bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonal changes in the proportion and quality of plant parts of nine Stylosanthes lines
Authors: Gardener CJ , Megarrity RG , McLeod MN
Published: March 2005

The distribution of dry matter between leaves, stems and inflorescences, and the nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur concentration and in vitro digestibility of these parts were measured in uncut swards of nine accessions of seven Stylosanthes spp. grown in northern Queensland over 22 months. Despite above average rainfall in both dry seasons, which greatly reduced the normal moisture stress, only S. guianensis cv. Oxley retained a significant proportion of green leaf in the winter period. However, Oxley set little seed in either year. Plants of the three short-lived species S. hamata, S. humilis and S. subsericea died back to the crown at the end of each wet season, while adult plants of the strongly perennial shrubs S. viscosa, S. scabra and S. fruticosa shed most of their leaves by July. All accessions flowered in both years, and all, except Oxley, set a heavy seed crop by the second year. Some inflorescence was retained on the living stems of the perennial lines until October. This inflorescence had a nutritive value only just below that of young leaf, while the mature stem was low in nitrogen and digestibility in all accessions. The leaf and stem litter had a similar chemical composition to standing material but rapidly became mouldy. The two cultivars of S. humilis, Paterson and Gordon, and S. subsericea had significantly higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and digestibility than the other accessions. S. viscosa had significantly lower levels of all four attributes. The utilization of the various accessions for improving cattle nutrition is discussed.
Control of ripe fruit rots of guavas by heated benomyl and guazatine dips
Authors: Wills RBH , Brown BI , Scott KJ
Published: March 2005

The rotting of four guava cultivars was considerably reduced in laboratory experiments by dipping the fruit after harvest in solutions containing benomyl at 0.5-2.0 g/l. The optimum dip temperature was 48-50�C with an exposure time of 5 min. Heated guazatine dips also reduced rotting but were less effective than benomyl and induced skin injury more readily; optimal conditions were a guazatine dip at 0.5 g/l for 5 min at 50�C. Hot water dipping gave some reduction in rotting but was less effective than benomyl and guazatine.
The effects of levamisole treatments and cobalt bullet therapy on the performance of yearling beef cattle in south-east Queensland
Authors: Nicol DC , Smith LD , Dimmock CK , Green PE , Murphy GM , Barry GA
Published: March 2005

The effect of levamisole treatment every 3-4 weeks, cobalt therapy, or both, on the performance of yearling cattle grazing together on known cobalt-deficient pastures on a siliceous sandy soil in south-eastern Queensland was studied between August 1978 and October 1979. In the first stage of the observations, from August to March, the responses (Pc0.05) in liveweight gain compared with the controls (C) were 18, 54 and 75 kg for levamisole (L), cobalt bullets (B), and both (LB) respectively. Thus the responses were additive with no interaction. Deaths were recorded in the control and levamisole only groups in March. Steers in the levarnisole only group were treated with cobalt in March (L + B). Liveweight gains between March and October were 9, 71,47 and 41 kg for C, L + B, B and LB groups, respectively (L + B > B, LB > C, P< 0.05). Cobalt therapy increased faecal worm egg counts in undrenched groups between November and April (P<0.05). At 30 weeks after the start of the study many animals in groups C, L and B were anaemic. Cobalt concentrations in green panic ranged from 0.015 to 0.029 �g/g dry matter and in Siratro from 0.036 to 0.048 �g/g dry matter.
Effects of sowing date, spatial arrangement and population on yield and kernel weight of irrigated Virginia Bunch peanuts
Authors: Laurence RCN
Published: March 2005

Two field experiments were carried out to determine the effects of sowing date, spatial arrangement and population on yields of Virginia Bunch peanuts grown with supplementary irrigation in the Ord Irrigation Area between 1977 and 1979. Late sowing (January 11, 1978) reduced pod yields by 19% (from 5.02 to 4.21 t/ha) and kernel yields by 18% (from 3.55 to 2.85 t/ha) compared with early sowing (December 8, 1977). Mean single kernel weights were increased from 859 to 895 mg by late sowing. As population increased from 0.6 to about 12 plants/m2, pod yields rose from 2.1 to about 5 t/ha. Kernel yields showed similar increases and mean single kernel weights showed smaller increases over this range. Spatial arrangement of plants, either in single rows on 0.9 1 m ridges or in multiple rows on 1.82 m wide beds, usually had no effect on yield, but yields of high populations (about 18 plants/m2) planted on beds were reduced by 11% when compared with plantings on ridges.
Fruit development of Carina (Shiraz × Sultana) in response to growth regulators applied at calyptra dehiscence
Authors: Cirami RM , Chapman AP , McCarthy MG
Published: March 2005

