bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Field peas (Pisum sativum) as a feed for growing and finishing pigs. 1. Nutrient levels in commercial crops
Authors: Davies RL
Published: March 2005

Ninety-one samples of field peas (Pisum sativum, cv. Early Dun) were taken from commercial crops grown in South Australia. Crude protein (N x 6 25) ranged from 2 1 .3 to 26.2% (92% dry matter basis) with mean 23.8 and standard deviation 0.8%. Seed mass was a poor indicator of protein level. Changes in the amino acid profile which accompanied changes in crude protein level appeared to be of only minor nutritional significance. The mean gross energy level was 16.8 � 0.1 MJ/kg; an indirect estimate suggested a digestible energy level for pigs of around 14 MJ/kg. Deficiencies in calcium and phosphorus for the growing pig were confirmed and it is suggested that selenium deficiency could occur on grain and pea diets in which both ingredients had been grown on soils deficient in selenium.
Effects of row spacing and plant population on sweet sorghum yield
Authors: Martin PM , Kelleher FM
Published: March 2005

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) was grown in an irrigated field trial at Richmond, New South Wales, to determine the effects of row spacing (30, 75, and 105 cm) and plant population (8 and 16 plants/m2) on yields of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and dry matter. For both plant populations, narrow row spacing resulted in significantly greater dry matter and WSC yield, especially at seed maturity. Total dry matter and WSC yield also increased with increased plant population from 8 to 16 plants/m2. Much of the WSC yield advantage of reduced row spacing was attributed to greater photosynthetic productivity before anthesis, which resulted in higher WSC yield at anthesis and the production of taller, thicker stems, the volume of which was closely related to post-anthesis WSC accumulation
Effects of temperature and moisture stress on germination and seedling growth of four tropical species
Authors: Hughes RM , Colman RL , Lovett JV
Published: March 2005

Two controlled environment experiments and one field experiment were conducted to study the effects of temperature and moisture stress on germination, emergence and seedling growth of Zea mays, Echinochloa utilis, E. frumentacea and Pennisetum americanum. When night/day temperatures ranging from 5/10�C to 25/30�C were imposed, none of the species germinated at 5/10�C within 14 d. At 10/15�C or above, at least 50% of seed of all species germinated in 14 d although germination of P. americanum was more depressed by 10/15�C than the other three species. In the second experiment, seed were exposed to a range of osmotic potentials (0 to - 1.5 MPa) at night/day temperatures of 10/15, 15/20 and 20/25�C. Decreasing osmotic potentials had only small effects on germination at 15/20 or 20/25�C but had marked effects on all species at 10/15�C. The field experiment treatments comprised a number of sowing dates and irrigation treatments to give a range of soil temperatures and moisture potentials. Considerable differences between Z. mays and the other three species were recorded; more Z. mays seedlings emerged and their weights and root lengths three weeks after sowing were greater than those of the other three species by a factor of 10. Reasons for these differences ire discussed.
Genetic improvement of drought survival ability in Phalaris aquatica L
Authors: Oram RN , Freebairn RD
Published: March 2005

The cultivars, Sirocco and Sirolan (or its predecessors) were found to be more persistent than Seedmaster or Australian under drought conditions on the South West and Central West Slopes of New South Wales (NSW). Survival of five cultivars and 150 half sib families through a severe drought at Temora was negatively correlated with the level of regrowth activity of the underground buds after summer rainfall (r = -0.25, P < 0.01). The families from which the parents of Sirolan were selected were as drought hardy as Sirocco, but regenerated more actively after summer rain. Reduced summer dormancy appeared to be advantageous for the establishment of PX 17 U, a predecessor population four generations removed from the 32 plants which produce breeders' seed of Sirolan, relative to that of Sirocco, when both were sown under a cover crop of wheat near Stockinbingal, NSW. In the second winter, the plants of the breeding population were larger and more frequent than those of Sirocco, apparently because they regenerated more actively in late summer and hence competed more successfully against the resident annual ryegrass population. These differences were still apparent four years later. Sirocco and Sirolan also persisted better than Sirosa and Australian phalaris and cultivars of tall fescue and cocksfoot through the 1980-81 droughts near Mendooran and Binnaway, NSW. Under favourable conditions near Canberra, Sirocco, El Golea, Sirolan and Sirosa were more productive during autumn and winter than Seedmaster. Sirocco and Sirolan appear to have somewhat different drought-escaping mechanisms, and the effectiveness of these systems for ensuring survival under different drought conditions is discussed.
Wheat and ryegrass competition for pulses of mineral nitrogen
Authors: Forcella F
Published: March 2005

The ability of wheat to compete with annual ryegrass for pulses of extra nitrogen was examined by replacement series competition experiments. Nitrogen pulses were added to wheat and ryegrass monocultures and mixtures when wheat was at one of the following growth stages: first true leaf, two leaf, three leaf, four leaf and six leaf. Wheat competed effectively with ryegrass in terms of biomass accumulation if nitrogen was supplied before the three leaf stage. However, at the three to four leaf stage, wheat lost its ability to use mineral nitrogen effectively, while ryegrass maintained this ability at these same times. Thus, if mixtures of wheat and ryegrass are not supplied with adequate nitrogen in early phases of crop growth, ryegrass may predominate.
Changes in growth and development in cotton associated with genes for frego bract and glabrous leaf
Authors: Reid PE , Thomson NJ
Published: March 2005

