FIFTY YEARS OF AGRONOMIC RESEARCH
IN WESTERN COLORADO

C. H. Pearson, H.M. Golus, and R.W. Hammon

Fruita Research Center
1910 L Road
Fruita, CO 81521

     The Fruita Research Center is operated under the direction of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) and is one of ten such research centers located throughout Colorado.  Research centers are located in major geographic regions of the State and conduct research on topics and issues that are of agricultural interest in the region.  Personnel at these centers have a wide range of agriculturally-related experience and expertise.  The Fruita Research Center conducts agronomic and entomological research throughout west central and northwest Colorado.  Research results are intended for this region; however, some of the results are applicable to other regions, states, and countries. 

     The mountains and valleys of western Colorado create unique environments that permit farming in many locations.  Because of the unique conditions in these locations, farming practices must be suited to these environments.  Site- and situation-specific agronomic research is essential to develop technologies that are appropriate for these unique environments.  The mission of the CAES is to focus and support research leading to an agriculture that is economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially acceptable.  The central focus of the research at the Fruita Research Center is to plan, implement, and conduct agronomic research programs that address the broad needs of agriculture in western Colorado. 

   Educational meetings and events are sponsored by the University and other agencies and organizations in which CAES personnel have the opportunity to inform people about the latest developments in crop production and alert them to production problems and current management situations.  Biennial field days are 

Combining wheat at Fruita Research Center,
Fruita, Colorado, 1997.  June 04, 2009, 11:22:16 AM, MDT

     Over the years at the Fruita Research Center, research has been conducted on a wide range of agronomic topics including: development and evaluation of various crops, soil fertility, salinity management, conservation tillage, integrated pest management, weed control and herbicide use, new and alternative crops, specialty crops, crop production efficiency, and evaluation of agricultural products and inputs.  The regional advisory/outreach committee, which consists of farmers, agribusiness, and other interested individuals helps to identify needs, problems, and opportunities, and the committee offers direction for conducting research to obtain the desired information.

     The Fruita Research Center is located in the Grand Valley of Mesa County, two miles northeast of the City of Fruita, Colorado.  At an elevation of about 4500 feet, the area receives from 8 to 12 inches of annual rainfall with an annual frost-free season of up to 175 days.  The average annual daily minimum and maximum temperatures are 41°F and 64°F, respectively.  Many soils in the area formed in residuum that weathered from sandstone or shale.  Some soils formed in alluvium that was derived from sandstone and shale deposited in the major valleys and on bordering uplands.

    The CAES and the Fruita Research Center, along with support from local governments, agencies, private companies, and other organizations, have sought to be responsive to the agricultural needs in western and northwest Colorado by conducting agronomic research that provides answers to related problems and identifies new opportunities for growers, while at the same time making agriculture more profitable and sustainable.

1949-1953

     Following preliminary work dating to 1945, plans for agronomic/salinity management research in western Colorado were initiated in 1949 by the CAES and the USDA Agricultural Research Service and Soil Conservation Service.  Two side-by-side research sites at Bethel Corners, located approximately four miles northwest of Grand Junction, were selected to represent local moderate and severe saline/sodic soil conditions.

     The expanded scope of the research now included the addition of a resident CSU agronomist to be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the project and resources were allocated to establish both the leaching/forage production plots and a crop rotation/fertility study.  This formal administrative structure provided the basis for the current Fruita Research Center.  New research proposals from the CSU Department of Agricultural Engineering were initiated to deal with the unique Grand Valley hydrological problems related to seepage, drainage, and salt loading into the Colorado River, and at the same time the CAES launched new research into other agronomic areas.

     In 1964, the Fruita Unit was established near Fruita in an area representing mainstream irrigated Grand Valley agriculture.  An arrangement utilizing 40 acres of leased land from the farmer, Leslie Gosnell, provided researchers with field-lab facilities and additional farming  resources.  The research emphasis now included crop variety testing of corn, alfalfa, small grains, sorghum, dry beans, and tomatoes, soil fertility studies, and evaluation of sugarbeet cultural practices.  To better serve the larger segment of western Colorado agriculture, similar research was expanded to grower fields at Delta, Olathe, and Montrose and to dryland sites at Rifle, Meeker, Craig, and Hayden for small grain and alfalfa variety trials.  These off-station projects allowed Research Center staff greater opportunity to interact directly with CSU Cooperative Extension personnel and growers throughout the region.

Sign located at Bethel Corners, 1953

    Upon retirement of Leslie Gosnell in 1976, the leased acreage, buildings, equipment, and the additional 40 acres of the farm were purchased by the University.  Shortly thereafter, the research unit was formally named the Fruita Research Center and the staff and office were moved from Grand Junction to its current location at 19l0 L Road.

     Closing of the tomato cannery, followed by loss of the sugarbeet industry in western Colorado at the end of the 1976 growing season, prompted renewed interest in dry bean production.  The renewed interest in dry bean production stimulated including the Fruita Research Center as another site in the United States for evaluating of dry bean lines from public and private breeding programs.  In 1981, a new combination dry bean conditioning facility and storage building was built to upgrade the Western Colorado Foundation Seed Project in response to the need to support the expanding certified seed production by members of the western region of the Colorado Seed Growers Association.

