bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aims in herbage breeding
Authors: Breese E. L.
Published: July 2017

Although improved yield is a prime consideration in the breeding of new crop varieties, it is by no means the only one. In herbage crops the plant breeder is confronted with a variety of targets, from which he must select the most important, paying due attention to the feasibility of attaining them with the genetic material and facilities available to him. Not least important are improved yields of animal products—an additional complication in an already complex field.
An evaluation of extension methods in the early stages of a project on vacuum compression silage
Authors: Staniforth A. R.
Published: July 2017

The introduction into Britain and the early development of the vacuum compression method of making silage presented an almost unique opportunity for the evaluation of the extension techniques used. The problem was a discrete one, and the conditions in the early stages were such that most of the relevant information on the development was both canalized and available. The value of field demonstrations is clearly revealed.
Epidemiology of aphid-transmitted plant-virus diseases
Authors: Watson Marion A.
Published: July 2017

Aphids are notorious vectors of plant viruses. This role is facilitated by their method of feeding, by their enormous fecundity, and by their varied migration patterns. There is also a close and fascinating relationship between particular aphid species and the viruses transmitted by them. Aphid reproduction and migration are markedly dependent on weather conditions, and this dependence is very clearly reflected in the epidemiology of aphid-borne viruses.
Phosphorus and the ruminant
Authors: Hemingway R. G.
Published: July 2017

Phosphorus insufficiency in the ruminant is reflected in retarded growth, poor reproductive performance, reduced milk yield and wool growth, and impaired skeletal and dental health. Geographically widespread, it is associated with soils deficient in available phosphorus, with a preponderance of poorer grasses and a paucity of legumes in the herbage and in general with a low protein content in the food intake. Aphosphorosis may be corrected by supplementary feeding with phosphatic minerals.
Diet nitrogen and standard of living
Authors: Tanner C. C.
Published: July 2017

That diet, nitrogen utilization in agriculture, and standard of living are interrelated could be assumed with some confidence. The author has collected the information available from a variety of sources, and presented it in a form that establishes the general relationship unequivocably. He suggests that the relationship so established could be helpful in complementing conventional methods of forecasting nitrogen requirements. The figures provided underline the formidable difficulties that must be overcome if world diets are to be raised to a satisfactory level.
Soil compaction and direct drilling of cereals
Authors: Straňák A.
Published: July 2017

Comparatively little critical information is available on the degree of soil compaction encountered under contrasting agronomic conditions. The author has investigated soil compaction in specially constructed plots simulating field conditions and has studied the effect on yield of certain varieties of cereals. The results, largely confirmed under practical field conditions, suggest a higher soil bulk density requirement for cereals than that commonly achieved by traditional methods.
The development of the no-tillage concept in the United States
Authors: Shear G. M.
Published: July 2017

Attempts to develop a no-tillage crop husbandry system in the U.S.A. have to a large extent been concentrated on corn and permanent pastures. Progress has been dependent on the demonstration of the benefits of the system and on the availability of herbicides with the requisite properties. Although the development of the concept of no tillage is still largely in the hands of the experimental agronomists, the significance of the technique has already permeated into commercial practice.
Milk Fever
Authors: Payne J. M.
Published: July 2017

Milk fever is a production disease in which cows fail to mobilize enough calcium for lactation, especially at calving time. A predisposition to the disease occurs in older cows because the initial milk yield is greater and calcium metabolism slower. Treatment with calcium borogluconate is usually effective but relapses are common. Prevention can be achieved by correcting errors of the diet, by injecting massive doses of vitamin D3 or hormone preparations or by inducing mild acidosis with a feed additive.
Fluid nitrogen fertilizers for direct application in the United States
Authors: Hauck R. D. , Russel D. A.
Published: July 2017

The potential of ammonia as a lower cost source of nitrogen was first realized in California in the early 1930s when ammonia gas was added to irrigation waters. Direct injection followed in 1939. Increased availability of ammonia gas after the Second World War provided the impetus to subsequent commercial development. The agronomic and economic implications of pressure and non-pressure systems and the practical significance of nitrogen source are discussed in detail.
Sugar cane as an energy source for the production of meat
Authors: Preston T. R. , Willis M. B.
Published: July 2017

Whatever solutions are eventually found for our present production and distribution problems with protein, meat will be the preferred form for the foreseeable future. Beef production in the tropics, where human nutrition has often been characterised by protein deficiency, has long been bedevilled by a variety of difficulties. Recent work in Cuba shows how sugar cane, in conjunction with inorganic nitrogen, can contribute significantly to the solution of some of these problems.
The agronomic value of anhydrous ammonia in Western Europe
Authors: Burg P. F. J. Van
Published: July 2017