Changes to cotton morphology and phenology associated with the frego bract and glabrous leaf genes (singly and combined) were measured in a field experiment using four near isogenic lines. Factorial analysis showed that frego bract was associated with more changes than glabrous leaf and that there were few significant interactions. Frego bract plants were 7% taller than normal bract plants at maturity, exhibited a delay in fruit production, had a greater proportion of fruit on sympodia of monopodial branches, shed more squares and had a lower proportion of reproductive to nonreproductive tissue. Glabrous-leafed plants produced fruit slightly later than hairy-leafed plants and had a lower proportion of reproductive to non-reproductive tissue. Overall, the growth of frego bract and glabrous-leafed plants was not sufficiently different from that of normal plants to warrant changes to the simple fruit model in the commercially available SIRATAC pest management program.
Selection of soybean cultivar and sowing date as a strategy for avoidance of rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd.) losses in coastal New South Wales
Authors: Desborough PJ
Published: March 2005

Critical outbreaks of rust on soybeans in coastal New South Wales may occur erratically from year to year, and are most likely to cause defoliation in the latter part of the season. Selection of cultivar and sowing date was investigated as a means of reducing rust losses. Seasonal effects on agronomic and phenological performance were determined for five susceptible soybean cultivars (Ruse, Forrest, Bragg, Ransom and Fitzroy), sown early or late in each of three seasons, with fungicide applications to control rust on half the plots. In unsprayed treatments, rust infestation occurred late in two seasons but reduced yield in only one season, and only in the latest maturing cultivar, Fitzroy, for which yield at both sowing dates was reduced by an average of 19.4%. Seed size was smaller in the sprayed plants of all cultivars in the one season when rust was detected. Rusting had no effect on time to pod maturity in any cultivar. In two seasons, cultivar x sowing date yield responses could be related to the severity and timing of moisture stress. Later sowing dates produced yields greater than or equivalent to those of early dates when significant moisture stress occurred before mid-February. Seed size was affected by sowing date but the differences were not consistent with yield response. Averaged over the three seasons, later sowings (late December-early January) led to higher yields in the absence of rust, but late maturing cultivars (later than Bragg) would be required to ensure that mature plant heights were adequate to reduce harvesting losses. The merits and problems of resistant cultivars are discussed and it is concluded that, in an environment where rust and moisture stress occur intermittently, selection of adapted later maturing cultivars and later sowing dates, appropriate to the locality, is the best short term strategy.
Feeding hay-based diets deficient in protein to dairy cows during early lactation
Authors: Bartsch BD , Wickes RB
Published: March 2005

In two experiments, 87 Friesian cows were fed diets of moderate (141%), moderate-low (117%), or low protein content (9.2%) for the first 12 weeks of lactation. These diets contained 5 kg dry matter (DM)/cow.d of either rolled lupins, a 1:1 mixture of rolled lupins and rolled barley, or rolled barley together with cereal hay ad libitum. During weeks 13-24 of lactation, all cows were fed 2 5 kg DM/cow.d of rolled barley as a supplement to cereal hay ad libitum in experiment 1, and pasture ad libitum in experiment 2. All cows were fed cereal hay or hay plus grain during weeks 25-36 of the experiments. Mean estimated intakes of hay DM during the first 12 weeks of lactation were 14.6, 14.8 and 11.9 kg/cow.d in experiment 1, and 15.7, 14.8 and 12.8 kg/cow.d in experiment 2, for cows fed diets of moderate, moderate-low, and low protein content, respectively. Significant differences ( P < 0.05) in liveweight were recorded during the first 12 weeks of lactation. Liveweight differences between groups were evident for a larger part of the lactation in experiment 1 than in experiment 2. The mean daily yields of milk during the first 12 weeks of lactation in both experiments were higher (P<0.00 1) for cows fed diets of moderate (21.9 and 23.5 litres) or moderate-low (20.7 and 22.1 litres) protein content than those of cows fed diets of low protein content (1 6.4 and 15 5 litres). Milk yields for weeks 13-24 and 25-36 did not differ (P> 0.05) between treatment groups in either experiment; milk composition did not differ (P>0.05) between treatment groups in any 12-week period in experiment 1 or 2. Cows fed low protein diets were less efficient in the use of feed or body reserves for milk production than cows fed diets of moderate or moderate-low protein content. Economic data indicate that it is currently profitable to ensure that the protein content of hay-grain diets fed during early lactation is at least 14% of DM irrespective of likely feeding regime over the remainder of the lactation.
Short-term nitrogen balance in urine-treated areas of pasture on a yellow earth in the subhumid tropics of Queensland
Authors: Vallis I , Gardener CJ
Published: March 2005