In addition to traditional research activities, experiments concerned with conservation tillage practices, malting barley varieties and experimental lines, and spring durum wheat were conducted

     Agronomic research conducted over the years at the Fruita Research Center has required the efforts of many researchers and support staff.  A chronological list of professional staff, listed in Appendix I, acknowledges their service to western Colorado agriculture.  Many other persons not listed also participated and contributed in varying degrees in this effort.

     Publication of results is an essential aspect of research. Research results from the Fruita Research Center have been published in CAES Technical Bulletins and Reports, conference proceedings, miscellaneous publications of various organizations, refereed journals, Cooperative Extension publications, book chapters, reports to industry, and other publications. Appendix II lists all publically available publications of research from the Fruita Research Center since 1985.

     Crop irrigation with the additional leaching fraction of water coupled with the 2- to 4-foot drawdown of the water table in response to seasonal drainage well pumping at Bethel Corners, resulted in the successful leaching of excess salts at the moderately saline site.  Final yields obtained from the corn/sugarbeet/barley/alfalfa rotation and fertility experiment were comparable to local nonsaline cropland.  At the other site, in one experiment, level zero-slope basins were formed and leached with irrigation water over two growing seasons.  Subsequent plantings of alfalfa in the basins resulted in good stands but forage yields declined with time due to the re-accumulation of salts in the profile.  Tall wheatgrass was planted after the fifth year and vigorous growth of this salt tolerant plant, combined with leaching fractions of irrigation water, resulted in increasing forage yields over three years of production.  Final soil analysis data indicated that excess soluble salts had been leached and exchangeable sodium reduced to acceptable levels.

Concerns regarding salt being carried to the Colorado River, partially due to over irrigation, resulted in a USDA-ARS decision to use level basins as an agronomic research approach to the problem.  Seven, 1-acre research basins were constructed at the Research Center during 1976 and leveled to a final zero slope.  Large volume flood irrigations resulted in high water use efficiencies (90-95%) and substantially reduced deep percolation of water, minimizing movement of soluble salts through the soil profile into the underground water table. 
Weighing lysimeters were installed in several basins to measure evapotranspiration and to monitor salt and water movement through the soil profile and its subsequent discharge to the water table.  Although crops such as dry bean did not tolerate flood irrigation even when furrowed ridges were used in basins, yields of corn, small grain, and alfalfa equaled those of adjacent furrow irrigated fields once several years elapsed to restore fertility, residue/organic matter, and soil structure to the major cuts and fills required during initial leveling.

  C.L. Horton, (USDA-ARS)Agricultural Aide, checking irrigation advance and lateral movement of water in furrows, 1953.

In 1980, ARS personnel utilized 15 acres at the Research Center to construct 3 side-by-side, 5-acre zero-slope basins to evaluate larger-sized basins.  Maximum crop production was not realized in these basins as a result of the severe soil cuts and fills.  High maintenance requirements of the berms and supplemental pumping of water from the Little Salt Wash was needed to achieve efficient flood irrigation of the 5-acre sites.  The project was terminated in 1990 and all basins were releveled to their original graded-furrow slope. 

     An alternative approach to achieving improved irrigation water use efficiency and reduced salt load into the Colorado River was afforded by the Federal Colorado River Salinity Control Project.  This cost-share program enabled the Research Center and qualified valley agricultural producers to replace, for example, dirt ditches and deteriorated on-farm and to-farm delivery systems with underground irrigation water supply lines and above ground gated pipe with surge values and controller systems for furrow irrigation applications.  This program has been available for grower participation since 1986.

Field day tour at Bethal Corners, 1964

  The ARS also conducted infiltration research on graded furrows.  The goal of this work was to quantify the variability of infiltration during surface irrigation and to identify the processes that contribute to infiltration variability.  Much of the data was acquired by monitoring water inflow and outflow in graded furrows.  Considerable data was obtained using a flowing furrow infiltrometer.  Analysis of the data indicated that tillage practices, moisture content at the time of tillage, antecedent moisture at the time of irrigation, and the number of previous irrigations all have marked effects on infiltration.

 The development of pelleted seed enabled sugarbeet growers to plant fields to optimal stands and to maximize efficient use of herbicides.  Trials confirmed that properly placed preplant plus timely post emergence applications of herbicides resulted in near weed-free fields.  This technology, developed in the late 1960's, was in use until the mid-70's when sugarbeet production was terminated in western Colorado.  Increased early leaf area production in sugarbeet experiments pointed to the importance of early plantings for maximum utilization of solar radiation.  The resultant early canopy growth boosted final root yields.  Although high beet tonnage yields were readily possible, high sugar percentages and purity values were more elusive goals to attain on the western slope.

     Based on multiple data sets obtained at the Research Center, split applications of nitrogen have generally proven to be more efficient in obtaining maximum yields for both corn and small grains.  When all the nitrogen is applied preplant and the germination irrigation is applied, leaching of nitrate-nitrogen may occur due to the long irrigation set times needed to wet the seed.  Further experiments indicated that preplant ammonia fertilizer applied with N-serve® was one option that reduced the loss of nitrogen.  Alfalfa fertility trials revealed that for maximum yields, phosphorus fertilizer was required to maintain adequate soil P, whereas potash fertilizer applications resulted in the buildup of soil potassium.

