bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cereal curculio (Desiantha caudata) damage to wheat following different pre-sowing tillage programmes
Authors: Grierson IT , Allen PG
Published: March 2005

In an experiment in South Australia wheat was grown following either long (ten months) o short (three months) fallows or established following treatment with herbicide two to three weeks before sowing (reduced tillage). Seedling numbers were reduced from a mean of 142 plants m-2 in the fallow treatments to 101 plants m-2 in the reduced tillage. Grain yields were also reduced from 3.55 t ha-1 in the fallow treatments to 2.30 t ha-1 under reduced tillage. The reductions were ascribed to attack by cereal curculio larvae (Desiantha caudata Pasc.) which were prevalent in the reduced tillage plots but absent where the land had been fallowed.
Effect of amount and time of application of nitrogen on the nicotine content of tobacco leaves
Authors: Crockford RH
Published: March 2005

The nicotine content of tobacco plants was found to be influenced by both the amount of nitrogenous fertilizer and the method of application. Split applications, with the second portions being applied between 34 and 46 days after planting substantially increased leaf nicotine levels. The later the second portion was applied the more marked was the effect. The magnitude of the effect was slightly negative in the lowest leaves and increased with ascending leaf position to the top group, where increases in excess of 100 per cent occurred. The split application treatments slightly reduced the size of the plant, but did not affect the weight of the root system.
Effect of pruning and tree shape on the growth and fruiting potential of young peach trees
Authors: Mitchell PD
Published: March 2005

Three pruning treatments were compared on both vase and central leader shaped peach trees. They were: 1. Annual pruning. 2. No pruning at the end of the first and second year in the orchard then pruned in succeeding years. 3. Trees pruned in all years except the third year after planting. Greater tree growth, earlier cropping and higher yields were recorded from treatment 2. When summed over pruning treatments the central-leader-shaped trees outyielded the vase-shaped tree; and the central leader- shape combined with treatment 2 produced as many big fruit (> 6.5 cm diameter) as the vase-shape combined with treatment 1 and more than the other four combinations. The results suggest that in southern Victoria dessert peach trees should be shaped as central leader and left unpruned in the first and second year.
Growth and carcase characteristics of steers sired by Friesian, Charolais and Hereford bulls in dairy cow herds
Authors: Gifford DR
Published: March 2005

Friesian and Jersey cows were mated to Friesian, Charolais and Hereford sires in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia and the growth and carcase characteristics of 88 steer progeny were examined. Groups of steers of each breed type were slaughtered when their mean liveweights were approximately 454 and 544 kg. There were no differences in the pre-slaughter growth performance of the three siregroups of steers out of Friesian dams, but the Charolais x Jersey steers grew significantly faster than the Friesian- and the Herefordsired steers out of Jersey dams from the start of grazing to the time of the first slaughter, a period of 782 days. At both slaughter liveweights, the Charolais x Friesian and Friesian carcases were both longer and leaner than the Hereford x Friesian carcases, and the Charolais x Friesian carcases yielded the highest percentage of muscle. Similarly at both slaughterings of steers bred from Jersey dams, the Charolais- and Friesian-sired carcases were leaner than the Hereford-sired carcases and the Friesian-sired carcases were longer than the Hereford-sired carcases. Although the Charolais-sired steers gave 3 per cent more muscle than the Friesian-sired steers, the potential of Friesian sires to produce progeny suitable for either beef production or dairying purposes makes their replacement by Charolais sires unlikely.
Studies in the supplementation of grazing Friesian steers in the central coast area of New South Wales
Authors: Lloyd Davies H , Lemcke BG
Published: March 2005

Four groups of yearling Friesian steers were offered nil, 2.0 kg 4.0 kg and an ad libitum amount of a barley-based grain ration while grazing Trifolium repens, Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea and Phalaris tuberosa based pastures from March 23 to September 7 at Camden, New South Wales. A fifth group was offered the cereal ration in pens with 10 per cent long hay added. The mean daily intakes of grain by the group offered it on pasture was 9.1 kg compared with 8.0 kg for the pen-fed group. The mean daily liveweight gains (kg) were: unsupplemented grazing, 0.51; 2.0 kg of barley, 0.57; 4.0 kg of barley, 0.70; 9.1 kg on pasture, 1.10; and the group offered barley in pens, 0.97. The differences in liveweight gain between 0 and 4.0 kg (P < 0.05); 0 and ad libitum (P < 0.01) and 4.0 and ad libitum (P < 0.05) were statistically significant. The response in liveweight to amount of grain fed was linear but the feed conversion ratio was superior for the group fed grain ad libitum on pasture. They had fewer health problems and gained weight more rapidly than the lot-fed group.
The relative protein and energy requirements of boars, gilts and barrows
Authors: Taverner M , Campbell RG , King RH
Published: March 2005

