WORK OF THE SCOTTSBLUFF EXPERIMENT FARM IN 1912. 15 



the field crops most commonly grown under irrigation in western 

 Nebraska (fig. 2). 



As this work has been in progress only one year, no significant 

 results have yet been secured. The average yields per acre obtained 

 in 1012 were as follows: 20 plats of first-year alfalfa, 2.G2 tons; 1-1 

 plats of sugar beets, 17.11 tons; 5 plats of corn (Calico variety), 56.1 

 bushels; 2 plats of flax (South Dakota variety), 20. G bushels; 18 

 plats of oats (Colorado No. 13), 0G.2 bushels; 13 plats of potatoes 

 (Pearl). 22G.8 bushels; and 6 plats of spring wheat (Defiance), 40.2 

 bushels. Some of these same varieties were included in the variety 

 tests on another part of the farm, the yields, in bushels per acre, 

 being as follows: Calico corn, 43.2; Colorado No. 13 oats, 100; Pearl 

 potatoes. 615; and Defiance wheat. 49.7. 



Flo. 3. — A general view of field K, where the irrigated rotation experiments are con- 

 ducted. The irrigation ditch is 20 feet from the ends of the plats, making it possible 

 to cultivate the plats without damaging the ditch banks. 



LATE SEEDING OF ALFALFA IN OAT STUBBLE. 



The common practice of seeding alfalfa in the spring frequently 

 results in failure to secure a satisfactory stand. Where the crop is 

 seeded with a nurse crop of wheat or oats, the growth of the nurse 

 crop is often so dense as to prevent or seriously retard the proper 

 development of the young alfalfa plants. Frequently, also, spring- 

 seeded alfalfa suffers greatly from soil blowing, which is most severe 

 in the spring. 



In three of the rotations on field K (fig. 3) the plan is to have 

 alfalfa follow oats, and it was decided to test late summer planting 

 of alfalfa in these rotations. The land preparation consisted of 

 double disking and harrowing after the removal of the oat crop. 



[Cfr. 116] 



