bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correction - A statistical study of rain damage of grapes grown for drying in Victoria
Authors: Considine JA
Published: March 2005

Effect of harvest rainfall on loss of dried vine fruits was examined by step-wise regression with dried fruit packed per year as the dependent variable and rainfall, summed at half-monthly intervals, as an independent variable. Secular trend variables were fitted to account for trends in annual production. Fitted equations accounted for 81, 77, and 42 per cent of the variation in total production for the years 1925 to 1970. of sultanas, currants, and raisins, respectively. Half the non-trend variance of sultana production and one-third of that of currants and raisins was accounted for by rainfall during statistically selected periods. These were, first and second half of March for sultanas, first half of January and first half of February for currants, and second half of March for raisins. An attempt to enhance accuracy in an analysis of sultana production (Sunraysia district, 1946 to 1971) by including per cent fruitful buds and maximum daily temperatures (summed at six day intervals) in November as additional covariates was only partially successful. Per cent fruitful buds was not significantly related to production but daily maximum temperatures summed over the period November 25-30 inclusive accounted for a small (13 per cent) but significant portion of non-trend variance. A shift in time of maximum damage to sultanas was indicated; from the second half of March in the period 1925 to 1945 to the first half of March since then. These results are discussed in terms of economic importance and type of damage sustained. Ways of reducing the magnitude of the problem are suggested.
Seed pelleting to improve nodulation of tropical and subtropical legumes. 6. The effects of dilute sticker and of bauxite pelleting on nodulation of six legumes
Authors: Norris DO
Published: March 2005

In a field experiment at Beerwah, Queensland, bauxite pellet applied with 4 per cent methyl cellulose sticker and 1 per cent methyl cellulose as a simple sticker for the inoculant were compared with the standard treatments used successfully in a previous series of experiments. These were peat applied with 4 per cent methyl cellulose, and Florida rock phosphate pellet with 4 per cent methyl cellulose sticker. Legumes and Rhizobium strains tested were Desmodium uncinatum and D. intortum, inoculated with Rhizobium CB627, Lablab purpureus (formerly Dolichos lablab), Glycine wightii (three cvs. Clarence, Cooper and Tinaroo), and Macroptilium atropurpureum (formerly Phaseolus atropurpureus), all inoculated with Rhizobium CB756, and Lotononis bainesii inoculated with Rhizobium CB376. All were planted after 2-day and 28-day storage of inoculated seed. The effectiveness of the treatments was checked by nodule counting and by serologically identifying the strains in a random sample of nodules from each treatment. The majority of nodules formed came from the applied inoculants, but there were no differences between the inoculation treatments in nodulation criteria or effect on yield. The experiment confirmed that bauxite is a satisfactory pelleting material for tropical legumes, but the application of the inoculant peat with 1 per cent methyl cellulose leads to equally good nodulation.
The use of urea-molasses supplements for sheep grazing semi-arid tropical pastures
Authors: Entwistle KW , Knights G
Published: March 2005

The performance of unsupplemented Merino ewes grazing dry season semi-arid tropical pastures was compared with that of other sheep supplemented with either urea-molasses or molasses. Over the experimental period from September 1970 until late January 1971 mean daily intakes per head of urea and molasses respectively were: low urea group, 11.7 g and 35.1 g; high urea group, 15.2 g and 45.6 g; molasses, 38.9 g. Monthly estimates of the proportions of animals consuming the supplement over the period September to January varied from: urea-molasses-71 per cent to 97 per cent; molasses-75 per cent to 96 per cent. Unsupplemented sheep lost significantly more liveweight than did supplemented groups in the period September to February. However, during the period of greatest nutritional stress from December to February, sheep recewing molasses lost significantly more weight than did those supplemented with urea-molasses, and liveweight loss was greater in the low urea group than in the high urea group. Wool growth rates were significantly higher in groups receiving urea-molasses, with highest wool growth rates in animals on the high level of urea. Total fleece weights were unaffected by treatment as were the reproductive factors examined. Faecal nitrogen levels declined until the onset of pasture regrowth in February and were associated with low digestibility of the available forage. Compensatory liveweight gains following pasture regrowth outweighed any advantage of the dry season supplementation. It was concluded that urea-molasses supplements were of little direct benefit to sheep grazing these pastures.
The effect of paraquat desiccation in spring on plant and animal production from annual pastures
Authors: Arnold GW , Barrett DW
Published: March 2005