Two experiments were conducted to study the response of boars, gilts and barrows to increasing levels of dietary crude protein and digestible energy. In the first experiment boars, gilts and barrows were fed diets ranging in crude protein from 14.6 to 22.7 per cent in restrictive amounts between 20 and 70 kg liveweight. Growth rate and food conversion efficiency measurements ranked the sexes in order of superiority as boars, gilts and barrows. Boars contained more lean in their hams than gilts or barrows and had lower back fat measurements than barrows. Although analysis of variance indicated there was no significant sex by protein interaction, the multiple regression equations of growth rate and the proportion of lean in the ham for the three sexes were significantly different from one another. The response curves based on the regression equations indicated that for optimum growth, boars and gilts required 19.6 per cent crude protein whereas barrows required only 18.4 per cent crude protein. The proportion of lean in the ham was maximized with 21 per cent crude protein for boars and 20 per cent crude protein for the gilts and barrows. There was a significant quadratic relationship between economic returns and dietary protein. The relationship was the same for boars and gilts and significantly different from that for barrows; returns were maximized at approximately the same protein level as growth rate for the three sexes. In the second experiment, 30 boars and 30 gilts were allocated to 30 treatment groups involving the two sexes, three levels of digestible energy (14.59, 15.51 and 16.22 MJ kg-1) and five levels of crude protein (18.2, 19.4, 20.6, 21.8 and 23.0 per cent). All diets were fed restrictively and pig performance was compared over the liveweight range 20 to 80 kg. Boars grew significantly faster, had a significantly lower food conversion ratio and produced leaner carcases than gilts. Increasing the DE level of the diet improved growth rate and food conversion efficiency but reduced carcase quality. Dietary protein level had no effect on any performance or carcase quality measurement.
Effects of initial and maintenance phosphorus levels on the establishment of four legumes oversown into Setaria anceps swards
Authors: Tudsri S , Whiteman PC
Published: March 2005

The re-establishment of four legumes, Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Schofield, Lotononis bainesii cv. Miles, Desmodium intortum cv. Greenleaf and Macroptilium atropurpureum cv. Siratro by oversowing into a Setaria anceps cv. Kazungula stand was studied in plots with different phosphate (P) levels. Half the plots had received different levels of initial P only, seven years previously, the other half received initial and maintenance P plus a further application at oversowing. At 15 weeks after sowing all species had similar seedling densities (10 to 23 plants m-2). The densities of stylo and siratro declined over the 88 week trial, and desmodium also declined except at the highest rate of P. Lotononis density increased except at Nil P where all legumes, except stylo, were almost eliminated. In terms of legume survival and growth, setaria tiller density, and P concentration in plant tops, residual effects of P applied seven years previously were clearly evident, particularly at the higher rates (44 and 88 kg P ha-1). P and N concentrations in tops were linearly related.
The effects in a long-term trial of minimum and reduced cultivation on wheat yields
Authors: Rowell DL , Osborne GJ , Matthews PG , Stonebridge WC , McNeil AA
Published: March 2005

A trial was established at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales in 1967 to examine the value of the bipyridilium herbicides as substitutes for mechanical weed control in an extended cropping phase of a cereal/clover ley rotation. The experiment was continued for seven years and the results indicate that herbicides can successfully substitute for mechanical weed control. Direct drilling with a tined combine/seeder into a sprayed but undisturbed seed bed yielded an average of 1.97 tonnes of grain per hectare over seven years compared with 2.02 tonnes per hectare in the mechanically prepared or cultivated seed bed. The difference in yield was not significant. Direct seeding with a triple disc seeder following spraying of an undisturbed seed bed gave significantly lower yields than the other minimum tillage treatments. This minimum cultivation treatment was not successful because of poor plant establishment, possibly emphasized by restricted root growth. A reduced cultivation technique-cultivate-spray-drill-which was included in the trial over the last five years, gave comparable yields, 2.1 7 compared with 1.90 tonnes per hectare, to those obtained by conventional cultivation methods. There were no significant increases in yield with added nitrogen in a dry season, but in four out of the other six years there was significant linear increase in yield with increasing nitrogen rate. There was no significant interaction between cultivation method and applied nitrogen, indicating that neither minimum nor reduced cultivation increased the requirement for nitrogen fertilizer. The results are discussed in terms of mechanical aspects that will allow greater disturbance of the soil beneath the seed with a view to obtaining optimum root development.
Regional soil fertility patterns in wheatgrowing areas of Victoria
Authors: Jardine R , Elliott BR
Published: March 2005

Soil fertility patterns in the wheatgrowing areas of Victoria were examined. The three major patterns identified from the protein content of wheat delivered to 113 silos over the period 1946-74 showed a marked regional grouping encompassing the Wimmera (type 3), Western Mallee (type 2) and the Eastern Mallee, Northern and North-East Districts (type 1). Using 107 P x N wheat fertilizer experiments, four major patterns were identified. Only one of these (low P, nil N yield response) showed any regional grouping (with the Wimmera region); the other three (moderate P, moderate N; high P, small N ; and high P, nil N yield responses) occurred at random throughout the wheat belt. Possible reasons for these patterns and their implications are discussed.
Phytotoxicity of methyl bromide fumigation to a range of apple cultivars
Authors: O'Loughlin JB , Ireson JE
Published: March 2005