The recovery of nitrogen from cattle urine applied to a legume-grass pasture on a yellow earth at Lansdown Pasture Research Station in north-eastern Queensland was measured over periods of 8-28 d in March, July/August and October/November. Urea labelled with 15N was used as a tracer for urine nitrogen. The weather in all three experiments was dry; cumulative evaporation from an open pan was 6-25 times rainfall. The total apparent loss of 15N from the soil-plant system was 18% after 8 d in March, 32% after 28 d in July/August, and 16% after 28 d in October/November. Losses of 15N were most rapid during the first 1-2 d after application. Most of the recovered 15N was in the soil. Plant components contained only 13.5% of the applied 15N in March, 2.3% in August and 3.8% in November. Further, most of the 15N in the soil was present as mineral nitrogen, mostly exchangeable ammonium. The proportions of soil 15N in this form were 0.65 in March, 0.85 in August, and 0.83 in November. Wetting the soil resulted in poorer recovery. Thus, a single application of 50 mm of water before urine application in July increased the apparent loss of 15N after 28 d from 32 to 44%. A daily application of 5 mm water after urine application increased the loss to 50%. Apparent loss in unwatered plots where all herbage and litter had been removed was 47%.
Application and appraisal of a visual estimation technique for composition and yield sampling of grass-legume pastures in the wet tropics of north-eastern Australia
Authors: O'Rourke PK , McCosker TH , Teitzel JK , Stephenson HP , Wilson RJ
Published: March 2005

A visual estimation technique (SVET) was applied to assess the yield and botanical composition of the rapidly growing, highly seasonal and morphologically diverse pastures of the wet tropics. The technique uses the comparative yield method for total dry matter yield, and the framework of the dry-weight-ranking procedure for botanical composition. Widespread use of cumulative ranking and divided ranking gave a close numerical description of each quadrat. Methods of visual estimation based on dry-weight ranking were evaluated for pastures dominated by sown grass and including a sown legume as a minor but important component. Although the usual dry weight ranking method showed large departures from the known composition, SVET was able to assess the pastures with small overall departures from results obtained by hand-sorting. The full theoretical potential of SVET could not be attained in the field, where ranks had to be estimated. Nevertheless, with sufficient quadrats and trained operators, SVET can assess composition and yield of these tropical pastures with acceptable precision. The relationship between total yield and visual rating was linear but the regression equation for data quadrats departed from its corresponding calibration equation in either slope or coincidence in 11 of 34 cases.
Herbage production and seed yield of defoliated subterranean clover swards in a cool temperate environment
Authors: Dear BS , Loveland B
Published: March 2005

Seasonal growth patterns were determined for defoliated swards of three mid-season subterranean clover cultivars (Seaton Park, Woogenellup and Mount Barker) and one early-flowering cultivar (Nungarin) established at three times of the year (early March, mid-April, late May) in a cool tableland environment. The time of sowing significantly affected the autumn, winter, spring, and total herbage production of all cultivars. Swards sown in early March showed an autumn and spring peak in herbage with a depression in winter. Swards sown in mid-April or late May produced very little herbage in autumn and winter. Total herbage production ranged from 10.3 t/ha from a mid-season cultivar sown in early March to 3 . 2 t/ha from an early maturing cultivar sown in late May. Total herbage production of the mid-season cultivars was not related to maturity rating. However, the early maturing cultivar, Nungarin, produced considerably (46-65%) less herbage than the mid-season cultivars. Its productivity was also the most sensitive to a delayed start to the growing season. The interval between sowing and flowering was shortened by later sowing, later maturing cultivars showing the greatest decrease. Seed yields ranged from 290 kg/ha for a Mount Barker sward (sown in late May) to 1203 kg/ha for a Seaton Park sward. On average, Seaton Park and Nungarin produced the highest seed yields, a result of setting more seed but not larger seed. Woogenellup set significantly larger seed than the other cultivars. Earlier maturing cultivars had the highest seed yields and appeared relatively insensitive to low temperatures during flowering. It was concluded that the use of early maturing cultivars in this environment could substantially reduce potential pasture production. Seaton Park was considered to be the most suitable cultivar, combining a high seed yield with good herbage production.
Crop and pasture rotations at Coonalpyn, South Australia: effects on soil-borne diseases, soil nitrogen and cereal production
Authors: King PM
Published: March 2005

A crop rotation experiment was conducted at Coonalpyn, South Australia from 1976 to 1979 on a deep, red duplex soil. The experiment compared the productivity of grain legumes and of volunteer and sown annual pastures, and assessed their effects on the mineral nitrogen supply for subsequent wheat and barley crops, and their capabilities for preventing the root diseases of wheat cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae), bare patch (Rhizoctonia solani) and Haydie (Gaeumannomyces graminis). Satisfactory legume dominance of the annual pastures was achieved only in 1979, while the grain legumes grew well and produced more dry matter than the pastures in each season. Wheat and barley yields averaged (1977- 1979) 2.0 t/ha after volunteer and sown pastures, and 2.8 t/ha after grain legumes, with the greatest response in 1979. In that year, wheat produced 11 kg grain/mm of growing season rainfall after grain legumes, but only 6 kg after pastures. The numbers of lesions on the nodal roots caused by R. solani and on the seminal roots by G. graminis varied with the season but both were less after grain legumes than after pasture. Gaeumannomyces graminis had the greatest effect on grain yield and, with soil nitrate at seeding, explained up to 68% of the variation in yield in 1979.
Prediction of the responsiveness to phosphorus of annual non-irrigated pasture in northern Victoria
Authors: Jones HR , Maling IR , Curnow BC
Published: March 2005