The effects on pasture yield and composition and on sheep performance of paraquat applied during spring to annual pastures were studied in three experiments. One experiment was on clover dominant pasture and the other two were on pure stands of ryegrass. Spraying reduced dry matter at the beginning of summer in only one of the three experiments, In this experiment, spraying at head emergence of the ryegrass caused the greatest yield loss. Dry matter was lost from untreated pasture following anthesis of the grasses as they senesced but sprayed pastures had proportionately the same losses. Spraying at head emergence increased the proportion of grass leaf in the mature dry ryegrass pastures, but later applications were much less effective. The effects of paraquat on nutrient concentrations in the mature herbage varied between experiments. On the clover dominant pasture, N, K, Ca, and Mg were higher in the clover on unsprayed plots but not in the grass component. With pure ryegrass pastures, spraying resulted in significantly higher nitrogen concentration but had little effect on other nutrients. Spraying at head emergence gave a higher yield of nitrogen per hectare of ryegrass but otherwise paraquat tended not to affect or to give slightly reduced nutrient yields. The in vitro digestibility of annual ryegrass decreased rapidly after head emergence. Spraying at this time reduced the rate of this decline, whereas later sprays had little effect on the decline. Paraquat had no effect on losses of nutrients from the pastures that occurred over the summer through weathering. Following paraquat application, the liveweight gain of Merino weaner sheep was improved in one of the three experiments. Higher wool production was recorded in one treatment in one experiment. Paraquat at 0.21 kg ha-' active ion reduced the number of grass seedlings regenerating in the season following spraying.
Regeneration of annual winter legumes at Tamworth, New South Wales
Authors: Hagon MW
Published: March 2005

The seed production and regeneration of a range of naturalized and introduced cultivars of annual clovers and medics was studied at Tamworth, New South Wales, between 1971 and 1973. Seed production was correlated with maturity grading within species only when moisture stress occurred in late spring. The proportion of seed lost as summer seedlings and the proportion of unrecovered seed were greater the lower the level of hardseededness. A greater proportion of unrecovered seed was recorded for those cultivars which bore their burrs at the soil surface. As a group the medics had a higher proportion of residual hard seeds than did the clovers. The results are discussed in relation to the likely persistence of improved cultivars compared to the successful persistence of the naturalized medics and clovers in the Tamworth district.
Effect of stocking rate and fertilizer on the performance of steers grazing Townsville stylo-based pasture in north Queensland
Authors: Winks L , Lamberth FC , Moir KW , Pepper PM
Published: March 2005

The performance of steers grazing Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis)-native grass pasture, with and without superphosphate fertilizer, was studied at two stocking rate (0.41 and 0.82 beasts ha-1) on the sub-coastal spear grass region of the dry tropics of north Queensland over a period of three and a half years. Fertilizer increased yield and quality of pasture, but invasion of the fertilized areas by annual grass species was occurring by the end of the study. Liveweight gains on fertilized Townsville stylo pastures were greater than on unfertilized Townsville stylo, where performance was similar to that recorded on untreated native pasture at stocking rates of 0.25 and 0.41 beasts ha-1. Liveweight gains at the lighter stocking rate were greater than at the higher level on the Townsville stylo-native grass pasture, but at the stocking rates applied to native pasture there was no significant effect of stocking rate. A stocking rate of 0.41 beast ha-1 on fertilized Townsville stylo was safe in all years. Wastage of material was high owing to mould development on the Townsville stylo which remained as standing hay during the winter.
Rumen volatile fatty acids on six pasture species and relations with digestibility, voluntary intake and chemical composition
Authors: Michell PJ
Published: March 2005

The total concentration and the relative proportions of the volatile fatty acids (VFA) were measured in rumens of sheep fed 78 single species pasture samples. The pastures consisted of regrowths of white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Grasslands Huia), Manawa regrass (Lolium perenne x multiflorum cv. Grasslands Manawa), Ariki ryegrass (Lolium (multiflorum x perenne) x L. perenne cv. Grasslands Ariki), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Tasmania No. 1) , Currie cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata cv. Currie) and Apanui cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata cv. Grasslands Apanui), cut eight times between May, 1969 and August, 1970. Sheep fed cocksfoot had lower VFA concentrations, higher proportions of acetate (HAc) and lower proportions of butyrate (HBu) than sheep fed white clover and ryegrass (P < 0.05). They also had lower proportions of propionate (HPr) than sheep fed ryegrass (P < 0.05). Sheep fed white clover had higher proportions of valerate (HVa) than those fed the grasses (P < 0.05). There were no significant (P < 0.05) seasonal differences in total VFA concentration but HAc was lowest with spring pasture (P < 0.05) and HBu was lowest with autumn pasture (P < 0.05). Total VFA concentration was positively related to digestibility (DMD) (r = +0.52, P < 0.01) but species differences occurred and at similar DMD, white clover produced higher concentrations than ryegrass (P < 0.05) which produced higher concentrations than cocksfoot (P < 0.01). The overall relation between total VFA and intake (DMI) was weak but seasonal differences occurred and at similar levels of DMI, winter pasture produced higher VFA concentrations than spring-summer pasture (P < 0.01). The proportion of HPr was positively related to VFA concentration (r = +0.53, P < 0.01) and to water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content (r = +0.51, P < 0.01) and relations with DMD and DM1 were weak and non-significant (P > 0.05).
Crown rot of lucerne in Queensland caused by Colletotrichum trifolii
Authors: Irwin JAG
Published: March 2005

A detailed description of a crown rot of lucerne caused by Colletotrichum trifolii is given for the first time in Australia. The characteristic symptom of the disease, which causes serious losses in Queensland, is an internal black discolouration extending from the base of infected tillers, through the crown and often into the tap root. The fungus spreads internally into the crown tissue from anthracnose lesions produced on the stem bases. Field trials at Gatton and Biloela have shown that the cultivars Denmat, African, Siro Peruvian, and Gabes are particularly susceptible. High levels of field resistance are available in the cultivars Rhizoma, Lahontan, and the experimental lines ESI, BDSI, and ECRSI. The common commercial cultivar, Hunter River, was less susceptible than many of the cultivars tested.
Direct drilling experiments with wheat
Authors: Reeves TG , Ellington A
Published: March 2005