Two trials were conducted to study the phytotoxicity of methyl bromide fumigation to a range of apple cultivars. Crofton was highly susceptible, being injured by all concentration x temperature combinations studied. Democrat was moderately susceptible, being injured by 32, 48 and 64 g m-3. The cultivars Red Delicious, Jonathan and Granny Smith had a relatively low susceptibility as they were injured only slightly by 32 g m-3 methyl bromide at 15�C. The other cultivars, namely Legana and Golden Delicious, were not injured by any of the dosages. The amount of injury in Croftons and Democrats varied from orchard to orchard. Dosagehemperature combinations considered equivalent for efficacy purposes resulted in different levels of methyl bromide injury on these two cultivars. Spartan was the only cultivar in which any dosages of methyl bromide produced significantly more of the storage disorder internal breakdown than occurred in non-fumigated fruit.
Use of the starwheel sprayer for applying drying emulsion to sultana grapes to be dried on the trellis
Authors: Clingeleffer PR , Trayford RS , May P , Brien CJ
Published: March 2005

The development of the starwheel sprayer for the application of drying emulsion to Sultanas is described. This sprayer consists, in its standard form, of three sets of six radially and horizontally arranged spokes. Each spoke is fitted with three wide angle, solid cone nozzles which spray near and inside the vine canopy. Spraying vines with the starwheel sprayer took one tenth of the time needed to spray the fruit to saturation by hand. Experiments indicated that at least 4000 l ha-1 of spray emulsion containing at least 1.5 per cent oil and 1.875 per cent K2CO3 were needed to obtain sufficient coverage of the fruit for an adequate rate of drying and to ensure good quality of the fruit. The colour of dried sultanas produced by trellis drying after spraying with the starwheel sprayer was darker and less uniform than the colour of fruit produced by rack-spraying and -drying. This appeared to be related to the system of trellis-drying in general rather than to the use of the starwheel sprayer. It is concluded that the starwheel sprayer successfully meets the requirements for applying drying emulsion to Sultanas to be dried on the trellis.
Estimation of environmental effects on post-weaning gain and yearling weight of beef cattle
Authors: Straw WM , Jones LP
Published: March 2005

Records of post-weaning growth for 1134 heifers and 375 bulls from 11 Victorian beef cattle herds were analysed for the effects of sex, age of dam, age of calf, season of birth and herd/year on postweaning gain (PWG) and yearling weight (YLG WT). Age of dam had a significant effect on PWG and YLG WT for each sex, but the effect on heifer PWG was small. Suitable corrections for the effect of age of dam on heifer YLG WT were made using weaning weight adjusted for age of dam effects plus gain from weaning to yearling. Post-weaning management of young bulls and heifers was very different. Averaged over all herd/years, bulls were 37.5 per cent heavier than heifers at yearling age and grew 57.5 per cent faster between the two post-weaning dates, The environmental effects on PWG and YLG WT were therefore different for each sex. The effects of calf age and season were significant for each dependent variable except YLG WT for bulls and PWG for bulls respectively. The interaction between calf age and season was significant for heifers only.
The effect of stocking rate on the performance of steers in central coastal New South Wales
Authors: Lloyd Davies H
Published: March 2005

The effect of stocking rate and sowing one-eighth of the area to lucerne on the liveweight change and carcase characteristics of Hereford steers grazing pastures dominated by Paspalum dilatatum was studied at the Wolverton Farm of the University of Sydney, Bringelly, New South Wales from 1971 to 1974. Stocking rate (1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 steers ha-1) had an effect upon mean daily liveweight gain in some periods and this was reflected in the number of days taken to achieve 450 kg. (1.5 ha-1 took 509 days, 2.0 took 595, 2.5 took 802 and 3.0 took 842 days). There were significant differences in average daily gain between replicates in most periods. The lucerne did not persist after the first year. Having one-eighth of the area sown to lucerne did not significantly affect daily liveweight gain. There were highly significant period effects with the highest daily gain occurring in spring and summer, the lowest in winter and gain in autumn being dependent upon rainfall and stocking rate. In many periods increasing stocking rate above 2.0 steers ha-1 did not increase the per hectare liveweight gain.
Effect of litter condition, antibiotics, barley and lucerne meal on egg yolk colour and performance of crossbred layers
Authors: Karunajeewa H , Bagot I
Published: March 2005

The effects of litter condition, antibiotics, barley and lucerne meal on the pigmentation of egg yolks and performance of crossbred layers were examined in two factorial experiments. In both experiments pigmentation of egg yolks was depressed by barley and improved either by 6 per cent lucerne meal in the diet or by housing the birds on wet litter. There were significant interactions between litter condition, antibiotics, lucerne meal and cereals on yolk colour, egg production and efficiency of feed conversion. In experiment 1, young pullets laid fewer eggs when fed diets with 57.2 per cent barley plus 6 per cent lucerne meal. This depression in egg production was alleviated by antibiotics. Feed intake was increased and feed conversion efficiency and body weight gains were decreased by barley, whereas lucerne meal decreased both feed intake and body weight gains. Pullets on wet litter laid larger eggs with lower Haugh unit scores. In experiment 2, older hens laid more eggs on diets with 6 per cent lucerne meal, particularly in the absence of barley and when housed on dry litter. Body weights of these hens were decreased by barley.
Effects of rearing regime, a chelating agent and the source of supplemental calcium and protein in the laying diet on egg shell thickness and performance of crossbred layers
Authors: Karunajeewa H
Published: March 2005

