bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calcium nutrition of the tomato as influenced by total salts and ammonium nutrition
Authors: Barke RE , Menary RC
Published: March 2005

Calcium deficiency in tomatoes was induced by adding ammonia nitrogen to the rooting medium. Ammonia was found to inhibit the absorption of calcium by the plant. When total soil nutrient concentration was varied, but the ratio of calcium to other ions held constant, blossom-end rot incidence was inversely related to the calcium level in fruits but was not necessarily associated with low calcium levels in leaves or whole plants. In the presence of high total salts, the incidence of the disorder could not be explained by a reduction in calcium content of whole plants and factors affecting distribution of the calcium within the plant were involved. The physiological disorder pith rot is described and evidence presented suggesting it is caused by a deficiency of calcium. Ammonia increased the incidence of the disorder but was not essential for its occurrence. In field trials on a red loam soil, ammonium sulphate reduced the pH values from 6.0 to 4.7, which prevented nitrification and induced pith rot and blossom-end rot through an accumulation of ammonia nitrogen. Calcium foliar sprays were able to offset yield reductions that were induced by moderate fertilizing with ammonium sulphate even where blossom-end rot did not occur. High total plant calcium was associated with reduced fruit yields.
The effect of three factors on the incidence of tender wool in deferred grazing management
Authors: Brown TH
Published: March 2005

The effects of three factors on the incidence of tender wool were studied in a deferred autumn grazing management system with Merino wethers. The factors were age of wethers, level of hand feeding during the deferment period, and rate of release to saved pasture at the end of the deferment period. Sudden release to saved pasture resulted in a higher incidence of tenderness than did gradual release. The incidence of tenderness also increased as the level of hand feeding was reduced. Age had no significant effect.
High protein wheats for poultry. 1. Use in broiler diets
Authors: Turner W , Payne GG
Published: March 2005

High protein wheat was the sole cereal in 20 and 25 per cent crude protein broiler starter diets. On the. 25 per cent protein diet, performance was maximized without amino acid supplementation. Using high protein wheat in 20 per cent protein diets, growth rate was improved by l-lysine supplementation of 0.3 per cent. However, this growth rate was not at a maximum level. Some other dietary factor was necessary, and this did not appear to be essential amino acids, singly or in combination.
Effects and interaction of lucerne and subtropical legumes in a Sorghum almum pasture
Authors: Yates JJ , Russelle MJ , Fergus IF
Published: March 2005

An experiment was carried out at Lawes in south-east Queensland to examine the behaviour of subtropical legumes (mixture of Glycine wightii and Phaseolus atropurpureus), of lucerne, and of all three legumes together in a Sorghum almum pasture. Two grazing regimes were imposed, both averaging almost one beast an acre a year, but one involving longer breaks between grazings. A final year of common grazing was used to obtain a better assessment of treatment effects. There was no evidence of any difference in persistence between the Nunbank and Crooble cultivars of S. almum. Initial growth of legumes was poor due to strong competition from S. almum, but in the second year they made a substantial contribution to total yield of dry matter and nitrogen, and in the following two years they also increased significantly the yield of S. almum. In general the sub-tropical legumes yielded more than lucerne, and were also more effective in increasing S. almum yields. There were only minor effects on the nitrogen content of S. almum. Lucerne and subtropical legumes were strongly competitive when sown together, in that each yielded less and had a smaller effect on S. almum than in separate mixtures with the grass ; the effects of lucerne were particularly marked. These competitive effects were less pronounced with less frequent grazing. Soil nitrogen in the 0-12 inch soil layer declined during the first two years of the pasture but increased during the following two, the accumulation occurring mainly in the surface 3 inches of plots containing legumes. Over the total pasture phase (four years), there was a small nett loss of nitrogen from the 0-12 inch layer. Volunteer species associated with a follow-up crop of Sorghum vulgare showed positive responses to residual nitrogen from lucerne but no response to subtropical legumes. It is suggested that this was associated with a slower turnover of nitrogen from lucerne root systems. There was no response in the crop itself.
The effect of benomyl on Gloeotinia temulenta under laboratory and field conditions
Authors: McGee DC
Published: March 2005

Laboratory studies confirmed that benomyl can completely suppress apothecial formation of Gloeotinia temulenta, the causal organism of blind seed disease in grasses. Field studies in Lolium perenne seed crops showed that benomyl, applied at 2.80 and 5.60 kg/hectare, reduced the numbers of apothecia formed by 80 and 90 per cent respectively, while no reduction was apparent at 0.56 kg/hectare. Better results were obtained when the compound was applied in November, just before flowering, than when applied in September or October. At the application rates used, benomyl did not protect plants against seed infection. However, the degree of suppression of apothecial formation possible with benomyl suggests that, in areas where reinfestation of fields with infected seed after harvest is light, the compound should control blind seed disease by limiting formation of apothecia, which are the source of ascospore inoculum, to insignificant proportions.
Host range of the ginger strain of Pseudomonas solanacearum in Queensland
Authors: Pegg KG , Moffett ML
Published: March 2005

