ABOUT THE COLLECTION

Arizona Cooperative Extension is an outreach arm of The University of Arizona and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). The repository collection includes current and historical Extension publications on these topics: Animal Systems; Consumer Education; Farm Management and Safety; Food Safety, Nutrition and Health; Gardening/Home Horticulture; Insects and Pest Management; Marketing and Retailing; Natural Resources and Environment; Plant Diseases; Plant Production/Crops; Water; and Youth and Family. Current publications are also available from the Cooperative Extension Publications website.

QUESTIONS?

Contact College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Publications at pubs@cals.arizona.edu.

Recent Submissions

  • A Soil Health Needs Assessment Survey in Arizona

    Sanyal, Debankur; Masson, Robert; Stackpole, Charles; Arp, Taylor (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2023-10)
    A needs assessment survey is an important tool for designing an efficient research-based extension and outreach plan. The Soil Health Research and Extension (SHRE) team at the University of Arizona designed and conducted a statewide soil health needs assessment survey to document stakeholder perceptions, interests, and expectations on soil health research and educational needs. The survey successfully documented essential information from a diverse group of producers, pest control advisors, and other industry members (total respondents 107) that represented the commercial agricultural industry in Arizona. The data confirmed stakeholder interest in soil health research and educational programs and provided the necessary information on their soil health needs to build an effective research-based soil health extension program. The survey outcomes revealed that the respondents are majorly interested in on-farm soil health assessments and learning about soil biology. The respondents also indicated that research demonstrations, workshops, and training events are important to them in adopting new technologies for soil health improvements.
  • Chiricahua Leopard Frog Management in Southern Arizona

    Noel, Whitney; Sittig, Julia; Gornish, Elise S. (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2023-01)
    The Chiricahua leopard frog (Lithobates chiricahuensis, hereafter referred to as “CLF”) is a native frog in southern Arizona. The CLF range spans through central Arizona and south into the Altar Valley where it extends into Sonora, Mexico and east to the southwestern portion of New Mexico (1). This federally threatened species once existed in many cienegas, pools, lakes, streams, and reservoirs across southern and central Arizona. By 2011, CLF had disappeared from more than 80% of their historical locations in the U.S. (2). Their habitat is now largely limited to stock tanks, springs, and streams that are protected by local management and landowners from water loss and non-native predators such as bullfrogs. Solutions to these threats require creating and improving ideal habitat. Management approaches can be developed by investigating the factors that contribute to suitable habitat and understanding.
  • Ecological Restoration Activity Book

    Gornish, Elise S. (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2023-04)
    The Society of Ecological Restoration defines restoration as the process in assisting in the recovery of a habitat that has been degraded or destroyed. Essentially, ecological restoration means fixing up the environment. Restoration can: enhance plant cover, provide habitats to wild animals, make habitants more resilient to climate change, and more! Get involved in helping out the environment where you can by caring for native plants and animals, picking up litter and saving water. This activity book was made with love by the Gornish Lab at the University of Arizona for kids of all ages.
  • Germination information for common Arizona restoration species

    Gornish, Elise; Shriver, Laura; Corwin, Ri; Havrilla, Caroline; Costanzo, Sarah; Gehring, Catherine (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2024-01)
    Seed-based ecological restoration is an approach used to revegetate damaged and disturbed habitats by spreading seed with the expectation that germination will occur and plants will become established and flourish. Although restoration can enhance the health and productivity of landscapes by reinvigorating ecosystem services both directly and indirectly, successful restoration is difficult to achieve – particularly in arid systems (Copeland et al. 2018). Germination is a well known bottleneck to plant growth that prohibits successful restoration (James at al. 2011).
  • Guide to Southwest U.S. Station Climate Summaries

    Crimmins, Michael; Guido, Zack; McMahan, Ben (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2022-08)
    The southwest U.S. has a unique climate characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons that emerge throughout the annual cycle (Sheppard et al. 2002). In Arizona and New Mexico, the annual pattern of precipitation is characterized by rapid onset of the summer monsoon thunderstorm activity in late June that persists through late September and a more gradual onset of winter storms in late October that can persist through the spring. These two rainfall periods set the conditions for seasonal fire activity, streamflow and water supply, and rangeland conditions (Crimmins et al. 2017).
  • Identifying Restoration Opportunities under Mesquite Canopies

    Gornish, Elise S.; Johnson, Sam (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2022-10)
    Climate change, drought, human development, overgrazing, and encroachment of invasive species all threaten grasslands in southeastern Arizona and northern Mexico. These threats are leading to loss of biodiversity and degradation of these ecosystems. Native bunch grasses are especially valued for their role in reducing erosion and providing forage for wild and domestic rangeland herbivores. Mesquite (Prosopis spp.) and Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) compete with native grasses for space and water resources, which further expedites loss of native grasses in these historical grasslands (Gornish et al. 2021).
  • Integrated Weed Management: Strategies, Tactics, Decision Criteria, and the Importance of Partnerships