Field experiments at 43 sites in the Bendigo district of northern Victoria were used to examine the responsiveness of annual non-irrigated pastures to phosphorus application. Of a large range of soil and environmental factors studied, the Olsen soil test (bicarbonate extraction) for phosphorus was the only one that was correlated with pasture response to phosphorus. The relationship for the sum of winter and spring production was: responsiveness b = 0. 12 + 0.73exp(- 0.25 Olsen P); 1 00R2 = 53.6, P< 0.01. Recommendations for the amount of superphosphate to apply to pastures in the Bendigo district are now based on the above relationship, which has been incorporated into a biological model to which economic criteria are applied.
Effects of method and timing of nitrogen fertilizer application on irrigated maize growth and nutrient distribution in soil
Authors: Bacon PE , Thompson JA
Published: March 2005

The growth and nitrogen uptake of a maize crop (Zea mays) were studied under furrow irrigation on a red-brown earth soil. Plots receiving 120 kg N/ha as urea at sowing were compared with unfertilized plots and with plots receiving the same amount of nitrogen, as urea or aqua ammonia, added to water during three irrigations: in the first or last 2 h of three 6-h irrigations (at 20 kg N/ha.h), or continuously during three 6-h irrigations (6.7 kg N1ha.h). Dry matter accumulation and nitrogen uptake measurements made 21,36,49,84 and 150 d after emergence all revealed a consistent pattern of results. The same pattern was also evident in grain yield. Urea-fertilized plots gave higher yields (mean of the three application methods = 3.2 t/ha) than ammonia-fertilized plots (1 .8 t/ha). Application early in the irrigation was superior to application throughout irrigation (3 .2 and 2 .5 t/ha, respectively), while plots receiving nitrogen late in the irrigation gave the lowest yield (1 .8 t/ha). There was no significant (P< 0.05) difference between yield from plots receiving urea early in irrigation and that from those receiving urea at sowing. Soil nitrate-nitrogen concentrations below the hills were higher for urea treatments, suggesting greater penetration of the urea solution. In the ammonia treatments, a much higher concentration of ammonium-nitrogen was found immediately under the furrow than under the furrows of urea-fertilized plots, confirming the relatively restricted movement of ammonia into the soil. Ammonia concentration of the irrigation water fell by up to 32% over a 90 m length of furrow. This loss was ascribed to volatilization. Urea was superior to ammonia largely because it minimized mineral nitrogen retention near the soil surface and because it was not susceptible to volatilization losses. Fertilizer application early in the irrigation, during the period of high infiltration, resulted in lower retention of mineral nitrogen close to the furrow surface and away from the root zone. It also reduced the proportion of nutrient solution lost to the drainage system.
Control of annual grasses in pasture and legume crops with fluazifop-butyl
Authors: Venn NR
Published: March 2005

Fluazifop-butyl gave excellent control of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) and barley grass (Hordeum glaucum) in field peas (Pisum sativum), sown snail medic (Medicago scutellata) and regenerated annual medic-grass pasture at 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 kg/ha, respectively. This effect was most pronounced in areas planted by direct drilling because this seeding technique accentuated the build-up of ryegrass and barley grass. Grain yields of wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Condor) were higher when sown into areas of annual medic-grass pasture sprayed with fluazifop-butyl in the year preceding the wheat crop.
Reproductive performance of Merino ewes supplemented with sweet lupin seed in southern Western Australia
Authors: Croker KP , Johns MA , Johnson TJ
Published: March 2005

The effect of supplementation of mature Merino ewes, with 250 g of sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) seed/head.day from 14 days before joining until day 17 of joining, on flock prolificacy was evaluated under commercial farming conditions over 3 years in a series of 50 trials involving 22 800 ewes. Responses to supplementation, in terms of lambs born, ranged from - 14 to + 2 1 %. Increasing the rate of supplementation to 500 g/head.day did not overcome the problem of the variable response. The present inability to select responsive situations limits the potential use of supplementation with lupins to increase the reproductive performance of Merino ewe flocks.
Use of the synthetic oxycarotenoids, β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid ethyl ester and citranaxanthin, in diets low in natural pigments to enhance egg yolk colour
Authors: Hughes RJ
Published: March 2005

The effects of synthetic yellow and red oxycarotenoids, G-apo-8'-carotenoic acid ethyl ester (CAEE) and citranaxanthin (CTX), respectively, on egg yolk colour were evaluated in three experiments. In experiment 1,192 hens of two breeds (White Leghorn x Australorp and White Leghorn hybrid) were given a basal diet supplemented with CAEE in six concentrations from 1.75 to 3.00 mg/kg in the periods 35-38,47-50 and 59-62 weeks of age. Yolk colour (averaged over both breeds and all periods) increased linearly from 4.4 to 5.3 Roche units with CAEE concentration. The hybrids and crossbreds averaged 4.1 and 5.6 respectively. Although yolk colour was related to feed consumption, a difference of 17.7 g/bird.day between breeds accounted for only 0.2 of the 1.5 difference in yolk colour. Experiment 2 utilized the same birds as experiment 1. The same concentrations of CAEE were combined with 1.50 or 1.75 mg/kg CTX in the periods 39-42, 51-54 and 63-66 weeks of age. Yolk colour (averaged over all other effects) increased linearly from 8.7 to 9.1 with CAEE concentration. Yolk colour averages were 8.5 and 9.3 for CTX at 1.50 and 1.75 mg/kg respectively. In the third experiment, 180 White Leghorn x Australorp hens were given CAEE (1.50, 1.75 or 2.00mg/kg) and CTX(1.50, 1.75 or2.00mg/kg) from 18 to 62 weeks of age. Average yolk colour increased linearly from 10.0 to 10.3 with CAEE and from 9.9 to 10.4 with CTX, as the respective concentrations were increased.
Dry matter production by a subtropical grass (Makarikari grass) grown in association with a temperate annual legume (barrel medic) and nitrogen fertilizer in southern Queensland
Authors: Lloyd DL , Hilder TB
Published: March 2005