Growth regulators known to improve yield and quality of Zante and a mechanical treatment utilizing high velocity air and a high pressure water spray to physically dislodge the calyptras were applied at dehiscence in 1979 and 1980 to vines of Carina, a male-sterile hybrid selection of Shiraz x Sultana. The vines were grown in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. The mechanical treatment was ineffective in dislodging the calyptras and there were no significant differences in yield or components of yield between treated and untreated vines in either year. The three growth regulators, CCC 100 ppm + GA 1 ppm, 4-CPA 20 ppm + GA 0.5 ppm, and GA 10 ppm, had marked effects on yield and components of yield, but the response varied between sprays and between years. In 1980 4-CPA + GA produced more berries per bunch, heavier bunches and more fresh fruit per vine than both CCC + GA and GA, while in I98 1, 4-CPA + GA and GA were superior to CCC + GA. There were no differences in concentration of soluble solids, pruning weight or dried berry weight in either year. The processed dried fruit of all treatments was of excellent quality.
The contribution of a temporary watertable to surface soil water content and the establishment of surface sown seeds
Authors: Cornish PS
Published: March 2005

A temporary watertable was established in large undisturbed cores of a podzolic (duplex) soil in a glasshouse. The upward flow of water from the watertable to the soil surface through a 7 d drying cycle was assessed by measuring soil water content and matric potential, and the rate of evaporation from the soil surface (by weighing). Evaporation from the soil surface (Ea) closely followed evaporation from a free water surface (Eo), with little change in surface water potential or content until the watertable was depleted. This indicated that soil evaporation was balanced by the upward flux from the watertable, at rates up to 0.37 mm/h. Surface water potential was maintained above - 0.04 MPa for 7 d, and 12% of ryegrass seeds established themselves on the bare soil surface. When the A horizon was wet to field capacity but no watertable was established, Ea was much less than Eo especially in periods of high evaporation. Also, the soil surface dried to below - 0.04 MPa within the first day and no seeds germinated. It appears that sowing on sites with temporary watertables could assist germination and establishment after aerial sowing.
Effects of planting distances on production by Washington Navel orange
Authors: Gallasch PT
Published: March 2005

A field experiment with four planting distances of Washington Navel orange on Sweet Orange rootstocks was planted at Loxton, South Australia, in 1963. Trees were 7.3 m apart between rows and 7.3 (normal), 5.5, 4.4 and 3-7 m apart within rows. At six years the yield per hectare from trees planted at 3.7 m was 121% greater than from those planted at 7.3 m. At 14 years, closely planted trees had continued to outyield those more widely spaced even though they were slightly reduced in width. Cumulative yield per hectare from 3.7 m plantings after 14 years was 150 t (68%) more than from 7.3 m plantings and this fruit was worth $18 000 when calculated on the average return to growers in 1981.
The effect of Leucaena leucocephala on liveweight gain, thyroid size and thyroxine levels of steers in south-eastern Queensland
Authors: Jones RM , Jones RJ
Published: March 2005

Animal and pasture production were measured from 1975 to 1980 on pastures based on Leucaena leucocephala cv. Cunningham or cv. Peru, with Setaria sphacelata, at Samford, south-eastern Queensland. Pastures were rotationally grazed with stocking rates ranging throughout the year from 1.3 beasts/ha (winter) to 4.0 beasts/ha (summer). The cv. Cunningham pastures produced 427 kg liveweight gain/ha .year, and the cv. Peru pastures 358 kg/ha . year. The productivity of leucaena and its percentage in the diet of animals was consistently higher with cv. Cunningham than with cv. Peru. The average thyroid size of animals grazing year long was 50 and 147 g for cv. Peru and cv. Cunningham pastures (normal weights being � 25 g) although thyroxine levels measured in early autumn were never suggestive of serious thyroxine deficiency. Thus the higher productivity and consumption of leucaena on cv. Cunningham pastures, due to a higher density of plants and greater productivity per plant, resulted in better animal production than was obtained from cv. Peru pastures, despite the thyroid enlargement of animals grazing cv. Cunningham. It is concluded that there is potential for commercial use of leucaena-based pastures in subtropical eastern Australia.
Evidence of a negative relationship between heifer growth and first calf weaning weight in commercial beef herds
Authors: Johnsson ID , Morant SV
Published: March 2005

