Research at the University of Wyoming Powell Research and Extension Center in 2024 continues to collect data sought by a wide range of agricultural entities with implications worldwide.

It was on display at the center just north of Powell on July 18 at the annual PREC Field Day tour.

Nearly one-third of the PREC research involves screening chickpea, dry bean and field pea for drought tolerance. These three crops are among a crop group called pulses.

These pulse crop projects are being conducted by three UW Plant Sciences graduate students from Asia, and several drought-tolerant lines have been identified. This research is primarily long-term in that the findings will be used for breeders developing new seed varieties, explained Jim Heitholt, crop physiologist and director of the Powell research center.

“Irrigation water availability is typically not considered a concern regionally due to the Buffalo Bill Reservoir, but worldwide drought reduces pulse crop yield and food protein for millions of people,” he noted. “Since PREC is in a very dry climate and the irrigation systems here can control water applications very precisely, the PREC is sought by organizations that need to screen new lines for better drought tolerance.”

In addition to pulse crops, PREC conducts malt barley and forage barley trials. Dr. Clint Beiermann from UW Plant Sciences is running the second year of a forage barley trial comparing varieties and nitrogen fertilizer rates. Results from 2023 suggested that nitrogen was required for optimal yield (as expected), but high rates were not required.

The malt barley trials are a PREC standard protocol each year with data being used by Briess, Molson-Coors and USDA.

Sugar beet trials involve estimating yield before harvest by using a drone and collecting data from a ground-penetrating radar unit equipped with a sensor. Price Akiina, a graduate student with UW Plant Sciences, is working with his professor, Dr. Donna Harris, in seeing what information collected by the sensor best correlates with sugar beet yield. If successful, sugar beet seed breeders could better streamline their variety selections. PREC has also conducted a fungicide trial in collaboration with industry to evaluate the potential for reducing the incidence of Cercospora.

In conjunction with Rovensa, Inc., biostimulants are also being tested in corn, dry bean and sugar beets for the second year running. In 2023, a positive effect on yield was observed after foliar applications of one of Rovensa’s biostimulants.

—Dave Bonner