The effects of a temperate annual legume, barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) cv. Cyprus, and five levels of fertilizer nitrogen (N), from 0 to 400 kg/ha.year, on the dry matter (DM) production and N economy of Makarikari grass (Panicum coloratum var. makarikariense) cv. Pollock, were investigated in a cutting experiment between 1973 and 1979. Each year, N fertilizer on grass alone increased both DM production and N uptake, up to N application rates of 200 and 400 kg/ha.year respectively. The mean annual effect of medic was to increase DM production and N uptake of associated grass each year by 90 and 130% respectively, and of the grass-medic system by 230 and 530%, respectively, for fertilizer rates between 0 and 100 kg N/ha.year. The increased DM production of associated grass occurred in summer and autumn; grass DM production was suppressed in spring, probably by competition with the medic. A trend for the DM yield of grass grown without medic to decline with time was most evident in the treatment without N fertilizer; in the comparable grass-medic pasture, grass DM production was as great in the sixth year as in the first. Medic DM yield varied with winter season rainfall. When the study concluded, the amount of N in the soil (0-10 cm depth) was higher after grassmedic than grass alone, except at the highest level of N fertilizer application. It was estimated that medic had fixed about 71 kg N/ha.year.
The growth of Urochloa accessions in grazed swards with Stylosanthes near Townsville, north Queensland
Authors: McIvor JG
Published: March 2005

Six Urochloa accessions (U. mosambicensis cv. Nixon, CPI 46876, CPI 47 167 and U. oligotricha CPI45607, CPI47122, CPI 47 124) were grown with Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano and S. scabra cv. Seca in individually fenced, fertilized swards near Townsville, Queensland, for 5 years. The swards were grazed by single steers for 2 days at 6-weekly intervals (equivalent to a stocking rate of 1 steedha). Two grazing regimes were used: grazing throughout the year (high grazing pressure); and grazing during the dry season only (low grazing pressure). There was good establishment of Verano but Seca and all Urochloa accessions established poorly. In subsequent years there were few U. oligotricha seedlings but there were substantial numbers of U. mosambicensis seedlings. Most seedlings died during their first year and in the final year of the study the number of perennial Urochloa plants ranged from 1 /m2 (CPI 47 122) to 1 7/m2 (CPI 46876). Yield and proportion of Urochloa were low during the first year but later increased for the U. mosambicensis accessions, particularly CPI 46876, which out-yielded all other accessions in the final 3 years. High yields of Urochloa were associated with low yields of Verano and annual grasses. High grazing pressure reduced the total pasture yield. Verano was always a major component, especially at high grazing pressure. The proportion of Seca increased from an initial low level but then declined again to a very low level. There was very little native perennial grass at high grazing pressure. The proportion of grass in the swards was highest at the start of the wet season and then declined; in contrast, the proportion of legume increased during the wet season. The value of Urochloa species in seasonally dry tropical areas and their management in pastures are discussed.
Morphological and agronomic attributes of Cassia rotundifolia Pers., C. pilosa L., and C. trichopoda Benth., potential forage legumes for northern Australia
Authors: Strickland RW , Greenfield RG , Wilson GPM , Harvey GL
Published: March 2005

This paper reports variation in phenology, morphology, feeding value and environmental adaptation of 18 accessions of Cassia rotundifolia and one each of C. pilosa and C. trichopoda. There were three major maturity groups within C. rotundifolia and a very large variation in seed size. Dry matter and seed yields were measured at four sites in south-eastern Queensland (Beerwah, Gatton, Gympie and Narayen) and at Grafton in New South Wales. There was significant variation in these attributes between accessions, sites and harvest times. All accessions were adapted to light-textured surface soils but did not tolerate waterlogging, particularly on the clay soil at Gatton. One early-flowering accession (34721) of C. rotundifolia has been released for commercial use because of its general performance over the range of seasons and sites that were sampled in this investigation, and prior experience of its persistence and spread under intermittent grazing at a number of sites in Queensland and the Northern Territory. C. rotundifolia and C. pilosa were acceptable animal feeds, but C. trichopoda had deleterious effects on laboratory rats.
Evaluation of sunflower cultivars in South Australia
Authors: Potter TD , McLoud PI
Published: March 2005

Seed yields and oil contents were determined for several sunflower cultivars grown in the south-east of South Australia over a range of environments which included different locations and years. Data were analysed by modified joint regression techniques. Each cultivar was included in at least four experiments to allow analysis by modified joint regression. The highest seed yields were produced by Hysun 3 1, Sungold, Suncross 52, Sunking and Hysun 30, which produced 16.4, 15.4, 14.7, 12.4 and 7.4% more seed, respectively, than Peredovik. Seeds with the highest oil contents were produced by Suncross 52 (48.6% w/w) and Hysun 31 (48.3%); Hysun 10 and Stepniak produced seeds with the lowest oil content (43.7 %) . Later flowering cultivars had significantly higher seed yields and oil contents than earlier flowering cultivars, indicating that they were better adapted to the environment. For every day that flowering of a cultivar was later than that of Perodovik, mean seed yield increased by 56.6 kg/ha and oil content by 0.4%.
The effect of nitrogen application time on Calrose rice growth and yield in south-eastern Australia
Authors: Bacon PE
Published: March 2005