The relationship between weaning weights of beef heifers and their first calves, after adjustment for age and sex/age differences respectively, was examined in 1626 heifers from eight herds in the South-east of South Australia and the Western District of Victoria. Data were obtained from 64 herd years and included only heifers that had weaned a calf after calving at two (seven herds) or three (one herd) years of age. Within years in each herd the relationship (P<0.05) was negative (slope= -0.068 kg/kg, SE = 0.0267) but accounted for only 0.4% of the variation in weaning weight of progeny. This confirms previous findings that within any heifer drop, weaning weight is a poor predictor of subsequent calf-rearing ability. The relationship between herd year means (P<0.01) was negative (slope = -0.50 kg/kg, SE = 0.15) and accounted for 15% of the variation in weaning weights of progeny. Over the range in heifer mean weaning weight from 170 to 250 kg, mean progeny weaning weights tended to decrease 5 kg for every 10 kg increase in their dams' average weaning weight. However, there was evidence that the negative relationship was curvilinear (P< 0.05) such that effects on weaning weights of progeny diminished markedly when weaning weights of heifers exceeded approximately 200 kg. The possible involvement of nutritional environment, both during the year of heifer development before weaning and in the expression of milk production in terms of calf weaning weight several years later, is discussed in relation to the expression of the phenotypic relationship in different years and locations.
Effects of different stocking intensities in early life on the productivity of Merino ewes grazed as adults at two stocking rates. 2. Reproductive performance
Authors: Langlands JP , Donald GE , Paull DR
Published: March 2005

The reproductive performance of ewes subjected to four nutritional regimes from conception to 15 months of age was recorded from first lambing at 24 months until the seventh lambing. The ewes were grazed at 10 and 20 sheep/ha. The proportion of ewes which exhibited oestrus at their first mating was less in those which had grazed at a high stocking rate between 3 and 15 months, and fecundity was increased by 15% in subsequent years by a high plane of nutrition between conception and 3 months of age, but only when ewes were grazed at a low stocking rate as adults. Ewes stocked at 10 sheep/ha weaned 50% more lambs than ewes stocked at 20 sheep/ha in adult life, but the more heavily stocked ewes weaned approximately 33% more lambs on a unit area basis. Approximately half the variability in the number of lambs weaned per ewe available for service was associated with variability in lamb survival. Relationships between the proportion of ewes showing oestrus, fecundity, survival of lambs, overall reproductive performance and liveweight of ewes are presented.
The food intake and growth of Australian feral cross Angora kids when fed whole grain barley-lupins diets with three levels of roughage intake
Authors: McGregor BA
Published: March 2005

Kids six months old and of mean liveweight 22 kg were offered a basal ration of barley and lupins (crude protein 15 .4%) supplemented with three levels of chopped hay (0, 13% of total intake and ad libitum). Supplementation of the basal ration with 13% hay increased total dry matter intake from 479 to 753 g/d (P< 0.001) and liveweight gain from 10 to 54 g/d (P<0 .01). Non-significant increases in total food intake and liveweight gains were achieved by supplementing with ad libitum hay; kids fed ad libitum hay actually consumed 26.9% of their diet as hay. They were then offered various mixtures of barley, oats and lupins with 13% chopped hay at near ad libitum feeding. Differences in intake or growth were not significant at P= 0.05 with kids growing at 74, 65 and 101 g/d for those fed barley, oats and lupins respectively. Results indicate that highest food intake was obtained when 13% chopped hay was added to whole barley grain rations.
Effects of dichlorvos, maldison and pirimiphos-methyl on food consumption, egg production, egg and tissue residues, and plasma acetylcholinesterase inhibition in layer strain hens
Authors: Pym RAE , Singh G , Gilbert WS , Armstrong JP , McCleary BV
Published: March 2005