Alfalfa

     Alfalfa variety trials conducted at the Fruita Research Center have shown that many varieties are well-adapted and can produce high yields under good management systems.  The need for alfalfa stem nematode resistant varieties became apparent during the late 1970's and resulted in closer observations for varieties that were less susceptible to this organism.  In recent years, several field studies have been conducted in cooperation with a private alfalfa breeding company to identify alfalfa germplasm anddevelop varieties that are resistant to stem nematodes.  Other studies have investigated the effect of late season irrigation management and chemical control of the alfalfa stem nematode.

Minour Amemiya (CSU/USDA-ARS) Soil Scientist, 
      standing in first year alfalfa.

Hay preservatives using bacterial and nutritional products have been evaluated at the Research Center.  Use of these materials permits baling at higher moisture contents, allowing growers to bale their hay sooner, while maintaining quality hay and decreasing the chance of the weather causing damage to the hay.

     Each year replicated corn variety performance tests are conducted at Fruita (long and short season grain and silage), Delta (short season grain), and Olathe (silage) to obtain local variety performance data.  Growers can refer to data obtained for plant population, lodging, yield, and harvest moisture as they decide which corn hybrids are appropriate for their farming operation.

     In 1969, one corn variety in the long season grain test produced a hand-harvested yield of 304 bushels per acre.  This high yield was again obtained under machine harvest conditions with another corn hybrid in the 1997 Fruita long-season grain test.  These results demonstrate crop production capabilities in the Valley's long growing season, favorable temperatures, low humidity, low disease incidence, high solar radiation, fertilizer-respon-
sive soils, and quality irrigation water that allows researchers and farmers who use suitable management to optimize economic crop yields.

Spider mites, especially Banks grass mite, are serious pests of corn grown in the lower valleys of western Colorado.  Miticides are tested for effectiveness against spider mite species, and their resistance level to dimethoate is monitored annually. Education of growers to identify and manage overwintering sites to reduce spider mite levels during the growing season is a high priority project.

Karl White, summer hourly employee, laying out sweet corn nitrogen fertility plots at the Fruita Research Center, 1994.

Other experiments evaluated narrow rows, or multiple row plantings, with populations up to 42,000 plants per acre.  Relatively high plant populations of adapted varieties continued to yield well, whereas narrow or multiple row schemes have not had the effect initially anticipated.

     Dry bean variety performance tests of many market types have been routinely conducted to evaluate new varieties and determine those that are adapted to western Colorado.  Breeding work conducted at the Research Center during the late 1970's and early 1980's was valuable in developing new material and identifying potential new dry bean varieties.  The Research Center has been the major location in the State in recent years for increasing seed of promising dry bean material and potential new varieties.  Many dry bean market types, 

     Irrigated winter grains of adapted varieties of barley and soft white wheat have responded to nitrogen, yielding more than 160 and 130 bushels per acre, respectively.Wheat and barley grown under intensive crop fertility management are often susceptible to lodging. Research results obtained at the Research Center indicated that application of plant growth regulators (ethephon) in barley are useful in reducing lodging in barley.  Spring durum wheat, planted in the fall, produced grain yields of 110 to 120 bushels per acre at the Research Center.  These yields were achieved using higher seeding rates than those used for other classes of wheat.  Split applications of nitrogen fertilizer, varieties, and other grain quality control factors of this pasta wheat were investigated.  Production of durum wheat in western Colorado waned because of unstable markets and prices.

    Dryland winter and spring wheat and barley variety trials in northwest Colorado have provided area growers with yield performance information on released and experimental lines.  Over the years, varietal yields have ranged from approximately 10 to 60 bushels per acre, depending on rainfall patterns.  Dwarf bunt resistance, plant height, test weight, crop maturity, protein content, along with yield are important plant traits for growers in northwest Colorado.  Although plots located at Meeker were discontinued in 1993, the Hayden site continues to address the needs of growers in northwest Colorado.

     Commercial production of soybeans in western Colorado was initiated in the mid-1980's.  Yields of high quality seed were a promising sign for continued production.  Research conducted on-station and in Delta and Montrose Counties provided growers with information regarding plant response to local environments, adapted varieties, inoculant types, row spacing, plant populations, herbicides, and nitrogen fertilizer application.  Soybeans produced in the Grand Valley were particularly promising because of high yields and high quality, but with difficulties related to markets and transporting the harvested crop the acreage dropped from a high of nearly 2000 acres during the late 1980's to only a few acres in recent years.

Aerial infared photograph of Russian wheat aphid experiment at the Fruita Research Center, 1990.

     Research on the Russian wheat aphid has been conducted to identify the crop stages during which irreversible damage occurs, chemical control, biological control, management of fall infestations by adjustments of planting dates, and evaluation of Russian wheat aphid resistant wheat and barley germplasm to ensure maximum production. Studies on the Russian wheat aphid have shown that microclimate effects on south-facing slopes allow overwintering of not only Russian wheat aphid, but Banks grass mite, which affects corn production, and wheat curl mite, which transmits virus diseases in wheat, corn, and sweet corn, to survive many winters in a non diapause condition. Identification and management of overwintering sites is an important aspect of the Russian wheat aphid program. Integrated management of pests of small grains, corn, alfalfa, and other field crops remain a major research topic at the Fruita Research Center.