In a factorial experiment, crossbred pullets reared on a low plane of nutrition, based on a dietary regime of either all-mash or mash plus whole grain, were given laying diets, supplemented with ground limestone and cockle shell grit as alternative calcium supplements, and Australian soybean meal and meat and bone meal as alternative protein supplements, from 18 to 72 weeks of age. From 48 weeks of age the laying diets were fed with or without 600 p.p.m. EDTA. The effects of these treatments on shell quality, egg production, feed conversion and liveweight were examined. Pullets reared on the mash plus whole grain regime wereheavier at housing time, matured earlier, laid eggs with better shells and tended to perform more efficiently than the lighter pullets reared on an all-mash regime. Supplementation of the laying diet with cockle shell grit improved shell quality. This improvement was significant only for the first half of the laying cycle which occurred during the warmer part of the year. Calcium supplements had no effect on other traits studied. inclusion of Australian soybean meal in the laying diet resulted in better shell quality right through the laying year and rate of lay, egg weight and efficiency of feed conversion was significantly better than that of birds given diets based on meat and bone meal. The addition of 600 p.p.m. EDTA to the laying diet at 48 weeks of age had adverse effects on shell quality but egg production was not significantly affected.
Yield, nitrogen uptake and liveweight gains from irrigated grass-legume pasture on a Queensland tropical highland
Authors: Miller CP , List JTvan der
Published: March 2005

The growth and nitrogen uptake of grazed irrigated mixed pastures based on eleven legumes and Brachiaria mutica (Para grass) was measured over four years. Four of these legumes were also used in two short grazing trials to estimate the fattening potential of irrigated grass-legume pastures. Glycine wightii cv. Tinaroo and Desmodium intortum cv. Greenleaf were the most persistent legumes, had winter growth rates twice that of other legumes, and formed the most stable pastures. Apparent nitrogen fixation was linearly related to legume dry matter yield and became a more efficient process with time. In the final two years each 1000 kg legume DM resulted in an extra 33 kg N in the system. Nitrogen in Macroptilium atropurpureum cv. Siratro pastures was transferred twice as efficiently as in other pastures. G. wightii- B. mutica pastures produced the most rapid liveweight gains of up to 0.61 kg day-1 over a full year, and produced the highest liveweight gain per hectare (860 kg year -1). Increasing stocking rate from 3.4 steers ha-1 to 5.1 steers h-la depressed pasture legume contents and rate of liveweight gain per animal but generally did not increase liveweight gain per hectare.
Topdressing requirements of established perennial pastures with a substantial history of superphosphate use
Authors: Curll ML , Smith AN
Published: March 2005

Topdressing requirements of grazed perennial pastures with histories of substantial super phosphate use were assessed from 25 field trials in the high rainfall area of the Southern Slopes of New South Wales during 1972 and 1973. Yield responses from an application of superphosphate were related to a number of site variables including yield of unsupered pasture, total past superphosphate application, 'time since last application', available soil phosphate determined by three extractant methods, the phosphate sorption capacity of the soil, soil buffering capacity, and plant phosphate. Significant reponses were recorded on 16. of the 25 sites but no single site variable adequately predicted these responses. Analysis also revealed no significant change in the proportion of responsive and nonresponsive sites when these were classified as low, medium or high on the basis of extractable soil phosphate. Multiple regression analysis using the best combination of site variables to predict yield of unsupered pasture, yield increase from superphosphate and yield increase as a percentage of unsupered yield, was similarly unsuccessfuI ; only 3ZI4 and 44 per cent of variation respectively, was accounted for. These results suggest that the direct approach of applying a superphosphate strip and assessing the pasture's response is the best practical method currently available for deciding if a paddock with a substantial superphosphate history requires topdressing.
Factors contributing to poor lucerne persistence in southern Queensland
Authors: Irwin JAG
Published: March 2005

Lucerne disease surveys made in southern Queensland have shown the presence of seven fungal root and crown diseases. The two most wide spread and serious diseases are Phytophthora root rot (Phytophthora megasperma) and Colletotrichum crown rot (Colletotrichum trifolii). The general disease survey did not reveal the presence of bacterial wilt (Corynebacterium insidiosum) in Queensland. Studies made on the survival of lucerne populations for 2.5 years at three sites in Queensland have shown that disease was the major cause of all detected plant deaths.
Effect of damaging main stem terminals at various stages of flowering, on yield of cotton in south-east Queensland
Authors: Bishop AL , Day RE , Blood PRB , Evenson JP
Published: March 2005

Damage by the cotton tipworm, Crocidosema plebeiana Zeller, was simulated in field trials by the removal of terminal buds (tipping) at different phenological stages coinciding with tipworm presence on cotton grown in south-eastern Queensland. The effect of this damage was considered in relation to the induced changes in crop morphology, fruit production, yield and harvestability of cotton grown under field conditions. No significant differences in fruit formation and yield were established. There were significant delays in times to 50 per cent flowering and boll opening in plants tipped before squaring had commenced. Changes in the location of monopodial branches arising from the main stem were induced in plants tipped pre-squaring but this did not significantly affect the harvestability.
Influence of some digestive processes on the digestion by cattle of cereal grain fed whole
Authors: Toland PC
Published: March 2005

