2005 Irrigation Demonstration Results Ark Valley Research Center Hanagan Farms Proctor Farms

Ark Valley Research Center

2005 VEGETABLE CROP REPORTS Jim Valliant and Mike Bartolo Arkansas Valley Research Center Colorado State University Plots – Each plot was two beds wide (5 feet) and 25’ long. Each bed had two rows spaced 10" apart on top of the bed with an in-row spacing between plants of ~3”. Eight bed feet (8’ X 1 row) was used for yield determination. Each plot was replicated four times in the trial. For the drip trial, a single drip line was placed down the center. The furrow-irrigated onions received 96.0 inches of irrigation water and the drip-irrigated onions received 27.0 inches. Polymer Application –“AgriBlend” – (HYDROGEL + zeolite) was banded at the rate of 20 lbs/acre prior to planting on March 7. The AgriBlend was applied by hand in the area to be seeded to onions. *HYDROGEL is a cross-linked molecular structured polyacrylamide (polymer). Planted - March 8 th, 2005 (var. Ranchero – Nunhems Seeds) Harvest and Grade – September, 2005

Treatment Colossals  4" % Jumbos 3"-4" % Medium 2  "-3" % Cull %Total Market. Weight CWT/A Polymer Treated Control lsd=.1 ns ns ns ns ns Effect of Polymer Treatment on Drip-Irrigated Onions (Variety-Ranchero). Treatment Colossals  4" % Jumbos 3"-4" % Medium 2  "-3" % Cull %Total Market. Weight CWT/A Polymer Treated Control Effect of Polymer Treatment on Furrow-Irrigated Onions (Variety-Ranchero). lsd=.1 ns ns ns ns ns

Hanagan Farms

2005 IRRIGATION DEMONSTRATION REPORTS Jim Valliant Cooperative Extension Colorado State University Zones – Each zone of the drip irrigation system was 8.0 acres with 60-inch beds. Three rows of onions were planted on each bed. Each row was spaced 7 inches apart. The drip lines were placed in the center of the beds about 15 inches below the surface. Eight feet of bed was harvested (8’ X 3 rows of onions) at 12 locations in each treatment for yield determination. Approximately 30.0 inches was applied through the drip-irrigation system. Polymer Application – “AgriBlend” – (HYDROGEL* + zeolite) was banded at the rate of 10 lbs/acre in the transplant furrow just prior to transplanting the seedling onions. The AgriBlend was applied immediately behind the transplant furrow-opening chisel. *HYDROGEL is a cross- linked molecular structured polyacrylamide (polymer). Transplanted – April 10, 2005 Harvest and Grade – July 26, 2005

Effect of Polymer Treatment on Drip-Irrigated, Transplanted Yellow Onions (Variety-Vaquero). Treatment Colossals  4" % Jumbos 3"-4" % Medium 2  "-3" % Prepacks < 2  " % Total Market. Weight CWT/A Polymer Treated Control lsd=.1 ns ns ns ns ns

Proctor Farms SDI

2005 IRRIGATION DEMONSTRATION REPORTS Jim Valliant Cooperative Extension Colorado State University Zones – Each zone of the drip irrigation system was 5.7 acres with 60-inch beds. Six rows of onions were planted on each bed. Each row was spaced 3 inches apart. The drip lines were placed in the center of the beds approximately 8 inches below the surface. Eight feet of bed was harvested (8’ X 6 rows of onions) at nine locations in each treatment for yield determination. Approximately 26.5 inches of water was applied through the drip-irrigation system. Polymer Application – “AgriBlend” – (HYDROGEL + zeolite) polymer was banded at the rate of 10 lbs/acre at planting on March 1 and 2. The AgriBlend was applied in front of the covering wheel so that it was in the furrow with the seed. *HYDROGEL is a cross-linked molecular structured polyacrylamide (polymer). Planted - March 1, 2005 (Cometa), March 2, 2005 (Vaquero) Harvest and Grade – August 29 and 30, 2005

Effect of Polymer Treatment on Drip-Irrigated Seeded White Onions (Variety-Cometa). Treatment Colossals  4" % Jumbos 3"-4" % Medium 2  "-3" % Prepacks < 2  " % Total Market. Weight CWT/A Polymer Treated Control lsd=.1 ns ns ns ns ns Effect of Polymer Treatment on Drip-Irrigated Seeded Yellow Onions (Variety-Vaquero). Treatment Colossals  4" % Jumbos 3"-4" % Medium 2  "-3" % Prepacks < 2  " % Total Market. Weight CWT/A Polymer Treated Control lsd=.1 ns ns ns ns ns

Transplant Furrow-opening Chisel

Hand Transplanting Onions

Transplanted Onions with Polymer

2005 IRRIGATION DEMONSTRATION REPORTS Jim Valliant Cooperative Extension Colorado State University Areas – The field was bedded with 30-inch spacing and the onions were planted at two rows per bed. The rows were 8 inches apart. Eight feet of bed was harvested (8’ X 2 rows of onions) at 9 locations in each treatment for yield determination. Polymer Application – – “AgriBlend” – (HYDROGEL* + zeolite) was banded at the rate of 10 lbs/acre in the transplant furrow just prior to transplanting the seedling onions. The AgriBlend was applied immediately behind the transplant furrow-opening chisel. *HYDROGEL is a cross-linked molecular structured polyacrylamide (polymer). Transplanted – April 14, 2005 (Cometa), April 16,2005 (Vaquero), April 20 (Red Wing) Harvest and Grade – August 25, 2005

Effect of Polymer Treatment on Furrow-Irrigated, Transplanted White Onions (Variety-Cometa). Treatment Colossals  4" % Jumbos 3"-4" % Medium 2  "-3" % Prepacks < 2  " % Total Market. Weight CWT/A Polymer Treated Control lsd=.1 ns ns ns ns ns

Effect of Polymer Treatment on Furrow-Irrigated, Transplanted Yellow Onions (Variety-Vaquero). Treatment Colossals  4" % Jumbos 3"-4" % Medium 2  "-3" % Prepacks < 2  " % Total Market. Weight CWT/A Polymer Treated Control lsd=.1 ns ns ns ns ns

Effect of Polymer Treatment on Furrow-Irrigated Purple Onions (Variety-Red Wing). Treatment Colossals  4" % Jumbos 3"-4" % Medium 2  "-3" % Prepacks < 2  " % Total Market. Weight CWT/A Polymer Treated Control lsd=.1ns ns ns ns ns