Results are presented from three experiments, on land being cropped for the third time after a ley period, in which the growth and nitrogen nutrition of direct drilled and conventionally cultivated and sown wheat was investigated. In 1968 and 1969 wheat growth from emergence to heading was superior on the cultivated plots but grain yields did not differ. In 1970 direct drilling increased wheat grain yield by 0.97 tonne ha-1. Nitrogen fertilizer application at seeding increased herbage dry matter and nitrogen content, fertile tiller production and grain yields on both direct-drilled and cultivated treatments. Soil mineral nitrogen levels at seeding were lower on cultivated plots than on direct-drilled plots, but incubation nitrogen was not different in any year. Direct drilling did not adversely affect mineralization of soil nitrogen, but it retarded early wheat growth.
Effects of long term use of several herbicides on apple trees
Authors: Campbell JE , Mears AD
Published: March 2005

The effects of four systemic herbicides, simazine, diuron, amitrole, and 2,2-DPA were studied when used at strengths in excess of current recommendations on mature apple trees. The herbicides were applied annually for six seasons. In a very dry season severe injury, defoliation, and yield reduction were caused by 2,2-DPA; the heavier the rate, the more severe the damage, and even the lowest rate caused some damage, Injury was not repeated in normal seasons. Diuron at greater than recommended rates resulted in slight injury in the fourth season and yield reduction in subsequent years. The damage became severe in following seasons but the recommended rate caused no reduction in yield and only slight leaf symptoms. Apart from slight leaf chlorosis in the very dry year, tolerance to simazine was good and amitrole treatments caused no injury in any season.
Effect of time of joining and rate of stocking on the production of Corriedale ewes in southern Victoria. 2. Survival and growth of lambs
Authors: Kenney PA , Davis IF
Published: March 2005

A study of the survival and growth of lambs was made over a three year period (1968 to 1970) on a flock of 540 ewes grazing annual pasture at Werribee, Victoria. Ewes were stocked at three rates (5, 7 1/2 and 10 ha-1) and lambed between July 6 and August 20 or between September 10 and October 29 each year. Observations were made on the same ewes each year. Rate of stocking had no effect on the birth weight of lambs but single-birth lambs born in September were lighter than those born in July. More twins were born in September than in July and a smaller proportion of lambs born survived from the September than from the July lambing. Of the lambs born to ewes stocked at 10 ha-1 in 1968 and 1969 a smaller proportion survived than of the lambs born to ewes stocked at 5 ha-1. The growth rate of lambs born in July was constant between birth and weaning at 12 weeks of age but declined as rates of stocking increased. When the lambs born in September were about eight weeks old the pastures matured and growth rates of lambs declined and at weaning liveweights of lambs from plots stocked at different rates were similar. Lambs born in July on plots stocked at 5 and 79 ewes ha-1 were as much as eight kilograms heavier at weaning than the lambs born in September at equivalent rates of stocking. Neither rate nor time of onset of milk production was significantly affected by stocking rate.
Performance of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) lines in pure swards and with the annual grass (Digitaria ciliaris) under various defoliation treatments at Katherine, N.T
Authors: Ive JR , Fisher MJ
Published: March 2005

Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) selections collected from twelve naturalized populations, in Queensland and the Northern Territory, and certified seed of the Katherine ecotype ('lines'), were grown for three years in a field experiment at Katherine, N.T. (latitude 14.3�S). In the third year, the experiment was oversown with Digitaria ciliaris. Flowering of all lines was delayed by late sowing, but was hastened by drought. However, the order in which the lines flowered was basically the same for all three years, and similar to that at Lansdown, Queensland (latitude 19.7�S). Although seasonally dependent, highest dry matter production was associated with erect mid- or late mid-season maturity lines which were often lowest in nitrogen and phosphorus concentration. There were no differences between lines in their ability to compete with Digitaria. Grazing reduced the proportion of grass in the swards compared with the forage harvested and non-defoliated treatments largely because Townsville stylo appeared to withstand grazing and trampling better than Digitaria.
Diagnosis of retarded growth in an apple orchard
Authors: Sitepu D , Wallace HR
Published: March 2005

Soil round trees in an Adelaide apple orchard was sampled to assess the concentrations of Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., stylet-bearing nematodes, soil texture (per cent clay), soil moisture and pH. Correlations between these factors and the size of apple trees (trunk circumference) suggested that parasitic nematodes, Pythium spp. and pH might together be important factors inhibiting tree growth. On the basis of these results, a statement is made on the possible causes of retarded growth in the orchard, and how the problem might be overcome. The main purpose of the work was to devise a simple approach that would enable diagnoses to be made of the causes of retarded growth or poor yield in a crop where several factors seemed to be involved. Such an approach might be useful to extension workers who have to deal with many plant disease problems at the same time.
Effect of molasses-urea supplements on digestibility of mature carpet grass (Axonopus affinis) and liveweight change of beef steers
Authors: Cohen RDH
Published: March 2005