Pen studies were conducted with cattle in which the digestibility, rate of fermentation, site of digestion and grain loss in faeces were measured in diets comprising 4.8 kg of one or other of four cereal grains together with 2.4 kg of pasture hay. The cereals were Avon oats, Swan oats, Olympic wheat and Emblem wheat with natural weights of 48.3, 60.5, 81.3 and 78.8 kg hl-1 and particle size index 24, 35, 31 and 14, respectively. The apparent in vivo digestibility of Avon and Swan oats of 71.9 and 74.6 did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). However, there was significantly less grain cracked during initial mastication (12.5 vs. 19.2 per cent and a lower percentage of grain voided in faeces (4.3 vs. 9.3) for Avon compared with Swan oats (P < 0.05). The in vivo digestibility of wheat grain was significantly higher for Olympic than for Emblem (77.5 vs. 72.6 per cent) ;these performances were accompanied by lower percentages of grain cracked during initial mastication (17.0 vs. 22.3) and less whole grain DM voided in faeces (14.6 vs. 18.4 per cent) for Olympic compared with Emblem (P < 0.05). The major difference in the digestion of oat and wheat varieties was that rumination accounted for a high proportion of the breakdown of oat grain whereas the wheat varieties were digested by rumen fermentation with only a small proportion of grains broken down by rumination. The breakdown of whole grain in rumination was important for all rations. For the light oats, heavy oats, soft wheat and hard wheat, rumination accounted for 66 per cent, 44 per cent, 27 per cent and 17 per cent of the total breakdown respectively.
Effect of stocking rate, fodder conservation and grazing management on the performance of wether sheep and pastures in south-west Victoria. 2. Seasonal wool growth rate, liveweight and herbage availability
Authors: Birrell HA , Bishop AH , Tew A , Plowright RD
Published: March 2005

The effects of stocking rate, level of fodder conservation and grazing management of Polwarth x Corriedale wethers on the seasonal wool growth rate, liveweight and herbage on offer over a three year period have been examined by pattern analysis. The grazing management systems were continuous, deferred and rotational grazing. The herbage on offer in the autumn and spring of two years, the minimum liveweight in winter for each of three years, and monthly wool growth rates were analysed by regression. The grouping of treatments with similar patterns of seasonal fluctuations indicated some effects due to the treatments and these indications were supported by the regression analysis. Stocking rate was shown to have a major effect on the distribution and amount of feed on offer, especially in the continuous system. Differences between stocking rate in the herbage on offer were reduced by the rotational grazing system, and the deferred system increased the autumn supply of herbage. These general effects were also reflected in the seasonal patterns for wool growth and, to some extent, liveweight. The effect of fodder conservation on herbage availability showed two distinct and opposing responses one during the feeding and the other during the period when hay is conserved. Responses in herbage availability were apparent in late autumn, but by late winter any residual effect on liveweight was small. In the drought conditions of 1967 there was a substantial response in the minimum liveweight in winter to the conservation practice.
The contamination of pasture by a lead smelter in a semi-arid environment
Authors: Merry RH , Tiller KG
Published: March 2005

A study was made of the extent of heavy metal contamination of pastures surrounding the lead and zinc smelters at Port Pirie, South Australia. The degree of contamination depended on species and distance from the smelter. Contamination of herbage by lead resulted mainly from adhering soil dust and by cadmium mainly from root uptake. Both mechanisms were important for zinc, but surface contamination was more important closer to the smelter. The implications of raised levels of zinc, lead and cadmium in herbage and soils on animal health are discussed. The animals most at risk are those kept within about 5 km of the smelter; that is, those yarded within the urban area and adjacent agricultural land,
The effect of sludges from two Adelaide sewage treatment plants on the growth of and heavy metal concentrations in lettuce
Authors: de Vries MPC , Tiller KG
Published: March 2005

In a glasshouse experiment, lettuce was grown on a market garden soil near Adelaide, South Australia, to investigate how yields and foliar concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Mn, Pb, and Zn are affected by applications of sewage sludges of different origin. One sludge came from a modern treatment plant and the other from an abandoned treatment farm now within the Adelaide suburban area. Heat sterilization of one of the sludges decreased the uptake of Cd, Cu, and Zn, and especially of Ni and Mn. Fertilizing with sludges alone gave poor yields thus indicating the need for supplementary nutrients. High rates of sludge application gave marked increases in some metal concentrations in the lettuce. The ease with which metals in the sludges could be absorbed by lettuce decreased in the following order: Cd > Zn > Ni > Cu >> Pb. The effect of pot size is discussed. Monitoring of produce may be required if sludge is used at high rates in intensive crop production on a similar soil.
Alkali effects on agricultural wastes and their cell wall fraction
Authors: McManus WR
Published: March 2005

