Composted dairy manure (Arizona Dairy Compost, LLC) (Table 3 and 4) was applied to plots according to treatment designations using a John Deere 210 front end loader. The applied compost mass was weighed out by the bucket load using truck scales prior to applying to the plots. The compost was spread on out the plots with the front end loader, disked into the tailings with an agricultural disk, and then rototilled with an 80 inch pto-driven rototiller. Hydrated mortar lime was applied and incorporated with a disk in the lime treated plots prior to compost application.

Small seed species were hand broadcasted over the plots according to treatment designations. Seed was mixed into the tailings using a 80" spiked toothed harrow and chain link drag. Following seeding straw was scattered over the plot surfaces at a rate of 150 lbs/plot (2 bales). The hay was then crimped 4 inches deep into the tailing surface with a bank of 4 18" agricultural disk blades. Lime, small seed, and hay applications were conducted at night as high winds during the day made these operations difficult.

Large seeded species (mesquite and acacia) were sown by hand post hay application. Each specie was planted to two seed lines across the length of the plot, 1.0 inch deep and 12" apart. Seed lines were were spaced 3 foot apart and species were alternated between the seed lines.

Once treatments were completed, plot borders were constructed with an 80" border disk. The finished plot size after completion of the borders was 25ft x 43ft. Soil samples were collected from the top 6 in. of each plot to establish initial chemical parameters. A sprinkler system was installed to provide irrigation and fence was erected around the study area to to inhibit wildlife grazing.

Plots were irrigated every 7 to 10 days in the absence of rainfall. Due to limited water availability the amount of water applied was limited to about 25 to 40 % of the estimated ET.

A photolog of the field status was recorded with each site visit.