     Although tomatoes for commercial production are no longer grown in western Colorado, sweet corn (fresh market and seed), onions, and lettuce are grown. Interest in expanded production of other vegetable crops such as squash, asparagus, bell pepper, cauliflower, cantaloupe, and various other small acreage crops is increasing.  Colorado State University Cooperative Extension personnel have conducted variety trials at the Research Center for some of these crops.  Over the past 25 years other new, novel, and alternative crops have been evaluated.  These include: mini-millet, rice, corn nuts, sunflower, Austrian winter pea, safflower, poppy pod, garbanzo bean, rapeseed, Utah sweet vetch, Tinga flat pea, kenaf, and seed production for turfgrass, zinnia, onion, and carrots.  Although agronomic production is possible for some of these crops, the lack of markets or market location prohibited further development.

     Conservation tillage research at the Fruita Research Center has been ongoing for nearly a decade.  Considerable progress has been made in learning how to manage large quantities of surface crop residue without causing problems when furrow irrigating.  Identifying suitable planting and cultivating equipment that will operate in high residue conditions and in furrow-irrigated cropping systems, and developing cropping systems that are adapted for furrow-irrigation conditions are important components of this research project.  Conservation tillage under furrow-irrigated conditions provides growers with a profitable and more environmentally-sustainable farming alternatives than is currently available with many clean-tillage systems.

     Today, we essentially live in a global economy.  Western Colorado agricultural commodities and products face tough competition from regions in the U.S. and from foreign markets.  The net effect is increased competition in the agricultural marketplace for western Colorado products.  Successful competition will require the development of new methods, managements, and technologies and their rapid adoption by growers.  Research leading toward increased production efficiency, development of new and alternative crops, and improved quality of traditional crops will likely continue to be important research areas for the future.   Additional research will be needed to ensure that agricultural production practices are environmentally safe and sustainable.  Agronomic research conducted under local conditions of western Colorado plays an important part in shaping and dealing with changes that are taking place in agriculture.  Future agronomic research is aimed at developing new technology for a more profitable and sustainable agriculture in western Colorado and is expected to include:

Fruita Research Center looking south towards headquarters, 1997.

• Production efficiency and quality improvement of traditional crops.

• Varietal evaluation and development of traditional crops.

• Identification and evaluation of new and alternative crops, particularly those that do not compete with food and feed applications.

• Conservation tillage and other research to promote economically and environmentally safe practices.

• Impartial testing of proprietary products available to farmers.  They include: herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, bactericides, growth regulators/stimulants, fertilizers, wetting agents, soil erosion control compounds, alfalfa and silage preservatives, and inoculants.

• Integrated pest management, which includes cultural, chemical and biological control of insects, diseases, weeds, and nematodes.

Croissant, R. L., F. C. Schweissing, C. H. Pearson, H. M. Golus, and J. W. Echols.  1985.  Performance test of corn             hybrids in Colorado 1984. Colorado State Univ. Exp. Sta. Progress Report 23.

Olsen, S. R., D. F. Champion, Ron Yoder, H. Golus, Calvin Pearson, and Frank Schweissing.  1985.  The role of ammonium nutrition in higher yields.  Agron. Abstr.  77:180.

Pearson, Calvin H., Donald R. Wood, Marco Ballarin, and Harold M. Golus.  1985.  Dry bean variety evaluations in western Colorado.  Colorado State University Technical Report No. 85-5.

Echols, James W., Robert L. Croissant, Frank C. Schweissing, Harold Golus, Calvin Pearson, James P. Hain, Randall J. Ristau, and Phillip Miklas.  1986.  Performance test of corn hybrids and soybean varieties in Colorado 1985.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report 86-l.

Pearson, Calvin H., Harold M. Golus, and Phillip N. Miklas.  1986. Conducting off-station agronomic research.  Service in Action Sheet no..115. Colorado State University Extension Service, Fort Collins, CO.

Pearson, Calvin H., Ronald B. Schmidt, and Mark A. Brick.  1986.  Cleaning and conditioning field crop seed.  Service in Action Sheet no..304.  Colorado State University Extension Service, Fort Collins, CO.

Echols, J. W., R. L. Croissant, F. C. Schweissing, H. Golus, C. Pearson, J. P. Hain, R. J. Ristau, and P. Miklas.  1987.  Performance tests of corn hybrids and soybean varieties in Colorado. 1986.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report 87-3.

Miklas, P. N., H. M. Golus, J. S. Quick, and C. H. Pearson.  1987. Dryland winter and spring wheat cultivar performance tests in northwestern Colorado. 1983-86.  Colorado State University Technical Report TR87-7.

Miklas, P. N., and C. H. Pearson.  1987.  Effect of seed size and depth of planting on seedling emergence and yield of two pinto bean cultivars.  Annual Report of the Bean Improvement Cooperative Vol. 30:77-78.

Pearson, C. H., H. M. Golus, and P. N. Miklas.  1987.  Alfalfa variety performance test in western Colorado during 1984-1986.  Colorado State University Technical Report TR87-4.

Pearson, C. H., and H. M. Golus.  1987.  Ethephon application and nitrogen fertilization in irrigated winter barley.  Agron. Abstr.  79:119.

Pearson, C. H., P. N. Miklas, and H. M. Golus.  1987.  Soybean Production in the Grand Valley of Colorado, 1986: Variety performance test, farmer field sampling, and prospectus.  Colorado State University Technical Report TR87-5.

Echols, J. W., R. L. Croissant, F. C. Schweissing, H. Golus, C. Pearson, J. P. Hain, R. J. Ristau, and P. Miklas.  1988.  Performance tests of corn hybrid varieties, corn population studies, and soybean varieties in Colorado, 1987.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report  TR88-1.