Five experiments are reported which examine the effect of alkalis (NaOH, 0-1 4 g/100 g DM ; NH,OH, 0-2.9 g/l00 g DM), reaction time and temperature upon dry matter (DM) digestibility and related properties of mature forage waste materials. Digestion was assessed by microdigestion of test samples in the rumens of fistulated sheep fed lucerne base diets. Digestion of the DM of brewer's grains was increased from 50.2 per cent to 58.5 per cent by application of 2.9 per cent NaOH or NH4OH at room temperature for 24 hours, and to 81.9 per cent when heated to 80�C for 24 hours. Heating at 150�C for 1 hour produced no improvement over heating at 80�C for 24 hours. Average DM digestion of a range of mature grasses was improved by 6.9 per cent by applying 1.5 g NH4OH/100 g DM at room temperature for 17 hours and by 13.7 per cent when heated to 80�C for the same period. The DM digestion of mature legumes did not increase due to these treatments, but when heated with 1.5 g NH4OH/100 g DM to 130�C for 4 hours increased DM digestibility by 16.6 per cent. The digestion of unashed cell wall (CW) and acid detergent (AD) residues in mature grasses was increased by a prior extraction with neutral detergent and acid detergent. In mature legumes these pretreatments had no effect upon digestibility. The unashed (KmnO4 extracted) cellulose residues of grasses and legumes were incompletely digested compared with pure cotton. Both NaOH and the chelating agent EDTA eventually remove the CW-ash fraction and this is associated with increases in CW digestion with increasing level of their application. These chemicals also initially increase and then decrease the organic fraction of the mature forage CW, its ADF and lignin. The digestibility of cell walls of lucerne hay is increased from 24.3 per cent to 43.3 per cent by application of NaOH (9 g /100 g DM) for 2 hours at room temperatures; the corresponding increase for cell walls of wheaten chaff is from 33.9 per cent to 72.3 per cent. It is shown that alkalis induce increases in DM digestion by degrading cell walls and that the cell walls of mature grasses are more easily degraded than are the cell walls of mature legumes.
Correlation of soil phosphorus tests with the response of irrigated perennial pasture to phosphorus fertilizer
Authors: Montgomery AJ , Rubenis G
Published: March 2005

The level of soil phosphorus and the response of irrigated perennial pasture to phosphorus fertilizer were measured on 33 sites in the Goulburn Valley of northern Victoria. Eleven of the 33 sites were found to have Olsen P values above 10 p.p.m. and Colwell P values above 30 p.p.m. Of these 11, 9 did not give a pasture response to superphosphate and 2 gave a relatively small response. Functions of the form Y = a - be-CX (where Y = total pasture yield over 12 months (t ha-1), X = rate of superphosphate application (t ha-1), and a, b and c are constants respectively denoting maximum yield, maximum response, and the rate at which maximum yield is approached) were fitted to the yield data from those sites at which a response did occur. b was found to be correlated with a number of soil tests, the highest correlation coefficient being -0.74 for Colwell P. a was significantly correlated with some tests (P < 0.01) but was generally less predictable, and c gave very low correlation coefficients with all soil tests.
Control of the armyworms Spodoptera mauritia and Pseudaletia convecta in pastures on the north coast of New South Wales
Authors: Rand JR , Wright WE
Published: March 2005

Chlorpyrifos, methomyl and trichlorphon, at rates of 0.25-1.0 kg ha-1, were evaluated against mixed outbreaks in pastures of Spodoptera rnauritia and Pseudaletia convecta caterpillars in three experiments in New South Wales. Chlorpyrifos was the most effective chemical and at 0.25 kg ha-1 controlled both species in all experiments. Methomyl and trichlorphon each at 0.5 kg ha-1, also gave acceptable control. A comparison of costs of similar levels of control favoured trichlorphon at 0.5 kg ha-1.
Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers and gypsum on a Danthonia caespitosa-Stipa variabilis grassland. 1. Response to fertilizer application over four successive years
Authors: Tupper GJ
Published: March 2005

The effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers and gypsum was assessed over four years on a Danthonia caespitosa-Stipa variabilis grassland, growing on the semi-arid Riverine Plain in south-eastern Australia. Fertilizers were applied annually and gypsum once only. The treatments were combined factorially. Seasonal production of total dry matter and individual species, and nitrogen and phosphorus contents of the plant tops, were measured. Forage production increased in response to the additives in years in which the annual rainfall varied from well below to near average. They accentuated the normal pattern of a spring peak, but also gave lesser increases in production in winter and autumn. Summer production was not measured because of the absence of effective summer rainfall. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers and gypsum all contributed to the increased production, and the combination of the three additives produced the greatest yield. Over all seasons the yield of grassland treated with nitrogen plus phosphorus plus gypsum averaged 250 per cent of the control, or approximately 1500 kg ha-1. The main contributors to increases in yield were D. caespitosa, S. variabilis, annual herbs, and legumes. The perennial grasses were particularly favoured by nitrogen fertilizer whereas the yield of legumes was suppressed. The yield of legumes increased greatly in response to phosphorus fertilizer. With the exception of two species, all plants which increased in yield are acceptable to sheep. Nitrogen and phosphorus contents were above the minimum requirements for domestic herbivores.
The effects of rice growing on soil phosphorus immobilization
Authors: Willett IR , Muirhead WA , Higgins ML
Published: March 2005