Supplements of dried molasses (500 g) alone or with urea (60 g and 120 g) were given each day to Angus steers fed mature carpet grass (Axonopus affinis) hay in pens. The addition of molasses to the basal diet resulted in increased dry matter intake of the hay (P<0,05) and apparent digestibility of dry matter, energy and nitrogen (P<0.05) and a decrease in liveweight loss (P<0.05). The further addition of either 60 g or 120 g of urea to the diet, however, resulted in no further increases in dry matter intake or apparent digestibility of dry matter or energy although there was an increase in the apparent digestibility of nitrogen with each increment of urea (P< 0.05).
The influence of roughage source, grain feeding, biuret supplementation and lot-feeding on the performance of yearling steers
Authors: Smith GH
Published: March 2005

Yearling cattle grazed for 100 days on dry summer pasture, oaten stubble, or standing oaten hay and provided with a supplement of rolled grains and minerals, followed by a 50-day period in a feedlot on an ad libitum ration of rolled mixed grains and minerals, consumed equal quantities of grain (620 to 670 kg) and gained equal amounts of liveweight (112 � 8 kg) to similar cattle fattened in a feedlot for 100 days, on diets of mixed grain, hay and mineral supplements. Overall, the provision of a non-protein nitrogen supplement, biuret, did not increase liveweight gains significantly, although there was a tendency for greater liveweight gains of animals grazing forage and receiving this supplement.
Effect of height of cutting on the regrowth of rape
Authors: Spurway RA , Wheeler JL , Hedges DA
Published: March 2005

Rape (Brassica napus cv. Rangi) was grown in pots in a glasshouse in winter 1971. In early spring, when the plants had produced approximately 25 fully expanded leaves, five cutting treatments were applied. The subsequent growth of uncut control plants was compared with the regrowth of four treatments in which the plants were defoliated and the stems cut at one of four heights. Uncut control plants produced significantly more dry plant material than the cut plants during the one month treatment period. The regrowth potential of the defoliated plants was dependent on the presence of axillary buds but was not increased by leaving more than nine buds on the stem after cutting.
Utility of a simple soil water budget model in agronomic research. 3. Estimation of the potential evapotranspiration function
Authors: Fawcett RG , Carter OG
Published: March 2005

It has been shown that a regression equation relating the cumulative potential transpiration function (T/Eo) with the yield of tops, week of sowing and available fallow moisture, together with a simple budget model, can be used to estimate weekly changes in available soil water under a wheat crop. It is concluded from the data that use of the equation and budget model should be most suited to situations where plant densities are about 60 plants per m2 and the available fallow water is about 150 mm or less.
Phosphorus nutrition of beef cattle. 4. The use of faecal and blood phosphorus for the estimation of phosphorus intake
Authors: Cohen RDH
Published: March 2005

In two experiments measurements were made of the phosphorus content of faeces and blood of penned Angus steers which received diets containing different amounts of phosphorus. In experiment 1, mature carpet grass (Axonopus affinis) hay was supplemented with different amounts of sodium dihydrogen orthophosphate and in experiment 2, different mixtures of carpet grass hay and lucerne hay were given. Phosphorus intake (X) was related to total daily faecal phosphorus excretion (YT) by the equation: YT= 2.442 + 0.289 � 0.234 (r2 = 0.96; P < 0.001) It is therefore possible to estimate phosphorus intake (X) from total daily faecal phosphorus excretion from the equation : X = 3.460 YT- 8.450 Because the constant 8.450 will vary with the size of the cattle, both variables should be expressed in units of metabolic body weight SO that the prediction equation then is : Xc = 3.401 Yc - 0.1 73 When the regression equation calculated for cattle from these experiments was compared with that calculated for sheep the differences in the slopes of the two regressions suggested that sheep may be more efficient than cattle in retaining phosphorus when intakes of this nutrient are low. Regressions relating phosphorus intake to phosphorus content of faecal dry matter and organic matter differed for the two experiments (P < 0.05) but residual variability was significantly reduced when dry matter digestibility was included as a second independent variable. Plasma inorganic phosphorus concentration was significantly related to phosphorus intake (P < 0.05) but the relationship varied (P < 0.05) depending on the time of day at which samples were collected.
Losses from cattle faeces during chemical analysis
Authors: Falvey L , Woolley A
Published: March 2005

The effects of drying temperature and method of sample digestion on the determination of nitrogen and dry matter in the faeces of cattle grazing pastures of two different nitrogen contents were examined. Nitrogen loss varied from 8 to 20 per cent depending on the temperatures and associated length of drying time. The variation in the loss between samples from animals grazing the two pastures was small, tending to be higher for the samples taken from animals grazing a higher nitrogen pasture. Sample digestion by the H2SO4-H2O2 method was found to be as satisfactory as the micro-Kjeldahl method. Drying at 100�C for 24 hours gave the least loss of nitrogen. This procedure in conjunction with the H2SO4-H2O2 , digestion is proposed as a routine method for determination of nitrogen in faecal material.
Control of vegetative and reproductive growth in sand burr (Cenchrus longispinus)
Authors: Twentyman JD
Published: March 2005