In three experiments laying performance was studied in hens given graded levels of maldison, dichlorvos and pirimiphos-methyl either separately or combined in the feed over a four-week test period. Results conclusively demonstrated interaction between dichlorvos and maldison as measured by depressed food consumption and egg production. Combining the three insecticides at levels which when given separately had no effect, severely depressed food consumption and egg production. After four weeks on treatment, birds receiving pirimiphos-methyl at 50 �g/g of diet had residues of 0.08-0.17 �g/g in fat and 0-0.06 �g/g in muscle, and residues of 0-0.07 �g/g maldison were recovered in the fat of birds receiving it at 100 �g/g of diet. No residues of any insecticide were detected in eggs and no dichlorvos residues were detected in any tissues. Plasma acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels were reduced by 70% with dichlorvos at 30 �g/g, by 30% with maldison at 100 �g/g and by 90% with pirimiphos-methyl at 50 �g/g. There was no indication of potentiation between insecticides as measured by plasma AChE inhibition, and effects upon food consumption and egg production appeared unrelated to plasma AChE activity. The relationship between food consumption and egg production was similar in groups receiving dichlorvos-maldison mixtures and in those receiving graded levels of untreated food, indicating that the insecticides' effect upon egg production was mediated via a reduced food intake. Maximum residue limits for pesticides in feeds should be based on a total index which takes account of interaction between the different pesticides present.
Growth, grain yield and water use of rice grown under restricted water supply in New South Wales
Authors: Heenan DP , Thompson JA
Published: March 2005

Growth, grain yield and water use by Calrose rice grown under three flood irrigation regimes and four nitrogen fertilizer treatments were examined at Yanco Agricultural Research Centre, New South Wales, to determine the response of rice under a restricted supply of water. Growth under weekly irrigations before panicle initiation severely restricted dry matter production. When nitrogen (90 kg N/ha) was split with 45 kg N/ha at the three-leaf stage and 45 kg N/ha at panicle initiation followed by permanent flood at panicle initiation, yield was 8.67 t/ha. This was equivalent to yields obtained from conventional practice where all fertilizer was applied at the three-leaf stage followed immediately by permanent flood. Delaying permanent flood until panicle initiation resulted in approximately 23% saving in total water use. Weekly irrigation throughout the season produced low vegetative growth and grain yields.
Biological control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in lettuce by Fusarium lateritium
Authors: Sitepu K , Wallace HR
Published: March 2005

Fusarium lateritium inhibited ascospore germination and mycelial growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in various agar media. Although the inhibition zones produced by F. lateritium were most extensive at 20�C, they were still substantial at 5 and 30�C. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum requires organic matter on the soil surface for subsequent infection of lettuce stems in pots. The introduction of F. lateritium into such pots, 7 h before introducing S. sclerotiorum, gave protection. In infected pots with organic matter, 99% of plants were infected after 6 d, whereas only 5% were infected when F. lateritium was introduced. After 14 d these values increased to 100 and 33%, respectively.
Comparison of the effects of rootstock on crop, juice and wine composition in a replanted nematode-infested Barossa Valley vineyard
Authors: Cirami RM , McCarthy MG , Glenn T
Published: March 2005

Shiraz grapevine scions grafted to Ramsey, Dog Ridge, Harmony, Schwarzmann and 1613 rootstocks outyielded Shiraz on their own roots in a replanted, nematode-infested vineyard in the Barossa Valley. The cultivar Ramsey gave the largest cumulative yield (44 kg/vine) over three years in comparison with 16 kg/vine for own-rooted vines. The observed yield increases could be attributed to both more bunches per vine and increased bunch weight. Juice from the fruit of ungrafted vines had lower pH than that from rootstocks. Wine made from this juice had higher colour density and ionized anthocyanins and the lowest wine colour hue. The ranked performance of individual rootstocks was not consistent from season to season as shown by significant rootstock x year interactions for 15 of 20 variables measured.
Grain losses due to delayed harvesting of barley and wheat
Authors: Bolland MDA
Published: March 2005