The host range of Pseudomonas solanacearum biotype 4, the strain responsible for a rapid wilt of ginger, was found to include tomato, potato, capsicum, egg plant, peanut, tobacco, Solanum nigrum, Physalis minima, P. peruviana, and Solanm mauritianum. During the summer months of 1967-68 and 1969-70, weeds growing in bacterial wilt affected ginger plantings were examined for the presence of P. solanacearum. Biotype 4 was isolated from S. nigrum, Crassocephalum crepidioides, S. mauritianum, P. minima, P. peruviana, and Ageratum houstonianum. Biotype 3, the strain commonly found in the ginger growing district of southern Queensland was isolated from S. nigrum, C. crepidioides, S. mauritianum, Xanthium pungens, Dodonaea lanceolata, Bidens pilosa, and Sida spinosa. These weeds were all collected from ginger fields. It appears from these results and previous observations that biotype 4 has a more restricted and slightly different host range from biotype 3. Consequently it has been suggested that in any crop rotation, ginger growers should eliminate known biotype 4 susceptible weeds. Both biotypes 4 and 3 survived, in the experimental plots, a 20-month period of severe drought during 1968-69. However, no attempt was made to control weed growth in the trial area.
Nitrogen fertilizer responses of a Heteropogon contortus and a Paspalum plicatulum pasture in relation to rainfall in central coastal Queensland
Authors: t Mannetje L , Shaw NH
Published: March 2005

An indigenous pasture in which Heteropogan contortus, and a sown pasture in which Paspalam plicatulum was dominant were fertilized with standard applications of superphosphate and potassium chloride. During five years the pastures were treated with 0,56, 112, 168 and 336 kg N ha-1 per year as urea in three equal dressings. Both pastures responded similarly in dry matter yield, nitrogen recovery and nitrogen concentration. The yield responses were linear and had a mean of 23 kg ha-l year-1 for every kg of applied nitrogen ; the mean recovery in plant tops was 44 per cent for Heteropogon and 50 per cent for Paspalum ; the nitrogen concentration of both pastures was increased from about 1 per cent without N to a maximum of 2 per cent with 336 kg N. The response in yield and the nitrogen recovery were linearly related to summer rainfall. In the indigenous pasture 336 kg N ha-1 reduced the proportion of H. contortus by more than half and plants died at the two highest levels of N. Resulting bare ground was first filled by weeds and later by introduced grasses from adjacent areas. In the Paspalum pasture P. plicatulum was partly replaced by H. contortus at low levels of nitrogen. Soil nitrogen increased, while pH and exchangeable potassium decreased with increasing amounts of nitrogen.
Seasonal yield ditribution in Setaria
Authors: Hacker JB
Published: March 2005

Seasonal growth responses are analysed for fourteen introductions of setaria at two sites in south eastern Queensland. The introductions were broadly classified into five distict groups, S. splendida, Kazungula introductions, Nandi, Rhodesian diploids and frost tolerant. The first two groups produced more dry matter throughout the year at both sites. Introductions varied in the relative difference between summer and winter yield, and there was evidence that at Lawes a small yield difference was combined with a moderately high summer and winter yield in the frost tolerant group of introductions. The frost tolerance of the introductions originating in the Aberdares region of Kenya was confirmed at both sites. Initial high yields of these introductions at Lawes were not maintained, perhaps due to a lack of ability to stand severe defoliation.
Selective chemical control of capeweed in wheat and oats
Authors: Reeves TG , Lumb JM
Published: March 2005

In eight experiments conducted in north-eastern Victoria from 1965-1970, a range of herbicides were tested for selective post-emergence control of capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) in wheat and oats. Linuron, diquat, and bromoxynil were the best treatments tested and generally reduced capeweed density when applied in the early growth stages, causing little or no crop damage. Significant grain yield increases from spraying were obtained in each experiment with wheat, but in oats only one significant increase was obtained. Post-tillering treatments with 2,4-D and picloram plus 2,4-D did not increase grain yield.
Leaf analysis survey of Pullar's Cling peach trees in northern Victoria: correlations between leaf nutrient status and tree performance in two years
Authors: Taylor BK , Ende Bvan den
Published: March 2005

The N, P, K, Ca, and Mg contents of mid-shoot leaves of ten-year-old Pullar's Cling peach trees in the Goulburn Valley Irrigation Area, and the associated Murray Valley Irrigation Area were surveyed in 1964 and 1965. Leaves were sampled in mid summer from healthy trees in 73 orchards distributed over five major fruit-growing districts, and the results were related to tree yield (fruit number,) and vigour (butt circumference). Multiple regression analysis of the survey data showed that between 30 and 40 per cent of the total variation in tree yield over the two-year period was accounted for by variation in tree nutrient status. Such results clearly indicate the degree of influence that nutrition can play in the performance of mature peach trees in the field. As judged by published leaf nutrient standards for peach trees, about two-thirds of the peach orchards were of low nitrogen status in both seasons and this situation was reflected in tree yield. The low nitrogen status of the trees overall was a reflection of the low average amounts of nitrogenous fertilizer applied per tree per year. One-fifth of the orchards were of low phosphate status, but tree performance was not adversely affected as a result. In single years also, significant correlations were recorded between leaf K, leaf Ca, and tree performance, but, overall, these results were difficult to interpret meaningfully.
The effects of calcium, fat and sodium bicarbonate on egg shell strength
Authors: Connor JK , Arnold KF
Published: March 2005