Seeds and seedlings of the annual weed sand burr (Cenchrus longispinus) were introduced into undisturbed vegetation and fallowed soil in north-western Victoria. Survival and growth of the sand burr plants was significantly reduced on areas with a high density of skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncea), and on soils of heavy texture. The results suggest that sand burr will be confined to the margins of sand dunes and other places where the soil surface is sandy and relatively free of skeleton weed. Natural populations of sand burr produced sufficient dormant seeds in the stubble after cereal crops to enable the plant to persist through several years of ley pasture. Harbinger medic (Medicago littoralis) and lucerne (M. sativa) were sown under the cereal at two sites in 1971 to control sand burr seeding. Harbinger medic reduced sand burr density in the stubble at one site, but did not reduce seed production. Lucerne sown at 3.8 kg ha-1 or above reduced the number of dormant seeds formed in the stubble at the two sites. In the second year of pasture, the suppression of sand burr was independent of lucerne sowing rate.
Identification of Australian wheat cultivars by laboratory procedures: grain samples containing a mixture of cultivars
Authors: Wrigley CW , Baxter RI
Published: March 2005

Electrophoretic analysis and the phenol test are effective for varietal identification of a whea sample containing a mixture of cultivars. Examination of a wheatmeal sample can provide some information, but checking of individual grains is generally needed. Particularly effective is preliminary screening of many grains by the phenol test, followed by electrophoretic analysis of particular grains. Grain texture (vitreosity) can provide further information. Procedures are recommended for evaluating the statistical significance of identifying a limited number of grains. Application of the tests to all Australian wheat classes for the1972-73 harvest demonstrates the practical value of the methods. The results suggest that segregation according to cultivar was reasonably successful in that harvest.
Diagnostic leaf analysis for stone fruit. 3. Nutritional status of peach orchards
Authors: Leece DR , Barkus B
Published: March 2005

A three-year survey of the leaf composition of well-managed peach orchards was conducted in New South Wales each January from 1971 to 1973. Of the canning peach orchards surveyed, 47 per cent were deficient or low in nitrogen, 20 per cent were high in potassium, 12 per cent were low in manganese and 6 per cent were high in boron. This represented a considerable improvement over a similar survey in 1966 when comparable figures were nitrogen 83, potassium 84, manganese 33, and boron 34. Of the dessert peach orchards surveyed, 37 per cent were deficient or low in nitrogen, 36 per cent were low in potassium and 32 per cent were low in iron. A few orchards were low in manganese and zinc.
Regulating Valencia orange crops with CEPA (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid) - preliminary studies
Authors: GallaschP T
Published: March 2005

The effects of chemicals on fruitlet thinning of Valencia oranges were studied in two experiments at Loxton, South Australia. In the first experiment 50 p.p.m. 245T, 2000 p.p.m. N.A.A. and 250 or 1000 p.p.m. CEPA all caused significant thinning but 245T had phytotoxic effects. In the second experiment with several concentrations of CEPA, both 524 and 1048 p.p.m. caused significant leaf and fruitlet drop, whereas 262 p.p.m. caused a significant reduction of 55 per cent in mature fruit yield without any significant leaf fall.
Consumption of pluronics administered in drinking water and roller drums to grazing beef cattle
Authors: Langlands JP , Holmes CR
Published: March 2005

Variability between grazing beef cattle in pluronic consumption from a roller drum was estimated on three occasions using tritiated water as a marker, and was � 58, � 66 and � 77 per cent when expressed as a coefficient of variation. Corresponding values when pluronic was given as a discrete dose in drinking water were � 53, � 67 and � 38 per cent; these values are increased when the number of troughfulls consumed daily increases and when inadequate mixing of water and pluronic occurs whiie the trough is refilling. Daily water consumption averaged 20.8 litres day-1 animal-1 and was not affected by the inclusion of pluronic in the water but was increased when animals had access to roller drums containing molasses. Diurnal variability in ruminal pluronic concentration was monitored using 51Cr-EDTA as a marker. Variability was large with both methods of pluronic administration, and was related to drinking behaviour. Estimates of the half-life of the pluronic in the rumen were obtained, and were used to predict diurnal variability in ruminal pluronic concentration for varying frequencies, intensities and intervals of pluronic consumption.
Flowering and seed formation of Stylosanthes humilis as influenced by time of sowing
Authors: Skerman RH , Humphreys LR
Published: March 2005

Sowings of a Greenvale line of Stylosanthes humilis were made at intervals of about 14 days from December 26 to April 19 on the Queensland Darling Downs and irrigated. Days from sowing to flowering and node number at flowering decreased in late summer sowings but March and April sowings did not flower before frost killing in May. Inflorescence number was positively related to earliness of sowing, but the pattern of relative increase in inflorescence number with time was similar for all flowering treatments. The rate of inflorescence appearance was not well related to screen temperature 1.5 m above ground, but quadratic functions are reported relating floret number per spike to mean temperature, floret maturity to maximum temperature, and floret abortion and seed number per spike to mean night temperature. It is suggested that seed formation ceases at 12�C mean night temperature or 9�C minimum temperature.
Influence of temperature and daylength on phenology on sunflowers in the field
Authors: Doyle AD
Published: March 2005

