STATION BULLETIN 236
Field Crops for Pump
Irrigation at Harney
Branch Experiment
Station, 1920 to 1927
Fig 1. Mammoth Russian sunflowers. Yield 51.2 tons green weight.
Agricultural Experiment Station
Oregon State Agricultural College
CORVALLIS
REGENTS OF OREGON STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
HON. J. K. WEATNEUFOSD, President
Hoa. K. E. WILSON, Secretary
Hon. B. F. IRVINE, Treasurer
HON. I. L. PATTERSON, Governor
Hoa. Sasi A. KOZER, Secretary of State
I-LON. C. A. HOWARD, Superintendent of Public Instruction
HON. GEORGE A. PALMITER, Master of State Grange
HON. HARRY BAILEY
How. Gso. M. CORNWALL
How. E. B. Ar.oritc
HON. JEFFERSON MYERS
How. J. F. YATE
HON. H. J. ELLIOTT
Albany
Corvallis
Portland
Salem
Salem
Salem
Hood River
Lakeview
Portland
Pendleton
Portland
Corvallis
Perrydale
STAFF OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
President
Director
Editor
E. T. REED, B.S., A.B
Plant Pathologist
H. P. Batas, AR, S.M
F. D. BAILEY, M.S...Asst. Pathologist, Insecticide and Fungicide Rd., U. S. Dept. of Agri.
Assistant Agricultural Economist
W. H. BELriEN, M.A
Associate in Farm Management
N. S. BESSE, M.S
Dairy Husbandman
P. M. BRANOT, B.S., A.M
Assistant Pathologist, U. S. Dept. of Agri.
P. BRIERLEY, M.S
Horticulturist (Vegetable Gardening)
A. C. BOUQUET, P.S
Associate Agronomist
E. N. PRESSMAN, M.S
Horticulturist, Hood River Br. Exp. Station, Hood River
G. G. BROWN, B.S
Horticulturist in Charge
W. S. BRowN, A.B., M.S
Assistant Chemist
D. E. BULLtS, B.S
Assistant in Farm Management
A. S. BunstEa, lvI.S
Supt.
Hood
River
Branch
Eap.
Station,
Hood River
LEROY C}{TLDS, A.B
Bacteriologist
C. V. COP5ON, M.S
Supt.
Umatilla
Branch
Exp.
Station,
Hermiston
H. K. DEAN, B.S
Assistant Veterinarian
C. N. DONHAM, MS., D.V.M
Assistant
Poultry
Pathologist
E. M. DIcKINsON, D.V.M
Associate Agricultural Economist
W. H. DREE5EN Ph.D
Assistant Plant Pathologist, U. S. Dent. of Agri.
T. P. DYKSTRA, M S
Asst. Animal Hushandman, East Ore. Br. Exp. Sta., Union
E. M. EDWARDS, B.S
Supt. John Jacob Astor Br. Exp. Station, Astoria
A. E. ENOBRETSON, B.S
Jr. Plant Pathologist, U. S. Dept. of Agri.
L. N. GOODDINO, BA. B.S
Associate Bacteriologist
W. V. HALVERSEN, Pi.D
W. J. Katut, D.Sc., LL.D
J. T. JARDINE, B.S
.
Chemist
B. HAAG, Ph.D
.Associate Horticulturist Pomology
Horticulturist (Physiology
K. H. HARVEY, Ph.D
Assistant Agronomist
B. D. HILL, M.S
Scientific Assistant Seed Lab., U. S. Dept. of Agri. (Seed Analyst)
BERTHA C. RITE, B.A
Asst. to Supt. of Harney Valley Branch Exp. Station, Burns
N. K. HUTCHINSON, B.S
Agronomist
G. N. Hvstot', P.S
Poultry Pathologist
W. T. JoINsoN, ES., D.V.M
Associate Dairy Husbandman
I. N. JONEs, Ph.D
Chemist
J. S. JONES, M.S
Agricultural Engineer
C. \V. EARLE, M.S
Poultry
Husbandman
F. L. KNOWLTON, P.S
Assistant in Farm Management
C. W. KUHLMAN, M.S
Poultry Husbandman in Charge
A. C. LUNN, B.S
Assistant Veterinarian
A. M. MCCAPE5, D.V.M
Plant Pathologist
M. B. MCKAY, M.S
Junior Agronomist
J. F. MARTIN, P.S
Asst. to Supt. of Sherman County Branch Exp. Station. Moro
G. A. MITCHELL, P.S
Associate Agricultural Economist
E. It. MITIELMAN, Ph.D
Entomologist
DON C. MOTE, M.S
Agricultural Economist
M. N. NELSON, Ph.D
Animal Husbandnian
0. M. NELSON, P.S
B. K. NORRIS, P.S
Assistant to Supt. cit Southern Oregon Branch Exp. Station, Talent
Assistant Animal Husbandrnan
A. W. OLIvER, B.S
Animal Husbandrnan
L. PorER, M.S
Chief, Department of Soils
W. L. PowEtts, Ph.D
Supt.
Southern
Oregon
Br.
Exp.
Station, Talent
C. PEIMER, M.S
Chemist
Ti. H. ROBtNON, A.B., M.S
Associate
in
Soils
(FertilIty)
C. V. RUZE1c, B.S
H. A. SCHOTSI, M.S Asst. Agronomist, Forage Crops Investigation, U. S. Dept. of Agri.
Associate Horticulturist (Pomotogy)
C. E. SCHUSTER, M.S
H. HARTMAN, M.S
H. D. SCUDDEIt, P.S
H. E. SELBY, B.S
0. SHATTUCK, M.S
J. N. SIIAW, D.V.M
J. E. Sistssorcs, M.S
P. T. SIRIM5, D.V.M
V. E. SMITH
B. E. STEPHENS, B.S
N. K. STEPHENSON Ph.D
B. G. THOMPSON, Si.S
E. F. TORGEUSON, B.S
A. \VALISES, B.S
C. F. IVDIITAKER, B.S
E. H. WIEGAND, P.S
JOSEPH WILCOX, P.S
Maut, WILSON, B.S
T1ORT. WITIIYCOSIRE, B.S
S. H. ZELLER, Ph.D
Chief in Farm
Management
Associate in Farm Management
Supt. Harney Valley Branch Exp. Station, Burns
Assistant Veterinarian
Assistant Bacteriologist
Veterinarian
Laboratory Technician, Poultry Pathology
Supt. Sherman County Pr. Exp. Station, Moro
Associate Soils Specialist
Assistant Entomologist
Assistant in Soils (Soil Survey)
5isst. Agronomist, Eastern Ore. Branch Exp. Station, Union
Assistant Chemist
Horticulturist (Horticultural Products)
Assistant in Entomology
Home Economist
Supt. Eastern Ore. Branch Exp. Station., Union
Plant Pathologist
CONTENTS
Pages
Suggestions for Pump Irrigators
Summary
Introduction
Cereals
Wheat
Spring oats
Spring barley
Legumes
Experiments with legumes
Alfalfa
Canadian field peas
Combination crops
Clovers
Root and Tuber Crops
Potatoes
Duty of Water Experiments
Duty of water experiments with Federation spring wheat in
6
7-8
9-11
11-14
11-13
13
13-14
14-17
15
15
15-16
16-17
17
17-18
17-18
18-20
rotation
18-19
Duty of water experiments with Canadian field peas
19
Duty of water experiments with Early Ohio potatoes
19
Duty of water experiments with Grimm alfalfa -------_--_----_
20
Fertilizer Experiments
2025
Fertilizer experiments under irrigation
20
Irrigated fertilizer experiments with Federation spring wheat
in rotation
20
Irrigated fertilizer experiments with Federation spring wheat
continuous
Irrigated fertilizer experiments with Canadian field peas
Irrigated fertilizer experiments with Mammoth Russian sunflowers
Irrigated fertilizer experiments with Grimm alfalfa
Appendix: Tables showing Monthly and Annual Average Climatic
Conditions at the Barney Branch Experiment Station, 1920-
21
21-22
22-23
24-25
1927, as follows:
Precipitation
Evaporation
Wind
Maximum temperatures
Minimum temperatures
Mean temperatures
Frost-free period
26
27
28
28
29
29
30
SUGGESTIONS FOR PUMP IRRIGATORS
When starting a farm project to be irrigated by pumping,
do not attempt to irrigate too much. Ten to twenty acres the
first season is usually enough except for experienced irrigators.