Five levels of calcium ranging from 2.5 to 4.5 per cent were fed in diets with and without tallow to White Leghorn and Australorp X White Leghorn pullets. Sodium bicarbonate additions to diets varying in calcium and sodium chloride content were fed in two further experiments using Australorp X White Leghorn pullets and hens. Sodium bicarbonate did not increase specific gravity of the egg but did increase liveweight gain. Adding tallow to the diet did not effect calcium utilization. Shell strength increased as the level of calcium increased up to 4.5 per cent. The magnitude of the response to additional calcium was reduced as the birds aged. The results also suggested limestone in the diet depressed the appetite of young pullets but not that of older hens. There were no differences in egg production between any treatments.
Features of high-yielding wheats grown at two seed rates and two nitrogen levels
Authors: Syme JR
Published: March 2005

Four wheats of similar maturity were compared at two seed rates and two nitrogen levels. The cultivars were two high-yielding Mexican semi-dwarf wheats, Pitic 62 and accession WW 15, one local semidwarf crossbred, HMR, and one Australian variety, Robin. At each of two sites WW 15 yielded most grain and Robin the least. Yield components, growth, development and leaf characters were studied at one site. The semi-dwarf wheats had a higher proportion of ear weight at anthesis and set more grains per ear and per unit area. The high yield of WW 15 was associated with many grains per ear and a dense ear population. There were relatively small differences in total dry matter yield and leaf area index. WW 15 formed the most leaves on the main stem, had the shortest period from flag leaf emergence to anthesis and showed delay in the senescence of its flag leaves. Its leaves were also particularly narrow and small. The early effects of a higher seed rate on crop growth diminished with time in the main experiment but resulted in a small increase in grain yield. Nitrogen stimulated growth throughout the season, but the increased vegetative potential was not fully reflected in grain yield. Both nitrogen and the higher seed rate hastened flag leaf senescence.
An evaluation of thiophanate-methyl for the control of crown rot of banana hands
Authors: Rippon LE
Published: March 2005

The efficiency of thiophanate-methyl was compared with that of S.P.F. (a Japanese formulation), benomyl, and thiabendazole when used as post-harvest treatments for the control of crown rot of banana hands artificially inoculated with Gloeosporium musarum. The fungicide treatments all provided some control but differed in the concentration required for equivalent effectiveness. Benomyl was the most effective with thiophanate-methyl being less efficient than either benomyl or thiabendazole, but superior to S.P.F.
Influence of rootstocks on Navel orange yield and tree growth at Mildura, Victoria
Authors: Stafford LM
Published: March 2005

Two experiments with Navel orange scions (CV. Washington and Leng) on a number of rootstocks were done on three sandy Mallee soils in the Mildura irrigation district. Rootstocks included sweet orange (eight cultivars), rough lemon, mandarin (two cultivars), trifoliate orange, and citrange (two cultivars). In experiment 1 (1949 to 1963) eight sweet orange rootstocks gave similar results in terms of yield and tree size. Leng produced more but smaller fruit than Washington, but total weights were similar. In experiment 2 (1959 to 1969 and continuing) Leng trees were larger, produced more fruit, and on one soil a greater weight of fruit per tree than Washington. Sweet orange rootstocks were usually superior to other rootstocks on each soil type, although rough lemon gave results that were similar and, for a few combinations, superior. Trees on mandarin rootstocks were low producers and small in the early part of the experiment, but by the end of the period were yielding as much fruit as those on sweet orange. Trifoliate rootstocks were unsatisfactory, and citrange intermediate between sweet orange and trifoliate. No fruit quality differences ascribable to rootstock were detected.
Banana plant growth. 1. Gross morphology
Authors: Turner DW
Published: March 2005

Bananas plants (CV. Williams) at Alstonville, New South Wales, were sampled every two weeks from planting in November 1967 until early post emergence of the fruit in Map 1969. Records were kept of sucker, root, and inflorescence growth. On morphological grounds, the life of one apex was divided into five stages. The end points of these stages were : corm formation, commencement of lateral bud growth, floral initiation, bunch emergence, and harvest. Lateral buds, or suckers, commenced to grow after twelve foliate leaves were produced. Lateral bud development on the parent decreased as it commenced on the ratoon 1 crop. A total of 25 lateral buds showed some swelling but only 13 grew above ground level. All but one of these were removed when the plants were desuckered. After 19 months of growth, half of the live roots arose from gouged sucker remains. No decrease in root numbers was observed on the parent after bunch emergence. The first desuckering, nine months after planting, reduced the total number of roots on the plant by about 50 per cent. The young fruit underwent a sigmoid growth curve during the pre-emergence and early post-emergence phases of development. The most rapid growth of the fruit in terms of fresh weight increase occurred during the five to six weeks before emergence of the bunch.
Seedbed requirements for Dolichos lablab
Authors: Murtagh GJ
Published: March 2005