Phenological development of a range of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) cultivars was studied for a series of planting dates at Tamworth, New South Wales. The effects of extended photoperiod on development were also examined. As constant photoperiod was increased from 15 to 21 hours, time from sowing to first anther increased by nine to twelve days. Natural photoperiod for winter and summer planting gave times similar to that for constant 18 hour photoperiod. Days from sowing to first anther decreased substantially with later planting from June to November, but increased again for a February planting. Use of a growing degree day summation with a base of 1�C (GDD1) enabled time from sowing to first anther to be predicted with precision over a wide range of temperatures within and between years. A GDD1 summation of 1245 was found for the early cultivar, Voronezskij, and of 1380 for the mid season cultivar, Stepniak.
Studies in ovine infertility in agricultural regions in Western Australia: analysis of reproductive wastage
Authors: Knight TW , Oldham CM , Smith JF , Lindsay DR
Published: March 2005

Data on reproductive losses in 55 flocks involving 25,571 ewes in south Western Australia are presented. The important source of reproductive wastage was that associated with ewes that mated but failed to lamb. The magnitude of the loss (28-30 per cent) did not vary significantly among flocks joined at different times of the breeding season (November-March), or between maiden and older ewes. Losses from birth to tailing were only about 50 per cent of those associated with dry ewes. Failure to mate was not a major source of loss. Two methods of detecting dry ewes were assessed, the doppler technique and the use of vasectomised rams after fertile mating. The accuracy of detection was 82-88 per cent for the doppler technique and 90 per cent for the vasectomised rams. It was concluded that the use of vasectomised rams is the cheaper and more efficient technique.
Detection of embryonic death and observations on resorption and subsequent fertility in the ewe
Authors: Sawyer GF , Knight TW
Published: March 2005

Embryos were killed by injection of colchicine into the uterus of ewes 20, 25 and 30 days pregnant. The ewes returned to service 15.0 � 3.5 days later (range 6.0 to 32.0 days). The presence of debris and additional fluid on vaginal swabs indicated loss of an embryo, but the interval from induced embryo death until the next oestrus was too variable for accurate determination of the time of embryo death. Much of the embryo debris passed into the vagina within the first four days after embryo death. The bacterial, leucocyte and polymorphonucleocyte populations increased in vaginal smears taken from ewes resorbing an embryo, in marked contrast with smears taken from pregnant and non-pregnant ewes. Artificial insemination of normal oestrous ewes and ewes in oestrus subsequent to embryo death, showed that fertility at the oestrus following embryo death is significantly reduced.
Bacterial leaf and stem spot (Xanthomonas alfalfae) of lucerne in Queensland
Authors: Moffett ML , Irwin JAG
Published: March 2005

A bacterial leaf and stem spot of lucerne (Medicago sativa cv. Hunter River) was recorded from four districts in Queensland. The pathogen was identified as Xanthomonas alfalfae but comparative pathogenicity tests with X. phaseoli, showed that X. alfalfae would be more correctly placed as a forma specialis of X. phaseoli. The susceptibility of sixteen cultivars and lines of lucerne were considered, and four cultivars, Hunter River, Moapa, Siro Peruvian and Paravivo exhibited a degree of resistance to the disease. This is the first recording of X. alfalfae in Australia.
Seasonal trends and variability of soil moisture under temperate pasture on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales
Authors: Smith RCG , Johns GG
Published: March 2005

A water balance model predicting changes in soil moisture under temperate pasture at Armidale, New South Wales was developed and tested against soil moisture measurements made from 1967 to 1969. The model accounted for 96 per cent of the variance in observed soil moisture. The model was then used to predict the expected pattern of soil moisture for this area using daily Armidale rainfall data from 1878 to 1973 and pan evaporation data from 1951 to 1970. Expected soil moisture levels rise to a maximum in late winter and then progressively decline to a minimum in mid summer. Levels may increase again slightly during late summer but remain low through autumn before beginning to rise again during winter. On the basis of this analysis it is suggested that the safest time to establish new plant species into temperate pasture is probably early winter when expected soil moisture begins to rise rapidly. Because of the autumn deficiency in soil moisture it was concluded that fodder oats grown in this period would often be inhibited by a lack of soil moisture unless preceded by a fallow to conserve late summer rainfall. The need for soil moisture data in interpreting and extrapolating from field experiments is stressed.
Effect of daylength and temperature on introduced legumes and grasses for the tropics and subtropics of coastal Australia. 2. N-concentration, estimated digestibility and leafiness
Authors: t Mannetje L
Published: March 2005