In field experiments over three consecutive years (1979- 1981) near Esperance, Western Australia, the harvested grain yields of two barley cultivars and two cultivars and a breeders' line of wheat were measured when the grain was mature (moisture content about 17%), and then at approximately weekly intervals for about two months. Grain yields of Clipper and Dampier barley decreased with increasing delay in harvest, the rates of decrease (%/d) in the three years being 0.67, 0.75 and 0.46, respectively, for Clipper, and 0.65, 0.42 and 0.25 for Dampier. Grain yields of Egret and 70W 18- 14 wheat decreased with delayed harvest in 1979 and 1980, the rate of decrease being (%/d) 0.53 and 0.49, respectively, for Egret, and 0.53 and 0. 18 for 70W 18-14. In 198 1, harvested grain yields for Egret and Madden wheat did not change significantly when harvesting was delayed up to 63d.
Responses of nine tropical grasses to nitrogen fertilizer under rain-grown conditions in south-eastern Queensland. 1. Seasonal dry matter productivity
Authors: Cook BG , Mulder JC
Published: March 2005

Nine tropical grasses were fertilized with 25, 50 and 100 kg N/ha on ten occasions at two-month intervals. No nitrogen was applied when conditions were too cold and/or dry for pasture growth. Samples (> 10 cm height) were taken at four-week intervals to estimate dry matter yield. Growth patterns of all grasses were similar, with a warm season peak and cool season trough. Nitrogen treatments did not greatly alter the growth pattern, although all species showed a yield response to increasing levels of nitrogen. Cumulative dry matter yields of Chloris gayana cvv. Callide and Katambora, Setaria sphacelata var. sericea cv. Narok, Digitaria decumbens and Panicum maximum cv. Makueni did not differ at N25 (P < 0.05), each producing about 10 t/ha. This significantly exceeded 5 t/ha from Pennisetum clandestinum cv. Whittet and Panicum maximum cv. Gatton. The same high-yielding group produced 15-16 t/ha at N50, while Gatton yielded 11.4 t/ha and Whittet 8.4 t/ha. At N 100, Callide, Katambora and Makueni were the highest yielding grasses (24-26 t/ha), and Whittet the lowest (15 t/ha). Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk and Paspalum plicatulum cv. Bryan died out before the final harvests. Species responsiveness is discussed in terms of increment in dry matter yield per unit of applied nitrogen.
Accuracy of alternative methods of estimating weekly yields of milk fat and protein
Authors: Clarke T , McGowan A
Published: March 2005

Thirty-four procedures were used to estimate the weekly yields of milk, milk fat and milk protein of 19 grazing cows on five occasions between the third and eighth months of lactation. The standard deviation of daily milk yield, fat and protein percentage of individual cows averaged 1 .3 litres, 0.58% fat and 0 - 10% protein, respectively. The four factors involved were: sampling frequency, sampling distribution, basis of compositing subsamples for compositional analyses, and the use of total weekly yields or milk yields on day(s) of sampling, for estimating yields of fat and protein. There were no substantial interactions between the 34 procedures and stage of lactation. The average difference between the estimate of weekly milk yield from any one day's yield and the true weekly milk yield (accuracy) was 7.2 litres/week. The equivalent values for fat and protein yields were 0.59 and 0.22 kg/week. When sampling frequency and measurement of milk yield was increased from one to six days per week, the accuracy of the weekly estimate of milk yield (MY) improved by 5.7 litres/week and that of fat yield (FY) by 0.49 kg/week. If total weekly milk yield was used to estimate fat yield, instead of using milk yield on days of testing only, the improvement in accuracy ranged from 0. 15 to 0.03 kg/week for one and six samplings, respectively. Two equally spaced sampling days gave a marginally better (0.74 litres/week) estimate of milk yield than two consecutive days but a marginally poorer (0.10 kg/week) estimate of fat yield. Yield weighting of subsamples for fat or protein analyses did not improve the estimate of fat yield. As the day to day variation in level of protein in the milk was low, frequency and method of sampling for protein analysis was not important but the accuracy of estimating milk yield had a large effect on estimated weekly protein yield.
Evaluation of fasting as a technique for use in feeding experiments in which dairy cows are strip-grazed
Authors: Stockdale CR , King KR
Published: March 2005