Several methods of seedbed preparation were compared for sowing Dolichos Lablab into paspalum dominant pastures on the North Coast of New South Wales. Competition from grass reduced the growth of dolichos seedlings. Dolichos yields were highest when cultivation reduced grass growth by at least 70 per cent, or when the seedbed was sprayed with 10 kg acid equivalent 2,2-DPA per hectare. The results suggested that lack of effective nodulation when seed was inoculated with Rhizobium strain CB 454 or NA 106 was a prime factor in the low competitive ability of dolichos seedlings. It is concluded that cultivation is the better method of reducing grass competition because it also causes mineralization of soil nitrogen. This ensures an adequate nitrogen supply even if inoculation fails.
Practical considerations in the use of systematic spacing designs.
Authors: Rogers IS
Published: March 2005

A design consisting of a grid formed by the inter-section of ever increasing circles, with the equally spaced radii from a common centre, is described. Methods for calculation of planting distances and radii, and a description of setting out in the field and management, are given.
Maturity and acceptability of early-picked Granny Smith apples for export
Authors: Beattie BB , Wild BL , Coote GG
Published: March 2005

This study examined the rate of maturation of Granny Smith apples on the trees in several districts of New South Wales and the relationship between picking dates, starch content of the fruit at picking and its palatability after simulated export conditions. Starch-iodine number as a measure of starch content is a useful index of fruit maturity. The starch content fell with time on the tree; there were differences in rate and level between early, mid-season, and late districts. A starch level of 3 gave fruit of acceptable maturity for immediate eating. A critical minimum starch level of 1 ensured that fruit would reach a sufficient level of maturity for general consumer acceptability after simulated export storage. Measurement of starch-iodine number for individual orchards is recommended as a basis for determining picking dates for fruit for export, assuming a critical minimum starch-iodine number of 1.
Suppression of tobacco yellow dwarf with systemic organophosphorus insecticides
Authors: Paddick RG , French FL , Meagher JW
Published: March 2005

Results from field trials indicate that systemic organophosphorus insecticides reduce the incidence of tobacco yellow dwarf by about half. Yield of tobacco crops was reduced by 120 kg/ha for every 10 per cent TYD when infection occurred during the second month of growth.
The effect of Zearalanol on seasonal growth rates of cattle in a dry monsoonal environment
Authors: Moran JB
Published: March 2005

Liveweight changes of Shorthorn weaner heifers and steers implanted with Zearalanol were compared with those of a control group over eleven months in the Victoria River District of the Northern Territory. Serum urea and pasture nitrogen and phosphorus levels were also recorded. Between August and the following February the treated group showed an 11 per cent (P<0.10) greater liveweight gain, while between February and July they showed a 19 per cent (P<0.001) greater liveweight gain than the controls. Zearalanol had a significant effect on liveweight change fur up to 48 weeks. However, there was no additive effect of a second implant after 27 weeks. No treatment differences in serum urea were observed
Effect of extracts of Dactylis glomerata on the in vitro digestion of Trifolium repens
Authors: Clark J , Santhirasegaram K
Published: March 2005

White clover (Trifolium repens) was fermented in the presence of detergent extracts of thirty-two cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) cultivars and eight other pasture species, using a two stage in vitro technique. The in vitro dry matter digestibility of white clover was not depressed by the presence of the detergent extracts to any practical extent. The small depression observed was probably due to the presence of water soluble components of the pasture species. The presence of a detergent-soluble, metabolic inhibitor in cocksfoot cultivars, or the eight other pasture species, was not exhibited using the method described. The in vitro dry matter digestibility of white clover in the presence of detergent extracts of cocksfoot was not correlated with the digestibility values of the cocksfoot samples from which the extracts were made. This suggests that the wide variation observed in the digestibility of the cocksfoot cultivars (54 to 80 per cent) was not due to the presence of any detergent-soluble, inhibiting substances.
A comparison of the nutritional value of spear grass (Heteropogon contortus)-dominant pastures and Urochloa grass (Urochloa mosambicensis)
Authors: Playne MJ
Published: March 2005

Both spear grass and Urochloa grass were cut at six intervals between January and October, near Townsville, Queensland, and the herbages, which ranged in age from 37-296 days, were fed to sheep indoors to compare voluntary dry matter intake, dry matter digestibility, and intake and retention of nitrogen, sulphur, and phosphorus. The dry matter intake and intake of digestible dry matter of Urochloa were greater than those of spear grass but dry matter digestibilities were similar at the same stage of growth. After mid-March, voluntary intake of digestible dry matter of both pasture species by the sheep was less than the amount needed to meet energy requirements. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were higher in Urochloa than in spear grass, but the reverse applied to sulphur. Sheep were in negative nitrogen, sulphur, and phosphorus balance after early March, even though both grasses had been fertilized with superphosphate.
Some factors affecting the oxalate content of the tropical grass Setaria sphacelata
Authors: Jones RJ , Ford CW
Published: March 2005