Make a contour map of the proposed project, includieg
the entire area that will eventually be brought under irrigation
from the well.
Locate the well so that you can irrigate the major portion of the area with the least amount of flume, ditches, and
loss of time.
Decide on the system of distribution best suited to the
soil type and topography of the land.
FIT THE LAND FOR IRRIGATION. This is the
MOST IMPORTANT operation in the entire project. Land
properly fitted will produce large returns with moderate applications of water. It will enable the irrigator to handle the
maximum amount of land in a given period of time. Land that
is not properly leveled is not likely to produce returns that will
justify irrigation by pumping.
Never sow a permanent crop, such as alfalfa, upon new
land that has just been fitted for irrigation. If there has been
much soil moved in leveling, the land will settle to such an
extent that it will be impossible to apply water uniformly, or
economically.
To allow for settling, one of the annual crops like grain
or peas should be grown on land that is to receive its first irrigation. Any of the cereals, field peas, or root crops may be
used. Peas and grains are especially valuable on new land.
In many instances, if this is not possible, it will probably
be better to fit the land and then give it a trial irrigation aed
relevel before putting in the crop. While this is expensive, it
is cheaper than the production of a poor, uneven crop over a
period of years.
Where possible do not irrigate a growing crop until after
it shades the ground. It is far better to irrigate before sowing
than to have to 'irrigate the crop up."
10. Frequent, light irrigations give more uniform growth
and much better returns than heavy irrigations at long intervals.
6
SUMMARY
Irrigation by pumping has developed rapidly at the Harney
Branch Experiment Station during the past eight years.
The principal lines of investigation are as follows:
Varietal experiments with cereals, legumes, and root and
tuber crops.
Duty of water experiments with cereals, legumes, root and
tuber crops.
(3)Fertilizer experiments with cereals, legumes, and sunflowers.
Combination experiments with cereals and legumes.
Cost of production experiments with cereals, legumes, and
potatoes.
Spring wheat is a standard crop in Harney Valley on irrigated
land. Federation is the leading variety. Dicklow wheat yields
wel but matures too late. Major and Onas are promising wheats
under irrigation.
Winter wheats are reasonably sure producers under irrigation.
They help in the distribution of labor and use of water, and allow
greater use of the pump. Turkey red and Hybrid 128 are standard
varieties. Turkey hybrid 63 established a record of 96.8 bushels
in 1927.
Spring oats yield well and are an excellent feed for horses,
cattle, and sheep. They do not produce as many pounds an acre
as wheat or barley. They do not have to be rolled, ground, or
chopped before feeding. They should be treated with formaldehyde and sowed from April 15 to 25 at the rate of three bushels
per acre. They require 12 to 14 inches of water. There are several
good varieties. Swedish Select, Golden Rain, Early Mountain, and
Idamine are good varieties, while Markton, Three-grain, and West-
ern Wonder are among the leaders in recent tests. Markton is
practically immune to smut and does not require treatment.
=
Spring barley is a good crop to grow under irrigation. It
yields well and can be sowed later than any other cereal. Trebi
and Hannchen are the leading varieties.
Grimm alfalfa and Kaiser field peas are the leading legumes.
Grimm alfalfa is the hardiest, highest yielding variety grown
on this Station. It produces an excellent quality of hay. Cossack
ranks second. Alfaifa can be sowed any time after April 25. Ten
to fifteen pounds per acre should be sowed on a fine, firm seedbed. Full stands produce high yields. Alfalfa seed should be
sowed shallow. Grimm holds the record yield of 9.7 tons of cured
hay in two cuttings.
Canadian field peas are very hardy, inoculate readily, and may
be grown in combination with any of the cereals for soiling, en7
silage, or hay. They can be hogged or sheeped off or cured for
1
seed.
The field pea is the best legume to use in the short rota-
tion. Kaiser is the standard variety. It may be sowed early in
April. Two bushels of inoculated seed per acre give the best results. Peas and oats are the leading combination crop for ensilage
and hay. Peas and beardless barley are preferred for hogging off.
Clovers, as forage producers, have been less satisfactory at
this Station due to the difficulty experienced in obtaining good
stands. Prospects for producing seed crops with White Dutch and
Alsike clovers are good.
Yields of half sugar mangels and sugar beets have been low
due to difficulty in obtaining good stands. Occasional good yields
of carrots, rutabagas, and turnips have been recorded.
Potatoes have proved a successful crop.
Early Ohio is the best variety to grow in Harney Valley.
Potatoes should be treated with corrosive sublimate. Potatoes
may be planted on the Valley floor from April 25 to June 15, in
I
-
rows 36 inches apart, 14 to 16 inches apart in the row.
Duty of water is one of the most important experiments conducted on this Station. Without some additional water to supplement the annual precipitation, successful farming in Harney Valley
is very difficult with present methods and crops. Profitable crops
may be grown with 12 to 18 acre-inches of water applied at the
right time. Intervals between irrigation applications should not
normally exceed fifteen days. Twelve acre-inches plus the addition
of manure gave the best returns with spring wheat.
The maximum irrigation of 14 acre-inches produced the highest
average yield of potatoes, 243.5 bushels; the second best yield,
I
202.1 bushels, was obtained with an average irrigation of 1( inches
plus the addition of manure.
Twelve acre-inches of water applied to alfalfa in three irrigations, produced the most economic returns.
Fertilizers have not made pronounced increases in crop yields.
Manure has proved to be the most efficient fertilizer with spring
-
wheat.
Manure and superphosphate have made small increases with
the mammoth Russian sunflowers and field peas.
It is absolutely essential to level the land properly before the
crop is planted. Irregular land can not be cropped profitably with
pumped water.
-
Field Crops for Pump Irrigation at Harney Branch Experiment Station
1920 to 1927
By
OBIL SHATTUCK, Superintendent,
and
Roy B. HUTCHISON, Assistant
INTRODUCTION
Irrigation by pumping has been extensively tried at the Harney
Branch Experiment Station during the past eight years. In 1919 only
ten acres were being partly irrigated. Since that time the area has been
enlarged to 40 acres regularly watered and new equipment has been
installed.
New pumping plant. The pumping plant was campletely remodeled.
A pit 8 x 8 x 9 feet and a belt incline were dug and walled up with
treated 3 x 12 inch plank. A new six-inch horizontal centrifugal pump,
with a 20-foot section of six-inch intake pipe and new six-inch check and
gate valves with a six-inch discharge pipe, was installed, replacing the
original four-inch pump. A 15 horse-power semi-Diesel "Y" oil engine
is the power unit.
Fig. 2. Pumping plant at Harney Branch Experiment Station delivering one secondfoot of water.
9
10
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 236
Work of the Station. The principal lines of irrigation investigation
being carried on at this Station include:
Varietal experiments with
Cereals, such as winter and spring wheat, spring oats, and barley
Legumes, such as alfalfa, clovers, and Canadian field peas alone
and with spring grain.
Tuber and root crops, including potatoes, half sugar mangels, sugar beets and limited tests with other roots.
Duty of water experiments, with Federation wheat, Canadian field
peas, early Ohio potatoes, and Grimm alfalfa.
Fertilizer experiments, with Federation wheat, Canadian field peas,
Mammoth Russian sunflowers, and Grimm alfalfa.
Cost of production experiments with varioi.ts crops.
Climatic data. Properly to interpret these results the reader should
know the extreme climatic conditions as they occurred during the period
of years over which these experiments were conducted. Tables A to G
in the Appendix give the annual and average records, together with the
fourteen-year average for the years 1914 to 1927 for comparison.
Precipitation. The average precipitation for the eight-year period 1920
to 1927 inclusive is 8.96 inches, which is .64 inch above the fourteen-year
average.
Precipitation during the growing season is limited and is often in
such small showers that it cannot reach the plant roots. Low summer
rainfall makes it difficult to get winter cereals started in the fall without
irrigation.
Data on precipitation are reported in Table A.
Evaporation. During the seven-year period 1920 to 1927, over which
these data were taken, the average evaporation was 43.67 inches which
is .14 inch more than the thirteen-year average, no data having been
recorded in 1923.
The data on evaporation are reported in Table B.