The effects of nitrogen application time on growth and yield of rice cv. Calrose were studied in a series of three experiments between 1976 and 1980. In one experiment, in which a combine-sown rice crop received three flood irrigations prior to permanent flood, rice plant growth and grain yield were increased significantly by reducing the interval between fertilization and permanent flood. The poor response to fertilization several irrigations prior to permanent flood was attributed to nitrogen losses following sequences of nitrification and denitrification. Maximum grain yield usually occurred when fertilizer was applied at permanent flood (average of three experiments, 860 g/m2 (8.6 t/ha). Fertilization at tiliering had little effect on crop response; average yield was 8.0t/ha, while unfertilized plots yielded 7.4 t/ha. In all experiments fertilization during the period 0- 10 days after panicle elongation resulted in very rapid nitrogen uptake, leading to an average grain yield (8.3 t/ha) which approached that obtained from plots topdressed at permanent flood. Fertilization more than 14 days after panicle elongation did not significantly increase yield.
A comparison of four patterns of allocating maize during lactation to Friesian cows grazing tropical pastures
Authors: Davison TM , Jarrett WD , Martin P
Published: March 2005

Milk yields were compared over a 280-day lactation using four patterns of allocation of a fixed amount of grain. Four groups of four Friesian cows grazed a mixed tropical grass (Panicum maximum) and legume (Neonotonia wightii cv. Tinaroo) pasture at 1.1 cows/ha from January to December 1980. The lactation was split into four feeding periods: days 1 - 10,11- 100,10 1 - 190, 191-280. All cows were fed a total of 610 kg hammermilled maize, with 10 kg grain fed during the initial covariate period. The four feeding patterns were: (i) flat rate (FR), where cows received 2.22 kg grain/day; (ii) all early (AE), where cows received 600 kg grain between days 11 and 100; (iii) high early, low late (HELL), where cows were fed 3.5, 2.17 and 1.0 kg/day for periods 11-100,101-190and 191- 280 days of lactation; and (iv) low early, high late (LEHL), where cows were fed in the reverse pattern to HELL. Milk yields per cow over 280 days were 4145, 3942, 3794 and 3630 kg [l.s.d. (P=0.05)= 436 kg] for HELL, FR, LEHL and AE respectively. There was very poor utilization of grain by cows fed AE. The relation between milk yield and grain intake in days 1 1-100 of lactation was described by the equation: Y= 13.9+ 1.77X-0.18X2 (P<0.01, s.e.b1= 0.48, s.e.b2 = 0.06), where Y = milk yield (kg/cow.day) and X = grain intake (kg/cow.day). Apportioning more grain to late lactation, when pasture on offer was low, did not compensate for the loss of milk production in early lactation by cows fed LEHL. Cows fed LEHL lost more liveweight in early lactation than all other treatments, but regained this weight in late lactation. Cows in all treatments had similar liveweights (mean 518 kg) at 280 days. Milk butterfat and solids-not-fat yields over 280 days were not significantly different (P>0.05) for any of the four treatments.
Temperament and bruising of Bos indicus cross cattle
Authors: Fordyce G , Goddard ME , Tyler R , Williams G , Toleman MA
Published: March 2005

This experiment investigated the temperaments of 232 Bos indicus cross steers and the relationship between temperament and bruising in bovine carcasses. The temperament of each animal was assessed while held in a race by rating the vigour of movement and the degree of audible respiration when handled about the head and shoulders. These scores and scores for other behaviours were combined to form a temperament score for each animal. The five groups of steers used varied significantly in temperament (P< 0.01); this was considered to be primarily a function of their previous handling experience. There was a significant negative correlation between temperament score and liveweight (P < 0.01). In this group of relatively quiet steers no significant relationship between temperament and carcass bruising at slaughter was found.
Responses to supplements by weaned lambs grazing mature pasture or eating hay in yards
Authors: Freer M , Dove H , Axelsen A , Donnelly JR , McKinney GT
Published: March 2005

Weaned crossbred lambs grazing mature pasture in summer at stocking rates of 14, 28 or 42 lambs/ha were supplemented for 60 days with 0, 400, 600 or 800 g/day of either sunflower meal or a 1:1 mixture of sunflower meal and oats. Mean daily gains in fasted weight without and with supplement were - 51 and 62 g, respectively, with no significant difference between the three feeding levels. Greasy wool production increased from 4.7 g/day without supplement to 9.9 g/day at the 600 or 800 g level but the composition of the supplement had no effect. Stocking rate had no effect on animal performance. It was estimated that pasture intake increased slightly with the first 400 g of supplement but fell sharply as the level increased further, with a substitution rate of 1.3. In two experiments, yarded lambs were offered oaten or lucerne hay ad libitum and mixtures of sunflower meal and oats at levels from 400 g/day to ad libitum. Mean daily gain in fasted weight increased from about 140 to about 190 g/day over this range of supplementation and greasy wool production from about 9 to about 10 g/day. In one experiment weight gain and wool production were significantly lower with a 1:6 mixture of sunflower meal and oats than with a 1:2 mixture and the same trend was shown in the other experiment. Measurements of intake showed that the substitution rate for both types of hay was only about 0.5. Comparisons of the animals' estimated requirements and intake in all three experiments indicated that the relatively poor performance of grazing animals was due to the very high substitution rate for grazed pasture at levels of supplement intake above 400 g/day.
Evaluation of medics under continuous grazing with sheep in central-western New South Wales
Authors: Brownlee H , Denney GD
Published: March 2005