Twelve legumes and eight grasses were grown from seed in controlled environment rooms at 14 hours daylength and daylnight temperatures of 32�/24�C. After 35 days the plants were cut and the following regimes were imposed-I : 14 hours, 32�/24�C ; 2 : 14 hours, 26�/15�C ; 3 : 11 hours, 26�/15�C; 4: 11 hours, 20�/6�C. Regimes 1 and 4 represent approximate summer and winter conditions in coastal Queensland, excluding frosts. A complete nutrient application, except nitrogen, was made to the legumes. Three regrowth harvests were obtained at 28 day intervals. There were few differences between primary growth and regrowth in N-concentration and estimated dry matter digestibility (DMD) of whole plant tops. The N-concentration and DMD of regrowth of all grasses increased as the conditions became less tropical. The legumes had a varied response, but there was little regime effect on N and DMD in Trifolium repens and T. semipilosum. Many of the tropical legumes made little or no regrowth in regime 4, but differences in N and DMD were small and inconsistent between other regimes. The legumes showed a general trend towards increased leafiness as conditions became less tropical, but in the grasses there was no consistent response, although nearly all had a higher percentage leaves in regime 4 than in 1. N concentration of the leaves of all legumes and of most grasses was higher than that of stems, but DMD of stems was higher than that of leaves in T. repens, T. semipilosum and Pennisetum clandestinum. N concentration of legume leaves was little affected by regime, but that of grasses was much higher in regime 4 than in the others. Stems of legumes showed a varied response in N and DMD, as did DMD of grass stems, but the latter generally tended to increase in N with decreasing temperature and daylength. N-concentration and DMD of the grasses had a negative linear correlation with DM yield, and most grasses a positive linear correlation between DMD and N-concentration. Of the legumes only M. sativa and Pueraria phaseoloides had a negative linear relation between DMD and DM yield and M. sativa a positive linear relation between DMD and N.
Studies of flock mating of sheep. 6. Influence of age, hormone treatment, shearing and diet on the libido of Merino rams
Authors: Mattner PE , Braden AWH
Published: March 2005

Libido, as assessed from the number of services performed in a series of pen libido tests, was not significantly increased in 2 1/2 -3-year-old Merino rams by shearing, by testosterone treatment (3-1 0 mg day-1 for 15 days or 50 mg day-1 for 18 days), by Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (500 i.u. day-1 for 18 days) or a high protein diet fed for 5 1/2 weeks. In contrast, undernutrition, which led to a bodyweight loss of 0.5-0.6 kg per week, caused a decline in libido within five weeks. Injections of p-chlorophenylalanine (0.5-1 g day-1 for seven days) did not induce sexual activity in two 2-year-old rams that had shown no sexual interest in oestrous ewes in a series of tests during the previous seven months. In each of two groups of rams (n = 27; n = 30), the libido of a ram relative to that of his contemporaries changed very little over long periods (up to two years). Mating dexterity, as assessed from the ratio of mounts to services, was more variable. The behaviour and mating performance of individual rams within 11 pairs of rams joined (in the same combinations) with flocks of ewes in two successive years was investigated. In 4 of 9 pairs in which the dominance order was clearly defined in both years, the order was reversed between years. However, there was little change between years in either the relative service activity or the number of ewes marked by an individual ram relative to the total number of ewes marked.
Studies in the nodulation of Kenya white clover (Trifolium semipilosum) under field conditions in south-east Queensland
Authors: Jones RM , Date RA
Published: March 2005

The nodulation of Kenya white clover (Trifolium semipilosum) was examined under field conditions to evaluate reported establishment problems attributed to poor nodulation. Two isolates of Rhizobium identified as strain CB782 were obtained from nodules of T. semipilosum located in separate field sowings each of which was considered an establishment failure but which had recovered to healthy stands at the time of sampling. The two isolates were compared with a laboratory maintained culture of CB782 for nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Both isolates and the original strain were equally effective in N-fixation and all three increased plant dry weight, per cent plants with effective (pink) nodules and amount of nitrogen fixed compared with an uninoculated control. Increasing the level of seed application of inoculum up to the normal rate increased effective nodulation, but excess inoculum levels resulted only in greater numbers of smaller effective (pink) nodules without any increase in nodule dry weight. High inoculum levels decreased the number of white and green nodules compared with the control. Over 50 per cent effective nodulation was obtained with less than 50 Rhizobium seed-1 at sowing. Serological identification and effectiveness tests of strains in nodules confirmed that most white and green nodules on T. semipilosum resulted from infection by naturally occurring white clover rhizobia. These were ineffective in nitrogen fixation with T. semipilosum but fully effective on T. repens. Serological typing of nodules also indicated that normal levels of inoculation resulted in more than 80 per cent of nodules being formed by the specific inoculum strain. We conclude that field sowings of T. semipilosum can be effectively nodulated by the specific inoculum strain CB782 which is both effective and persistent under south-east Queensland conditions. We suggest that most reported nitrogen deficiency symptoms of establishing T. semipilosum are due to infection by Rugose Leaf Curl Virus.
Sources of variation in the resistance of subterranean clover to clover scorch (Kabatiella caulivora) in the field
Authors: Chatel DL , Francis CM
Published: March 2005

The resistance of 307 varieties of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) to the clover scorch disease pathogen was assessed in three locations in south west Australia. Disease intensity as measured by visual ratings of sward damage was found to vary with variety and location. Resistance was independent of subspecies groupings but dependent on country of origin. Spanish and Portugese varieties were generally less susceptible than North African selections. Disease severity was also related to plant characters by correlation and multiple regression analysis. Late maturing varieties were most resistant under the test conditions and rapidly growing earlier varieties, with large pale leaves and thick petioles, were least resistant.
Evaluation of chlorpyrifos and fenchlorphos for control of major insect pests of pastures in Australia
Authors: MacQuillan MJ
Published: March 2005