Golus, H. M., and C. H. Pearson.  1988.  Thirty-nine years of agronomic research in western Colorado.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Stan., Fort Collins, CO.  November 1988.

Hammon, R.   1988.  Russian wheat aphid host plants in western Colorado.  In: Proceedings of the Second Russian Wheat Aphid Workshop, Denver, CO.  October 11-12, 1988

Miller, S, W.L. Meyer and F.B. Peairs. 1988. Aerial control of corn spider mites, Fry Farm, Fruita, CO. in: 1988 Colorado Field Crop Insect Management Research and Demonstration Trials. Colo St. Univ. Coop. Ext. Bull.

Pearson, C. H., and H. M. Golus.  1988.  Variety performance, inoculation, row spacing, and nitrogen fertilization of soybean in western Colorado.  1987.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR88-7.

Pearson, C. H., and H. M. Golus.  1988.  Variety performance tests and nitrogen fertility trial of dry beans in western Colorado, 1985-1987.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR88-6.

Pearson, C. H., H. M. Golus, and D. L. Rogers.  1988.  Weed control in an urban area.  J. Agron. Educ. 17:105-108.

Riley, R. H., M. A. Brick, D. Wood, M. Ballarin, C. Pearson, and P. Chapman.  1988.  Yield and yield components of dry beans in biblend mixtures of bush and vine growth habit.  Annual Report of the Bean Improvement Cooperative Vol. 31:78.

Echols, J. W., R. L. Croissant, F. C. Schweissing, H. Golus, C. Pearson, J. P. Hain, and R. J. Ristau.  1989.  Performance tests of corn hybrid varieties, corn population studies, and soybean varieties in Colorado.  1988.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR89-2.

Hammon, B.  1989. The influence of irrigation bedding direction on overwintering RWA in western Colorado.  In: Proceedings of the Russian Wheat Aphid Conference,  Albuquerque, NM. October 25-27, 1989.

Pearson, C.H., and H.M. Golus. 1989. Field performance of fall-planted durum wheat in a mild arid climate.  Agron. Abstr. 81-142.

Pearson, C. H., H. M. Golus, and F. M. Judson.  1989.  Cultivar performance tests, row spacing, and plant population of soybeans in western Colorado, 1988.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR89-5.

Pearson, C. H., H. M. Golus, and T. A. Tindall.  1989.  Ethephon application and nitrogen fertilization of  irrigated winter barley in an arid environment.  Agron. J. 81:717-719.

Tindall, T.A., and C.H. Pearson.  1989.  Ethephon's effect on irrigated spring barley under varying moisture and nitrogen levels.  Agron. Abstr. 81-254.

Tindall, T. A., C. H. Pearson, and S. Olsen.  1989.  Ethephon application to spring barley under variable nitrogen and moisture regimes.  J. Fert. Issues 6:77-82.

Wood, D. R., M. Ballarin, H. F. Schwartz, M. A. Brick, and C. H. Pearson.  1989.  Registration of 'Bill Z' pinto bean.  Crop Sci. 29:488.

Brick, M. A., D. R. Wood, M. Ballarin, H. F. Schwartz, C. H. Pearson, J. B. Ogg, and J. W. Echols.  1990.  Registration of three bean breeding lines.  Annual Report of the Bean Improvement Cooperative vol. 33:196.

Echols, J. W., R. L. Croissant, F. C. Schweissing, H. Golus, C. Pearson, J. P. Hain, and R. J. Ristau.  1990.  Performance tests of corn hybrid varieties and soybean varieties in Colorado, 1989.  Colo. State Univ. Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Rpt.  TR90-1.

Follett, R. H., P. A. Kendall, T. J. Doherty, C. E. Williamson, H. M. Golus, and M. W. Stack.  1990.  Selenium levels found in soil, water, vegetable and field crop samples in western Colorado.  Colo. State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bul.  LTB90-2.

Hammon, R.W. and  F.B. Peairs.  1990.  Microclimate and RWA winter survival.  In: Proceedings of the Fourth Russian Wheat Aphid Workshop, Bozeman, MT.  October 10-12, 1990

Pearson, C. H., and H. M. Golus.  1990.  Ear stunting in corn in western Colorado.  Colorado State Univ.,  Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR90-7.

Pearson, C. H., and H. M. Golus.  1990.  Cultivar performance tests 1987-1989, forage yield history, and management of alfalfa in western Colorado.  Colorado State Univ.,  Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR90-4.

Pearson, C. H., and H. M. Golus.  1990.  Row spacing, plant population, and inoculation of irrigated soybeans in an arid environment of western USA.  Agron. Abstr. 82:154.

Pearson, C. H., H. M. Golus, and F. M. Judson.  1990.  Cultivar performance tests, inoculation, and plant population of soybeans in western Colorado, 1989.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR90-5.

Westra, P., C. H. Pearson, and R. Ristau.  1990.  Control of Venice mallow (Hibiscus trionum) in corn (Zea mays) and onions (Allium cepa).  Weed Tech. 4:500-504.

Brick, M. A., D. R. Wood, M. Ballarin, H. F. Schwartz, C. H. Pearson, J. B. Ogg, and J. W. Echols.  1991.  Registration of three germplasm lines of pinto bean.  Crop Sci. 31:1100-1101.