Between May 1974 and March 1978, dry Merino ewes continuously grazed l-ha plots, sown to Medicago truncatula cvv. Akbar, Borung, Cyfield, Cyprus, Hannaford and Jemalong, and M. tornata cv. Tornafield, at a stocking rate of 4 Ewes/ha. Hannaford and Cyfield grew most vigorously; Borung least. Pod accumulation declined during the experiment, but plant counts showed a satisfactory density of all medics at the end of the experiment. Sheep on cultivars Hannaford, Cyprus, Cyfield and Tornafield required no hand-feeding during the experiment; those grazing the other cultivars required hand-feeding in autumn-winter 1975. There were no significant differences between treatments in fleece-free liveweights or annual clean fleece yields. In 1977 the medic content of the diet was less than 50% in all treatments. Pod ingestion over summer increased steadily to nearly 70% of the diet as the more palatable pasture components became scarce. However, the proportion dropped rapidly when summer rain provided sheep with a green 'pick'. The spiny pods of Akbar were retained in the fleece; the spineless pods of other cultivars were never retained. Total vegetable matter contamination was less for Cyfield than for Akbar, suggesting that development of medics with less spiny pods is a justifiable objective.
A comparison of methods for rehabilitating aging hens
Authors: Abu-Serewa S , Karunajeewa H
Published: March 2005

Three of five groups of White Leghorn x Australorp hens aged 73 weeks, housed in cages, were fed a laying diet containing zinc (23.7 g/kg), or iodine (4.1 g/kg), or calcium (1.0 g/kg). The fourth group of hens was given only whole-grain barley while a fifth group given a normal laying diet served as the control. All groups were fed their respective diets until rate of lay dropped to 0% or less than 2%, and they were then given a normal laying diet until 97 weeks of age. Water was available at all times and 15.5 h of constant light was provided daily to all treatments throughout the experiment. Hens given the zinc and the whole-grain barley diets ceased egg production within 1 week and remained out of production for about 10 days. The hens in both of these treatments reached peak egg production (67%, on a hen day basis) 8 weeks after the initiation of treatments, after which they continued to lay at a higher rate than those given iodine, calcium and control treatments. Hens given the diets with either iodine or calcium reached their lowest rate of lay (1.6%) after 15 and 7 days of feeding the two diets respectively. They resumed laying immediately after the resumption of feeding the normal laying diet and reached peak egg production (59%) at 8 and 12 weeks after feeding the iodine and calcium diets respectively. The treated hens laid eggs with higher Haugh units and specific gravity values than those eggs of the controls. The lowest rate of decline in both those traits, from the pre-treatment values, was in the zinc and barley treatments. These treatments also had the lowest percentage of cracked eggs. There was no significant difference among treatments in mean rate of lay, egg weight, or rate of mortality from 73 to 97 weeks of age. The present results suggest that feeding wholegrain barley can be used successfully to extend the productive life of laying hens beyond the first year of egg production if such an extension is desirable in a given economic situation. It is a simpler technique than the conventional method of induced moulting and the method of feeding a high level of zinc.
Nutrient losses in cereal and pasture hays stored in three types of hay packages in the open in two environments
Authors: Cochrane MJ , Wickes RB
Published: March 2005

Cereal and pasture hays, cut at the same site, were packaged into medium-sized round bales, large round bales and stacks. Halfthe number of each hay type and of each hay package were stored in the open for up to 15 months in a 500 mm rainfall area and half were transported to and stored for up to 15 months in a 1000 mm rainfall area. Densities of the pasture hay packages were within the manufacturers' specified ranges but those of the cereal hay packages were lower. Medium-sized round bales were less dense than large round bales and weathered more than large round bales and stacks after 10 and 15 months storage. Cereal hay packages deteriorated more than pasture hay packages with long-term storage. Medium-sized round bales lost more dry matter than large round bales after storage over the winter and more digestible dry matter over this period and after long-term storage. They also lost more crude protein than large round bales when stored over the first summer and over the following winter. It was economic to store all packages in the open over the first summer. It was uneconomic to store medium-sized round bales in the open over the following winter, while storage of large round bales and stacks was economic. For long-term storage, it was uneconomic to store any of the hay packages in the open, and storage under cover would have to be considered.
Field evaluation of a leaf test for assessment of the phosphorus status of subterranean clover and for prediction of its response to phosphorus
Authors: Dowling EJ , Bouma D
Published: March 2005