In the U.S.A., commercial development of fluid nitrogen fertilizers has proceeded rapidly; in Europe the pace has been much slower. It is pertinent to enquire into the cause of this discrepancy and, in particular, to investigate whether climatic or soil conditions play a significant rôle. The author reviews the results of field trials in many European countries and does in fact conclude that mild, wet winters place a severe restriction on autumn application of ammonia.
Herbaceous weed control and revegetation of semi-arid rangelands in western United States
Authors: Evans Raymond A. , Young James A. , Eckert Richard E.
Published: July 2017

Rangelands of the western United States are becoming an increasingly important resource for many uses, including livestock grazing, wild-life habitat, recreation areas and watersheds. These lands have much undeveloped potential and can be greatly improved to better sustain these many demands. Herbaceous weed control-revegetation systems are powerful tools in this improvement.
Rice production and minimum tillage
Authors: Elias R. S.
Published: July 2017

The introduction of new high-yielding varieties and an increased usage of fertilizers and pesticides are beginning to have a significant effect on rice production in Asia. Shortage of water, power and time could, however, limit full exploitation of this new technology. Recent developments in minimum tillage techniques could help to alleviate these shortages with the use of existing facilities and without heavy capital expenditure. Widespread adoption of these techniques in Ceylon, Malaysia and Japan has confirmed that they can be readily integrated into local practices.
Single cell proteins from hydrocarbons
Authors: Shacklady C. A.
Published: July 2017

Any discussion of world food requirements inevitably centres around the provision of protein. Traditional sources in plants and animals are recognised as inadequate and the preferred source—meat—is also expensive. Many programmes to alleviate this situation have been initiated. British Petroleum, having pioneered the production of protein from hydrocarbons by fermentation processes involving yeasts, are now commissioning commercial plants in Scotland and France.
Techniques of livestock improvement
Authors: Rowson L. E. A.
Published: July 2017

Much has been achieved in the past by traditional methods of animal breeding but the immense progress of recent years would not have been possible without new techniques and the adoption of co-operative measures. Artificial insemination and milk recording have effected great improvements in dairy herd performance. Techniques of egg implantation and oestrus control should enable productivity to be boosted in sheep and beef cattle as has been done in the dairy herd.
The importance of wild plants in the ecology of nematode-transmitted plant viruses
Authors: Murant A. F.
Published: July 2017

The first convincing evidence implicating a specific soil organism in the transmission of a plant virus was not obtained until 1958. The vector concerned was a free-living nematode. Since then a number of soil-borne viruses have been shown to be transmitted by nematodes. Host plants, particularly wild plants, play an important part in the ecology of these viruses and their vectors.
The fate of paraquat in water
Authors: Calderbank A.
Published: July 2017

The rapidity with which paraquat is inactivated by adsorption on soil is responsible for many of its novel uses in crop husbandry. The same property is also valuable in water weed control. Paraquat, besides being readily absorbed into submersed plants, is also adsorbed onto soil particles suspended in the water and onto the mud at the bottom. Toxicity to fish is low under recommended conditions of usage, which are also designed to minimise the problems of water deoxygenation.
Land drainage: an exercise in physics
Authors: Childs E. C.
Published: July 2017

Although land drainage is commonly regarded as a purely engineering operation, there is in fact an important contribution from the field of applied physics. Not only does the soil physicist provide a theoretical basis for many of the principles that serve to guide the drainage engineer, he—the physicist—is often able to supply essential information in relation to specific projects. These contributions are illustrated by reference to a project in the Lake Mariyut area in Egypt.
Optimizing grain harvesting operations
Authors: Van Kampen J. H.
Published: July 2017

The development of systems analysis has provided a valuable tool for the planning of harvesting operations. These are operations in which labour has been progressively replaced by machinery, a trend requiring increasingly heavy capital investment. The capital involved and the complexity of the complete operation from field to grain store demand decision at a higher level than a hunch. Systems analysis, as practised in the Netherlands, reduces the uncertainty in the decisions involved.
Growth regulants in agriculture
Authors: Wittwer S. H.
Published: July 2017

Growth regulants were first identified in the early 1930s as significant in crop production. Much has transpired since those early days of exciting discovery, so that today many natural and synthetic chemicals challenge the scientific investigator and the practical cultivator. They bring new possibilities in circumventing environmental limitations, relaxing genetic restraints, improving the quality, and aiding the production, harvesting and preservation of food and other crops.
Conservation of plant genetic resources
Authors: Hawkes J. G.
Published: July 2017

Higher yields, better quality, easier harvesting, resistance to pests and diseases are a few of the many existing reasons why improved crop varieties are required. Other—as yet unsuspected—needs can arise in the future as a consequence of the rapidly changing patterns of agriculture. Under these circumstances, plant breeders require large reservoirs of genetic material. The management and exploitation of such resources are only now beginning to receive the attention they deserve.
Practical uses of gibberellins in agriculture and horticulture
Authors: Turner J. N.
Published: July 2017