    Howery, Larry D.; McReynolds, Kim (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2022-10)
    According to Sheley et al. (2011), "integrated pest management (IPM) is a long-standing, science-based, decision-making process that identifies and reduces risks from pests by using pest management strategies and tactics." Practitioners have commonly used IPM in intensive agricultural settings to develop strategic and tactical management technologies designed to prevent significant pest damage, while posing minimal risk to people, property, resources, and the environment.
  • Ranch-Scale Drought Monitoring Tools for Arizona

    Crimmins, Michael; Brischke, Andrew; Hall, Ashley L.; McClaran, Mitchel (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2022-04)
    Drought can impact ranching operations in numerous ways from directly reducing seasonally available water and forage to increasing wildfire risk and causing long-term impacts to rangelands. Monitoring weather and climate across a ranch can be a useful management tool when coupled with a detailed drought mitigation plan to anticipate impacts and trigger adaptive management decisions such as changing your grazing rotation schedule or in extreme circumstances, culling decisions (Tolleson 2016). Assessing drought conditions in the southwest U.S. is challenging because there are few long-term climate monitoring stations, especially in rural and remote areas, and monsoon rains can be very localized.
  • Rangelands Gateway - Delivering Reliable Rangeland Online Resources

    Hall, Ashley L.; Dalke, Amber; Merrigan, Sheila D.; Hutchinson, Barbara; Noelle, Sarah; Pfander, Jeanne (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2022-05)
    If you are conducting research or looking for reliable answers to specific questions about rangeland ecology and management, Rangelands Gateway(link is external) (which includes Arizona Rangelands(link is external)) is available to meet your needs.
  • Soil health perspectives of Arizona rangeland stakeholder

    Gornish, Elise (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2024-01)
    Soil health is broadly defined as the capacity of soil to support a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals and humans. Soil health is related to many functions of natural and managed ecosystems such as water holding capacity, erosion control, nutrient cycling and plant growth. Soil health collectively refers to a large set of physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil systems and how they operate and function together. Accordingly, considering soil health is a rather holistic approach to evaluating soil function in terrestrial ecosystems, either in native or cultivated conditions. Soil health is quickly becoming recognized as a valuable approach of assessment of agricultural productivity and environmental well-being. Unfortunately, climate change is quickly degrading soils worldwide, rendering large swaths of previously productive landscapes unsuitable for plant and animal growth.
  • Stinknet: a Weed Advancing in Southern Arizona

    Chamberland, Michael (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2023-12)
    Stinknet, also known as globe chamomile, is a relatively new weed in Arizona that has quickly spread. The first herbarium collection for Arizona was made in the spring of 1997 and the first published account of its presence in Arizona was by Landrum et al. (2005). By 2019 the plant had risen to public attention due to its conspicuous presence. Stinknet is now common in the Phoenix metro area and across much of Maricopa County. It is spreading south along the I-10 corridor, becoming well established in Pinal County. Outbreaks have occurred within the Tucson metro area, and also in rural parts of Pima County. Recent observations show stinknet has found its way into Mexico (SEINet Portal Network, 2020).
  • The Importance of Strategic Questions and Tactical Ground Rules in Rangeland Studies for Grazing Management

    Howery, Larry D.; Ruyle, George B.; Dyess, Judith; Brischke, Andrew; Hall, Ashley L. (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2022-09)
    All parties participating in rangeland studies (i.e., monitoring, inventory, or assessment) should clearly understand strategic questions concerning "why?, what?, when?, where?, who? and how often?" data are being collected, as well as tactical ground rules that should be followed when conducting a particular sampling technique. This information should be clearly recorded either directly on data sheets or described in each report or cover sheet that accompanies the data. The information should also be catalogued and stored in a safe location in both hard copy and electronic formats where it is easily accessible by current and future observers.
  • Using native plants to control buffelgrass

    Gornish, Elise S.; Farrell, Hannah; Law, Darin; Funk, Jennifer (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2022-05)
    Integrating active restoration into an invasive species treatment plan by seeding or planting with native species that can competitively suppress an invader may help improve weed management outcomes. This occurs because native plants can have traits (methods of accessing resources) that overlap with invasives, restricting invasives from taking up resources such as light and space. How well this approach works, however, is often modified by water availability. This is because plants may respond to changes in water availability by modifying traits-such as root density and size (biomass)-subsequently affecting the magnitude to which they can compete with invasives (Potts et al. 2019). Identifying traits of native species that are competitive against invasive species in dryland systems with varying water availability may help improve weed control outcomes.
  • Cómo Construir una Peloteadora de Semillas para Uso en Jardinería y Restauración

    Gornish, Elise; Simpson, Ashlee; Caballero-Reynolds, Marci (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-08)
    Las pelotas de semillas encapsulan las semillas en una mezcla (a menudo arcilla y materia orgánica rica en nutrientes como el abono, el humus o el carbón) que reducirá potencialmente la depredación de insectos y roedores, a la vez que facilitará una mayor retención de agua y el contacto de las semillas con la tierra.
  • How to Construct a Bicycle-Powered Seed Pelletizer for Use in Gardening and Restoration