Wind. During the period 1920 to 1927 inclusive the average wind velocity was .2 mile per hour below the fourteen-year average.
The data on wind velocity are reported in Table C.
Temperature. The temperature recorded for the various periods of
study at this Station show but little variation.
The data on the average maximum, minimum, mean, and annual temperatures are reported in tables D, E, and F inclusive.
Frost-free period. The Harney Valley, being a high, level area surround-
ed by mountains, has a very short frost-free period as measured by the
number of days between the last spring record when the minimum temperature is 29 F. or less and the first fall record. The average for the
years 1920 to 1927 inclusive is 64 days, and for the fourteen-year period,
57 days.
FIELD CROPS FOR Pusr IRRIGATION
11
At this altitude (4000 or more feet in elevation), killing of crops
rarely occurs until the minimum of 290 F. is reached.
Yields obtained at this Station during the past fourteen years furnish conclusive evidence that frost is not the most important limiting
factor in the production of the regular farm crops, although it sometimes
seriously handicaps the production of the fall sown cereals.
The data on the frost-free period are reported in Table G.
CEREALS
Spring and \vinter wheats, spring oats, and barley are important as
grain crops in the high irrigated areas and are indispensable in the cropping system. All are used as seed and as feed for stock. Some good
milling wheat is' now being shipped out.
Comparisons of yields from the leading or standard varieties of the
different cereal varietal trials are shown in Table I. While not strictly
comparable this table shows Federation wheat to produce more pounds
of grain per acre than any of the others. Trebi spring barley is
next, then Hybrid 128 wheat, and lowest is spring oats. In more
limited trials both Hybrid 128 and Turkey Red winter wheat and Threegrain and Markton oats make a somewhat better showing.
TABI.E I. COMPARISON OF THE YIELDS IN POUNDS OF GRAIN PER
ACRE FROM WINTER WHEAT AND FROM SPRING WHEAT, OATS,
AND BARLEY USING TI-IE COMMON OR STANDARD VARIETIES
FOR THE YEARS WHEN ALL WERE GROWN
Federation spring wheat
Trebi spring barley
Hybrid 128 winter wheat
Swedish Select spring oats
-------
.
..
1920
1921
1923
4974
3230
2136
3757
3054
3518
3486
2035
4410
3379
2442
3021
1924
1925
1922
2418 2928 3804
1757 3389 3826
3042 3510 4224
2806 1946 2554
Average
3598
3183
3140
2687
Wheat. Both spring and winter whcat arc needed in the irrigated
cropping system with pumped water.
Well cleaned seed is important. Smut control is obtained by thor-
ough treatment of the seed with two ounces of copper carbonate dust
per bushel of grain.
Spring wheat. Spring wheat has proved to be one of the most de-
pendable crops during the past eight years. It has produced good yields,
except during 1926 when grasshoppers ruined the crop.
Federation has been and continues to be the leading variety of spring
wheat grown under irrigation. It is an excellent yielder, is beardless,
has a very stiff straw and stands up well. It matures moderately early,
has fair milling quality and is readily salable. It has a tendency to shatter if allowed to get overripe, bitt this can be controlled by harvesting
the crop at the proper time
Dicklow proved a good yielder, but matured too late to be successfully grown in Harney Valley. It was generally injured by the early
fall frosts. For this reason it was dropped from the irrigation experiment in 1926.
12
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 236
All varieties of spring wheat were sown early in April at the rate
of 129 pounds per acre. Twelve to 14 acre-inches of water were applied
in three irrigations.
The annual and average yields of spring wheat for the years 1920
to 1927 inclusive are reported in Table II.
TABLE II.
ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS OF IRRIGATED SPRING
T THE ITARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT
W}-IEATS GROWN
STATION FOR THE YEARS 1920 TO 1927 INCLUSIVE
Aver- Perage cent
omit- of
CI. No.
4734
Variety
Federation ..
2826-1 White Bobs ._.._..
4733 Hard Federation
4158 Marquis ._.._.. ------6255 Red Bobs
------4981 White Federation
3663
1697
6228
4984
6221
4986
Dicklow
,-Year grown and yield, bushels per acre-. ting Feder1920 1921 1922 1923
82.9
64.0
55.1
64.0
60.0
77.1
65.0
54.9
50.9
33.7
28.5
36.0
31.1
23.3
45.4
36.4
Baart
Oudebaard
Major'
------------Onas ---- -------._..Canberra .-.._
...
New Zealand 4728 Sunset ._.._..__........._
.
..
50.3
29.2
25.6
30.8
32.7
27.7
47.1
73.5
52.5
48.1
51.8
61.6
49.7
74.8
65.8
65.6
71.3
52.1
65.3
45.5
1924 1925 1926
1927 1926
ation
4ft3
40.3
32.9
63.4
50.7
50.8
57.3
51.9
100
75.8
66.4
76.5
75.1
65.7
95.8
80.1
'84.0
102.2
99.3
81.8
91.6
65.0
30.5
36.2
32.9
44.3
34.8
38.8
50.2
40.3
39.5
39.5
32.9
48.8
40.4
31.3
43.2
34.5
31.5
43.6
47.8
41.3
53.0
50.4
42.0
44.1
27.3
4.7
6.9
44
*
3.7
49.9
7.3
45.3
58.7
62.1
62.5
51.2
6.9
5.0
6.2
3.1
4.8
41.1
58.6
44.4
38.9
44.8
44.0
35.8
55.4
45.9
51.9
57.7
56.1
46.2
49.6
36.7
Note: The low yields in 1926 were due to grasshopper injury. These were omitted
from the average.
Fall watering and fall planting enable the farmer to handle more
acres with his labor, irrigation system and equipment. Acres fall planted
and growing well do not interfere with spring work.
Winter wheat which matures early does not require as much summer or total irrigation. Probably three-fourths as much water will pro-
duce the crop.
The earlier harvest further distributes the use of labor and mach.inery and allows for summer sowing of legumes on the stubble.
Winier wheat. \Vinter wheats generally do not yield an average of
as much as Federation spring wheat. They produce as good yields when
uninjured by the late spring frosts. Table III shows comparative yields
from separate varietal trials. It often happens that due to lack of early
fall rainfall it is necessary to irrigate before sowing fall wheat in order
to get it to germinate and tiller or stool out before the winter season
sets in. The time saved by fall planting is an important factor where
the spring season is late and the early sowing of crops is essential to
success.
Winter wheat should be sowed as early as possible after the first
of August, so that the crop will have a chance to emerge and tiller before
going into the winter. It is important that all wheat be treated with
copper carbonate, 2 ounces per bushel, before being sowed.
Indicates variety not grown.
To be
13
FIELD CROPS FOR PUMP IRRIGATION
effective, the treatment must be thorough. For this early sowing it is
often necessary to carry seed over from the preceding year.
The annual and average yields of winter wheats are reported in
Table IV.
OF IMPORTANT WINTER AND
SPRING WHEATS FOR YEARS WHEN ALL WERE ON TRIAL
,-Yields by years in bushels per acre- Aver1920
Hybrid 28 winter wheat ..
Turkey Red winter wheat ..._...._.....
Federation spring wheat._.._.._...._....._...
Marquis spring wheat ._.._.._...._..._..
35.6
1921
58.1
70.0
50.9
36.0
43.0
82.9
64.0
1923
1924
1927
age
40.7
66.3
73.5
51.8
50.7
47.7
40.3
70.4
67.5
63.4
57.3
51.1
58.9
62.2
.30.5
47.9
TABLE IV. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS OF IRRIGATED WINTER
WHEATS AT THE HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION DURING THE YEARS 1920 TO 1927 INCLUSIVE
PerAver- cent
age
CI. No.
Variety
512 Washington
Hybrid 128
1558 Turkey Red
6225
4463
Clark Blackhull
Martin Amber ........
,-Year grown and yield, bushels per acre1920
1921
1922
1923
35.6
43.0
58.1
70.0
18.8
40.7
66.3
30.0
80.0
74.6
67.2
15.1
....
of
0 nit- Hy-
ting brid
1924 1925 1926 1927
1926
128
70.4
67.5
76.9
65.7
47.5
58.9
40.4
60.8
56.5
50.6
71.3
100
115.3
84.4
111.1
113.0
101.2
110.6
50.7
47.7
25.2
42.0
47.2
35.4
58.5
54.7
57.1
00
00
00
....