The effect of urea on the oxalate concentration of Setaria sphacelata CV. Kazungula was studied in three field experiments. In the first experiment conducted in autumn, urea increased oxalate and cation concentration, and the relation between oxalate and cation concentration was linear (r = 0.90). In the second experiment conducted over autumn and spring, there was a trend of increasing oxalate concentration with urea rate and a decline with age of plant material. However, in autumn regrowths, urea reduced the oxalate in young regrowth (to two weeks) but in older regrowths urea increased oxalate to a peak of 6.0 per cent in the dry matter. A third experiment confirmed the increased oxalate concentration following urea fertilization and also an effect of potassium at a high rate, especially when applied as KCl. The ranking of the plant parts for oxalate was-leaf blades > leaf sheaths > stems. No oxalate was detected in the seed heads. Urea increased the oxalate content of leaf sheaths and particularly of stems, but had less effect on the content in leaf blades. A diurnal trend in oxalate content of tillers occurred in both the high oxalate cultivar Kazungula and in the low oxalate cultivar Nandi. Of the total oxalate present, 90 per cent was water soluble. No ammonium oxalate was detected but both sodium oxalate and potassium oxalate were isolated from setaria. The high excess cation concentration in Setaria is probably the reason for the high levels of oxalate encountered with this grass.
Moisture and nitrate conservation and reponses to following after medic ley in the Wimmera
Authors: Tuohey CL , Robson AD , Rooney DR
Published: March 2005

The effect of three times of initial cultivation (August, October, February-March) on grain yield, grain protein content, moisture conservation, and nitrate accumulation was studied over a period of seven years at three sites in the Wimmera on land that had been under medic ley. Fallowing in winter (August) or spring (October) markedly increased grain yields but not grain-protein content when compared with the non-fallow control (initial cultivation in February-March). Variation in yield response to both winter and spring fallowing appeared to be associated mainly with variation in moisture conservation in the 30-60 cm layer. With winter fallowing, the nitrate that accumulated was associated with yield increases, but with spring fallowing the nitrate appeared to he associated with yield depression. However, the role of nitrate accumulation in determining yield responses to fallowing was only of minor importance. Suppression of weeds in the crop was not a factor in producing the large yield responses to fallowing since crops on both fallowed and non-fallowed areas were generally weedfree. Results obtained in the current experiments indicate that the aspects of climate suggested by work in South Australia as being the ones that determine yield responses to fallowing are not the ones which are important in the Wimmera. In this environment the most promising predictors of yield responses to fallowing appear to be April to August rainfall before commencement of the winter fallow and September rainfall before commencement of the spring fallow.
Fusarium species associated with wheat in Victoria
Authors: Chambers SC
Published: March 2005

Wheat roots and seeds were examined for Fusarium species during surveys in 1970 and 1971. Fusarium spp. were commonly isolated from root lesions, especially those on older plants, but seldom from seed. However, frequency of isolation from seed was increased by using a selective medium containing pentachloro-nitrobenaene. Fourteen species, including eleven not previously recorded on wheat in Victoria, were identified, Previously recorded species were: F. culmorum, F. equiseti and F. graminearum. Previously unrecorded species were : F. arthrosporioides, F. avenaceum, F. camptoceras, F. chlamydosporum, F. concolor, F. oxysporum, F. poae, F. sambucinum var. coeruleum, F. semitectum, F. sporotrichioides and F. trichothecioides. The commonest were the weakly pathogenic species F. avenaceum, F. equseti and F. oxysporum. The strongly pathogenic species F. graminearum, was seldo isolated and the other strongly pathogenic species, F. culmorum, was common only in the Southern cereal district.
Viruses infecting peaches in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Areas of New South Wales
Authors: Pares RD , Penrose LJ , Kable PF
Published: March 2005

Prunus necrotic ringspot and dark green sunken mottle viruses were present in canning peaches in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Areas of New South Wales. Prune dwarf virus was not detected. The peach rosetting and decline disease was not observed.
A new biopsy technique for sampling subcutaneous fat in cattle
Authors: Saville DG , Gilbert WS , Wright JM
Published: March 2005

A technique is described for the rapid biopsy sampling of subcutaneous fat in cattle. The technique involves freezing and folding back a small area of skin to allow removal of the underlying fat. The advantages of this technique are that it is rapid, animals do not have to be placed under general or local anaesthetic, no suturing is required and there is little disturbance to the animal. No significant difference in pesticide level was found between subcutaneous, peri-renal, and mesenteric fat, but a significant positive correlation (r = 0.82) was found between combined DDE and DDT levels in biopsy and carcase subcutaneous samples. This indicated that the residues measured from biopsy samples in this experiment were a good indication to levels in the rest of the animal.
The moderating effect of regular exercise on the development of nutritional muscular dystrophy in lambs
Authors: Godwin KO
Published: March 2005

