The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1916-01-21

at lH6 expense Oh lue straw DeCOHes
exceedingly important.
The next series of experiments deal
with ten inches of water applied thru
out the season in several different
ways. The largest yield of grain was
obtained when the water was applied
in two equal irrigations, one imme
diately after the opening of the irri-
cation season and the other little
later, about the time of the filling
out" of the grain. The next largest
yield of grain came when rs inches
we're applied first, then inches, then
rs inches again, the heavy irriga-
ton coming at about the time when
the grain was filling out"
The data of this section indicate
that whenever the larger part of the
water was applied early in the sea-
son, between the opening of the irri-
cation season and the time of filling
OUT the returns were greatest. When
the irrigation water was divided into
three irrigations, the yield fell, tho
not greatly; when a 5-inch irrigation
came early in the season or at the
time of filling out" The straw did
not vary in the same way. Whether
two or three irrigations were applied
did not seem to affect much the pro-
duction of straw nor did the order
of their application. A study of this
section makes it clear that with ten
inches of water a proper distribution
stalk materials into the seeds, tho
the total yield of dry matter is not
affected materially In another case
ten inches were used annually, dur
ing the period of four years. The av-
erage results were practically the
same as those in the preceding sec
ton. When two equal irrigations were
used, the largest yield of grain was
obtained; when the lightest irriga-
ton came first, the next largest was
obtained. Again the question of the
yield of grain was apparently one Of
applying water at a time when the
material stored in the stalks could
be carried into the grain. When the
water was applied in three equal ir-
rigations or in two unequal irrigations,
the heavy one first, the yields were
smallest. In this section the yield of
straw is the largest when the yield
of grain is next to the smallest.
1t may be observed that, when 10 |
inches are applied in three irriga-
tons, the third irrigation is thrown
quite late in the season, toward Au-
gust, the time of ripening. This means
that the third irrigation is usually
after the time Of active growth a
period when little or no water is
needed.
With Is inches of water, which
even if divided into three irrigations,
result in comparatively large single
the best return of grain
;ame when one-fourth of the total
vas applied in each of the first two
and the remaining half in
third irrigation. The smallest yield
# grain came when the water was
pplied in three equal irrigations. 1t
S somewhat difficult to interpret the
esults with Is inches OF water since
nder such conditions the plant has
erhaps more water than it needs. 1t
5 noticeable, however, that the straw
emains practically constant under
ne three methods of distribution, the
ifferences falling entirely upon the
rain. This again confirms the view
nat the main result of varying the
istribution of water with wheat is
} make possible more ready trans
sr of materials from the roots and
-alks to the heads.