47.6
G. White 326
49.1
White Odessa ._.._.._...
Wash. Hyb. 63 ._...._
. .......... .. 62.3 00 80.2
Note:
Indicates variety not grown. 1926 yields completely ruined by grasshoppers.
These yields were omitted from the average.
4655
Spring oats. Spring oats have always produced good average yields
when grown under irrigation. They do not produce as many pounds per
acre as either wheat or barley, and for this reason they are not highly
recommended as an irrigated crop. As a horse feed, oats are very satisfactory and do not generally have to be rolled, ground, or chopped as
do the other cereals, thus saving considerable time and expense.
There are several varieties of oats, all of which are hardy and good
yielders. Swedish Select and Silvermine have long been standard varieties in the irrigated sections. Markton, which is immune to covered
smut, Golden Rain, and Three-grain are all excellent varieties.
Oats should be sowed any time after the middle of April at three
bushels per acre on irrigated land. Oats should be treated with formaldehyde before sowing.
The annual and average yields of spring oats are reported in Table V.
Spring barley. Spring barley is a good crop to grow under irriga-
tion, and may be sowed later than any of the other cereals and still
mature. It is a good feed and is readily eaten by all classes of livestock.
Spring barley should always be treated with formaldehyde before sowing. It can be sowed on irrigated land at any time from May 1 to May
20, at the rate of 2 to 2 bushels per acre.
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 236
14
TABLE V. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS OF IRRIGATED SPRING OATS
GROWN AT THE HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION FOR
THE YEARS 1920 TO 1927 INCLUSIVE
Per-
C.I. No.
134
720
708
724
Aver- cent
age
of
omit- Swed-Year grown and yield, bushels per acre- ting ish
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1926 Select
Variety
Swedish ...___._.. 117.4
Silverniine ... --------- ... 106.8
Fulghum
.._....
Rustless Selection
87.9
127.3
81.3
_.
Golden Rain ._
P.S.C.Hulless
493
2036
1834
625
841
Early Mountain .
Idamine .___.._
Sixty Day -------------- Nebraska No. 21 .
63.6
61.8
48.2
70.8
61.8
.............
91.7 52.4
96.4
55.5
87.7
75.9
61.5
85.2
67.5
60.8
66.5
39.8
00
00
00
79.8
74.7
68.2
42.9
72.2
97.1
46.3
57.3
66.9
00
00
00
00
00
50.2
84.3
75.0
86.6
22.1
47.9
85.2
82.6
66.7
91.3 92.0
105.4
82.5
90.2
00
92.1
00
81.1
61.0
94.4
48.5
83.4
55.8 103.8
64.6 101.4
74.2
86.6 121.4
69.0 112.1
557-1 Three-grain ................................
2053
1951
Markton
..
Western Wonder
Note:
Indicates crop not grown.
and not included in the averag.
68.2 . 00
85.2 77.9
*
80.7
90.6
74.8
00 103.7
80.7
77.9
62.5
86.2
62.9
83.3
82.9
81.5
60.0
76.6
92.7
92.3
82.0
100
96.6
77.5
106.7
75.0
108.6
108.0
106.2
73.2
90.3
121.9
121.2
107.8
1926 yields entirely destroyed by grasshoppers
Trebi and Hannchen barley have been the leading varieties at this
Station for several years. Trebi is a blue, beard,ed, six-row barley with
a stiff straw and stands up well under irrigation. It seems to be rather
susceptible to smut. Hannchcn is a white, two-row, bearded barley with
a straw that is rather weak and that will lodge if heavily irrigated. Both
of these varieties have produced more than one hundred bushels per acre
in some special tests.
The annual and average yields of spring barley, are reported in Tabtc VI.
TABLE VI. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS OF IRRIGATED SPRING BARLEY GROWN AT THF. HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION
DURING THE YEARS 1920 TO 1927 INCLUSIVE
Average Per-
omit- cent
CI. No.
936
531
-Year grown and yield, bushels per acre- ting
Variety
Trebi
1920
............
I-Iannchen
...
67.3
63.0
1921
73.3
55.0
Note:
Indicates crop not grown.
and not included in averages.
1922 1923
70.4
60.0
of
1924 1925 1926 1927 1926 Trebi
36.6
37.4
70.6
74.4
00
00
79.7
73.5
66.3 100
60.6
91.3
1926 yields entirely ruined by grasshoppers
LEGUMES
Legumes are of vital importance in the irrigated cropping system.
More forage is needed and legume forage is best. Legume seed crops
are in demand and will stand higher freight rates than grain.
Legumes improve the soil's capacity to hold and use water and always increase yields of succeeding crops.
Legumes pay in themselves, reduce the work required in the rotation, make good field yields, increase the yields of other crops, and make
the use of water more efficient.
15
FIELD CROPS FOR PUMP IRRIGATION
Experiments with legumes.
Alfalfa is the leading legume at this
Station. The Canadian field peas are very hardy and rank second to
alfalfa. The experiments with clovers are inconclusive. It has been very
difficult to obtain good stands. Sweet clover, alsike, ladino, and common
white clover should do well.
Alfalfa.
Of all of the varieties grown at this Station, Grimm has
proved best, with Cossack second. Grimm is the hardiest, highest yielding variety and the quality of forage produced is excellent. It has always produced the highest tonnage, except in 1926 when a non-uniforOn
irrigation resulted in material reduction in yields. Grimm alfalfa holds
the record yields of 9.2 tons of thoroughly cured hay established in 1923,
and of 9.7 tons established in 1927. Only two crops per year are harvested at this Station.
Alfalfa may he sowed at any lime from April 25 until June 15. It requires
a fine, firm, seed-bed, and should not be covered more than one inch. It
should be sowed at the rate of 10 to 15 pounds per acre since high yields
are obtained only from full stands. Alfalfa seed should be inoculated
with pure culture before sowing.
The annual and average yields of alfalfa are reported in Table VII.
TABLE VII. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS OF HAY IN TONS PER ACRE
FROM ALFALFA VARIETIES SOWED IN 1920 AND GROWN UNDER
IRRIGATION AT THE HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION
FOR THE YEARS 1921 TO 1927, INCLUSIVE
Percent
of
Variety
Grimm ........ ......._ ....Cossack
._..... --------
Dakota Diamond
Martin's Acclimatized
Liscoim
Tut-kestan ......
Note:
1921
1922
1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 Average Grimm
7.01
6.25
6.24
6.25
7.22
7.05
7.05
7.00
6.86
6.86
7.90
7.64
7.15
7.40
6.85
6.85
- 5.75
5.76
8.05
7.85
7.70
7.03
7.70
7.40
7.57
7.05
6.80
7.02
6.98
6.88
5.45
5.75
6.50
5.70
5.90
6.05
7.56
7.38
7.25
6.99
100
96.5
6.95
6.85
6.91
6.75
6.71
95.3
93.1
92.5
92.1
6.90
6.95
6.68
The low yield of Gri,nm alfalfa in 1926 is due to non-uniform irrigation.
Canadian field peas. Canadian field peas have made an excellent
showing at this Station during the past several years. The crop is very
hardy, the vines rarely ever being damaged by frost. While there is
danger of frost injury to blossoms and young pods that will cause the
loss of an occasional crop of seed, there is no danger of the loss of an
ensilage or hay crop.
The Canadian field pea is one of the best legumes to grow in a short
rotation as it inoculates readily and the straw decays in a very short
time when plowed under. Cereals grown on field pea sod make remarkable yields.
The crop adapts itself to a variety of uses. It can, be matured for
seed, or grown in combination with any of the cereals for ensilage, or
cured. for hay.
As the Canadian field pea is very hardy, it should be sowed early.
The seed should be inoculated. It is sowed with a regular grain drill
through the large openings, at the rate of two bushels per acre when
seeded alone.
16
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 236
The yields of Canadian field peas will be reported in the projects
on which they are grown; namely, the duty of water, fertilizer, and combination crop experiments (tables VIII, XI, and XVI).
Combination crops. Dairyingi is essential to most successful irrigation farming. Annual crops that can be used f&r several purposes, such
as ensilage, soiling, and hay, must be considered. Other lines closely
allied to dairy farming are lamb and hog raising.