The effects of length of fast (0-72 h) on the productivity, liveweight and body condition of dairy cows in mid-lactation were measured, together with the effects of this treatment on the responses obtained in a subsequent feeding experiment. It was also considered whether fasting reduced the variation and improved the estimates of liveweight change and condition score change between treatments in the feeding experiment. Fasting did not influence the responses to level of feeding in a subsequent feeding experiment, as evidenced by the lack of interaction between length of fast and feeding level. Furthermore, fasting did not improve the precision of estimates of liveweight or condition score change. Although the cows were slow to recover, particularly from the longest fast, the major effect of fasting on the conduct of a subsequent experiment was associated with the possibility of health problems. The responses of milk yield, milk fat content and liveweight to length of fast were curvilinear while those of milk fat yield and body condition score were linear. After a 72 h fast, the reduction in milk yield was approximately 85%, while that of liveweight was 12%. Observers also assigned lower body condition scores to fasted cows; after a 72 h fast, the assigned condition score was 0.56 units lower, on average. In the light of these results, the use of fasting in feeding experiments is discussed.
Effects of cultivation and cultural practice on root rot of subterranean clover
Authors: Barbetti MJ , MacNish GC
Published: March 2005

Field experiments in 1975 and 1976 in south-western Western Australia investigated the effects of various cultivation and cultural practices on the level of root rot of subterranean clover. The treatments produced significant reductions in the levels of both tap and lateral root rot, but these reductions failed to persist beyond the second year after treatment. The best treatments were those of fallowing an area from August to March before cultivation and reseeding, or spring cultivation before sowing to oats followed by a March cultivation and reseeding.
Survival feeding of cattle with molasses. 2. Feeding steers with molasses/urea plus either sorghum grain (Sorghum vulgare) or cottonseed meal (Gossypium hirsutum)
Authors: Gulbransen B
Published: March 2005

Two experiments were carried out on yearling steers to measure the potential of various molasses/grain combinations as survival feeds in (a) controlled weight-loss situations, and (b) in critical starvation situations. In the first experiment, groups of steers with a mean � s.e. initial fasted liveweight of 174 � 1.8 kg were fed for 77 days on rations ranging from 100% molasses/urea to 40% molasses/urea and 60% sorghum grain at rates equivalent to 1.5 or 3.0 kg of molasses/urea per animal per day. Sorghum grain substituted for molasses/urea in the ratio 1.0:1.4 (w/w as fed). Mean growth rates were - 0.49 kg/day at the low level of feeding and -0.17 kg/day at the high level. In the second experiment the steers were fed ad libitum for 29 days on molasses/urea, molasses/ urea plus sorghum grain (60:40 or 40:60) and molasses/urea plus cottonseed meal (85:15). Feed intakes increased as the proportion of grain in the diet increased and there was an approximately four-fold range of energy intakes. A supplement of 1 kg/animal per day of hay had little effect on feed intake or on liveweight change. All groups except those fed molasses/urea without added grain or cottonseed meal made significant gains in liveweight. Molasses/grain and molasses/cottonseed meal combinations should be suitable for 'crisis' feeding.
Effects of control of the sheep body louse (Damalinia ovis) on wool production and quality
Authors: Niven DR , Pritchard DA
Published: March 2005

Groups of 35 Merino wethers under natural challenge by sheep body lice, Damalinia ovis, in south-western Queensland were subjected to four different chemical lice control treatments (arsenic, diazinon, cypermethrin and deltamethrin) over a 12-month period. Shearing took place in June. Louse populations were reduced by repeated treatments with cypermethrin. Despite high temperatures and some rainfall, populations in controls peaked at the end of summer, indicating that wool length influenced population growth. Greasy and clean fleece weights of treated sheep were higher (P<0.05) than those of controls by 0.4-1.1 kg/sheep and 0.3-0.9 kg/sheep, respectively, depending on treatment. Wool base yield was 2-45.5% higher. Sheep that were repeatedly treated with cypermethrin produced more (P<0.05) sound fleece wool (3.0 vs 1.7 kg/head greasy) and less cast fleece wool (0.1 vs 0.4 kg/head greasy) than controls. The differences in wool value between treated groups and controls ranged from $A0.45 to $A3.19 per sheep. No effect on liveweight could be attributed to treatment.
Performance of North American and Australian lucernes in the Queensland subtropics 2. Yield and plant survival in irrigated stands
Authors: Lowe KF , Gramshaw D , Bowdler TM , Ludke DH
Published: March 2005