Echols, James W., Robert L. Croissant, Frank C. Schweissing, Harold Golus, Calvin Pearson, and James P. Hain.  1991.  Performance tests of corn hybrid varieties and corn population study in Colorado, 1990.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta.

Hammon, R.W., C.H. Pearson, and F.B. Peairs. 1991. Microclimate and Russian Wheat Aphid distribution in furrow irrigated winter wheat and barley. Agron. Abst. 83:153.

Mehraj, K. N., M. A. Brick, C. H. Pearson, and J. B. Ogg.  1991.  Response of dry bean cultivars with different growth habits to altered cultural practices.  Agron. Abst.  83:153.

Olsen, S. R., D. F. Champion, Calvin Pearson, and Harold Golus.  1991.  Corn response to enhanced ammonium supply.  p. 54-69.  In: Effects of enhanced ammonium diets on growth on yield of wheat and corn.  Proc. SSSA, Denver, CO. 30 Oct. 1991.  Foundation for Agron. Res.  Atlanta, GA.

Pilcher, S., S. Watson, B. Hammon and F. Peairs. 1991. Control of Russian wheat aphid in winter wheat with two formulations of chlorpyrifos, Schrock Farm, Anton CO, and Fruita Research Center, Fruita CO, May-June 1991.  In: Peairs, F.B. and S.D. Pilcher. 1991. 1991 Colorado field crop insect management research and demonstration trials. Colorado State Univ. Technical Bulletin LTB91-3.

Echols, James W., Frank C. Schweissing, Harold Golus, Calvin Pearson, James P. Hain, Chris Fryrear, and Cynthia Johnson.  1992.  Performance tests of corn hybrid varieties in Colorado, 1991.  Colorado State University, Agric. Exp. Sta.

Hammon, R.W.  1992.  Distribution of overwintering Russian wheat aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) in furrow-irrigated small grains in western Colorado.  J. Econ. Entomol. 85: 2452-2458.

Hammon, R.W. and F.B. Peairs.  1992.  Identification of critical crop stages for Russian wheat aphid control in western Colorado.  In: Proceedings of the Fifth Russian Wheat Aphid Conference, Fort Worth, TX.  January 26-28, 1992.

Pearson, C.H., H.M. Golus, R.W. Hammon, and L.E. Sommers.  1992.   Modernizing the off-campus research center.  Agron. Abst.  84:74.

Pearson, C. H., and P. N. Miklas.  1992.  Seed size and planting depth effects on emergence and yield of pinto bean.  J. Prod. Agric. 5:103-106.

Stoetzel, M.B. and R.W. Hammon.  1992.  New collections of sexuales of Diuraphis (Homoptera: Aphididae) in North America.  Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash.  94: 598-599.

Ashraf M., and C.H. Pearson.  1993.  Crop, irrigation, and soil responses to conservation tillage in a furrow-irrigated cropping system.  Agron. Abst.  85:143.

Brick, M. A., D. R. Wood, H. F. Schwartz, C. Pearson, J. B. Ogg, and J. F. Shanahan.  1993.  Notice of release of Arapaho pinto bean.  Annual Report of the Bean Improvement Cooperative vol. 36:180-181.

Hammon, R., F. Judson and F. Peairs.  1993.  Wheat curl mite control.  Insecticide and Acaracide Tests.  18: 294-295.

Hammon, R.W., C.H. Pearson, J.P. Hain, and H.M. Golus.  1993.  A conservation tillage planter for furrow-irrigated cropping systems.  Agron. Abst.  85:63.

Pearson, C.H., and W. Fithian.  1993.  Blunt ear syndrome - a new disease phenomenon in corn.  Agron. Abst.  85:128

Pearson, C.H., and H.M. Golus.  1993.  Cultivar performance test 1990-92, forage yield history, and verticillium wilt of alfalfa in western Colorado.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR93-4.

Riley, R.H., M.A. Brick, K.L. Conniff, D.R. Wood, C.H. Pearson, and P.L. Chapman.  1993.  Response of seed yield and yield components in mixtures of dry edible bean.  Field Crops Res. 33:283-292.

Shanahan, John F., Frank C. Schweissing, Harold Golus, Calvin Pearson, James P. Hain, Chris Fryrear, and Cynthia Johnson.  1993.  Performance tests of corn hybrid varieties in Colorado, 1992.  Colorado State University, Agric. Exp. Sta.

Shanahan, John F., Frank C. Schweissing, Harold Golus, Calvin Pearson, James P. Hain, Cynthia Johnson, and Ron Meyer.  1993.  Performance tests of corn hybrid varieties in Colorado, 1993.  Colorado State University, Agric. Exp. Stn. Technical Report TR93-10.

Hammon, R.  1994.  Winter wheat planting date, fall aphid infestations, and plant viruses.  In: Proceedings of the Sixth Russian Wheat Aphid Workshop, Fort Collins, CO.  January 23-25, 1994.

Hammon, R.  1994.  Factors influencing the overwintering of Russian wheat aphid in western Colorado.   In: Proceedings of the Sixth Russian Wheat Aphid Workshop, Fort Collins, CO.  January 23-25, 1994.

Hammon, R.W. and F. Judson. 1994. Aerial control of Banks grass mite on corn, Fry Farm, Fruita CO, 1994. In: Peairs, F.B. and S.D. Pilcher. 1994. 1994 Colorado field crop insect management research and demonstration trials. Colorado State Univ. Technical Bulletin LTB95-1.