The gibberellins were first isolated in 1939 but it took some twenty years to begin to develop practical uses for them. This was largely because there was no extensive knowledge of the interaction between gibberellins and auxins; in fact, much of the knowledge that has accrued in the last twenty or so years has come from the experimental use of exogenous gibberellins. Thus an empirical approach has simultaneously promoted both practical husbandry and scientific progress.
Economics of grass conservation in relation to quality
Authors: Ross G.
Published: July 2017

Changing prices of energy sources in animal feedingstuffs call for a re-examination of the costs of various systems of conserving grass as a substitute for barley. Grass drying, bunker and tower silage, and barn haydrying merit special consideration. Yet a balance must be maintained between yield and quality. The risks of over-investment in sophisticated equipment must not be ignored.
The rodent problem
Authors: Taylor K D
Published: July 2017

Loss to stored produce by rodent attack occurs more from contamination than from actual consumption. The problem of rodent damage to growing crops is both more complex and more serious. Protective methods include high standards of crop hygiene, efficient harvesting and reduction of cover and food available to the pest species. The development of warfarin and related compounds constituted a major advance in chemical control but the problem of resistance has yet to be solved.
Environmental problems: pests of harvested tropical crops
Authors: Hall D W
Published: July 2017

The export of crops on a world market which is tightening quality standards and the need for more foodstuffs to feed expanding populations, emphasize the importance of protecting from pests all produce from the growing phase through to consumption by man and animals. The special range of environmental conditions in the tropics and sub-tropics calls for an integration of the roles of the scientist, technologist, sociologist, economist and administrator. Scientific studies are not enough.
The pattern of pesticide regulation in Western Europe
Authors: Wright N
Published: July 2017

The increasing scope and complexity of pesticide registration procedures impose strains on the resources of governments and industry. International uniformity would bring benefit to both sides but is harder to achieve in industrialized countries which have to modify long-established laws than in developing countries which can model new schemes on experience elsewhere or take advice from international agencies such as FAO. Active cooperation by industry at both national and international levels is advocated in framing realistic, scientifically-based regulations and in concentrating on those aspects of pesticide usage which pose real, not hypothetical hazards.
British cereals and the European Common Market
Authors: Britton Denis K
Published: July 2017

In recent years British cereal growers have managed to hold down costs by improved labour organization and intensified mechanization but this trend cannot continue indefinitely. Exceptional conditions in 1972/73 have temporarily closed the gap between cereal prices in UK and the Six, and it seems likely that, with yields and prices moving towards expected levels at the end of the transition period, margins will rise sufficiently to maintain and possibly improve living standards.
New approaches to increasing fodder production 2. Swedes and turnips in upland situations
Authors: Evans Tonlas
Published: July 2017

Swedes are traditionally grown in Wales for “folding off” by lambing ewes in winter and early spring. The main problems are shortage of labour, occurrence of annual weeds and reluctance to plough grass early enough to obtain a good seedbed for early sowing. Breconshire experience suggests that these may be overcome by direct drilling following application of paraquat provided due attention is given to timing, choice of variety, correct fertilizer treatment and other factors.
New approaches to increasing fodder production 3. Stubble catch-cropping with brassicae
Authors: Toosey R D
Published: July 2017

Direct drilling of brassicae after harvesting winter cereals can provide valuable additional winter keep for ruminant livestock without any reduction in the cereal area. Forage rape and “stubble turnips” provide initial growth but deteriorate early; the swede-like Hungry Gap and Rape Kale are hardier and can provide useful fresh growth in early spring. Nitrogen fertilizer is especially important with direct-drilled crops. Suitable precautions must be taken against clubroot.
The role of minimal tillage in rice in Asia, with particular reference to Japan
Authors: Brown I A , Quantrill R A
Published: July 2017

Minimal tillage has been accepted readily by rice farmers in Japan, but more slowly in tropical Asian rice-producing countries, despite the excellent technical results obtained in field trials. The authors discuss the probable reasons for these differences, among which are the Japanese farmer's higher purchasing power and lack of indebtedness, his greater familiarity with pesticides and his opportunity for gainful employment in industry in time that can be spared from agriculture.
Climatic change and foresight in agriculture: the possibilities of long-term weather advice
Authors: Lamb H H
Published: July 2017

Long-term weather analysis indicates a shortening of the average growing season in NW Europe from the early Middle Ages to the seventeenth century, followed by a lengthening to the mid-twentieth century, but this trend now appears to have reversed. On a world scale, wet areas exposed to prevailing westerly winds became wetter, and dry areas became drier in the first half of the twentieth century. The implications of these changes for agriculture are considerable.
Conservation and improvement of natural resources at Henley Manor Farm
Authors: Flecchia P E
Published: July 2017