The combination crop offers a fair solution of the problem. Legumes grown with grain are at once beneficial to both stock and soil.
The Canadian field pea is one of the best legumes to use in combination
cropping. When grown with a cereal, the combination produces a rich
feed easily harvested and one that is consumed readily by all classes of
livestock.
Fig. 3.
Fall irrigation before seeding.
Combination border and check method.
Field peas sowed with oats, wheat, or barley can be cut green for
soiling or ensilage, matured for seed, or cured for hay. They can be
hogged or sheeped off, thus eliminating the cost of harvesting, and at
the same time producing "top quality" mutton or pork. Flesh produced
from this combination is firm, sweet, and "marbled."
Field peas can be sowed as early as any of the spring cereals. When
grown in combination with one of the cereals, each crop should be sowed
alone. They should never be mixed before sowing. It is a good plan to
drill the peas first about four inches deep and then drill the cereal
slightly shallower.
The following rates of sowing give good returns.
Combination
Peas and oats
Peas and wheat
Peas and barley
Peas alone ....
Legume
Cereal
1.5 bushels
1.5 bushels
1.5 bushels
2.0 bushels
3.0 bushels
1.5 bushels
1.5 bushels
0.0 bushels
FIELD CROPS FOR PUMP IRRIGATION
17
The annual and average yields of combination crops, both green and
dry weights, are reported in Table VIII.
TABLE VIII. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS OF COMBINATION CROPS,
GIVING BOTH GREEN AND DRY WEIGHTS IN TONS PER ACRE
1924
Crop combination Green
Peas and oats..._..... 19.6
Peas and wheat .. 14.0
Peas and barley...
14.7
15.3
1925
1926
1927
.-Averae--,
Green
Dry
Green
Dry
Green
Dry
Green
12.4
11.6
10.5
14.2
5.0
7.8
7.9
5.2
10.2
2.1
8.5
9.0
9.1
9.5
4.0
12.1
10.6
9.9
12.3
50
4.6
2.0
2.8
3.2
Peas alone _.._...._
4.6
Note: Low yields in 1926 are due to grasshopper injury.
50 percent mature before it was harvested.
4.1
4.6
3.1
JJry
3.7
3.7
4.0
3.6
In 1927 the crop was
Clovers. To date, success with the clovers has been limited. Red
and sweet clovers have returned fair yields, but it has been difficult to
obtain good stands. Good stands of White Dutch, or of lawn clover and
alsike, have been obtained at different times but without regularity.
There seems to be a possibility of producing alsike and White Dutch
clover seed in this section since both varieties mature seed readily at
this Station.
ROOT AND TUBER CROPS
Of the several crops of this group grown at this Station potatoes
have been the most successful. Some difficulty has been experienced in
obtaining full stands of half sugar mangels and sugar beets. Some good
yields of rutabagas, carrots, and cowhorn turnips have been obtained,
but these experiments were not conducted over a period of years.
One-half acre of sugar beets yielded at the rate of 6.4 tons. The
average yield of one acre of half sugar mangels was 9.2 tons.
Potatoes. The main potato grown at this Station is the Early Ohio.
While no claim is made that the Valley floor of Harney county is well
adapted to growing potatoes, some good results have been obtained over
a period of years. The Early Ohio potato has held the record at this
Station for the past several years. The first record yield of 319.6 bushels
an acre was established in 1923 and the latest record of 343.0 bushels,
was established in 1926.
Potatoes should be treated with corrosive sublimate. Full treatment
directions may be obtained from the Oregon Agricultural Experiment
Station at Corvallis. They are then planted whole or are cut into blocky
seed pieces, saving the blossom-end in one seed piece. After cutting, it is
a good plan to sprinkle sulfur or land plaster over the cut potatoes. This
soon callouses them over and acts as a preservative and possibly a
stimulant. Potatoes should be cut in blocky pieces, weighing two to
three ounces each, the latter being best for early planting. Planting in
rows 36 inches apart with the plants 11 to 16 inches apart in the row
will give satisfactory results.
Potatoes may be planted from April 25 to June 15. It is better to
plant a large piece, such as 2 to 3 ounces, rather early, taking a chance
on the late spring frost, than it is to plant small pieces late and get
caught with the early fall frost. Plants from large seed pieces usually
18
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 236
come up again after a frost. Potatoes make a good early recovery, but
the fall frost stops all growth. Thick stands on rich irrigated land tend
to minimize hollow heart. Harney county can well consider certain
varieties for seed uses, such as Early Ohio, Earliest of All, or Idaho
Rural and Irish Cobbler.
TABLE IX. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELD AND ACREAGE OF EARLY
OHIO POTATOES GROWN UNDER IRRIGATION FOR THE
YEARS 1922 TO 1927
Variety
Early Ohio ------------
Early Ohio
Early
Ohio ...
Early Ohio._
Early Ohio
__. .......
Year grown
Acreage
1922
.1
... -------- _...._ ...........1923
.....
_ ----_...
1924
1925
1926
Early Ohio ------------------------_...._.._ -----------------1927
Six-year average
Average yield
bushels an acre
1.2
3.9
7.6
190.5
228.8
206.8
102.8
208.8
119.6
2.35
176.2
.4
.9
DUTY OF WATER EXPERIMENTS
The duty of water experiments constitute one of the major projects
at the Station. There are thousands of acres of land in Barney county
for which there will never be gravity water. It is of ultimate importance
to the community that the available gravity water be used economically,
so that it may be utilized on the largest possible area of land. Such
economy is still more important to those pumping irrigation water, since
pumped water is expensive and any waste of water will increase the cost
of production.
In these experiments as planned by Dr. W. L. Powers, of the Soils
Department, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, the water is applied to each crop at three different rates, with the fourth plot receiving
an average irrigation plus manure at the rate of 12 tons per acre. The
minimum irrigation was planned to be just enough to produce a fair
crop and make the crop suffer to some extent; the average irrigation to
produce a first class crop without wasting any water; the maximum irrigation to be heavy enough to injure the crop, either by the amount applied or by delaying maturity to such an extent that the crop is injured
by frost. The average irrigation plus a 12-ton application of manure was
expected to increase the returns per unit of water; that is, it should
produce increased yields without the use of additional water.
This experiment is being conducted in duplicated one twentieth-acre
plots with each crop. This makes a total of eight one-twentieth acre
plots used with each crop. Federation wheat, field peas, Early Ohio potatoes, and Grimm alfalfa are grown in this experiment.
Duty of water experiments with Federation spring wheat in rotation.
Eight one-twentieth acre plots are seeded to Federation wheat as early
as possible each year, at the rate of 129 pounds per acre. No test was
made in 1925.
Considering cost of irrigation water and distribution, the 12-inch
total application has proved most economical. Manure is beginning to
show favorable results.
FIELD CROPS FOR PuiviP IRRIGATION
19
The annual and average yields and the amount of water applied are
reported in Table X.
TABLE X. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YTELDS AND AMOUNTS OF WATER
APPLIED TO FEDERATION SPRING WHEAT AT THE HARNEY BRANCH
EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS 1921 TO 1927, INCLUSIVE
Acre-inches
applied
12
15
18
15
,-Year grown and yield, bushels per acre
1921
1922
1923
1924
1926
1927
33.3
35.2
30.7
31.3
69.1
71.8
87.8
80.3
40.7
41.9
42.4
47.4
28.0
22.2
54.9
52.8
57.2
74.9
40.9
With nianure
48.3
48.3
48.1
18.0
19.8
Average
44.5
45.4
47.4
50.3
Duty of water experiments with Canadian field peas. Eight onetwentieth acre plots are sowed to Kaiser field peas at the rate of 137
pounds per acre early in April each season. The peas are inoculated
with pure culture before sowing. The frost ruined the seed crop in
1922 and 1925.
The 18-inch total irrigation has produced the heaviest yield. So far,
manure has not increased the yields.
The annual and average yields and the amount of water applied are
reported in Table XI.
