thanks to the California Crop Improvement Association for the complimentary lunch!
12:30 - 4:00: Alfalfa/Forages Program
12:40 Welcome and Introductions: Dan Putnam, UC Cooperative Extension/UC Davis
12:45 Depart for field tour
12:55 Managing Alfalfa in a Wet Year- What are the Diseases? How to Keep your Fields Healthy: Rachael Long, UC Cooperative Extension
1:10 IPM and Managing for Weevil Resistance in Alfalfa: Ian Grettenberger, UC Davis
1:25 Evaluation of N Stabilizers in Corn: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, UC Cooperative Extension
1:40 Forage Sorghum as a Summer Option: Controlling Sugarcane Aphid in Sorghum/Sudangrass: Nick Clark, UC Cooperative Extension
1:55 Innovations in Overhead Irrigation – How that might improve Water Use Efficiency: Isaya Kisekka, UC Davis
2:10 Fun with Drones –Detecting Pest and Diagnosing Problems with Aerial Photography: Umair Gull, UC Davis
2:25 Controlling Difficult Weeds in Alfalfa: Lynn Sosnoskie, UC Cooperative Extension
2:50 Alternative Crops Research: Kura Clover, Switchgrass, Hemp: Dan Putnam, UC Davis
3:05 Reduced Lignin Alfalfa Varieties and Interactions with Harvest Scheduling: Brenda Perez, UC Davis
3:20 Analyzing Alfalfa Varieties for Pest Resistance (Nematodes, Insects, Diseases) and other characteristics: Dan Putnam, UC Davis
3:35 Alfalfa and Tall Fescue Breeding Programs at UC Davis: Charlie Brummer, UC Davis
3:50 Test your Weed ID IQ: Weed Identification: Brad Hanson, UC Davis
4:15 Return to Headquarters
- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
- Contributor: Mark Lundy
- Contributor: Nicolas George
Fall has arrived, and for many crops, this means that it is harvest season. For small grains, however, the season starts anew. The UC Davis small grains variety evaluations are conducted across the state, including a site in the Delta. The results of last year's evaluations are now available, and we invite you to take a look as you prepare to plant your new crop.
To understand trends over time, we suggest reviewing the 3-year summaries, which are available from the link “Yield and Protein Summary” for common wheat and triticale. These summaries indicate which varieties performed consistently well over time. For these summaries, the Delta is grouped with other Sacramento Valley locations. The data indicated that the varieties performed similarly between the Sacramento Valley and the Delta, compared to the San Joaquin Valley and the Delta. This is probably due to similar climatic considerations, like rainfall and temperature. The 3-year summaries rank the varieties for both yield and protein. In the future, rather than tables, the research team will develop an online tool to assist with variety selection that will take both yield and protein into account. Stay tuned for more information on this tool.
Keep in mind that disease ratings are important considerations. Disease ratings are found here, where “S” indicates susceptible varieties and “R” indicates resistant ones. Additionally, some of these varieties are in initial stages of testing, so not all of them are commercially available. Look for whether the variety is “released”, which is indicated on the data tables.
Barley and durum wheat were also evaluated at certain locations but not in the Delta. We will continue trialing small grain varieties in the Delta in 2018.
- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
The annual UC Davis Small Grains and Alfalfa Field Day will take place on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at the Agronomy Field Headquarters (2400 Hutchison Drive, Davis, CA 95616). Registration opens at 7:45am, and lunch is provided between the small grains morning program and alfalfa afternoon program. The event is free and open to the public, and continuing education credits will be available. Directions are as follows:
The field day is located on Hutchison Drive, just west of Davis. Take the Hwy. 113 exit north from I-80, or Hwy. 113 south from Woodland. Exit west on Hutchison Drive. Take a right at the first roundabout, a left at the second roundabout, and the Agronomy Headquarters is about ¼ mile down in a clump of trees and buildings on the left.