    Gornish, Elise; Simpson, Ashlee; Caballero-Reynolds, Marci (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2018-11)
    Seed pellets encapsulate seeds in a mixture (often clay, and nutrient-rich organic matter such as compost, humus, or charcoal) that will potentially reduce predation by insects and rodents while allowing for increased water retention and seed-soil contact. Seed pellets are an ancient method of sowing seed, and are especially useful in areas with compacted or dry soils. Seed pellets are strewn in the desired location (no need for soil preparation) and remain inactive until heavy rains arrive, washing away the clay and allowing seeds to germinate. Making seed pellets by hand is extremely time consuming and labor intensive. To make large numbers of seed pellets in a reasonable amount of time, we constructed a bicycle-powered seed pelletizing machine that effectively coats seed in clay and compost materials. It is designed to be easily taken apart for storage or transport,so each component fits against the others without being screwed together. The bicycle spins a barrel containing the seeds and coating materials while the operators periodically mist the contents with water. The result is coated seed balls that can be used for restoration or home gardening. Here, we explain how to construct the seed pelletizing machine.
  • Understanding Vegetation Succession with State and Transition Models

    Brischke, Andrew; Hall, Ashley; McReynolds, Kim (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2018-08)
    Effective natural resource management involves balancing benefits derived from utilizing the environment against potential environmental degradation. Rangeland managers need to not only recognize change in plant communities, but also need to identify possible causes of vegetation trends. Vegetation evaluation procedures must be able to measure and interpret both reversible and nonreversible vegetation dynamics. Both patterns occur, and neither pattern alone represents the entire spectrum of vegetation dynamics on all rangelands (Briske et al. 2005).
  • Rangeland Monitoring Frame and Construction Guide

    Hall, Ashley; Brischke, Andrew; Hall, John (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2018-07)
    The objective of rangeland vegetation trend monitoring is to document changes over time in vegetation or other rangeland resources. Common methods often used together throughout Arizona and the west include Point Ground Cover, Pace Frequency, Dry-Weight Rank, and Comparative Yield. Further details regarding these methods and ground rules can be found in Sampling Vegetation Attributes (Interagency Technical Manual, 1996), Guide to Rangeland Monitoring and Assessment (Smith et al., 2012), or Southeastern Arizona Monitoring Program: Methods and Ground Rules (McReynolds and Brischke, 2015).
  • Understanding Ecological Sites

    Brischke, Andrew; Hall, Ashley; McReynolds, Kim (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2018-05)
    Today, land managers are challenged with synthesizing an overwhelming amount of scientific information concerning soils, hydrology, ecology, management, etc. Discrete and arbitrary land ownership boundaries with differences in regulations (or lack of regulations) will often dictate the management goals and objectives for our rangelands (Table 1). Adding to this complexity, natural systems seldom have distinct boundaries with respect to either space or time; therefore, managing landscapes have a certain amount of variability and uncertainty. Ecological sites are a conceptual landscape classification system used to interpret potential across the landscape. The fundamental assumption of ecological sites is that landscapes can be grouped with sufficient precision to increase the probability of success of site-specific predictions, decisions, and management actions (USDA-NRCS, 2011). Ecological sites incorporate abiotic and biotic environmental factors such as climate, soils and landform, hydrology, vegetation, and natural disturbance regimes that together define the site. Each ecological site is identified, differentiated, and described based on the relationships among these environmental factors and how they influence plant community composition and other environmental processes.
  • Guide to Co-Developing Drought Preparation Plans for Livestock Grazing on Southwest National Forests

    Hawkes, Kelsey L.; McClaran, Mitchel P.; Brugger, Julie; Crimmins, Michael A.; Howery, Larry D.; Ruyle, George B.; Sprinkle, James E.; Tolleson, Douglas R. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2018-04)
    This Guide is one output of a long-term project organized by researchers from the University of Arizona, which intended to address drought concerns for livestock grazing in the Southwestern United States. At an initial workshop held in 2013, local stakeholders identified the lack of flexibility regarding the administration of public land grazing as a challenge to managing and becoming prepared for drought.
  • Nature and Nurture’s Influence on Cattle Distribution

    Howery, Larry D.; Bailey, Derek W. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2018-03)
    Although stocking rate is often described as the most important decision livestock managers make, most environmental concerns associated with cattle ranching in the western U.S. result from undesirable grazing distribution patterns, especially on public lands. In the West, mountainous terrain and arid and semi arid climatic conditions restrict where cattle are willing and able to go. For example, cattle typically congregate on gentle terrain and in areas near limited water sources. Cattle are typically reluctant to graze steep slopes, climb high ridges and travel long distances from water. These preferences can lead to excessive forage use on gentle terrain located near water, including riparian areas, while abundant forage on rugged terrain and areas far from water are left ungrazed. In summary, concerns with cattle grazing in the western U.S. are usually not a consequence of too many cows, but instead, are due to cattle selectively concentrating use in certain areas while avoiding other areas.

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