TABLE XI. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS AND AMOUNTS OF WATER
APPLIED TO KAISER FIELD PEAS AT THE HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS 1921 TO 1927
Acre-inches
applied
12
15
is
is
With manure
,-Year grown and yield, bushels per acre
1921
1923
1924
1926
1927
Average
45.1
42.7
40.3
28.5
25.0
25.4
31.7
21.4
24.3
22.6
37.5
28.5
22.0
39-7
49.9
44.4
33.2
35.1
36.6
32.2
29.9
33.1
39.2
31.1
Duty of water experiments with Early Ohio potatoes. Eight onetwentieth acre plots are planted to Early Ohio potatoes each year during
the latter part of May, or early Tune, at 700 to 1,000 pounds per acre, in
rows 36 inches apart and about 16 inches apart in the row. These potatoes were treated with hot and with cold formaldehyde, neither of which
proved to be satisfactory. The low yields obtained in 1925 are due to
the fact that the crop was produced on Grimm alfalfa sod and the alfalfa
volunteered to such an extent that it almost choked out the potatoes.
The heavier applications of water produced substantially better
yields. Manure also produced good increases.
The annual and average yields and the amount of water applied are
reported in Table XII.
TABLE XII. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIEI.DS AND AMOUNT OF \VATER
APPLIED TO EARLY 01-110 POTATOES AT THE HARNEY BRANCH
EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS 1923 TO 1926, INCLUSIVE
Acre-inches
applied
6
10
14
10
With manure
-Year grown and yield, bushels per acre-,
1923
1924
1925
1926
Average
140.2
217.1
291.8
266.1
131.7
198.6
278.3
210.3
47.0
61.8
84.0
50.1
238.4
225.0
319.8
281.7
139.3
175.6
243.5
202.1
20
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 236
Duty of water experiments with Grimm alfalfa. Eight one-twentieth
acre plots are sowed to Grimm alfalfa every fifth year at the rate of 21
pounds per acre, late in May. The seed is inoculated with pure culture
before sowing. The increase in yield does not appear to justify using
manure on alfalfa, or using more than 12 inches of water.
The annual and average yields and amount of water applied are
reported in Table XIII.
TABLE XIII. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS AND AMOUNT OF WATER
APPLIED TO GRIMM ALFALFA AT THE HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS 1921 TO 1927, INCLUSIVE
Year grown and yield, tons cured hay per acre,
Acre-inches
applied
12
18
24
18
....._..._.._..
...
With manure
.
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
Average
1.15
1,25
1.14
1.56
6.45
7.58
7.68
8.25
7.15
7.60
7.60
8.25
8.59
7.55
1.0
1.0
5.3
8.13
7.58
8.10
8.13
5.25
5.55
5.85
5.68
8.65
7,75
1.0
1.0
5.60
5.90
5.55
Note: The full 24 inches of water have not, as yet, been applied.
FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS
Fertilizer experiments under irrigation. In order to find out whether
or not any of the principal plant food elements were unfavorably low
in the soil, a fertilizer experiment was started in 1919 in cooperation with
the Soils Department of the Agricultural Experiment Station and is
being continued to date, A chemical analysis of the Station soil showed
it to be low in phosphorus. The following crops are being grown in
the fertilizer experiment:
Federatior spring wheatin rotation.
Federation spring wheatcontinuous.
Canadian field peasvariety, Kaiser.
Mammoth Russian sunflowers.
Grimm alfalfa.
This experiment consists of five one-half-acre blocks, each containing ten one-twentieth acre plots. One block is seeded to each crop each
season, with the exception of alfalfa, which is sowed every fifth year.
The fifth block is sowed to Federation wheat continuous. The crops on
the remaining four blocks constitute a rotation of wheat, peas, sunflowers, and Grimm alfalfa four years.
Manure seems to be the best all-round fertilizer, with manure and
superphosphate second. The results obtained from this experiment are
not entirely satisfactory and the experiment will be reorganized.
Irrigated fertilizer experiments with Federation spring wheat in rotation. Ten one-twentieth acre plots of Federation spring wheat are
sowed as early as possible each year at the rate of 129 pounds per acre.
Fifteen acre-inches of water are applied in three five-inch irrigations.
The wheat was so badly injured by frost in 1924 that this block was
harvested for hay.
The results of this experiment are reported in Table XIV.
Irrigated fertilizer experiments with Federation spring wheat continuous. Ten one-twentieth acre plots are sowed to Federation spring
wheat as early as possible each year at the rate of 129 pounds per acre.
21
FIELD CROPS FOR PUMP IRRIGATION
TABLE XIV. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS OF FEDERATION SPRING
WHEAT IN THE FERTILIZER EXPERIMENT AT THE HARNEY BRANCH
EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS 1921 TO 1923
AND 1925 TO 1927, INCLUSIVE
Plot
Treatment, pounds per acre
No.
I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
j-Year grown and yield, bushels per acr&1921 1922 1923 1925 1926 1927 Average
Superphosphate, 200 lbs......_...._ ........... 57.2 41.1
86.1
56.9
68.9
58.4
67.2
70.3
80.0
47.2
48.0
48.4
52.5
50.8
84.0
75.9
56.5
80.7
79.5
79.5
Check, no treatment
Sodium nitrate, 100 lbs..__..__...._......
Sulfur, 100 lbs.....-
Potassium sulfate, 160 lbs.
Check, no treatment
_.
ivianure, 12 tons per acre ..
Manure, 12 tons,
Superphosphate 200 lbs-------------_._
Superphosphate, 200 lbs.
Sodium nitrate 100 lbs.
Superphosphate, 200 lbs.
Sodium nitrate, 100 lbs.
Potassium sulfate, 160 lbs...._
Note:
30.8
27.3
28.0
45.9
46.3
45.7
39.8
77.7
82.2
27.3
44.1
62.3
20.8
24.0
22.6
22.6
21.7
26.0
43.8
49.8
48.4
49.2
53.1
62.2
66.0
80.5
62.3
41.2
41.9
62.1
55.3
78.7
40.3
22.2
44.9
53.5
56.0
80.8
46.9
23.0
45.3
55.3
72.1
77.3
30.1
38.1
30.9
34.7
49.1
444
The iow yields in 1926 are due to grasshopper injury.
This block receives the regular application of commercial fertilizers, but
does not enter into the rotation with any legume. It is cropped continuously to wheat. Fifteen acre-inches of water are applied in three
five-inch applications.
In this series, manure again demonstrates its value in comparison
with the commercial fertilizers. Due to high initial costs and very high
freight rates, it is doubtful whether any of the commercial fertilizers
will be able to compete with good barnyard manure for many years in
Harney Valley.
The annual and average yields and fertilizers applied are reported in
Table XV.
TABLE XV. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS OF FEDERATION SPRING
WHEAT CONTINUOUS IN THE FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS AT THE
HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE
YEARS 1922 TO 1927 INCLUSIVE
Plot
Treatment, pounds an acre
1. Superphosphate, 200 pounds -- ....._.._...
2
Check, no treatment
3 Sodium nitrate, 100 pounds 4 Sulfur, 100 lbs................
5
Potassium sulfate, 160 pounds
6 Check, no treatment ._.._..._... .....
No.
7
8
9
10
Manure, 12 tons per acre ......._...._
Manure, 12 tons,
,-Year grown and yield, bushels per acre-,
1922
1923
1924 1925 1926 1927 Average
43.2
40.0
46.0
44.8
52.0
43.0
55.3
43.8
45.8
54.2
22.7
20.5
15.8
20.1
24.9
32.6
28.9
52.2
56.7
76.3
81.2
26.3
27.7
25.6
28.7
35.4
45.9
54.3
14.3
15.0
41.5
14.3
18.7
44.3
47.7
47.3
60.1
35.0
137 46.7
29.0
37.7
Superphosphate, 200 pounds ....
61.2 66.5 31.9 50.8 36.3 61.8
Superphosphate, 200 pounds
Sodium nitrate, 100 pounds 58.0 77.0 23.1 38.2 27.0 62.5
Superphosphate, 200 pounds
Sodium nitrate, 100 pounds
Potassium sulfate, 160 pounds
54.0 76.6 33.0 53.6 37.0 61.5
Note: I..ow yields in 1926 are due to grasshopper injury.
31.9
30.7
33.7
34.1
39.2
41.7
52.9
51.4
47.6
52.6
Irrigated fertilizer experiments with Canadian field peas. Ten onetwentieth acre plots are sowed to Kaiser field peas as early as possible
each year at 137 pounds per acre. All peas are inoculated with pure culture before sowing. Fifteen acre-inches of water are applied in three
five-inch irrigations. Occasionally the seed crop is ruined by frost.