Representative rice soils of the Murrumbidgee and Coleambally Irrigation Areas, New South Wales, were analysed for phosphate (P) sorption characteristics and active iron. Samples analysed were taken before and after flooding (in the field and glasshouse) and from rice bays, irrigation control banks and nearby, non-irrigated fencelines. Previously flooded soils showed greater P sorption capacities than their non-flooded soil counterparts. It was indicated that soils that had previously grown rice required more P for upland cropping than non-rice soils. P sorption was significantly positively correlated with active (acid ammonium oxalate extractable) iron. It was proposed that prolonged waterlogging mobilized iron from relatively well ordered iron oxides of low P sorption capacity but on oxidation formed disordered iron oxides with a large capacity to immobilize P.
Effect of irrigation interval and plant population on growth, yield and water use of soybeans in a semi-arid environment
Authors: Thompson JA
Published: March 2005

The influence of irrigation interval and plant population on seed yield, yield components and water use of soybeans was examined. Plant populations of 12,20 and 28 plants m-2 were furrow irrigated at irrigation intervals of 70 mm and 140 mm of estimated evapotranspiration. Although 12 plants m-2 yielded significantly less than 28 plant m-2, plant population had little influence on plant performance or on water use. Any effect was small when compared with the effect of irrigation interval. Highly significant differences were recorded between the two irrigation intervals. Extending the irrigation interval to 140 mm reduced seed yield by 1286 kg ha-1 or 34 per cent. The drop in yield resulted principally from a substantial decrease in the number of pods per plant. There was little effect on protein and oil content of the seed. Crop water use at the 70 mm interval was 786 mm or 75 per cent of pan evaporation. Although the 140 mm interval reduced water use by 15 per cent, production of seed and protein was less efficient. Peak demand for soil moisture coincided with the end of flowering-early pod fill period.
Identification of physiological maturity in sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)
Authors: Browne CL
Published: March 2005

The hypothesis that floret abscission coincides with physiological maturity in sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) was examined in experiments involving 10 and 33 plants respectively. Time courses of achene dry weight accumulation were established for individual capitula to determine attainment of maximum achene dry weight, or physiological maturity. No difference was found in either experiment (P > 0.05) between the mean date for physiological maturity and mean dates for any of three phases of floret abscission, the mid-point between first and last floret abscission exhibiting the closest association with maturity. Time courses of floret abscission were subsequently used to characterize physiological maturity in a crop of 100 plants.
Pruning Sultana vines by the arched cane system
Authors: May P , Clingeleffer PR , Brien CJ
Published: March 2005

Pruning Sultana vines in the Murray Valley by the system of 'arched canes' is described. In two experiments there were trends towards slight increases in crop despite smaller bunch weight when the canes were arched downwards instead of wrapped tightly around thetrellis wire. Downward arching did not greatly affect overall vine performance, but it modified the distribution of growth and yield along the canes, leading to more bunches on the middle part of the cane and shorter shoots on the distal part of the cane. Arching the canes upwards gave similar results to wrapping and showed no commercial promise. Harvest pruning was somewhat faster when the canes were arched downwards, but there was no quality difference in the trellis dried fruit. Winter pruning was speeded up by up to one-half of normal pruning time when the canes were arched, particularly when clips were used to attach them to the trellis wire. Vines pruned by arching had sufficient replacement canes although they produced fewer mature shoots near their crowns than vines pruned by wrapping. It is concluded that pruning Sultana vines by arching canes downwards leads to several beneficial changes, i.e. reduced bunch weight without loss of crop, less fruit clumping where the canes of two adjacent vines meet, shorter terminal shoots, and reduced pruning time. This can be achieved without major changes of the trellis.
Parasitism and production in weaner sheep grazing alternately with cattle
Authors: Barger IA , Southcott WH
Published: March 2005

Three systems for the post-weaning management of Merino wethers were compared over two years. In all systems, the sheep were given two anthelmintic treatments with levamisole per year; at weaning in January, and in July. In the first system (SC) the same paddock was used as a weaning paddock each year in succession. In the second system (SC 6) sheep and cattle grazed the paddock alternately for 6- month periods from January and July; the third system (SC 12) comprised sheep and cattle grazing alternately for 12-month periods from July of each year. Compared with the SC treatment, weaners from the SC 6 treatment had significantly lower faecal egg counts and lower burdens of Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylm axei, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Nematodirus spp. They had significantly higher numbers of Cooperia oncophora and similar numbers of Ostertagia circumcincta. SC 6 sheep made greater liveweight gains, produced heavier fleeces, and suffered lower mortalities than their SC counterparts. Results for the SC 12 system were usually intermediate. In a third year, the SC 12 system was modified to include a monthly treatment with levamisole. The liveweight gains, egg counts and mortalities of the monthly treatment sheep did not differ significantly from those of the SC 6 sheep. Both systems were superior to the SC treatment in controlling nematode infections in weaner sheep. There were no significant effects of any treatment on liveweight gains of cattle, although outbreaks of ostertagiosis occurred in the third year in two of the four replicates of the SC system.
Puberty and subsequent oestrous activity in young Merino ewes
Authors: Hawker H , Kennedy JP
Published: March 2005