The development of profitable intensive grassland farming systems has continued since this farm was acquired by ICI in 1946 to the point at which its 390 farmable acres (158 ha) now carry 330 milking cows, 45 double-suckling beef cows, 50 fattening cattle and 180 replacement heifers. Despite the ecological impact that such intensification must have, it is possible, given forethought and planning, to maintain a sensible balance between economic and environmental requirements.
Trends in cereal breeding in France
Authors: Doussinault G , Berbigier A , Pollacsek M
Published: July 2017

The authors describe the objectives, and progress to date, of plant breeding investigations at the INRA Plant Improvement Stations designed to produce new varieties of soft wheat, barley, maize, oats and rye with better agronomic characteristics—such as shorter straw, improved disease-resistance and winter hardiness, and earlier maturity—and enhanced quality. The latter includes various aspects of baking and breadmaking quality, and nutritional quality for animal feeding.
Post-emergence weed control in maize with paraquat
Authors: Hill J , Lloyd L S , Wheeler A F J
Published: July 2017

An effective method of eliminating grasses and broad-leaved weeds in maize at the late post-emergence stage has been developed in Europe, which involves using the contact non-selective herbicide paraquat in a directed spray covering the weeds but only the lower part of the maize stems. Drift is minimized by using special low-pressure flood nozzles. The method is cheap, quick and economical in labour, and yields are increased by the removal of weed competition.
Soya bean adaptation to the cool, maritime climates of Northern Europe, with special reference to the UK
Authors: Radley R W
Published: July 2017

Sharp increases in soya bean prices, and restrictions on US exports, have stimulated interest in the possibility of growing this crop in NW Europe. The principal limitations are temperature–-especially at night–-and daylength. One variety has often yielded well, experimentally, in Southern England, but in general yields are at present too uncertain and the lowest pods too near the ground. Development of better-adapted varieties would call for substantially increased research effort.
Man's impact on the British flora and fauna
Authors: Hawksworth D L
Published: July 2017

The activities of man have led to the extinction of relatively few species of plants and animals native to the British Isles over the last two centuries. Many have declined considerably as a result of increasingly intensive agriculture, industrialization and urbanization but others have expanded into man-made habitats. Introduced species continue to arrive in increasing numbers. For the rarer native species there is a need for careful recording and research into status and habitats.
Weed control in lucerne in New Zealand
Authors: Leonard W F
Published: July 2017

Weeds affect the establishment, yield, quality and useful life of lucerne. The herbicide 2,4-DB controls weeds selectively in the newly-sown crop, or benfluralin can be used pre-emergence. In the established crop, paraquat, sprayed annually before spring growth commences–-either alone or in mixture with a triazine–-provides effective control of a wide range of weed species.
The use of plastics for protected environments
Authors: Spice Henry R
Published: July 2017

Many uses have been found for plastics in intensive horticulture throughout the world, but the present article is concerned more specifically with their use as coverings for greenhouses and walk-in tunnels, whether as thin flexible films or as flat or corrugated rigid sheets. The plastic may be supported on a metal or timber frame or, in the case of “bubble” houses, simply by air pressure.
Intensive horticulture in Eastern Europe
Authors: Gardner R
Published: July 2017

Eastern Europe, extending from northern Russia to Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria, embraces a wide range of climates, all experiencing wider extremes of temperature and humidity than the maritime climates of the West. Noteworthy technological features of horticultural production include the development of walk-in plastic tunnels supported on tubular metal frames, the use of power station waste water for greenhouse heating, and the large-scale use of peat as a substrate in place of soil.
Commercial outdoor vegetables and ornamental crops in Kenya
Authors: Waithaka J H G
Published: July 2017

There is a large and increasing export business in outdoor vegetables and cut flowers which are sent by air from Kenya to Europe, the main products being capsicums and chillies, French beans, brinjals (aubergines), courgettes, carnations, okra and a wide range of vegetables grown specifically for Asians, particularly in the United Kingdom. Tropical flowers, Asparagus plumosus and rooted chrysanthemum cuttings are also exported. Cultural methods are briefly described in this article.
Comparison of economics of winter production of horticultural products in greenhouses in the USA with outdoor production in areas distant from the market
Authors: Cravens M E
Published: July 2017

Greenhouse production of fresh winter season tomatoes in North Central and North-eastern USA faces higher costs than outdoor production in Florida or Mexico, including freight charges for delivery to northern markets. The higher the fuel price, the greater will be the relative disadvantage of the producer relying on environmental controls. Success must therefore depend on effective exploitation of quality differences rather than competing on a price per pound basis.
Pest and disease control in glasshouses in North-west Europe
Authors: Bravenboer L
Published: July 2017

The glasshouse environment differs both physically and biologically from crop production in the open, and its cost structure permits the use of more sophisticated products and techniques for pest and disease control. From the wide range of control methods that are available, including integrated programmes in which chemical and biological methods are combined, experience indicates those should be selected which limit the risk of developing resistant strains of insects or pathogens.
Disease and pest control in enclosed environments in Japan
Authors: Kishi Kunihei
Published: July 2017