The yield and plant survival of 23 North American and 5 Australian lucerne lines were assessed at Biloela and Gatton, Queensland, under irrigation over a 40-month period. Total yields ranged from 49 to 72 t/ha at Biloela and from 14 to 47 t/ha at Gatton. The relative performances of lines were similar at each site. The highly winter non-dormant lines were the highest yielding, particularly HS Gen 3 Composite, Matador and CUF 10 1. Semi-dormant lines were generally more productive than nondormant and dormant lines, with Pioneer 581, Falkiner and DeKalb 167 the most productive. Multiple regression analyses showed lucerne yield at both sites to be highly correlated with relative winter dormancy and plant survival. At Gatton, population at establishment, winter dormancy and disease ratings for Phytophthora root rot and anthracnose all influenced survival of lucerne plants, whilst at Biloela establishment population was the only significant factor. The potential commercial impact of lines with reduced winter dormancy and improved resistance to root rot and anthracnose in irrigated stands in south-east Queensland is discussed.
Performance of North American and Australian lucernes in the Queensland subtropics. 3. Yield, plant survival and aphid populations in raingrown stands
Authors: Lloyd DL , Gramshaw D , Hilder TB , Ludke DH , Turner JW
Published: March 2005

Twenty-three North American and up to five Australian lucerne lines were evaluated for dry matter yield, plant persistence and aphid resistance at three sites under raingrown conditions in southern Queensland. The experiment at Toowoomba was conducted over 3 years, but those at Mitchell and Biloela were terminated after 1 and 2 years, respectively, because of poor plant survival caused partly by dry conditions. In the subhumid environments at Toowoomba and Biloela, lucerne yield was strongly associated with lucerne population decline. At Toowomba, where there was least confounding with nonordered variation, yield was also positively associated with decreasing winter dormancy. There, persistence (and therefore yield) was associated with resistance to both anthracnose and Phytophthora root rot. No line possessed high levels of combined resistance to these diseases. In the semi-arid environment at Mitchell, the highest yields were obtained from non-dormant lines. Root canker reduced lucerne yield at this site. Large populations of spotted alfalfa aphid developed on susceptible lines and of blue-green aphid on all lines. However, no effects on the dry matter yield or persistence of any lines were measured.
Effects of grazing and haycutting on the yield and persistence of dryland aphid-resistant lucerne cultivars at Tamworth, New South Wales
Authors: Lodge GM
Published: March 2005

The yield and persistence of 28 lucerne cultivars were assessed in two experiments at Tamworth on the Northern Slopes of New South Wales. Plots were either cut for hay or grazed when all cultivars were at the l/l0th bloom stage or every 6 weeks, whichever occurred first. Rainfall was below average during the experimental period. For purposes of data comparisons, cultivars were grouped into winter-dormant (WD), semiwinter- dormant (SWD), winter-active (WA), highly winter-active (HWA), dormant (D = WD + SWD), and active (A = WA + HWA) categories. In the first experiment (22 cultivars), total yields over 4 years were highest in haycut plots for the WD cultivar WL3 18 (35 690 kg/ha) and lowest for the aphid-susceptible SWD cultivar 77-B-1545 (25 255 kg/ha). In grazed plots, the HWA cultivar CUF101 had the highest yield (20 091 kg/ha) and 77-B-1545 the lowest (12 127 kg/ha). The frequency of all cultivars in haycut plots declined from 71 to 49% during the experiment. Mean frequency decreased from 68 to 11% in grazed plots and was not significantly different between cultivars after 4 years. In the second experiment (seven cultivars), total yields over 3.5 years were highest for the SWD cultivar Pioneer Brand 581 in the haycut plots (21 213 kg/ha) and the HWA cultivar WL514 in grazed plots (11611 kg/ha). The frequency of all cultivars in haycut plots decreased from 89 to 61% during the experiment; those in grazed plots decreased from 90 to 12%. There were no significant differences between the cultivars in either treatment at the end of the experiment. Trends in time between the contrasts WDSWD and WA-HWA (experiment 1) and D-A (experiments 1 and 2) were analysed in a repeated measures analysis. For dry matter, significant trends over time (P<0.05) occurred in the haycut WA-HWA contrast (linear decrease) and for the contrasts WD-SWD (linear decrease) and WA-HWA (concave quadratic) in the grazed plots of experiment 1. Under both grazing and haycutting, the D-A contrasts in experiment 1 were linear and increased with time; in experiment 2, the active lucernes constantly outyielded the dormants. For plant frequency, the haycut WA-HWA contrast increased linearly with time and, with grazing, the WD cultivars had a significantly higher frequency (P<0.05) than the SWD class. For both grazed and haycut plots, the D-A contrasts in experiment 1 were significant and cubic; in experiment 2, they were concave quadratics. These data indicate that, irrespective of frequency, the grazed yield of the active lucernes was always greater than that of the dormants. Despite differences in the plant frequency of the different dormancy classes during the experiment, their persistences after 4 years of grazing were similar.
Honeybee pollination of lupins (Lupinus albus cv. Hamburg)
Authors: Langridge DF , Goodman RD
Published: March 2005

