• Evaluating Forage Cover Crop Mixes for the Desert Southwest

      Sanyal, Debankur; Stackpole, Charles; Megdal, Sharon B. (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2023-08)
      Cover crops are essential tools to improve soil health and productivity1. Traditionally, cover crops are used as ‘green manures’ where the cover crops are not harvested but incorporated into the ground to boost soil health and fertility. Therefore, it has become a common perception that cover crops are meant to be incorporated into the soil. In the desert Southwest, water scarcity forces the producers to utilize water more strategically, and green manure cover crops may not be an economically sustainable option for farmers in the desert.
    • Water Irrigation Efficiency Program

      Orr, Ethan; Masson, Robert; Brennan, Stephanie (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2023-02)
      Agriculture in the American Southwest provides the nation with high quality food, feed, and fiber. Blessed with hot summers, mild winters, and dry climates Arizona has become a center for growing specialty crops of unparalleled quality. In our current climate, one of the most limiting factors to crop production in Arizona is water availability, driving the desire for more conservative use on the farm. State funding has been allocated to assist commercial growers transitioning to more efficient wateruse practices. Reimbursement grants will be awarded up to $1,500 per acre to support infrastructure costs of farms transitioning away from flood irrigation to more efficient technologies, expected to provide a 20% or greater water savings. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension group is tasked with administering the reimbursement grants and will assist growers with understanding available options and development of best use practices.
    • Microbiological Water Quality Testing Labs in Arizona

      Saber, Ban; Brassill, Natalie; Rock, Channah (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-06)
    • Minimizing Risks: Use of Surface Water in Pre-Harvest Agricultural Irrigation; Part III: Peroxyacetic Acid (PAA) Treatment Methods

      Dery, Jessica L.; Choppakatla, Vijay; Sughroue, Jay; Rock, Channah (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-05)
      Peroxyacetic acid (also known as peracetic acid or PAA) is a colorless liquid with a low pH and a strong, pungent, vinegar-like odor. PAA is commonly used as an antimicrobial agent for both non-porous hard surfaces and water in various industries, including agriculture, food processing, beverage, wastewater, hospitals, health care, and pharmaceutical facilities.
    • Choosing Large-scale Rain Harvesting for Potable Supply: Guide for Rural Homeowners in Arizona

      Capehart, Mary Ann; Eden, Susanna (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-04)
      As groundwater becomes harder to access in many areas of Arizona, risks and costs associated with groundwater wells have become an important economic consideration for property owners. Groundwater is considered a non-renewable water supply when aquifers do not recover enough from pumping to reliably produce water from the same level through time. Water may refill the aquifer very slowly, so slowly that the groundwater being pumped today may be thousands of years old. Once more water is pumped than is recharged, an aquifer is in overdraft, with multiple potential negative effects, including the water level drops that have affected the water supplies of individual small-acreage landowners.
    • Preparing Rainwater for Potable Use

      Capehart, Mary Ann; Artiola, Janick F.; Eden, Susanna (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-03)
      Rainwater harvesting can provide a realistic source of water for homeowners living in remote areas or those who for one reason or another prefer not to use their groundwater inside the house. Local groundwater may have problems common in many parts of Arizona: high mineral content, naturally occurring elements such as arsenic and fluoride, and contaminants from various sources, such as overflowing septic tanks, and agricultural, industrial or mining activities. Homeowners may have low-yield or seasonally dry wells and wish to avoid trucking in water. They may be unwilling or unable to drill or deepen a well. They may prefer rainwater for its taste, softness or other desirable qualities. In these situations, homesteaders may find large-scale rainwater harvesting a practical alternative. Large systems can provide potable water for an entire household.
    • Cómo Regar los Cítricos

      Wright, Glenn C. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2020-07)
      El agua es esencial para los cítricos (o para cualquier planta) porque es un componente integral de las reacciones bioquímicas que ocurren dentro de la planta. El agua también es importante porque es la portadora que lleva por todo el árbol los nutrientes de la planta y demás sustancias. El agua igualmente ayuda a preservar la temperatura de la planta a lo largo de la transpiración. Por último, el agua contribuye a conservar la turgencia de las hojas y frutas.
    • Minimizing Risks: Use of Surface Water in Pre-Harvest Agricultural Irrigation; Part II: Sodium and Calcium Hypochlorite (Chlorine) Treatment Methods