Control of foliar and soil-borne diseases is the most important aspect of crop protection in enclosed environments in Japan, particularly in the widely used “vinyl” houses where humidity can be high. The principal diseases of cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, eggplant, pepper, strawberries, other vegetables and flower crops are discussed, together with methods of control. Pests, in general, present a less serious problem than diseases, the most important being aphids and mites.
Future possibilities for maximum intensive horticultural production
Authors: Sheard G F
Published: July 2017

Plant growth in protected environments may be increased by improving light transmission or by providing supplementary artificial light, or perhaps eventually by improving the efficiency of the photosynthetic process. Much has yet to be learned, both of the inter-relations between crop growth and various environment factors, and of mechanisms and metabolic processes within the plant, but there is no doubt that plants have a physiological potential to yield more than they now do.
Problems with spider mites
Authors: Helle W , Vrie M Van De
Published: July 2017

Spider mites are a continuous potential danger in many crops, because of their ability to develop resistance to chemicals which initially give effective control. The predictive value of laboratory experiments with new chemicals appears to be rather limited. Close monitoring of developments in commercial situations may be an appropriate temporary solution, but real progress seems more likely to stem from an understanding of the mechanisms of resistance and its inheritance.
Possibilities tor the genetic improvement of Phaseolus beans in the UK
Authors: Innes N L , Hardwick R C
Published: July 2017

Green beans are an important crop for the UK processing industry and for the fresh farm market, and there is a small but rapidly expanding UK area of dry or navy beans. The requirements for genetic improvement include better stability and predictability of farm yields, and better appearance and taste to the consumer. There is scope for improved disease resistance, especially in runner beans. Perhaps the most urgent problem is improved adaptation of the navy bean.
The reclamation of land after coal mining
Authors: Doubleday G P
Published: July 2017

Opencast mining can now be conducted with little or no long-term detriment to the environment and often to its benefit. Deep mining poses greater problems to which different solutions have been found in Great Britain and in Germany, the former by using earthmoving equipment to re-grade spoil tips prior to reclamation for agriculture, forestry, public amenity and other uses, the latter by immediate tree-planting on tips shaped to minimize the amount of visible spoil.
Weed control in tea
Authors: Rahman F
Published: July 2017

It is only during the last ten years that chemical methods of weed control in tea have been adopted on a large scale in some countries. Depending on circumstances, the aim may be either complete kill of all weeds, or selective elimination of the most troublesome species, or merely to keep the weeds in check at a level that does not reduce crop yield. The present article reviews current practices and problems and indicates areas in which research will be needed in future.
Seminars on efficient and safe use of pesticides, and other pesticide work of the FAO Industry Cooperative Programme
Authors: Slade P
Published: July 2017

Following the success of similar seminars in Brazil, Costa Rica and Thailand, the Pesticides Working Group of the FAO Industry Cooperative Programme sponsored and organized, with FAO, a fourth seminar on Efficient and Safe Use of Pesticides, in Kenya, in 1974. Public health aspects, weed control and animal health were covered in addition to crop protection problems. It is on the proceedings and conclusions of this seminar that the present article is largely based.
The production and marketing of cereal seed in the United Kingdom — passing on the benefits of breeding
Authors: Walker J T
Published: July 2017

Advances in plant breeding can only be realized if good seed of new varieties is made available to the farmer. To maintain a variety in a pure state requires a continuous renewal process for which stringent precautions are needed. The extra cost of good seed is more than justified. High quality seed must be good physiologically as well as genetically. Although profit opportunities for the cereal seed trade are greatest with new cultivars, this inevitably means that risks must be taken.
Production and marketing of herbage seed in the United Kingdom
Authors: Evans W M
Published: July 2017

About half the herbage seed used in the United Kingdom is home-produced; ryegrasses are by far the most important species. Certification requirements are affected by the introduction of EEC standards for marketing; a two-tier certification system is being adopted. This article discusses the place of herbage seed crops in the farming system and outlines practices for establishment, production, harvesting and drying. Crop protection and weed control problems are briefly mentioned.
Genetic conservation and the breeding of field vegetables for the United Kingdom
Authors: Innes N L
Published: July 2017

International collaboration and effort are necessary for all genetic conservation, particularly in crops which are individually less important economically than some high value crops such as wheat. Plant breeders need readily available sources of genetic variability in both inbreeding and outbreeding vegetables. Genetic erosion is more serious in outbreeders than in inbreeders, particularly in crops of Brassica oleracea, where hybrid varieties are fast replacing open-pollinated types.
Review of experiments on reduced cultivation and direct drilling in the United Kingdom, 1957–1974
Authors: Davies D B , Cannell R Q
Published: July 2017

