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One of the quickest ways a cattleman can increase his production per unit area on irrigated pastures is by improving management practices, including not only such things as the type, handling and health of the animals, but also cultural practices associated with the pasture, from seeding through harvesting, and including plant species selection.

Inorganic soils of the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys planted potatoes often crust in early spring. Crust strength and thickness are conditioned by the amount and intensity of rainfall, soil clod stability, and rate of drying of the soil surface. In the past there has not been much information about the extent to which crust development can affect plant performance. In the spring of 1970 the effects of severe soil crusting upon potato plant emergence and development were observed and recorded at Shatter.

For A number of years, many investigators in California have recognized the need for a portable, lightweight, low cost, effective spray unit that could be used in a variety of field tests–involving chemical treatment of livestock and poultry, barns and similar farm structures, accumulations of animal manures, as well as for field and row crops. A sprayer with such qualifications was needed to eliminate extensive time frequently required to calibrate, adjust, and repair local spray equipment when used in test work. Also needed as a sprayer with which multiple chemical or dilution applications could be made to test units without stopping to clean and refill tanks (as is necessary with conventional farm sprayers).

A combination of control measures to reduce damage from “yellows” disease of sugar beets has resulted in yield increases of 42 per cent in the overwintering area of central California. The yield increases were made possible through earlier planting with suppression of sugar beet yellows through the use of a resistant variety, and aphid control.

The results of two trials initiated in Ventura County in 1960 show that severe training and hedging of young Valencia orange trees significantly decreased production. The data from trial 1 at Saticoy clearly show that production from the large number of trees per acre did not compensate for the fruit lost because of training and hedging. Although fruit loss was less at trial 2 near Somis, where the tree density was lower, it still remained too high for commercial acceptance.

Although broccoli was cultivated L by the ancient Romans, it did not become a popular vegetable in the United States until about 50 years ago. It has been produced in California primarily in the coastal counties where the climate is moderate to cool. However, broccoli has also been grown on limited acreage in the Central San Joaquin Valley for harvest during the winter months. More recently, the fresh market and processing industry has become interested in the possible expansion of broccoli production in the Central Valley. Toward this end, extensive studies of varieties, time of planting, fertilization, and population. were conducted at the West Side Field Station, Five Points, and in cooperation with interested growers. Experiments were also conducted for the evaluation of many herbicides in the selective control of weeds in broccoli.