22
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 236
When this occurs, the yields are reported in tons as hay. The results
obtained on this experiment to date are not entirely satisfactory, as the
slope of some of the plots was such as to cause irregular irrigation.
Manure and manure plus superphosphate appear to have made slight
gains.
The annual and average yields of seed and hay are reported in Table
xv'.
TABLE XVI. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS OF CANADIAN FIELD PEAS
IN THE FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS AT THE HARNEY BRANCH
EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS 1920
TO 1926, INCLUSIVE
Plot
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
,-Yield, bushels per acre-, ,--Yield, tons per acre-,
Treatment, pounds an acre 1921
Superphosphate, 200 pounds.. 19.3
Check, no treatment_._......_ 26.0
Sodium nitrate, 100 pounds.. 23.0
Sulfur, 100 pounds .. ............ 32.6
Potassium sulfate, 160 pounds 32.0
Check, no treatment ....... 29.3
Manure, 12 tons per acre..._. 36.0
Manure, 12 tons
Superphosphate 200 pounds.... 43.3
Superphosphate, 200 pounds
Sodium nitrate, 100 pounds.. 40.0
Superphosphate, ZOO pounds
Sodium nitrate, 100 pounds
Potassium sulfate, 160 pounds '41.0
1923
1926 Average 1920
35.3
35.7
31.5
31.8
26.6
40,2
35.0
31.7
35.0
31.0
40.7
39.3
46.0
2.9
3.3
2.8
46.0
28.8
32.2
28.5
35.0
32.6
38.5
39.0
39.6
51.0
37.8
42.3
1924 1925
Average
3.1
4.8
4.5
4.3
4.5
4.1
4.3
2.8
3.0
2.9
3.3
3.5
3.3
3.2
4.9
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.3
3.6
3.3
3.6
3.9
44.6
3.5
4.9
3.5
4.0
52.7
43.5
2.8
4.5
4.0
3.8
55.7
46.3
2.5
4.4
3.9
3.6
3.1
2.2
II
Fig. 4. 1-lareesting Mammoth Russian sunflowers at the I-Iarney Branch Experiment
Station.
Irrigated fertilizer experiments with Mammoth Russian sunflowers.
At the beginning of this experiment half sugar mangels and sugar
beets were used as the cultivated crops. Due to unsatisfactory stands,
sunflowers were substituted in 1923 and were grown up to and including
1927. The sunflower is used as a substitute for corn as an ensilage crop.
Remarkable yields have been obtained over a period of years. in this
23
FIELD CROPS FOR PUMP IRRIGATION
experiment, manure has again demonstrated its value as a fertilizer.
Thirty acre-inches of water are applied in ten 3-inch irrigations.
For the past five years, ten one-twentieth acre plots have been
sown to Mammoth Russian sunflowers from the middle to the latter
part of May at the rate. of 30 pounds per acre in rows 21 inches apart.
As we do not have a silo at the Station, the sunflowers were fed whole
to the station horses and cows. The heads, leaves, and upper two-thirds
of the stalks were consumed readily by the horses and cows. Manure
shows most pronounced increase in yield.
The annual and average yields are reported in Table XVII.
Fig. 5.
Peas and oats for ensilage. Yield 21.0 tons, green weight.
TABLE XVII. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS OF MAMMOTH RUSSIAN
SUNFLOWERS IN THE FERTILIZER ExpERIMENTS AT THE HARNEY
BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION FOR TIlE YEARS 1923
TO 1927, INCLUSIVE
Plot
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Year grown and yield, tons per acre
Treatment, pounds an acre
Superphosphate, 200 pounds
Check, no treatment ._
Sodium nitrate, 100 pounds Sulfur, 100 pounds ._.._
Potassium sulfate, 160 pounds
Check, no treatment
Manure, 12 tons per acre
Manure, 12 tons
Superphosphate, 200 pounds
Superphosphate, 200 pounds
Sodium nitrate, 100 pounds Superphosphate, 200 pounds
Sodium nitrate, 100 pounds
Potassium sulfate 160 pounds
1923
1924
35.4
39.6
39.6
39.7
42.8
41.4
42.6
42.8
46.7
48.0
36.0
43.0
50.0
56.7
41.4
46.8
44.8
green weight
1925 1926 1927
Average
35.0
39.0
39.8
42.2
40.4
37.4
48.0
31.2
36.4
34.1
32.0
31.0
31.9
40.3
39.6
37.6
40.0
47.0
44.0
49.4
54.0
36.8
39.9
40.3
39.4
40.2
42.0
48.3
47.3
51.2
40.8
54.0
46.9
39.2
39.4
38.7
51.2
43.1
36.4
37.6
41.1
49.6
41.9
Irrigated fertilizer experiments with Grimm alfalfa. Ten one-twentieth acre plots were sowed to Grimm alfalfa in June, 1919, at the rate of
24
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 236
Fig. 6. Kaiser field peas.
Fig. 7.
Average height of half.acre block 7 feet.
Threshing at the Harney Branch Experiment Station.
25
FIELD CROPS FOR PUMP IRRIGATION
25 pounds per acre. Eighteen inches of water are applied annually. All
plots emerged with good stands. This crop was plowed under in the
fall of 1922 and alfalfa was sowed on the second block in 1923. This
stand was choked out by weeds and the entire block was plowed under
and reseeded in the spring of 1924. The results obtained from this experiment are not satisfactory or conclusive. The experiment will be relocated. There may be slight increases from sulfur.
The annual and average yields are reported in Table XVIII.
TABLE XVIII. ANNUAL AND AVERAGE YIELDS OF GRIMM ALFALFA IN
THE FERTILIZER EXPERIMENT AT THE HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS 1919 TO 1922,
AND 1924 TO 1927
Plot
No.
I
2
3
4
5
6
7
Treatment, pounds an acre
Superphosphate, 200 pounds __.._
.5
Check, no treatment -------------_. ---- 6
Sodium nitrate, 100 pounds.._-------- 7
Sulfur, 100 pounds -.6
Potassium sulfate, 160 pounds.....---- 9
Check, no treatment
_.___
.8
Manure, 12 tons per acre
1.0
8 i\Iaxiure, 12 tons
Superphosphate, 200 pounds
9 Superphosphate, 200 pounds
10
Years grown and yield in tons per acre cured hay
1919 1920 1921 1922 1924 1925 1926 Average
Sodium nitrate, 100 pounds ...
Superphosphate, 200 pounds
Sodium nitrate, 100 pounds
Potassum sulfate, 160 pounds ..
43
6.1
4.4
4.2
4.5
5.4
5.6
5.7
4.3
6.1
4.2
4.0
5.6
5.3
6.6
5.3
5.6
6.1
6.1
5.9
5.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
4.5
4.4
4.6
5.8
5.4
5.3
5.5
5.5
4.1
4.4
4.3
3.6
3.7
4.1
5.2
5.1
5.2
6.0
4.1
4.0
4.0
.9
4.5
4.9
5.3
1.0
5.8
5.7
4.0
1.1
4.6
4.9
4.9
1.0
5.9
5.1
3.9
1.0
4.9
4.9
4.4
1.0
6.6
6.2
4.1
APPENDIX
PRECIPITATION
TABLE A.
MONTHLY ANNUAL AND AVERAGE PRECIPITATION FOR THE EIGHT YEARS, 1920 TO 1927, AND THE
FOURTEEN-YEAR AVERAGE AT TI-IE HARNEY BRANd-I EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS
1914 TO 1927, INCLUSIVE
Year
January February MaccIt April
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
195
1926
1927
....... - ......_
.35
1.46
.95
47
.43
.96
.99
.82
.80
Fight-year average
Fourteen-year average
.81
April 1 to Augurt 31, inclusive.
