Calag Archive

First-year results are now available in a long-term study of the popular short-duration grazing system, also known as controlled or intensive grazing, under way at the UC Sierra Foothill Range Field Station. The 1988 experiment compared two grazing intensities in an eight-paddock rotation with 3-day grazing and 21-day forage regrowth intervals. A stocking rate predictor was developed based on plant height, and a close relationship was found between heifer weight gains per acre and amount of forage removed.

Inability to save money and the use of savings for everyday expenses were the financial problems most often cited by respondents to a survey of California households. The preferred delivery method for receiving financial information was in-home study packets. The study findings have implications for future Cooperative Extension outreach programs.

County residents surveyed considered oak rangelands important as a natural resource, but opinions diverged concerning management of the resource. The survey provides baseline information against which future educational outreach programs can be measured.

In preliminary tests, the acaricide abamectin gave equal or better control of cyclamen mites compared with that provided by other materials currently used in Central Coast strawberries.

Orchard floor management systems used in California almonds vary from planting cover crops between the tree rows to management of the existing ground cover or weeds in the orchard to removal of the vegetation on the soil surface. Cover crops, sometimes called living mulches, have been used in orchards for many years. Many orchardists have successfully converted their weed management practices from repeated disking to maintenance of the vegetation through mowing.

Vegetation on orchard floors varies considerably among orchards and growing regions. Weed populations also vary within orchards. The complex of species includes many winter and summer annual plants and often some perennials. Numbers range in any given orchard from a few species (10 to 12) to more than 20.

Orchard cover crops are generally thought to be beneficial in the management of pests, especially certain insects and mites. Depending on how they are manipulated, however, cover crops have the potential to increase damage from some pests. If cover crops are not managed correctly-for example, are mowed at the wrong time or are under stress for moisture-plant-feeding insects may move from the orchard floor into the trees to feed on developing fruit.

Selection of an orchard floor management system is based on several considerations, often including its potential effect on water use, water infiltration, and soil compaction. Information on these factors has been limited, however, because many previous studies have compared only a few treatments or have produced site-specific recommendations that did not consider differences in soil characteristics or orchard management.

In selecting an orchard floor management system it is necessary to evaluate the costs of developing and maintaining the systems under consideration. We estimated sample costs for the five systems studied as treatments of the centers between the tree rows - Blando bromegrass, Salina strawberry clover, resident vegetation, residual herbicide, and chemical mow, as described in the introductory article.

Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties were grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstocks in a vineyard not yet infested with the insect in the south central coastal region. Rootstocks influenced growth and yield, as well as composition and quality of juice and wine, but a major consideration would be phylloxera resistance.

Extended dodder control was achieved with pre-emergence applications of dinitroaniline herbicides, in either a single 4-pound application or a split application of 2 + 2 pounds. Of the herbicides studied, prodiamine was the most persistent.