A series of field experiments (5 phosphorus levels x 6 replicates) on the southern Tablelands of New South Wales was used, firstly, to confirm the suitability of a modified test for inorganic phosphorus (Pi) concentrations in fresh clover (Trifolium subterraneum) leaves as an index of the current phosphorus status of subterranean clover-based pastures; and, secondly, to evaluate the usefulness of Pi as a predictor of responses to phosphorus applications. A close relation (R2 = 0.910) was found between Pi in healthy green leaf tissue sampled in winter and field responses to phosphorus measured at the same time. The fitted curve had a critical value of 154 ppm Pi at 90% of the fitted asymptote for relative yield. Close relations were also found between total herbage yield measured over the season and Pi in leaf tissue sampled in late autumn and early winter (R2 = 0.896) and in leaves sampled in late winter and early spring (R2= 0.877). Critical values were 160 and 153 ppm Pi respectively. The relation was less close for the third sampling (seed set and flowering, R2= 0.809) and the critical value had declined to 118 ppm Pi. It is concluded that Pi determined in clover leaf samples provides a simple measure of the current phosphorus status of subterranean clover-based pasture, and of its likely response to phosphorus. A critical value of 150 ppm Pi is confirmed for assessing the current phosphorus status, and is also proposed for predictive purposes. The method described for the estimation of Pi is a further simplification of the method presented previously. It is also more rapid and achieves a saving of 80-90% in chemicals. The correlation coefficient for the straight line relationship between the two methods was 0.956 (68 observations).
Comparative productivity of Trifolium subterraneum and T. yanninicum in south-western Victoria
Authors: Reed KFM , Schroder PM , Eales JW , McDonald RM , Chin JF
Published: March 2005

Two cultivars of Trifolium subterraneum (Woogenellup and Mt Barker) and three cultivars of T. yanninicum (Yarloop, Trikkala and Larisa) were sown in swards and mown to measure yields over 4 years at three sites (Beeac, Cherrypool and Hamilton) on old improved pasture land in south-western Victoria. T. yanninicum (cv. Meteora) was also tested at the Hamilton site and four other cultivars of T. subterraneum (Nungarin, Daliak, Seaton Park and Esperance) were also tested at the Cherrypool site. At Beeac and Hamilton two separate trials were sown on areas representing poorly-drained (flat) and better-drained (crest) aspects. T. yanninicum was consistently more productive than T. subterraneum at all sites. The most productive cultivars were Trikkala and Yarloop at both Beeac and Cherrypool (mean annual rainfall about 6 13 mm), and Larisa and Yarloop at Hamilton (mean annual rainfall 703 mm). Mt Barker produced less than any other cultivar at Beeac and Hamilton. At Cherrypool, Nungarin, Mt Barker and Daliak produced less than other cultivars. The seasonal yields of Yarloop were particularly high in autumn and winter at all sites, whereas those of Larisa were high in spring. Mt Barker grew poorly in winter. At Hamilton, the yields of clover from T. yanninicum were similar on the crest and on the flat, but the more productive cultivar of T. subterraneum, Woogenellup, produced less on the flat than on the crest during autumn (P< 0.05). Although all cultivars regenerated after the 1982 drought, at Cherrypool, where the drought was severe, the hard-seeded early cultivar, Daliak, and the hard-seeded early mid-season cultivars, Seaton Park and Esperance, were most successful in terms of plant density.
Summer forages under irrigation. 3. The effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the growth, mineral composition and digestibility of a sorghum cross Sudangrass hybrid and Japanese barnyard millet
Authors: Muldoon DK
Published: March 2005

Sorghum bicolor x S. sudanense hybrid cv. Sudax ST6 and Echinochloa utilis cv. Shirohie were grown under irrigation at Trangie, New South Wales. Six rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer were applied at sowing: 0, 25, 50, 120, 300, 450 kg N/ha. Height and dry matter yield were recorded at head emergence, together with the leaf hydrocyanic acid (HCN) potential, and leaf and stem dry matter digestibility, nitrogen, sulfur and sodium contents. Both the sorghum hybrid and the millet reached maximum forage yields (16.1 and 7.6 t/ha, respectively) at 350 kg N/ha. However, the tall-growing forage sorghum produced more dry matter than millet and consequently was more responsive to fertilizer nitrogen. In sorghum the leaf HCN potential increased linearly in response to N (8.5 x 10-4 %/kg N.ha). Since there was no compensating increase in the sulfur content (0.072%), and, assuming a requirement of 1.2 g S/g of HCN detoxified, sorghum lacked sufficient sulfur to detoxify the HCN potentially released in the rumen from sorghum receiving 150-200 kg N/ha. At this rate of nitrogen application, sorghum was producing only two-thirds of its forage yield potential. The sodium content of sorghum (0.013%) was not affected by nitrogen. In millet the nitrogen and sodium contents increased as applied nitrogen promoted growth. Plant sulfur was diluted initially but the nitrogen: sulfur ratio increased steadily (0.0067 units/kg N.ha). In contrast to sorghum, therefore, nitrogen fertilizer can be used to increase the dry matter yield of millet without jeopardizing forage quality and hence animal production.
Efficacies of fungicides for control of stem rust of wheat
Authors: Mayfield AH
Published: March 2005

The potential commercial use of fungicides for control of stem rust (Puccinia graminis) of wheat was assessed in field experiments at two sites. Foliar sprays containing either triadimefon or propiconazole were the most effective in reducing disease severity. Chlorothalonil was effective only when applied at an early stage of disease development and where stem rust was not severe in control plots. Dichlone, fenarimol, nuarimol and 2-(thiocyanomethylthio) benzothiazole did not significantly reduce stem rust severity at either site. Even though treatments were applied at an early stage ofthe disease epidemic at one site, disease control on heads, peduncles and sheaths did not exceed 63,36 and 19%, respectively, with any treatment. Increases in grain yield and density, of up to 0.27 t/ha and 8.6 kg/hectolitre, respectively, were barely sufficient to cover the cost of treatment.