Merino lambs have been weaned on to two types of dystrophogenic diet, one a synthetic-type dirt with selenium-low Torula yeast supplying most of the protein, and the other a natural diet consisting solely of selenium-low hay. Lambs not supplemented with selenium developed white muscle disease within two to three months on either regimen, some of the lambs dying within that period. Selenium, given at the rate of 2 X 3 mg per week as Na2 SeO3 as an oral drench prevented the onset of muscular dystrophy. When unsupplemented animals were subjected to daily exercise consisting of one-sixth to one-third of a mile canter in a treadmill each day from weaning, muscular dystrophy was either modified or delayed. In some cases it was entirely prevented over the experimental period. As judged by creatine phosphokinase levels in blood plasma, ECG records taken throughout the experiments, and histological examination of muscle post mortem, eight out of ten lambs in the non-exercised group developed white muscle lesions, compared with two out of ten in the exercised group.
Soil nitrogen changes under continuously grazed legume-grass pastures in subtropical coastal Queensland
Authors: Vallis I
Published: March 2005

Net changes in total soil nitrogen were measured in 1.2 to 2.4 hectare paddocks of legume-grass pastures at three sites. The sites and pastures were (a) Rodd's Bay-a pasture of Stylosanthes humilis and Heteropogon contortus, (b) Samford-a pasture of Phaseolus atropurpureus cv. Siratro, Digitaria didactyla, and Axonopus affinis and (c) Beerwah-a pasture of Desmodiam intorum cv. Greenleaf, D. uncinatum cv. Silverleaf, Lotononis bainesii, Trifolium repens, Digitaria decumbens, Chloris gayana, Paspalum dilatatum, and P. commersonii. At Rodd's Bay, the changes under pasture containing Stylosanthes humilis varied greatly according to seasonal conditions. During a period of 29 months that covered three successive growing seasons with below-average rainfall, short-term fluctuations in total soil nitrogen gave a net decrease of 70 kg ha-1 (0.95 confidence limits �30), an average of 29 (� 12) kg ha-1 year-1. In the following three-year period, which included two very wet growing seasons and one very dry one, soil nitrogen increased by an average of 30 � 10 kg ha-1 year-1. Over a period of four years, soil nitrogen increased by an average of 44 � 9 kg ha-1 year-1 under Phaseolus atropurpureus at Samford, and 81 � 10 kg ha-1 year -l under the mixture of legumes at Beerwah.
Methods of measuring residual value of fertilizers
Authors: Barrow NJ , Campbell NA
Published: March 2005

Subterranean clover was grown on five different soils in the glasshouse with superphosphate treatments, which provided factorial combinations of previously and of currently applied phosphorus. For most treatments, powdered superphosphate was used but on two of the soils there was an additional set of treatments using granular superphosphate. In a further set of treatments on these two soils, Wimmera ryegrass was grown. Values for yield and for uptake of phosphate were used to test measures of residual value. The measure of residual value was the slope of the yield-fertilizer curve for the previous application divided by slope for the current application. Where only the rapidly ascending part of the response surface was available, linear equations satisfactorily described the response. Where the region in which yields approached the maximum was also available, a modified form of the exponential or Mitscherlich equation was found to be preferable. For linear equations, methods for calculating the confidence limits of the ratio were available. For the non-linear equations it was found that the joint confidence regions were generally symmetric and confidence regions derived by assumin g the functions were approximately linear were adequate. It was shown that the confidence limits were wide and that effects of treatments which may be small are difficult to prove. No significant effects of granulation or of level of application were detected, nor were there significant differences between the two species. With repeated clipping of the ryegrass, the previous application of phosphate became relatively less effective on a soil of low buffering capacity for phosphate and relatively more effective on a soil of high buffering capacity. Hence, residual value does not necessarily have a unique value through a season. It was suggested that these contrasting effects were due to progressive depletion of the phosphate in the soil of low buffering capacity, and to increasing root density in the, soil of high buffering capacity.
Environmental effects and varietal performance of cowpea (Vigna sinensis) and mung bean (Phaseolus species) accessions in south-eastern Queensland
Authors: Mungomery VE , Byth DE , Williams RJ
Published: March 2005

Twenty-four cowpea accessions and twenty-eight mung bean accessions were tested at two locations in south eastern Queensland ; at Lawes where adequate soil moisture was available throughout the growth period, and at Rodds Bay where moisture was limiting after flowering. The lines of mung bean responded similarly in both locations for grain yield and yield components but the cowpea lines exhibited considerable interaction with location. Correlations among characters at both locations supported the contention that the mung beans were better able to tolerate environmental stress (Rodd's Bay), but were less responsive to more favourable growth conditions (Lawes), than the cowpeas. Late maturing lines of mung bean tended to have lower yields at both locations but cowpeas showed this tendency only at Lawes environment. Implications of the results for plant introduction, breeding, and testing procedures for both genera are discussed.
The effect of nitrogen intake, sulphur intake and dietary nitrogen source on the performance of the early weaned calf
Authors: Leibholz J
Published: March 2005