      Dery, Jessica L.; Gerrity, Daniel; Rock, Channah (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2020-07)
      Chlorine is a water-soluble chemical disinfectant that is commonly used for microbial disinfection because it is effective, economical, and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for water treatment (EPA, 2017).
    • How To Build Your Own Water Well Sounder

      Hix, Gary; Artiola, Janick F. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2020-06)
      Obtaining accurate measurements of changing depths to water in private water wells has been a challenge for private well owners. There are devices manufactured specifically for this purpose, but their costs are typically more than most well owners are willing to pay. A simple device that a private well owner could build themselves would enable them to better track the performance of their well. This publication is intended to help private well owners assemble their own water level measuring device, typically called a water well sounder.
    • A Guide For Operating Shared Water Wells In Arizona

      Hix, Gary; Artiola, Janick F. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2020-02)
      Shared water wells serving two or more households are the sole source of water for many rural homes in Arizona. There are, however, very few rules, regulations or laws to permit, use, and manage shared wells. Most homeowners on shared wells are not fully aware that they are solely responsible for management and safety of their drinking water supply. There is very little literature available on the proper management of shared wells. This publication is intended to be a basic guide for homeowners and managers of these systems.
    • Bovine Trichomoniasis: Health and Economic Impacts on Arizona Cow-Calf Operations

      Wright, Ashley; Cuneo, Peder (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2019-11)
      Trichomoniasis (or Trich, as it is commonly referred to in the industry) is a reproductive disease in cattle that can seriously impact the bottom line of Arizona ranches and the cow-calf industry. This disease has been recognized in all major cattle-producing countries and is endemic in the western and southwestern United States, including Arizona. Cattle operations in this region have unique challenges to controlling Trich: cattle graze very large, open tracts of land and because of this are often less intensively managed and unintentional co-mingling is relatively commonplace. Currently, the most effective means of disease control is testing for and culling positive bulls. Most western states have enacted legislation which requires bull testing in an attempt to control the disease. These measures range from only testing bulls being sold for breeding purposes to requiring annual testing for all bulls grazing on public land. In addition to regular testing, taking proactive management steps to prevent the introduction of Trich into a herd is key to decreasing its impact both at the individual ranch and cow-calf industry level.
    • Sodium in Drinking Water and Arizona Domestic Wells

      Artiola, J.F.; Wardell, L.; Lajevardi-Khosh, N. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2019-09)
      Table salt (sodium chloride) has been used to preserve and season food since ancient times. We need sodium to regulate our body’s water balance and muscle function. However, studies have shown that too much sodium intake may be bad for your heart health and is linked with high blood pressure. High levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), which include sodium, are common in Arizona’s water resources. Therefore, we should be aware of our sodium consumption from foods and drinking water sources. Sodium in drinking water may be significant in your diet. But this depends on the amount of sodium in the water, how much you drink daily, and if you are on a sodium restricted diet.
    • Radon in Drinking Water and Arizona Domestic Wells

      Artiola, J.F.; Lajevardi-Khosh, N.; Wardell, L. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2019-09)
      Radon is an odorless gas usually found in water that comes into contact with uranium bearing minerals. Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause cancer when it is breathed into the lungs or absorbed in the stomach from water. Home owners can be exposed to radon gas if it seeps into basements or through concrete pads and when it is released from the water supply. If high levels of radon are present in the well water, well owners will be exposed to radon gas as they shower, clean, and flush toilets and when they drink the well water. In addition to testing for radioactive chemicals such as gross-alpha radiation and uranium, private well owners should also test their indoor air and their well water for radon.
    • Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): What Consumers Need to Know

      Dery, Jessica L.; Gerrity, Daniel; Rock, Channah M. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2019-04)
      What are PFAS? Perfluoralkyl and Polyflouroalkyl Substances, also known as ‘PFAS’, are a group of stable, man-made chemical compounds that have been used worldwide since the 1940s for industrial applications and consumer products. They repel water, oil, grease, and heat and are therefore commonly used to make waterproof and protective coatings, including non-stick cookware and stain resistant carpeting. The PFAS class covers a wide range of compounds, including Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) as well as newer GenX chemicals which are currently being used in the place of PFOS and PFOA since being phased out by U.S. manufacturing. A defining feature of PFAS is its strong chemical structure due to bonds between arbon (C) and fluorine (F) atoms (Figure 1). These bonds represent some of the strongest bonds in chemistry and therefore can remain for long periods in the environment, in wildlife, and also in people.
    • Minimizing Risks: Use of Surface Water in Pre-Harvest Agricultural Irrigation, Part I: Understanding Water Quality & Treatment Options