Hammon, R.W. and D. Sanford. 1994. Control of pale western cutworm in winter wheat, Jack Knuckles Farm, Egnar CO, May 1994. In: Peairs, F.B. and S.D. Pilcher. 1994. 1994 Colorado field crop insect management research and demonstration trials. Colorado State Univ. Technical Bulletin LTB95-1.

Jones, D, J. Rudolph, C. Simmons, F. Peairs, B. Hammon and F. Judson. 1994.  Control of Russian wheat aphid in malting barley with Gaucho® seed treatments: ARDEC, Fort Collins, CO, and Fruita Research Center, Fruita Colorado. 1994. In: Peairs, F.B. and S.D. Pilcher. 1994. 1994 Colorado field crop insect management research and demonstration trials. Colorado State Univ. Technical Bulletin LTB95-1.

Pearson, C.H.  1994.  Performance of fall- and spring-planted durum wheat in western Colorado.  Agron. J. 86:1054-1059.

Pearson, C.H.  1994.  Plant response to the management of fluid and solid N fertilizers applied to furrow-irrigated corn.  Fert. Res. 37:51-58.

Pearson, C.H., J.P. Hain, R.W. Hammon, and H.M. Golus.  1994.  Conservation-tillage grain drill for furrow-irrigated cropping systems.  Agron. J. 86:1128-1131.

Pearson, C.H., and L. Robinson.  1994.  Automating a commercial swather for harvesting forage plots.  Agron. Abst. 86:77.

Shanahan, John F., Frank C. Schweissing, Harold M. Golus, Calvin H. Pearson, James P. Hain, Cynthia L. Johnson, and Ron F. Meyer.  1994.  Colorado Corn Hybrid Performance Trials, 1994.  Colorado State University, Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR94-8.

Brick, M.A., D.R. Wood, H.F. Schwartz, C.H. Pearson, J.B. Ogg, M. Ballarin, and J.F. Shanahan.  1995.  Registration of 'Arapaho' pinto bean.  Crop Sci. 35:1511-1512.

Fisher, A.G., M.A. Brick, D.R. Wood, M. Stack, H.F. Schwartz, J.B. Ogg, C.H. Pearson, J.F. Shanahan, and M. Ballarin.  1995.  Registration of 'Fisher' pinto bean.  Crop Sci. 35:1511.

Hammon, B. Chemical control of spider mites in corn, Waters Farms, Fruita CO, July-September 1995. In: Peairs, F.B. and S.D. Pilcher. 1995. 1995 Colorado field crop insect management research and demonstration trials. Colorado State Univ. Technical Bulletin LTB96-1.

Pearson, C.H., and H.M.Golus.  1995.  Nitrogen fertilizer application in sweet corn in western Colorado.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR95-6.

Pearson, C.H., K. White, and A. Lance.  1995.  Irrigating under simulated conditions with different residue quantity and furrow roughness.  Agron. Abst. 87:290.

Rudolph, J., C. Hawley, B. Hammon, F. Judson, J. Sommerville, M. Sisterson, E. Snizek and F. Peairs. 1995. Control of Russian wheat aphid in spring wheat with hand-applied insecticides, Fruita Research Center, Fruita CO. 1995. In: Peairs, F.B. and S.D. Pilcher. 1995. 1995 Colorado field crop insect management research and demonstration trials. Colorado State Univ. Technical Bulletin LTB96-1.

Hammon, R.W. and F.B. Peairs. 1996. Black grass bugs: characteristics and control. Colo. St. Univ. Coop. Ext. Ser. Service in Action 5.575.

Hammon, R.W., C. H. Pearson  and F.B. Peairs.  1996.  Winter wheat planting date effect on Russian wheat aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) and a plant virus complex.  J. Kansas Entomol. Soc.  301-309.

Johnson, F.P., and C.H. Pearson.  1996.  Restructuring research centers in Colorado - an administrator's perspective.  Agron. Abst.  88:47.

Johnson, Jerry J., John F. Shanahan, Frank C. Schweissing, Harold M. Golus, Calvin H. Pearson, James P. Hain, Cynthia L. Johnson.   1996.  Colorado corn performance trials, 1995.  Colorado State University, Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR96-2.

Johnson, Jerry J., John F. Shanahan, Frank C. Schweissing, Harold M. Golus, Calvin H. Pearson, James P. Hain, Cynthia L. Johnson, and Mark A. Weimer.  1996.  1996 Colorado corn performance trials.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR96-9.

Kindler, S.D. and R.W. Hammon.  1996.  Comparison of host suitability of western wheat aphid with the Russian wheat aphid.  J. Econ. Entomol.  89 :1621-1630

Mehraj, K.N., M.A. Brick, C.H. Pearson, and J.B. Ogg.  1996.  Effects of bed width, planting arrangement, and plant populations on seed yield of pinto bean cultivars with different growth habits.  J. Prod. Agric. 9:79-82.

Pearson, Calvin H., and Mark A. Brick.  1996.  Post harvest, pps. 40-41.  In: Howard F. Schwartz, Mark A. Brick, David S. Nuland, and Gary D. Franc eds.  Dry Bean Production and Pest Management Regional Bulletin 562A, Colorado State University, University of Nebraska, and University of Wyoming.