In early experiments, before 1970, average yields of winter wheat and spring barley after direct drilling or shallow cultivation were less than after ploughing, but, in later experiments, there was little yield difference compared with ploughing. Direct drilling of forage brassicae and oilseed rape has become commercially important in the United Kingdom without much experimental work.
Soil/machine interactions in zero-tillage for cereals and raspberries in Scotland
Authors: Soane B D , Butson M J , Pidgeon J D
Published: July 2017

At three contrasting sites the substitution of herbicides for cultivations to control weeds in cereals and in raspberries resulted in marked changes in soil physical properties. These changes were largely associated with the compactive effects of wheel traffic. The properties of uncultivated soils are considered in relation to cereal drill design and the need for further research is indicated.
Effects of direct drilling on the soil fauna
Authors: Edwards C A
Published: July 2017

Numbers of most species of invertebrates were greater in the soil in which direct-drilled crops were grown. Attacks by slugs and wireworms were much less serious after ploughing. Attack by stem-boring fly larvae tended to be greater in crops in ploughed soil than those direct drilled where cereals were grown continuously. Numbers of Lumbricus terrestris were 2 to 5 times greater with direct drilling than with ploughing but numbers of other species differed much less.
The effect of non-ploughing on cereal diseases
Authors: Yarham D J
Published: July 2017

The change from orthodox cultivation to non-plough husbandry may influence the incidence of cereal diseases by its effects on the availability of inoculum of the responsible pathogens, the susceptibility of the host plants and the suitability of the environment for disease development. Failure to bury crop debris may aggravate trash-borne diseases; in addition, increased disease levels in autumn-sown crops are likely if non-ploughing techniques should lead to earlier sowing.
A farmer's experience with direct drilling
Authors: Bond S D
Published: July 2017

Practical experience with the direct drilling of winter-sown cereals and oilseed rape on three Cotswold soils—varying from a limestone brash to a poorly-structured clay soil—has shown that it is a satisfactory technique which allows the rapid drilling of large areas of crops, and the maintenance of high yields, without giving any particular problems in weed or disease control.
Reduced cultivations and direct drilling: the present position and the research needs of these techniques
Authors: Russell E W
Published: July 2017

Reduced cultivations and direct drilling are two groups of techniques that allow larger areas of crops to be planted in difficult seasons. Investigations are still needed on weed control, straw disposal and stubble management, slug control, drill design, and efficient use of fertilizers. Soil tilth often improves markedly when fields are direct-drilled for several years consecutively.
Nematodes and crop disease
Authors: Peacock F C
Published: July 2017

Mai (1964) considered that there were less than 100 nematode diseases of serious proportions, but many more causing less obvious or severe damage were still unrecognized. A rather general account is here given of the role of nematodes in plant disease, using as examples nematodes and crops of economic importance–-including cyst-forming, root-knot, burrowing and reniform nematodes on crops such as potatoes, sugar beet, temperate cereals, citrus, bananas, cotton and soya beans.
Improving food crop production in the Sudan Savanna zone of Northern Nigeria
Authors: Kassam A H , Dagg M , Kowal J M , Khadr F H
Published: July 2017

Poor rainfall in 1972 and 1973 led to much of the area in the Sudan Savanna zone of Nigeria being declared a disaster area due to the widespread failures of major food crops under indigenous practices. However, in the same circumstances, a group of farmers using improved seed, fertilizer and better methods, obtained yields which were satisfactory. Crop losses from “drought” are a strong function of the cultivars grown and of the level of crop husbandry.
Assessment of the environmental impact of pesticides
Authors: Newman J F
Published: July 2017

The environmental effects of innovative technology in agriculture, whether in the wake of fertilizer practice, crop protection or changes in farming systems have received, over the past ten years, the attention which, in retrospect, should have been accorded them in earlier decades. Laboratory and small-plot techniques have been devised which can give early warning of undesirable effects, while field observations over a number of years monitor the possibility of long-term problems arising.
The significance of pesticide residues in the environment
Authors: Walker C H
Published: July 2017

Residues derived from the organochlorine insecticides DDT, aldrin, dieldrin and heptachlor were widespread in the living environment during the 1960s, with particularly high levels being found in a number of predatory species. The reasons for this distribution pattern and the significance of the residue levels found are discussed. One outcome of the study of organochlorine pollution has been a growth of interest in better methods for determining the undesirable side effects of pesticides.
Investigation of some problems of direct drilling in Czechoslovakia
Authors: Šimon J
Published: July 2017

Experiments in Czechoslovakia with direct-drilling techniques have shown that the influence of the previous crop is considerable. Difficulties arise principally where cereals, particularly winter wheat, follow cereals, and extra nitrogen is necessary to ensure yields comparable with those following traditional cultivations. Winter wheat and barley can be successfully direct-drilled after sugar beet, potato, legumes, rape and maize, and other applications of the technique show promise.
Weed control in French vineyards
Authors: Roques J F
Published: July 2017