An experiment was conducted with 40 male Friesian calves between five and eleven weeks of age to estimate their nitrogen and sulphur requirement. The basal diet contained 2.2 per cent nitrogen which was supplemented with urea or meat meal to 3.1 per cent nitrogen. The urea was added both with and without sodium sulphate. The weight gain and efficiency of feed conversion ratio of the calves fed the diet containing 2.2 per cent nitrogen was lower than that of the calves fed the diets containing 3.1 per cent nitrogen, but they were not affected by the nature of the nitrogen supplement or by the addition of sulphur to the urea supplemented diet which already contained 0.11 per cent sulphur. The apparent digestion of organic matter, dry matter, and nitrogen was greater at six weeks of age than at ten weeks of age. The excretion of nitrogen in the urine was greater in the calves fed the diets containing urea, but there was no difference in nitrogen retention. The retention of sulphur was 0.47 g a day for the calves fed the diet containing 0.11 per cent sulphur compared with 0.85 to 1.75 g a day for the calves fed the other diets. The concentration of urea in the blood plasma was higher in the calves at five weeks of age than at ten weeks of age and increased with increased nitrogen intake. The concentration of urea in the blood plasma was higher in the calves whose diet included urea than in the calves fed the meat meal supplemented diet.
Effect of fertilizer nitrogen and feeding practices on productivity of Corriedale wethers grazing annual pasture in southern Victoria
Authors: Davis IF , Sharkey MJ
Published: March 2005

The effect of conserving hay and feeding it back in a feedlot, during which time grazing was deferred, and the application of nitrogen fertilizer to annual pasture (67 kg N ha-l yr-l) was studied in a factorial experiment. The study was carried out with Corriedale wethers at stocking rates of 10, 12, and 17 sheep a hectare from July, 1963 to December, 1966. There were three replicates of each treatment. There was no significant interaction between stocking rates and management treatments on wool production per head or per hectare. The deferred grazing, but not the nitrogen treatment, resulted in heavier liveweights and heavier fleece weights in 1964, 1965, and 1966. The differences were significant (P < 0.05) in 1964 and 1966. The carrying capacity over the three year period was increased by the deferred grazing treatment in association with nitrogen fertilizer. However, at current wool prices it is unlikely that the use of haymaking, deferment and nitrogen is economic.
The effect of waterlogging on the mineral nutrient content of Trifolium subterraneum
Authors: Devitt AC , Francis CM
Published: March 2005

Waterlogging affected the concentration and total content of nutrients in the leaves of 75 cultivars of the three subspecies of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum). In the plant tops the concentration of phosphorus, iron, manganese, and copper increased, zinc was unaffected and nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium decreased. Total leaf nutrient largely reflected differences in dry matter production. Iron content increased; nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and zinc decreased, but phosphorus and manganese content was unchanged. The results show a general pattern of subspecies differences in which the chemical composition of subspecies yanninicum was least affected by waterlogging, i.e., a result consistent with the overall better growth of this subspecies in waterlogged conditions.
Time distribution of seedlings emergence from single seed crops of several annual pasture legumes
Authors: Taylor GB
Published: March 2005

Seedling emergence from single seed crops of Dwalganup and Geraldton subterranean clover, Yamina cupped clover, Troodos and Kondinin rose clover, and Cyprus barrel medic, was studied in a low rainfall wheatbelt environment in Western Australia. The proportion of the original seed set recovered as seedlings was highest from the subterranean clovers in the first year but about the same for all genotypes in the second year. Few subterranean clover seeds were recovered in the third regeneration year either as seedlings or residual hard seeds, whereas significant proportions of the original seed of the other genotypes were obtained. More than 10 per cent of the original seed of Cyprus barrel medic and Yamina cupped clover remained ungerminated at the end of the third season. Between about 35 and 75 per cent of the original seed set was not accounted for in the genotypes studied. The proportions of the total seedling numbers that emerged following summer and early autumn rains were generally highest from the subterranean clovers and least from the cupped clover and medic. It is suggested that these different patterns of emergence within years were the result of differences in embyro dormancy rather than different patterns of hard seed breakdown.
Preliminary comparisons of several annual Trifolium species on Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Authors: Beale PE , Crawford EJ
Published: March 2005

The growth and persistence of a number of accessions of seven species of Trifolium were measured. For the first three years the plots were grazed only to remove excess herbage after sampling. For the following three years they were grazed continuously under commercial conditions. In ungrazed swards the annual dry matter production of accessions of T. cherleri, T. globosum, and T. purpureurn was similar to T. subterraneum cultivars Yarloop and Woogenellup. T. cherleri, T. globosum, and Woogenellup made the bulk of their growth during the spring whereas T. purpureum and Yarloop produced half of their total dry matter during the winter. Good plant densities of T. argutum, T. cherleri, T. purpureum, and T. subterraneum were present at the end of three years continuous grazing, but Woogenellup and all other species were markedly inferior to Yarloop in their contribution to total production at the end of this period. Yarloop and T. purpureum were found to be very susceptible to clover scorch (Kabatiella caulivora) ; Woogenellup was moderately susceptible and the other species were unaffected in the field. All test species had low levels of formononetin in their leaves.
Aphid infestation and virus infection of peas and beans on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales
Authors: Grylls NE
Published: March 2005