      Dery, Jessica L.; Brassill, Natalie; Rock, Channah M. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2019-03)
      Irrigation water can act as a vector, or carrier, that can transport or spread pathogens to crops, where they have the potential to cause illness (CDC, 2018). Decisions to treat irrigation water can be driven by buyer requirements, for product marketing or branding, or because the water quality exceeds the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations or the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement (LGMA) standards for generic Escherichia coli (E. coli). For example, the quality of surface waters may be more impaired or have higher pathogen contamination compared to groundwater (FDA, 2018). This is because they are directly exposed to external influences and therefore may require treatment. To ensure irrigation water is at a quality sufficient to meet grower needs, it is important to understand how water quality affects treatment methods and associated challenges and solutions. If the quality of the water source is unknown, there are many labs recommended by the Arizona Department of Health Services that offer U.S. EPA approved testing methods. Links to testing labs, EPA registered sanitizers, and approved testing methods are provided at the bottom of this fact sheet. This publication is a general overview of water quality and common treatment methods. It is the first of a series covering specific treatment options for pre-harvest agricultural irrigation such as chlorination, Ultra Violet (UV), and peroxyacetic acid.
    • Communicating Research Results to Stakeholders: What Scientists Can Learn from Cooperative Extension

      McLain, Jean E.; Rock, Channah M. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2018-07)
      A key task faced by all members of the water research community is to communicate the results of their research to stakeholder groups. Effective communication involves a range of tactics depending on the audience’s cultural background, level of understanding, and interest (financial, political, or other) in the research topic. Opportunities to communicate scientific results are also varied, ranging from peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific conferences, to conversations with community groups, to meetings with elected officials. Successful scientific communication involves gauging exactly what the audience needs to know and how to effectively deliver this information, either verbally or in writing. And yet, though early career water research professionals may leave their undergraduate or graduate studies well-versed in planning and conducting scientific study, upon graduation, their skill in communicating scientific results to stakeholders is often limited to peer-reviewed publications.
    • What You Should Know When You’re Having Your Septic System Inspected for the Transfer of Ownership Program

      Farrell-Poe, Kitt; Garrett, Jake; Long, Dawn (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2018-06)
      Did you know that in Arizona when you go to sell your house with an onsite wastewater treatment system (septic system), or a property without a dwelling but possessing an onsite system, that you must have it inspected by a qualified Transfer of Ownership Inspector? Did you know that this inspection is required by Arizona law and cannot be waived by the buyer, seller, real estate agents, loaning agency, or title company? What are your responsibilities as the buyer, the seller, the real estate agent? How do you know if you have obtained a qualified inspector? This publication will provide useful information on the Transfer of Ownership Inspection for onsite wastewater treatment systems.
    • 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.
    • Understanding Your Household Septic System

      Farrell-Poe, Kitt (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2018-04)
      As long as people have lived in communities, there has been a need for sanitary disposal of human wastes. About three thousand years ago, homes in the Indus Valley had bathrooms with water-flushed latrines that emptied into pits similar to modern septic tanks. In contrast, many Europeans were still dumping human wastes into the streets a little more than two hundred years ago. In the United States, early sanitation consisted of outhouses with earthen-pits. Later, flush toilets were added to homes, but they emptied directly into surface waters, not into sewers. Today, most homes are connected to public sewer systems. Homes not connected to public systems usually have separate on-site treatment systems to handle household wastewater. This fact sheet is one in a series concerning domestic wastewater treatment. It gives a brief overview on how septic systems work. Knowing how your septic system functions will help you understand how to care for the system to maximize its ability to treat your household’s wastewater.
    • Inspecting Your Household Septic System

      Farrell-Poe, Kitt (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2018-04)
      Out of sight and out of mind—does this describe your relationship with your septic system? If you are like most homeowners, you probably never give much thought to what happens to what goes down your drain. But if you rely on a septic system to treat and disperse your household wastewater, what you don’t know can hurt you. Proper operation and maintenance of your septic system can have a significant impact on how well it works and how long it lasts; and in most communities, septic system maintenance is the responsibility of you, the homeowner. This fact sheet was written as one in a series to help you maintain your septic system.