RSS 1.0Agronomy
ABOUT THE COLLECTION
The mission of the Arizona Pest Management Center (APMC) is to support College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) faculty in their efforts to develop and deliver outstanding Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs that address the needs of Arizona’s citizens. This includes IPM programs serving agriculture, urban communities and natural areas.
QUESTIONS?
For information, please contact APMC at https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/about-us/arizona-pest-management-center.
Recent Submissions
-
Soil Health: Organic and Inorganic Industrial Fertilizers Impact of Crop and Soil HealthThis article, published in the VegIPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 25), compares organic and inorganic fertilizers and their effects on soil health. Silvertooth explains how each contributes differently to soil structure, biology, and nutrient delivery, emphasizing the value of integrating both in desert crop systems.
-
Soil Health: Sources Utilized in Plant Nitrogen UptakeThis article in the VegIPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 24) explains that crops mainly rely on inorganic nitrogen and that organic forms play only a minor role in plant uptake.
-
Soil Health: Nitrogen Cycle and Management in Agricultural SoilsThis article, published in the Vegetable IPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 23), explains the nitrogen cycle and the biological processes that transform nitrogen into plant-available forms. It highlights the importance of the mineralization–immobilization transformation (MIT) cycle in maintaining soil fertility, supporting crop productivity, and managing nitrogen efficiently in agricultural systems.
-
Root System DevelopmentThis article, published in the Vegetable IPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 22), highlights how healthy root systems support water and nutrient uptake, soil health, and overall plant vigor. It explains root structure, function, and maintenance for optimal crop growth.
-
Germination and Seedling DevelopmentThis article, published in the Vegetable IPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 21), explains how temperature, moisture, and soil conditions affect seed germination and seedling development, with focus on lettuce thermodormancy and managing heat with sprinkler irrigation.
-
Developments in Plant GeneticsThis article, published in the VegIPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 20), traces advances in plant genetics from the Green Revolution to Bt crops, while warning against past missteps like Lysenkoism.
-
Sodic Soil Hazard from Irrigation WaterThis article, in the VegIPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 19), explains how recent rainfall increased sodic soil hazards in the lower Colorado River Valley, highlighting temporary soil crusting issues and the return to stable conditions with Colorado River irrigation
-
Salinity and Sodicity – Fundamental PointsThis article, in the VegIPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 18), outlines key definitions, symptoms, and management strategies for saline and sodic soils in desert agriculture, emphasizing leaching, amendments, and drainage.
-
Global Decline in Available Fresh WaterThis article, published in the VegIPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 17), summarizes global GRACE satellite studies documenting unprecedented terrestrial water storage losses since 2002, with severe impacts in arid regions like the U.S. Southwest and Mexico.
-
Chile Crop Water and Nitrogen DemandThis article, published in the VegIPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 16), examines how water and nitrogen demand align with chile growth stages, with 2025 field data showing crops entering peak bloom and nutrient demand by late July.
-
Basic Chile Crop Growth and DevelopmentThis article, published in the VegIPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 15), outlines phenology of New Mexico–type chile, emphasizing heat unit–based benchmarks for crown formation, flowering, and fruit set as management tools.
-
Groundwater Assessment in the Lower Colorado River BasinThis article, published in the VegIPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 14), reviews ASU-led research on declining groundwater in the Lower Colorado River Basin, showing severe depletion and emphasizing the need for expanded groundwater regulation beyond Arizona’s AMAs.
-
Urea Fertilizer Price TrendsThis article, published in the VegIPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 13), analyzes 2025 fertilizer market trends, noting sharp increases in urea and other nitrogen fertilizer prices linked to Middle East conflicts and global supply disruptions.
-
Colorado River Status – June 2025This article, published in the VegIPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 12), provides an update on the Colorado River amid a 25-year megadrought, documenting flow declines, reservoir projections, and the urgency of new agreements before current guidelines expire in 2026.
-
Development of the 2025 Spring Melon (Cantaloupe) CropThis article, published in the VegIPM Newsletter (Vol. 16, No. 11), documents mid-May melon development, noting that cooler conditions delayed maturity by calendar date but not by heat unit–based phenology benchmarks, validating the model’s reliability.
