Newsline for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

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IN THIS NEWSLINE ISSUED May 30, 2007:

  1. GROWING MESQUITE AND PALO VERDE TREES IN URBAN LANDSCAPES
  2. GRAVITY-FED IRRIGATION PROJECTS ON NAVAJO NATION
  3. CHANGES IN CALS ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS
  4. KALTENBACH HONORED AS DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR
  5. GRASSHOPPER POPULATIONS HIGH IN PARTS OF ARIZONA
  6. NEW FACT SHEET SERIES IDENTIFIES HIGH QUALITY YOUTH PROGRAMS
  7. QUALITY OF RETAILING PROGRAM ATTRACTS DONORS FOR NEW BUILDING
  8. TEEN LEADERSHIP CAMP JUNE 11-15 SPONSORED BY ARIZONA 4-H
  9. BONNIE COLBY IS DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR
  10. LOW INPUT BARLEY USES LESS WATER, FERTILIZER
  11. BONE BUILDERS VOLUNTEER TRAINING IN JUNE, IN TUCSON AND PHOENIX
  12. UA ALEPPO PINES TRANSPLANTED
  13. ARIZONA CONSERVE WATER EDUCATORS WORKSHOP IN TUCSON AUGUST 8
  14. BACTERIUM-INSECT COMBINATION LEADING TO DECLINE IN OLEANDERS

1 GROWING MESQUITE AND PALO VERDE TREES IN URBAN LANDSCAPES

In Arizona, native mesquites grow along dry stream beds, in washes, flood plains, along rivers, on plains and hillsides, and in grasslands. Where water is not a limiting growth factor, the trees reach their true majestic size. All mesquites are heat tolerant and grow rapidly during hot weather provided there is adequate water available. Mesquites are deciduous, and foliage is shed in response to cold temperatures and prolonged drought conditions.

Palo verdes are popular, drought tolerant landscape trees that range from large shrubs to medium sized trees and are native in the Sonoran Desert, except for P. praecox which is native from Mexico to South America. Palo verde trees prefer full sun and well-drained soil in cultivated landscapes. Conspicuous green, smooth bark dominates the plant's appearance during periods of drought and cold when trees are leafless and gives them their common name which in Spanish means 'green stick'.

Both of these trees play an important role in the desert ecosystem providing habitat for wildlife and serving as a nurse plant for small cacti. Flowers produce much nectar for honey. Pods are sought by wildlife and livestock and provided a staple for indigenous people in the Southwest. Pods can create heavy litter. Along with saguaro cactus, they are a staple of the Sonoran Desert and are used in many xeriscape plantings.

Find out more in a new 10-page Cooperative Extension publication, "Growing Mesquite and Palo Verde Trees in Urban Landscapes" with diagrams, growing information and full-color photographs which is available at the link below.

Ursula Schuch, Plant Sciences, uschuch@cals.arizona.edu

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1429.pdf

2 GRAVITY-FED IRRIGATION PROJECTS ON NAVAJO NATION

When rains are sporadic, the urban-dwelling home gardener is able to drag a hose out to water the plants. And large-scale agriculture operations can order irrigation water timed for delivery when the plants need it. It's those in-between growers and gardeners, though, who often struggle to bring in a crop during the dry and dusty desert growing season. For them, one viable solution is drip irrigation. Drip irrigation has been shown to be more efficient because it delivers water only to the plant's root system. The drawback is the cost of installing and maintaining drip tubing, emitters, timers and pumps.

Two separate projects located at the Hubbell Trading Post on the Navajo reservation near Ganado are providing valuable research data and the demonstration component lets local farmers and gardeners react to the gravity-fed irrigation systems in comparion to traditional surface systems in terms of yields, health of crops and more efficient use of water.

On the Navajo Nation, people haul large amounts of water to their homes and fields, sometimes up to 20 miles away. Gravity-fed irrigation would enable Navajo farmers to use the hauled water to efficiently irrigate their gardens.

To read a story in the Navajo Times about gravity-fed irrigation uses on the Navajo Nation go to: http://navajotimes.com/news/051007-irrigation.php.

To read a story about the Hubbell Projects in the 2006 CALS experiment station report, go to the link below.

Ed Martin, Maricopa Agricultural Center, emartin@cals.arizona.edu

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/general/resrpt2006/article10_2006.pdf

3 CHANGES IN CALS ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS

Robert Shelton, University of Arizona president, has announced several administrative appointments of members of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences executive council that will sustain The University of Arizona's forward momentum in important strategic areas and leadership units:

Eugene G. Sander will assume responsibility as acting executive vice president and provost May 28-June 30, 2007, while current provost George H. Davis will be on a well-deserved vacation. Effective July 1, 2007, and until a new provost can assume his or her responsibilities, Sander will be executive vice president and provost. His effective experience as vice president for outreach and dean in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will serve the University well in his new role.