Pearson, C.H., H.M. Golus and R.W. Hammon.  1996.  Alfalfa variety performance test 1993-95, variety selection checklist, and determining hay moisture content.  Tech. Rpt. 96-8. Colo. Ag. Exp. Sta. Fort Collins.

Pearson, C.H., and F.P. Johnson.  1996.  Regionalizing research centers in western Colorado: a scientist's perspective.  Agron. Abst.  88:46.

Smith, John A., and Calvin H. Pearson.  1996.  Tillage practices, pps. 27-31.  In: Howard F. Schwartz, Mark A. Brick, David S. Nuland, and Gary D. Franc eds.  Dry Bean Production and Pest Management Regional Bulletin 562A, Colorado State University, University of Nebraska, and University of Wyoming.

Golus, H.M., R.W. Hammon, C.H. Pearson, J.S. Quick, J.F. Shanahan and J.W. Echols. 1997. Irrigated small grain variety performance tests, 1987-96, in the Grand valley of Western Colorado. Colo. Agric. Exp. Sta. Tech.  Rpt. TR97-9.

Golus, H.M., C.H. Pearson, R.W. Hammon, J.S. Quick and J.F. Shanahan. 1997. Wheat and barley variety performance tests, 1987-96, in Northwest Colorado. Colo. Ag. Exp. Sta. Tech.  Rpt. TR97-10.

 Hammon, R. 1997. Control of aphids with Imidacloprid (Gaucho 480 FS) in spring wheats, Fruita and Yellow Jacket CO, 1996. In: Peairs, F.B. and S.D. Pilcher. 1997. 1996 Colorado field crop insect management research and demonstration trials. Colorado State Univ. Technical Bulletin TB97-5.

Hammon, R.  1997. Banks grass control in wheat, Waters Farm, 1996. In: Peairs, F.B. and S.D. Pilcher. 1997. 1996 Colorado field crop insect management research and demonstration trials. Colorado State Univ. Technical Bulletin TB97-5.
Hammon, R., S. Armstrong, W. Meyer, C. Walker and F. Peairs. 1997. Alternate host plants of Russian wheat aphid in Colorado.  Colo. Ag. Exp. Sta. Tech.  Rpt. TR97-2. 19p.

Hammon, R.W., and J. Bishop. 1997. Control of Banks grass mite in sweet corn, Montrose CO. Arthropod Management Tests 22:122.

Hammon, R.W., and F.M. Judson. 1997. Control of Banks grass mite in winter wheat, Fruita CO. Arthropod Management Tests 22:336.

Hammon, R.W., and F.M. Judson. 1997. Control of Banks grass mite in sweet corn, Fruita CO. Arthropod Management Tests 22:121.

Hammon, R.W., C.H. Pearson, and F.B. Peairs.  1997.  Winter wheat planting date effect on Russian wheat aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) and a plant virus complex.  J. Kansas Ent. Society 69:302-309.

Johnson, Jerry, J., John F. Shanahan, Frank C. Schweissing, Harold M. Golus, Calvin H. Pearson, James P. Hain, Cynthia L. Johnson, and Mark A. Weimer.  1997.  1997 Colorado corn performance trials.  Colorado State University, Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR97-12.

Johnson, Jerry J., Howard F. Schwartz, Mark A. Brick, John F. Shanahan, Frank C. Schweissing, Calvin H. Pearson, Abdel Berrada, James P. Hain, Cynthia L. Johnson, Mark A. Weimer, and J. Barry Ogg.  1997. 1996 Dry Bean Variety Performance Trials.   Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR97-3.

Hammon, R.W. and F.B. Peairs. 1998.   Natural history of Diuraphis  (Homoptera: Aphididae) species occurring in  western Colorado.  In: S. Quisenberry and F.B. Peairs (eds.). Response Model  for an Introduced Pest - The Russian Wheat Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae). Thomas Say Publ. Entomol.

Hammon, R.W., T.L. Randolph, J.S. Armstrong, C.B. Walker, J.B. Rudolph, W.L. Meyer, and F.B. Peairs.  1998.  Suction trapping of selected small grain aphids in Colorado, 1988-1997. Colo. Ag. Exp. Sta. Tech. Rpt.

Hammon, R.W., D.V. Sanford, M.W. Stack, A. Berrada, and F.B. Peairs. 1998. Dryland winter wheat planting date and Russian wheat aphid studies in Southwestern Colorado, 1990-1996. Colo. Ag. Exp. Sta. Tech. Rpt.

Johnson, Jerry J., John F. Shanahan, Merlin A. Dillon, Harold M. Golus, Calvin H. Pearson, Robert W. Hammon, Frank C. Schweissing, Abdel Berrada, Mark W. Stack, James P. Hain, and Cynthia L. Johnson.  1998.  1997 Colorado alfalfa variety performance trials.  Colorado State Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta. Technical Report TR98-1.

Ogg, Barry, Mark A. Brick, and Calvin Pearson.  1998.  Introgression of popping ability into dry beans adapted to Colorado.  Annual Report of the Bean Improvement Cooperative Vol. 41:35-36.

Pearson, Calvin H., Karl E. White, and Aubrey L. Brinkworth.  1998.  Surface residue and soil clods during furrow irrigation under simulated conditions.  J. Sustain. Agric. 12:5-21.

¹At least one author is from, or research conducted at the Fruita Research Center.

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