At Fowlers Gap in far western New South Wales, the exhibition of oestrus prior to 16 months of age was studied in South Australian Merino ewes born at five times of the year in three successive years. Ewes born at different times varied widely in average growth rate and in growth pattern, in response to marked changes in pastoral conditions. For different groups of ewes, considerable variation was observed in the mean liveweight at 450 days of age (34-59 kg), in mean age at puberty (283-more than 480 days), in mean liveweight at puberty (31-49 kg), and in the mean number of oestruses exhibited by 16 months of age (0-8.7). Faster growth rates were associated with both younger ages and higher liveweights at puberty. Puberty occurred at progressively younger mean ages and lower mean liveweights between December and May, suggesting an increase in environmental stimulation during that period. The age at puberty of ewes born in February and April was strongly influenced by season, growth rate being less important. Both season and growth rate influenced the performance of ewes born at other times.
Feedlotting of slow-growing lambs at different stages of growth
Authors: Ikin TL , Pearce GR
Published: March 2005

The lightest 80 lambs at six weeks of age in a flock of 341 were divided into 4 groups, A-D. Groups A, B, and C were weaned at 6, 12 and 18 weeks of age respectively; group D was managed under normal pasture grazing conditions until weaning at 24 weeks of age. Immediately upon weaning, groups A, B, and C were placed in a feedlot and offered a diet of 86 per cent whole barley grain and 14 per cent of a pelleted mixture of fishmeal, straw, molasses, minerals and vitamins; decreasing daily amounts of lucerne chaff were offered for the first 15 days to reduce the incidence of digestive upsets. After six weeks in the feedlot each group was returned to the flock. While in the feedlot, four lambs in group A and one lamb in group B died. Two lambs in group A and four lambs in group D died while grazing. All feedlot groups lost weight initially, groups A and B for 14 days and group C for 7 days. Feedlotting of groups A and B did not improve their growth rates compared with group D. Only 15 and 20 per cent respectively of lambs grew faster than group D lambs. Group C lambs were significantly heavier (P < 0.05) at the end of their feedlot period than group D lambs and 74 per cent of them grew faster than the mean growth rate of group D lambs. Excluding the initial weight losses in the feedlots, 50 per cent, 50 per cent and 84 per cent of lambs in groups A, B and C grew at rates faster than the mean corresponding rates for group D. It is concluded that some slow-growing lambs are capable of responding to preferential feeding treatment but the variability in responses within a group does not favour the adoption of a feedlot procedure as used in this experiment.
Evaluation of natural annual pasture at Trangie in central western New South Wales. 3. Effect of stocking rate on annual-dominated and perennial-dominated natural pastures
Authors: Robards GE , Michalk DL , Pither RJ
Published: March 2005

A four year experiment is reported during which breeding Merino ewes grazed two natural pasture types at three stocking rates at Trangie in central-western New South Wales. Initially, the pasture on a red brown soil was dominated by cool season annual species, particularly Hordeum leporinum, Erodium species and Medicago species. The pasture on a heavier grey soil was dominated by the perennial grasses Chloris acicularis, C. truncata and Stipa variabilis. Clean wool production of ewes grazing the annual-dominated pasture was significantly (P< 0.05) higher than that of ewes grazing the perennial grass-dominated pasture even though the wool of the ewes grazing perennial pasture had a higher percentage clean yield (P < 0.05). The ewes on the annual-dominated pasture were significantly heavier in autumn and winter, and had a faster rate of wool growth in each season except spring, than ewes grazing perennial pasture. Number of lambs born per ewe, lamb birth weight and lamb growth rate were not affected by pasture type or stocking rate. Stocking rate had a small but statistically significant effect on clean wool production and only small effects on ewe liveweight, regardless of pasture type. When hand feeding of the pregnant ewes became necessary in the poor winters of 1971 and 1972 all stocking rates had to be commenced simultaneously. The significance of perennial grasses in these natural pastures is discussed in relationship to animal production, stocking rate, pasture and soil stability, and regeneration of grasses following favourable seasons.
Effect of vapour pressure deficit and temperature at spraying time on the ripening response of tomatoes to ethephon
Authors: Mutton LL
Published: March 2005

Experiments were conducted to test the effect of vapour pressure deficit and temperature at time of spraying on the ethephon-accelerated ripening response in tomatoes. Neither factor influenced ripening rate or the rate of leaf senescence. The results of these experiments suggest that the response to ethephon is not affected by the rate at which the solution dries on the leaf or on temperature per se, at application rates that are normally used on tomatoes.
Effect of time of harvest on alternate cropping yields and fruit quality of Valencia orange trees
Authors: Gallasch PT
Published: March 2005

At Loxton, South Australia, early harvest of heavy, and late harvest of light, Valencia orange crops was compared with the common practice: early harvest of light and late harvest of heavy crops. These treatments were compared with two years of early, mid- or late season harvests. Early harvest of heavy and late harvest of light crops changed the 3.1:1.0 alternate cropping cycle to 1.1:10 and increased the light crop by 101 per cent compared with the common district practice which gave a 3.2 : 10 cycle. Consistent early and mid-season harvests reduced the alternate cropping ratio to 1.3 : 1.0 and 1.4 : 1.0 respectively, produced 14 per cent more fruit than the common district practice and avoided harvesting the light crop late, when fruit quality is poor. Mature fruit weights from trees consistently harvested late were 27 per cent lower than those trees harvested mid-season.