Colin Kaltenbach, currently vice dean, will assume responsibilities as dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, effective July 1, 2007 and until Sander returns to his appointment as dean.

Michael Proctor, currently associate vice president for outreach, will serve as vice president for outreach for an interim period, beginning July 1, 2007, and ending when the next provost arrives on campus and Sander resumes his vice presidential duties.

Robert Shelton, Office of the President, The University of Arizona, http://www.president.arizona.edu/

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/9.22.html

4 KALTENBACH HONORED AS DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR

Colin Kaltenbach, director of the Agriculture Experiment Station and vice dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is the first recipient of the Charles H. Peyton Distinguished Research Administrator Award.

The award, given by the UA Office of the Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development, recognizes a University of Arizona community member who best exemplifies sustained excellence in research administration.

Kaltenbach has played a pivotal role in research administration, serving the University for over 20 years in major research assignments. He is also a leader in national and international research arenas, has served the United States Department of Agriculture in many capacities and recently was awarded the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Hall of Fame award for his research leadership. He currently serves as president of the International Arid Lands Consortium.

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/19.9.html

5 GRASSHOPPER POPULATIONS HIGH IN PARTS OF ARIZONA

A dry winter with quickly warming temperatures, a plethora of well-lighted parking lots and grasshopper egg-laying season are the main reasons grasshopper populations seem to be so high this spring. The populations of bugs fluctuate, depending on the past year's climatic situations, predators and parasites.

The grasshoppers around the East Valley in Maricopa County and in some parts of Tucson are pallid-winged variety. They have light yellow hind wings with short antennae. They use their wings to attract mates and fend off predators. The grasshopper's long hind legs can propel it into the air as high as 20 times its body length.

Carl Olson, Entomology, bugman@cals.arizona.edu

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/11.21.html

6 NEW FACT SHEET SERIES IDENTIFIES HIGH QUALITY YOUTH PROGRAMS

A newly published series of Cooperative Extension fact sheets provides information to help parents, caregivers and youth development professionals identify resources in the community. Titled "Identifying High Quality Youth Programs," the series fact sheets address issues facing youth ages 9 to 19 by providing critical research-based information to parents, youth, youth development professionals and others regarding the selection of quality youth programs.

Recent research suggests that compared to family and community factors, participation in youth programs contributes to enhanced self-esteem, increased school performance and aspirations to attend college, along with the ability to overcome adversity. In addition youth programs promote a young person's willingness to engage in efforts to help others, leadership skills, efforts to maintain good physical health, and involvement in political and social activities in young adulthood.

Lynne Borden, Norton School, bordenl@cals.arizona.edu

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/family/az1403/

7 QUALITY OF RETAILING PROGRAM ATTRACTS DONORS FOR NEW BUILDING

The quick-rising new home of the UA's retailing program has already attracted four big donations from major retailers, partnerships that speak to the program's growing reputation and recent student successes.

The donations are proof that the UA's retailing graduates are highly sought after by top companies nationwide. While Scottsdale may be Arizona's premiere destination for shopping, companies come to Tucson to recruit their future top managers.

Soyeon Shim, Norton School, shim@cals.arizona.edu

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/4.26.html

8 TEEN LEADERSHIP CAMP JUNE 11-15 SPONSORED BY ARIZONA 4-H

JOLT (Journey: Opportunities for Leaders of Tomorrow), a teen leadership camp, offers a positive environment that promotes personal development, team building and self-confidence.

JOLT is for teens, age 14 to 18, or who have graduated from the 8th grade. Through group activities that build trust, leadership and communication skills, participants learn conflict resolution skills and relationship building skills.

Challenging activities are facilitated by trained members of the youth staff. The activities are both fun and entertaining and will test problem-solving skills and the ability to think on your feet.

JOLT is scheduled this year for June 11-15 at Camp Shadow Pines, Heber on the Mogollon Rim.

Bryan Chadd, Maricopa County 4-H Youth Development, bchadd@cals.arizona.edu

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/4-h/jolt

9 BONNIE COLBY IS DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR

Whether studying the value of homes near riparian areas or the variability of water supplies and quality in the Southwest, Bonnie Colby has been able to research, analyze and communicate about issues of vital importance to desert life. Because of her diligence, the Western Agricultural Economics Association (WAEA) will present the UA professor of natural resource economics and public policy with the Distinguished Scholar Award.

The award recognizes individuals who are making enduring contributions over their careers to agricultural, resource, and/or environmental economics in the Western states as well as the WAEA. It is the association's highest honor.

Colby, professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, will be honored at the WAEA awards ceremony this summer. The WAEA comprises agricultural and resource economists from all the Western states in the U.S. and all the western provinces of Canada.

Colby's work involves examining strategies to help water managers and water users in the Southwest cope with extended drought and climate change. Thompson notes that she has contributed to the education of an impressive pool of former students who are now top level resource managers throughout Arizona and the West, as well as overseas.