Agenda
7:45 Registration (no charge)
Small Grains Program
8:15 Welcome and Introductions—Mark Lundy, CE Grain Cropping Systems Specialist
8:20 Overview of wheat breeding—Jorge Dubcovsky, UC Davis wheat breeder
8:25 California Wheat Commission remarks—Claudia Carter, Executive Director
8:30 California Crop Improvement Association remarks—John Palmer, Executive Director
8:35 Depart for field
Field Tour
9:00 – 11:30 Small grain variety evaluations, breeding, and management research
9:00 Common Wheat, Durum and Triticale variety evaluations: productivityanddiseaseresistance—Mark Lundy and Nicholas George, UCCE/UCDavis
9:30 Barley breeding update—Alicia del Blanco, UC Davis
9:45 Wheat breeding update—Oswaldo Chicaiza, UC Davis
10:00 Common wheat lines with increased resistant starch, positive and negative effects on agronomic traits— André Schönhofen, UC Davis
10:15 Triticale breeding for breadmaking quality—Josh Hegarty, UC Davis
10:30 Root differences favoring flooding and drought tolerance—Tyson Howell, UC Davis
10:45 Research progress in grain yield components—Alejandra Alvarez/Junli Zhang, UC Davis
11:00 Barley & Common Collaborative variety evaluations: productivity and disease resistance— Mark Lundy and Nicholas George, UCCE/UC Davis
11:10 Malting barley market prospects—Konrad Mathesius, UCCE Sacramento Valley Agronomy Advisor
11:15 Research update: Nitrogen management for productive & high quality malting barley—Taylor Nelsen, UC Davis
11:25 Seeding rates in grain sorghum—Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, UCCE Delta Farm Advisor
11:35 Return for lunch
12:00 Barbeque Lunch
Alfalfa and Forage Program
12:30 Welcome and Introductions—Dan Putnam, UCCE/UCD Alfalfa Specialist
12:35 Appreciation for the Field Station Staff—Brad Hanson & Ted Dejong, UCCE/UC Davis
12:45 Key Activities for California Alfalfa & Forage Association—Jane Townsend, CAFA, Sacramento, CA
Field Tour
1:05 Near-loss of Chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) – The story isn't over yet: pay attention to stewardship in alfalfa IPM! – Pete Goodell, UC IPM Program, Kearney Ag Center, Parlier, CA
1:20 Implementing IPM in Alfalfa Production for insects, weeds and diseases –Rachael Long & Larry Godfrey, UCCE Yolo-Solano-Sacramento Counties, Woodland, CA
1:35 Alfalfa Blogs- Electronic Communications on Pest Management of Interest to you!— Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, UCCE, Delta Region, CA
1:40 Developing cropping systems to maximize protein from alfalfa for human consumption – Dan Putnam, UC Davis, Davis, CA
2:05 Identifying the Bad Guys—Identifying Weeds Common in Sacramento Valley&What strategies makes sense Q&A –Brad Hanson, Weed Specialist, UC Davis
2:20 Poisonous weeds in alfalfa – Nitrates, alkaloids and tannins: What are the keyones that affect animals?—Birgit Puschner, UC Veterinary College, UC Davis
2:35 Estimating the true water needs of alfalfa and using ET to schedule Irrigations–Daniele Zaccaria, Irrigation Specialist, UC Davis, CA
2:50 Kura Clover – Introduction of a new crop – the importance of being patient–Dan Putnam, UC Forage Specialist, UC Davis, CA
2:55 Switchgrass Plantings for Biofuels—Dan Putnam, UC Davis
3:00 Choosing Alfalfa Varieties for Maximizing Pest Resistance and Yield—Dan Putnam, UC Davis
3:15 Low Lignin Alfalfa – A New Technology coming along - Current and Future UC Experiments – Brenda Perez, UC Graduate Student, UC Davis
3:30 Drip Irrigation Studies in Alfalfa—Ali Montazar, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
3:45 Breeding and Evaluation of Fall Dormancy in Alfalfa – Charlie Brummer, UC Davis
4:00 Deficit Irrigation of Alfalfa and Interactions with varieties—James Radawich, Graduate Student, UC Davis
4:20 Return to Base
- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
The UC Small Grains program requests your participation in a survey, which will help inform research and extension efforts. The questions were developed to help us understand the changing landscape of small grains production in California. The survey was designed to take less than 10 minutes, and responses will remain anonymous. We thank you for your participation!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UC_SmallgrainsSurvey
For more information on the UC Small Grains program, please see the webpage: http://smallgrains.ucanr.edu/.