The traditional appearance of the French vineyard is slowly changing. With labour scarce and costly the vigneron, essentially conservative, is obliged to look at ways of reducing the multitude of cultivations hitherto inseparable from vineyard management. Herbicides used with care can cut costs and lead to improvements not solely due to weed control, such as avoidance of mechanical damage by cultivators, reduced risk of frost damage and the prevention of soil erosion.
Plant growth regulators for tropical fruits
Authors: Kapoor J K , Turner J N
Published: July 2017

With the notable exception of 2,4-D/GA treatments of diverse citrus crops, where improved fruit set, reduced fruit drop and the ability to delay harvesting without loss of fruit quality are recognized benefits, few applications have been developed for the use of auxins in tropical fruits. Recent work has shown that GA will delay post-harvest ripening and improve the quality of bananas, and NAA treatment of oil palm to delay fruit abscission has increased yield and oil content.
Gibberellins: their potential uses in forestry
Authors: Pharis R P , Ross S D
Published: July 2017

With the world's forest lands rapidly declining in area the forester looks to the geneticist and the seed orchardist to supply seed from trees which are genetically superior in growth and quality. It is in these areas that the experimental use of gibberellins* has been most successful. Economically important species of conifers which naturally take 10–20 years to flower, and may need another twenty years to produce significant quantities of seed, have been induced to flower in 4–6 years.
The application of growth modifiers to the production of latex
Authors: Dickenson P B
Published: July 2017

Substituted phenoxyacetic acids such as 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T have been used commonly since the 1950s to increase the duration of latex flow in commercial rubber trees. Recognition that the mode of action was through stimulation of production by the plant tissues of higher levels of ethylene gas coincided with the introduction of ethylene-generating compounds. Two of these, ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid), and adsorbent powders impregnated with ethylene, are highly effective as latex yield stimulants particularly when formulated in suitable viscous carriers.
Plantio Direto in Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
Authors: Barker M R , WÜNsche W A
Published: July 2017

Plantio Direto is the name for direct-drilling in Brasil. With a continuous and highly profitable wheat/soya bean rotation giving two crops a year sowing dates are highly critical. Plantio Direto, by materially reducing seed-bed preparation time, permits optimum sowing with resulting increased yields. In the long term, by maintaining crop residues on the soil surface and reducing the need for heavy equipment cultivations, soil structure is improved and erosion is controlled.
Nitrate movement in soil and its agricultural significance
Authors: Burns I G
Published: July 2017

Nitrification and the leaching of nitrate in soil greatly influence the amount of nitrogen available for crop growth. Simple equations derived from a study of the mechanisms of these processes may be used for making rapid field estimates of both the release of nitrate from ammonium and the leaching of nitrate through the soil. Their use may also suggest ways of modifying the amount and timing of applications in order to make better use of nitrogenous fertilizers.
International exchange of disease-free citrus clones by means of tissue culture
Authors: Button J
Published: July 2017

Aseptic culture of plant organs, tissues, cells and protoplasts has contributed much towards an understanding of the functions of nutrient elements, vitamins and hormones in processes of growth and differentiation. Probably the most important economic use to which plant tissue culture has been put so far is in the propagation of plants and the elimination of virus and other diseases from valuable clones, thus facilitating the risk-free interchange of plant breeding material.
Novel aspects of nitrogen fixation
Authors: Day J M , Witty J F
Published: July 2017

Only a fraction of the total agricultural need for nitrogen comes from natural or synthetic fertilizers. The remainder is satisfied largely through the biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. Whilst this is most efficiently effected by the Rhizobium-legume root nodule, free-living bacteria and blue-green algae are known to be capable of fixing appreciable amounts. Recently, attention has been focused on bacteria closely associated with roots of certain tropical grasses.
Introduction –- The principles and problems of storage and pest control
Authors: Howe R W
Published: July 2017

The purpose of crop storage ranges from the avoidance of starvation between one harvest and the next to the lucrative supply of delicate fruits out of season or geographically not otherwise obtainable. The fabric of storage can be as simple as a hole in the ground or as complex as a refrigerated force-ventilated building. The choice depends very largely on the economics of the produce but the problems, and the measures adopted to overcome them, are similar in principle.
Treatment of grain in Australia
Authors: Bengston M
Published: July 2017

Though most of the important insect pests of stored grain occur in Australia, and conditions are ideal for their development, insect control since the introduction of malathion has been so effective that Australian Federal legislation now requires that grain for export must be totally insect-free. The appearance of resistance to malathion in 1968 and its subsequent development in most grain-insect species, however, emphasises the need for alternative safe and effective grain protectants.
Rodent control in crop stores
Authors: Dubock A C
Published: July 2017