Field Studies were made of aphid infestation, population behaviour and virus incidence on Pisum sativum, Vicia faba and Phaseolus vulgaris at Bathurst, New South Wales, from November 1969 to June 1970. The relative importance of the aphids Aphis craccivora, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Myzus persicae and Aphis gosypii as vectors of subterranean clover stunt virus (SCSV) and bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) was obscured by the overwhelming incidence of A, craccivora. On the first two plantings, virus incidence exceeded 90 per cent and yields were almost nil. Virus incidence was low on peas and canning beans on the third planting. Late infection on broad beans was 82-96 per cent. BYMV incidence, negligible on the first two plantings, was 16 per cent on the third planting of broad beans. Migrating alate aphids were trapped and tested on subterranean clover; c. 10 per cent of A. craccivora carried SCSV, and about 10 per cent of M. eybhorbiae, late in the season, carried BYMV. Three species of coccinellids attacked A. craccivora but did not control aphids until plants matured. Spraying with fenitrothion reduced aphid populations in control plots but had little effect on virus incidence and greatly reduced coccinellids. Aphidiid parasites were few and had little effect on aphid populations.
Phosphorus nutrition of beef cattle. 2. Relation of pasture phosphorus to phosphorus content of blood, hair and bone grazing steers
Authors: Cohen RDH
Published: March 2005

The phosphorus content was measured every three months in pasture and in blood, hair and bone of beef steers that had grazed pastures of low phosphorus content for 12 months. This was done to determine the effect that changes in pasture phosphorus levels had on the phosphorus content of animal tissue. The correlation coefficients between pasture phosphorus content and either the phosphorus content of hair or the concentration of inorganic phosphorus in plasma were not significant. The relationship between the phosphorus content of pasture (x) and dry fat-free rib-bone (y) was given by the equation y = 9.5 + 33.3x (r = 0.97; P < 0.05). It was concluded that bone phosphorus content could provide the best estimate of the phosphorus status of grazing cattle because it significantly reflected variation in the phosphorus content of pasture whereas blood and hair failed to do so.
The effect of increased soil nitrogen associated with medic ley on the performance of a standard and a semi-dwarf wheat cultivar
Authors: Tuohey CL
Published: March 2005

Two cropping rotations of fallow-wheat and four years of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) pasture were used to obtain two levels of soil total nitrogen on a grey clay at Longerenong College, Dooen, Victoria. A semi-dwarf cultivar, Mexico 120, and a standard cultivar, Olympic, were then compared at the two levels of soil nitrogen over four years from 1964 to 1967. Mexico 120 outyielded Olympic by 1490 kg ha-1 in 1964 at the higher soil nitrogen level; however, it did not yield any better than Olympic at low soil nitrogen in that year nor at either soil nitrogen level in the other years. Mexico 120 had higher tiller survival, larger grain size, and shorter straw than Olympic in all years. In 1965 and 1966 its harvest index and the percentage of plant nitrogen in the grain responded more to higher soil nitrogen than that of Olympic.
Studies on some deep sandy soils in Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland. 2. Plant nutrient status
Authors: Jones RK
Published: March 2005

The nutrient status of the deep siliceous sands which cover an extensive area in Cape York Peninsula has been studied in glasshouse and field experiments. Using Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) as a test legume, the soils were found to be extremely deficient in P and S, and moderately so in Zn, Cu, and K. Responses to Mo were found on most of the eight soils tested in the glasshouse but these were not confirmed at the field site in either of the two growing seasons. There was little response to Ca (lime) in spite of the very low levels of total and exchangeable Ca in these soils. Suggested reasons for this are the known tolerance of tropical legumes to low Ca supply and the fact that exchangeable Ca, although low, represented a fairly high percentage of the total exchange capacity. Levels of total N in these soils were also very low and the native grasses were able to absorb only 15 kg N ha-1 in an entire growing season. Two samples of rock phosphate (from north-western Queensland and Christmas Island) were found to be very poor alternatives to superphosphate, at least in the first season. In spite of the extreme infertility of these soils, very high levels of pasture production (> 10,000 kg of Townsville sty10 ha-1) could be achieved in well-fertilized pastures.
Seed pelleting to improve nodulation of tropical and subtropical legumes. 5. The contrasting response to lime pelleting of two Rhizobium strains on Leucaena leucocephala
Authors: Norris DO
Published: March 2005

In a field experiment at Samford, Queensland, on a loam of pH 5.0 (water), nodulation of Leucaena leucocephala was compared after inoculation with two contrasting types of Rhizobium. Peat culture of each was applied to the seed in three ways: using 2 per cent and 4 per cent methyl cellulose (m.c.) sticker and 4 per cent m.c, with a lime coating. Inoculated seed was sown after storage for one and 28 days. After one day storage the acid-producing strain NGR8 formed nodules only when the seed was pelleted with lime, but the alkali-producing strain CB81 nodulated equally well by all three inoculation procedures. After 28 day storage strain CB81 did not survive on the seed when applied simply with sticker, but survived as well as strain NGR8 when lime-pelleted. It is suggested that where leucaena is to be established on acid soils, CB81 or a rhizobial strain of similar type be used and that the seed be always lime-pelleted.