October-December 2011

Cover: About 34 million acres (42%) of California’s forests and rangelands are privately owned. A new survey of these landowners found that most value the land for its natural amenities and as a financial investment, rather than primarily for income production. Photo of valley oak, Hopland: Laurence R. Costello

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California Agriculture, October-December 2011

Volume 65, Number 4
Stewards of the land: Private owners share views on forest and range resources

peer-reviewed research articles

Forest and rangeland owners value land for natural amenities and as financial investment
by Shasta Ferranto , Lynn Huntsinger , Christy Getz , Gary Nakamura , William Stewart , Sabrina Drill , Yana Valachovic , Michael DeLasaux , Maggi Kelly
pp184-191, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p184
Abstract
Forty-two percent of California's forests and rangelands are privately owned (34 million acres). These lands provide important ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, pollination and wildlife habitat, but little is known about the people who own and manage them. We surveyed forest and rangeland owners in California and found that these long-time landowners value their properties for their natural amenities and as a financial investment. Owners of large properties (500 or more acres) were significantly more likely to use their land for income production than owners of smaller properties, and they were also more likely to carry out or be interested in environmental improvements. Many forest and rangeland owners reported they had been previously approached to sell their land for development. Only about one-third had participated in conservation programs; few had conservation easements. This survey can help guide outreach and education efforts, and the development of information, policies, programs and financial incentives for landowners.
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Tree shelters and weed control enhance growth and survival of natural blue oak seedlings
by Douglas D. McCreary , William Tietje , Josh Davy , Royce Larsen , Morgan Doran , Dustin Flavell , Sergio Garcia
pp192-196, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p192
Abstract
Blue oak is regenerating poorly in portions of its range. Techniques to artificially regenerate trees by collecting acorns, growing seedlings in a nursery and then planting them are effective but costly. Improving the growth and survival rate of existing volunteer seedlings in woodlands could be more cost efficient and therefore more widely used. We tested tree shelters and weed control treatments over 3 years at six woodland sites to evaluate whether they helped blue oak seedlings grow into saplings. The tree shelters enhanced height growth, and weed control improved survival. Together, these two techniques can improve the chances for managing blue oak sustainably and conserving this native California oak for future generations.
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Hedgerows enhance beneficial insects on farms in California's Central Valley
by Lora Morandin , Rachael F. Long , Corin Pease , Claire Kremen
pp197-201, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p197
Abstract
Hedgerows of native California shrubs and perennial grasses bordering field crops were examined for the abundance of beneficial and pest insects compared with adjacent weedy areas. During 2 years of sampling in the Sacramento Valley, hedgerows attracted more beneficial than pest insects, while weedy areas showed the opposite trend, attracting significantly more pest than beneficial insects. We conclude that replacing weedy areas at field crop edges with managed hedgerow plantings will sustain or increase beneficial rather than pest insects on farms.
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Water sensors with cellular system eliminate tail water drainage in alfalfa irrigation
by Rajat Saha , Narendra S. Raghuwanshi , Shrinivasa K. Upadhyaya , Wesley W. Wallender , David C. Slaughter
pp202-207, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p202
Abstract
Alfalfa is the largest consumer of water among all crops in California. It is generally flood-irrigated, so any system that decreases runoff can improve irrigation efficiency and conserve water. To more accurately manage the water flow at the tail (bottom) end of the field in surface-irrigated alfalfa crops, we developed a system that consists of wetting-front sensors, a cellular communication system and a water advance model. This system detects the wetting front, determines its advance rate and generates a cell-phone alert to the irrigator when the water supply needs to be cut off, so that tail water drainage is minimized. To test its feasibility, we conducted field tests during the 2008 and 2009 alfalfa growing seasons. The field experiments successfully validated the methodology, producing zero tail water drainage.
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editorial, news, letters & science briefs

EDITORIAL: Research on fire and ecosystem services must incorporate climate realities
by James W. Bartolome , Max A. Moritz
pp176, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p176
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Letters
From our readers
pp179-180, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p179
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Hilgardia scanning, Web posting to begin with $21,500 in donations
by Janet White
pp180, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p180
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California Firewood Task Force's message: “Buy it where you burn it”
by Janice Alexander , Katie Palmieri
pp181, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p181
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Water workgroup recommends new salinity guidelines for regulatory agencies
by Hazel White , Janet White
pp182-183, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p182
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Science brief: Tree-killing pathogen traced back to California
by Sarah Yang
pp183, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p183
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General Information

About California Agriculture
Editors
pp178, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p178
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Available from ANR
Editors
pp210, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p210a
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Coming Up in California Agriculture
Editors
pp210, doi#10.3733/ca.v065n04p210b
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