Rats and mice exact a toll of the world's stored commodities far greater than can be measured in terms of the produce they eat; the cost of proofing and repairing stores, and of cleaning or rejecting contaminated foodstuffs must also be included. Attention to the design and construction of stores can minimise these losses, and baiting, particularly with the more recently introduced chronic, anti-coagulant poisons, has now become a highly effective and relatively safe method of control.
Pirimiphos-methyl and other insecticides in the control of stored-produce insects
Authors: Deighton J Mccallum
Published: July 2017

Several insecticides discovered during the past ten years are currently on trial as potential replacements, in the control of stored-produce insects, for malathion to which insect resistance is widespread and increasing. Criteria for acceptance are exacting and assessment of the value of a new product in this specialist field takes many years. Pirimiphos-methyl, one such product, is here compared with others in a variety of stored-produce applications to grain and other commodities.
Control of post-harvest deterioration in vegetables in the UK
Authors: Derbyshire Dorothy M , Shipway M R
Published: July 2017

Increasing vegetable production costs have lately created a greater awareness of post-harvest losses and quality problems. Mechanical damage, which may be accentuated by machine harvesting, is compounded in storage by increased water loss and a higher incidence of disease. Temperature control is probably more critical for vegetables than it is for most crops, in retarding physiological processes of decay or regrowth, and in reducing development of storage pathogens.
Storage of potatoes
Authors: Eddowes M
Published: July 2017

Losses of potatoes during storage due to disease, softening of tubers, sprouting and frost damage frequently exceed 25%, particularly when they are stored in field clamps or unmodified farm buildings. Though the condition and health of the crop when stored is of overriding importance, the use of refrigeration and forced-draught ventilation can reduce such losses spectacularly. But the high cost of purpose-built stores requires a high premium price for late-marketed produce.
Blackmoor Estate –- a mixed farm in Hampshire
Authors: Selborne Lord
Published: July 2017

Blackmoor Estate is a 1000 ha family holding run as a farming company. Confidence in the future is indicated by a development plan which involves high capital expenditure and expansion in the production of apples and milk, two commodities currently in surplus in the countries of the EEC. The fruit nursery department produces rootstocks by the hardwood cutting technique and softwood cuttings under mist, and supplies a widespread demand for E. Mailing rootstocks.
The role of the banker in Agriculture
Authors: Bolam P , Deaville A
Published: July 2017

The ‘art’ of banking is an indefinable area steeped in subjective judgement and personal relationships. Though a significant amount of money is lent in this way, ‘scientific’ lending is probably more important and the balance struck between the two is unique in each transaction. Scientific borrowing aims to increase output and profit, reduce risk or improve working conditions, or increase the size of the enterprise, but the banker wants proof of management ability.
Nutrient film technique –- crop culture in flowing nutrient solution
Authors: Spensley K , Winsor G W , Cooper A J
Published: July 2017

Tomatoes grown by the nutrient film technique have yielded significantly heavier crops than comparable peat-grown plants, with no loss of fruit quality. Precise control of the root environment and nutrient supply is essential, and automatic control units are integral to the successful operation of the system. Whilst tomatoes are the most commonly-grown NFT crop, lettuces, peppers, chrysanthemums, carnations and strawberries have been grown commercially by this technique.
Foreword: Management of soil under adverse conditions
Authors: Watson G A
Published: July 2017

In the industrialised countries of the world, a continuing pattern of increasing crop yields portends crop surpluses and the withdrawal from cultivation of ‘difficult’ soils. Paradoxically, the lesser developed countries will need to make increasing use of less promising soils if they are to move toward economic independence. The development of environmentally-acceptable systems of agriculture appropriate to their widely-differing circumstances is, however, a common goal.
Soil, climatic and management options for direct drilling cereals in Scotland
Authors: Pidgeon J D , Ragg J M
Published: July 2017

Though direct drilling has made little impact in Scotland so far, a review of soil and climatic limitations suggests that, with appropriate management, a large proportion of the Scottish cereals area is potentially suitable. Motivation may well be different from that in England, related more to control of wind erosion and conservation of organic matter in light soils, and to overcoming problems with ploughing on peaty or stony soils, and in high rainfall areas.
Malaria and agricultural development
Authors: Pant C P , Gratz N G
Published: July 2017

The resurgence in global incidence of malaria over the past fourteen years can be attributed very largely to the resistance of anopheline mosquito vectors to previously effective insecticides, though lack of funds has contributed to the failure of some eradication programmes. Agriculture is often both a major contributory cause of this resistance, through the widespread use of insecticides against crop pests, and the chief sufferer from the disabling and weakening effects of the disease.
Trypanosomiasis control and land use in Africa
Authors: Jordan A M
Published: July 2017

Human and animal trypanosomiases have been, in the past, major constraints to the development of much of Africa. Today, rapidly-expanding human populations are having profound effects on the distribution of tsetse flies, the vectors of these diseases. In some areas flies are disappearing whereas, elsewhere, new man-made habitats are being created, and the encroachment of subsistence farming into areas cleared of tsetse can prevent optimal development of the land.