Gary Thompson, Agricultural and Resource Economics, garyt@cals.arizona.edu

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/21.1.html

10 LOW INPUT BARLEY USES LESS WATER, FERTILIZER

In 2005, about 30,000 acres of barley were harvested in Arizona, valued at $8 million. A few thousand acres of low input barley (Solum) are grown each year in Arizona. Most of the state's barley is grown mainly for feed, although a limited amount of malting barley is grown occasionally.

After ten years of breeding and five years of testing, an improved variety of low input, six-rowed barley has been released by the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station. Named Solar, the new introduction has a significantly better yield, higher test weight and greater resistance to lodging (falling over) than its predecessor, Solum, a UA variety released in 1991.

Barley plays an important part in the Arizona crop mix, where it is often planted after cotton or vegetables. The high biomass stalks, when incorporated into the soil at the end of the growing season, reduce crusting and improve the soil structure, which in turn enhances water intake in the next crop. Planting barley can also reduce the effect of root knot nematodes on cotton.

Solar was developed as a winter crop for low water-use environments in the Southwestern United States and in Arizona, where only one or two irrigations (6-12 inches) are applied per season. The crop is planted in December for harvest in May.

Mike Ottman, Department of Plant Sciences, mottman@ag.arizona.edu

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/general/resrpt2006/article12_2006.pdf

11 BONE BUILDERS VOLUNTEER TRAINING IN JUNE, IN TUCSON AND PHOENIX

Many people believe that osteoposis is something that only happens to older people. In fact, this disease is often described as a childhood disease with old-age outcomes. One in every two women and one in every eight men will suffer osteoporosis-related fractures in their lifetime. Often, people don't realize they have osteoporosis until a bone breaks.

It only takes a few hours a month to become a Bone Builders volunteer and make a difference in the health of women. A medical background is not required, but a willingness to learn and to teach others is.

Awareness and prevention are critical in combating osteoporosis. Volunteers are needed to teach others about reducing the risks.

The next 12-hour training session will be June 15-16 at the University of Arizona in Phoenix and Tucson. After training, volunteers teach, help at health fairs, staff displays and share health information with others in their workplace, church or community.

Sharon Hoelscher Day, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension, shday@ag.arizona.edu

To learn more:
http://www.bonebuilders.org/volunteers.html

12 UA ALEPPO PINES TRANSPLANTED

Four stately Aleppo pines on the lawn outside the University of Arizona's McKale Center were moved to make room for two practice basketball and volleyball courts.

The daylong move of the pines, each about 65-feet tall and boxed in 13-foot-square containers, 5 1/2 feet deep, went off almost without a hitch, said Les Shipley of Civano Nursery, which was hired for the transplant.

One of the Aleppos held an impressively large hawk's nest with three eggs in it, guarded by what were presumed to be the parent hawks. One of the birds took a swipe at Civano worker Jeff Peterson as he was high up in a cherry picker attaching cables to Aleppo No. 2.

The transplanted pines, if they successfully take root in their new home, will provide instant shade for a new plaza between the practice courts and McKale Center arena. The trees were valued at $100,000 by four arborists who were asked to examine them.

Libby Davison, Plant Sciences, Campus Arboretum, edavison@cals.arizona.edu

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/5.43.html

13 ARIZONA CONSERVE WATER EDUCATORS WORKSHOP IN TUCSON AUGUST 8

A daylong workshop designed for Arizona educators will be held Wednesday, August 8, 2007 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Randolph Golf Course, 500 South Alvernon Way, Tucson.

Sponsored by the City of Tucson, the New Arizona Conserve Water Educators Workshop is a professional development opportunity for teachers and educators will focus on Arizona's water resources and water conservation.

The workshop is designed to help teachers meet the Arizona academic standards while introducing relevant water content with lessons that meet multiple learning styles. Participants will receive the Arizona Conserve Water Educators' Guide.

Josie Tanner, Water Resources Research Center, josie@cals.arizona.edu

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/AZWATER/wet/GW_Upcoming.html

14 BACTERIUM-INSECT COMBINATION LEADING TO DECLINE IN OLEANDERS

A centimeter-long insect is threatening to destroy an iconic Arizona plant.

The smoke-tree sharpshooter is spreading a disease-causing bacterium that is killing oleanders in north-central Phoenix. And scientists don't know when or if it will stop.

Sharpshooters and oleanders have lived in harmony in Arizona for decades, but the bacterium is the problem. Authorities believe it came to Arizona on a vegetation truck from California.

The disease caused by the bacterium is known as oleander leaf scorch. It gets into the plant's vascular system and prevents water from reaching the outer branches. Eventually, the whole plant dies.

Mary Olsen, Plant Sciences, molsen@cals.arizona.edu

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/5.44.html

To find out about available CALS publications and upcoming events, go to http://cals.arizona.edu/. If you have questions or comments about NewsLine, send an email to newseditor@ag.arizona.edu. Previous issues can be viewed at http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/newsline/previous-issues.html

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