In field experiments sprays of chlorpyrifos and fenchlorphos were compared with standard recommendations for control of five pasture pests. Field experiments were done on Halotydeus destructor (Tucker) in New South Wales and Victoria in 1970, Sminthurus viridis (L.) in South Australia in 1970, Aphodius tasmaniae Hope in South Australia in 1970 and 1971 and Oncopera rufobrunnea Tindale and O. alboguttata Tindale in New South Wales in 1970. Against H. destructor, chlorphyrifos at 35 g ha-1 in one experiment, and at 70 g ha-1 in another, was as effective as the standard phosmet treatment. Fenchlorphos at 210 g ha-1 reduced H. destructor in both experiments less effectively than phosmet. Chlorpyrifos at 17.5 g ha-1 controlled S. viridis as effectively as phosmet. A. tasmaniae larvae were controlled by chlorpyrifos at 420 g ha-1 as effectively as the standard lindane treatment. Fenchlorphos at 630 g ha-1 did not reduce A. tasmaniae larvae numbers below that of the control. Chlorpyrifos at 21 0 g ha-1 and fenchlorphos at 140 g ha-1 controlled O. rufobrunnea and O. alboguttata larvae as effectively as the standard chlorfenvinphos treatment.
Grain yield and flowering of some introduced grain legumes in South Australia
Authors: Silsbury JH
Published: March 2005

Data are presented for time of flowering, total shoot dry weight and grain yield of White Brunswick pea (Pisum sativum), six introduced peas and one introduction each of Lathyrus sativus and Lathyrus cicera from ten plot experiments conducted in South Australia over the period 1955-1 960.None of the introduced legumes flowered earlier than White Brunswick peas and only one, possibly, has a greater capacity for higher grain yield. L. cicera on the other hand gave 25 per cent greater yield over all sites and seasons with an average of 2.84 tonne ha-1.The ratio between grain yield and total shoot dry weight varied with genotype and between seasons with a genotype. A low ratio was not always associated with low dry matter production.
Chemical weed control in young peach trees
Authors: Koffmann K , Kaldor J
Published: March 2005

The effects of five residual herbicides and two mixtures of herbicides on tree and weed growth were studied in two trials over two consecutive seasons in a young peach orchard at Bathurst, New South Wales. In the first trial, dichlobenil at 4.5 and 9.0 kg ha-1 increased tree growth and suppressed weeds, but the residual effects of the low rate were short; simazine (2.2 kg ha-1), trifluralin (2.2 kg ha-1) and simazine (1 1 kg ha-1) plus trifluralin (1.1 kg ha-1) also reduced weed incidence but did not improve tree growth. In the second trial, terbacil (2.2 kg ha-1) and mixtures of diuron (1.1 kg ha-1) and terbacil at 1.1 or 2.2 kg ha-1 effectively controlled weeds, giving faster tree growth. Terbacil (1.1 kg ha-1) and diuron (1.1 kg ha-1) suppressed broadleaf but not grass weeds. Terbacil (1.1 kg ha-1) improved tree growth only in the second season; diuron (1.1 kg ha-1) did not affect tree growth. None of the peach trees displayed toxic symptoms. The main weeds present in the trial site were: Amaranthus powellii, Chenopodium album, Polygonum aviculare, Lepidium hyssopifolum, Lactuca serriola, Rumex acetosella, Sonchus oleraceus, Plantago lanceolata, Cynodon dactylon, Bromus sp, and Eragrostis sp.
Molasses in early-weaning rations for calves
Authors: Leibholz J
Published: March 2005

An experiment was conducted with 50 male, Friesian calves from 2 to 11 weeks of age. There were two basal diets, one containing meat meal and the other containing meat meal and urea as protein supplements to concentrate diets. The diets were fed with and without the addition of 5 per cent dried molasses. The addition of molasses to the diets increased the feed intake of both diets by 11 to 16 per cent. This resulted in increased weight gains of calves and increased nitrogen retention. The digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen was not affected.
Comparison of some Stylosanthes species in the dry tropics of Queensland
Authors: Edye LA , Field JB , Cameron DF
Published: March 2005

Fifteen accessions, comprising Stylosanthes guyanensis (1 ), ., hamata (5), S. humilis (2), S. subsericea (5) and interspecific hybrids (2), were compared when grown in swards with the grass Urochloa mosambicensis at three sites in the dry tropics of Queensland with an average growing season ranging from 11.5 to 22.0 weeks per annum. The swards were harvested at 6-weekly intervals during the growing season at a height of 7.6 cm. Over the three years of the trial, S. hamata CPI 38842 (cv. Verano) was superior in dry matter yield over all sites to the other accessions, including the two S. humilis cultivars cv. Paterson and cv. Lawson. Nodulation problems prevented an adequate comparison of four other S, hamata accessions except at 'Fanning River', where CPI 40264A and 40268 nodulated effectively and were as productive as cv. Verano. All S. hamata accessions perennated but gave lower pod yields and seedling regeneration than S. humilis cultivars. In vitro digestibility of the S. hamata accessions was lower than S. humilis in May but higher in September. Although S. subsericea accessions nodulated readily at all sites, their performance was site-sensitive and all but one accession failed to perennate.