.02
.71
.97
.75
.09
1.27
1.07
.86
1.10
.98
1.03
.09
.18
.17
.77
.90
May
July
August
.60
.29
.50
.96
.01
1.06
.06
.44
.45
.26
1.06
1.03
1.12
.29
.66
.44
1.77
1.05
.78
.87
.72
.97
2.96
1.83
.43
.31
.47
.80
.69
1.37
1.06
.82
.57
.48
.88
1.94
.20
1.56
1.15
.82
2.21
.53
1.16
1.52
.02
.34
.19
1.67
.53
.05
.01
.33
.00
.14
.46
.01
.54
.47
.95
.87
.95
.91
.64
.62
.19
.23
.31
.51
1.87
.36
.86
.06
Septem- Octo- Novern- DecemGrowing
ber
ber
ber
ber Annual season
June
.18
.42
1.03
.01
.39
.21
T
.61
.86
.38
.88
1.38
1.26
.45
1.51
.44
2.00
1.16
1.07
.57
1.06
.86
8.56
9.02
8.72
8.44
6.30
11.20
9.26
10.14
2.21
2.69
1.75
4.65
.28
4.25
2.33
3.66
8.96
8.32
2.73
2.62
c
tTl
>4
H
27
FIELD CROPS FOR PUMP IRRIGATION
EVAPORATION
TABLE B. MONTHLY, TOTAL AND AVERAGE EVAPORATION BY MONTHS
FOR THE MONTHS APR9L TO OCTOBER. INCLUSIVE, AT THE TIARNEY
BRANCI-0 EXPERiMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS 1920 TO 1927,
INCLUSIVE, AND AVERAGE MONTHLY AND TOTAL
EVAPORATION FOR THE SAME MONTHS FOR
TI-IF YEARS 9914 TO 1927, EXCEPT 1923
Month and amount of evaporation
August September October
Total
5124
4.948
6.671
6.900
4.445
5.715
3.730
2.226
2.849
3.024
4.028
2.300
2,687
2,425
44.616
41.143
44.947
8.008
5.362
2.791
43.669
8.115
5.768
2.830
43.527
Year
April
May
June
July
1920
1921
1922
l94
4.318
3.636
3.217
5.226
3.915
4.070
3.378
S.600
6.092
5.950
8.552
5.286
6.199
5.159
6.593
6.080
8.869
9.893
6.358
8.504
6.276
9.482
9.330
9.210
10.848
9.392
10.057
8.063
8.273
8.208
8.006
9.058
7.499
8.256
6.758
Seven-year
average Thirteen-year
average
3.966
6.548
7.510
9.483
3.968
6.246
7.585
9.389
1925
1926
1927
54.505
39.195
45.488
35.789
WIND
TABLE C. AVERAGE MONTHLY AND ANNUAL WIND VELOCITY, TOGETHER WITH THE EIGHT- AND FOURTEENYEAR AVERAGES AT THE HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS 1920 TO 1927
AND 1914 TO 1927, INCLUSIVE
Year
January February March
3.7
30
7.6
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
3.3
1.9
2.5
4.5
2.7
2.1
3.8
2.1
3.1
3.4
3.8
2.8
3.0
3.4
2.9
2.3
197
Eight-year average
Fourteen-year average
3.9
..
May
June
July
August
6.3
7.4
5.8
4.9
5.2
5.3
4.2
3.9
4.4
3.9
3.7
3.1
3.2
3.2
3.4
4.4
2.9
3.2
2.8
3.4
3.7
2.8
4.1
3.4
3.4
3.5
3.4
3.6
4.1
3.7
4.8
5.5
4.7
3.4
4.3
5.1
6.3
4.4
4.0
4.3
3.8
3.9
3.7
3.4
4.4
3.4
4.8
2.9
5.5
5.4
5.2
5.7
4.3
4.7
3.8
4.0
5.7
5.1
5.2
4.5
4.9
5.5
3.8
4.8
4.4
3.5
Septem- Octo- Novem- December
ber
ber
ber Annual
April
4.3.
5.5
3.1
3.7
4.6
2.2
3.2
3.8
4.7
2.7
3.6
3.1
2.6
2.6
2.5
3.4
1.7
3.4
3.2
3.6
3.6
2.9
3.2
5.1
4.2
3.2
2.3
2.6
2.8
2.7
4.5
3.9
3.6
3.6
4.0
3.4
3.8
3.7
2.8
2.9
3.8
4.0
1.4
2.9
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES
TABLE D. AVERAGE MONTHLY AND ANNUAL MAXIMIM TEMPERATURES. TOGETHER WITH THE EIGHT- AND
FOURTEEN-YEAR AVERAGES AT THE HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS
1920 TO 1927 AND 1914 TO 1927, INCLUS1VE
Year
January February March
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
35
33
23
35
33
35
35
Eight-yeai- average -----------
33
33
Fourteen-year average
34
April
May
June
44
37
32
37
47
45
43
37
48
47
36
52
47
56
58
48
54
55
66
73
65
77
51
67
66
78
81
69
69
76
84
63
40
49
49
58
59
68
68
39
58
62
61
66
55
70
81
July
86
87
87
87
87
NovemAverage
August September October ber December annual
85
86
76
86
72
69
72
79
58
68
52
60
62
65
63
61
62
90
85
83
85
75
87
83
76
70
70
68
77
77
88
87
84
85
72
73
91
63
43
35
52
34
52
45
46
38
24
37
26
38
33
33
58
59
53
60
61
61
62
58
33
33
59
59
51
49
47
47
AVERAGE MINIMUM TEMPERATURES
TABLE E. AVERAGE MONTHLY AND ANNUAL MINIMUM TEMPERATURES, TOGETHER WITH THE EIGHT- AND
FOURTEEN-YEAR AVERAGES AT THE HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS
1920 TO 1927 AND 1914 TO .1927, INCLUSIVE
Year
January February
March Apiil
25
28
25
1920
1921
1922
1923
13
11
20
-6
16
10
1924
1925
1926
1927
4
13
26
25
12
27
15
21
27
24
32
33
28
10
10
19
22
22
28
29
Eight-year average
Fourteen-year average
-__-
12
11
17
24
21
14
21
21
24
25
29
May
June
29
36
32
36
34
39
33
34
38
42
34
34
July August September October
27
26
23
22
33
36
32
35
17
20
22
22
27
35
27
29
27
26
25
25
33
33
27
26
43
41
43
42
43
39
41
44
40
27
40
39
44
44
42
42
38
37
42
13
her December annual
36
30
41
43
44
44
42
48
48
43
40
Average
Novem-
17
15
10
12
4
22
14
28
27
24
F
31
30
8
29
23
13
21
11
28
27
29
-
28
26
(')
0
"1
0
AVERAGE MEAN TEMPERATURES
TABLE F. AVERAGE MEAN MONTHLY AND ANNUAL TEMPERATURES, TOGETI-IER WITH THE EIGHT- AND FOURTEEN-YEAR AVERAGES AT THE HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION FOR THE YEARS 1920
TO 1927 AND 1914 TO 1927, INCLUSIVE
Year
May
June
38
41
35
43
43
46
49
47
50
50
54
51
55
59
60
54
59
59
63
42
48
42
43
51
51
January February March April
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
24
25
8
25
18
Eight-year average
Fourteen-year average
22
21
32
25
21
24
37
35
35
24
23
25
-
36
38
26
37
29
34
40
42
37
30
28
36
36
51
56
Novem-
II
.
July August September October ber December Average
42
36
63
63
60
65
62
59
64
65
66
65
65
69
69
65
61
48
52
46
43
44
45
44
59
58
66
65
63
63
52
53
43
43
62
64
54
49
53
57
54
52
40
33
37
26
36
25
27
19
25
34
34
15
30
39
24
20
39
35
34
23
22
43
43
39
44
43
46
46
43
43
43
\0
30
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETiN 236
FROST-FREE PERIOD
TABLE G. DATE OF LAST SPRING FROST AND FIRST FALL FROST OF 29°
F. OR LESS, WITH THE TEMPERATURE, AND ANNUAL FROST-FREE
PERIODS AT THE HARNEY BRANCH EXPERIMENT STATION
Year
--Last frost in spring
Date
Temperatui-e
June 27
29° F.
July 2
28°
June 23
21°
june 14
29°
July 7
29°
June 11
27°
June 16
28°
May 29
22°
Eight-year average 1920 to 1927 Fourteen-rear average 1914 to 1927
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
.----First frost in fall-Date
July 22
September 10
September 6
Seutember 18
August 21
August 15
September 3
August 31
Temperature
29° F.
23°
29°
22°
22°
27°
27°
25°
Frost-f ccc
period
(clays)
24
43
14
95
43
64
78
93
64
57