Mean yields of seed, percentage germination of seed, and mass of 1000 seeds of Lupinus albus cv. Hamburg were significantly greater from plots to which honeybees (Apis mellifera) and larger insects had access than from plots which excluded these insects. Bees collected appreciable quantities of pollen and nectar from the lupin flowers, which enabled them to build up colony populations, store surplus honey and provide some surplus pollen to the beekeeper.No airborne lupin pollen was detected and wind pollination of this species seems to be negligible; but some self-pollination does occur. Bee activity on this species makes bees important agents of pollination of L. albus.
Effect of growth rate and mating age of dairy heifers on subsequent production over four years
Authors: Bettenay RA
Published: March 2005

An experiment was conducted using Friesian heifers in a Mediterranean environment to examine the effect of growth rate to mating and mating age on subsequent production. Heifers were mated at 12, 15, 18 or 24 months of age and at target mating weights of either 250 or 300 kg liveweight. Differential feeding ceased at the end of mating but, after calving, cows were grazed at one of two stocking rates. There were 64 cows in the milking phase of the experiment. Liveweight and production were measured over four lactations. There were no differences in production associated with target weight. Productions over four lactations for heifers first mated at 12, 15, 18 or 24 months were 15 500, 17 683, 16 779 and 18 855 kg fat-corrected milk, respectively. It was concluded that when differential feeding was discontinued at first mating, and feed was then not restricted up to calving, lifetime production was comparable whether heifers were mated at 48 or 58% of mature weight. Calving at less than 24 months of age could not be recommended.
Mating behaviour of rams in pens
Authors: Kilgour RJ
Published: March 2005

Two experiments were carried out to measure the mating behaviour of rams in pens. In the first, rams were tested for 1 or 3 h in a large number of tests, and records were taken of the number of mounts per test, serves per test, the ratio of mounts to serves, and the various time intervals between sexual activities. The number of serves per test was the most highly repeatable measure (0.66 �. 0.16 (� s.e.) for tests of 1 h and 0.66 � 0.18 for tests of 3 h). Up to two introductory tests were required to allow rams to overcome apprehension and then to demonstrate their true serving behaviour. Tests of 20 min did not always detect differences between rams in serving behaviour. In the second experiment, the above results were validated on a large number of rams. It was further shown that the heritability of the number of serves per test was 0.33 � 0.62. The frequency distribution of serves per test was shown to be skewed to the right.
Lucerne responses to lime and interactions with other nutrients on granitic soils
Authors: Crocker GJ , Sheridan KP , Holford ICR
Published: March 2005

Experiments were carried out in the field and glasshouse to determine the requirements for lime and nutrient elements by lucerne growing on moderately acid, weakly buffered granitic soils of the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. The initial field experiment, which was an omission type at two sites with basal applications of phosphorus and sulfur, gave responses only to molybdenum, whilst on the 'complete' nutrient treatment (potassium, magnesium, molybdenum, manganese, boron, copper, zinc, cobalt and iron), there were large responses to lime. The subsequent glasshouse experiments gave large positive interactions between lime and the complete nutrient treatment and also between lime and phosphorus. The interactions between lime and complete nutrients involved mainly boron and to a lesser extent molybdenum, but at least one other nutrient, probably potassium, was also involved. However, the largest interaction was between lime and phosphorus. There was little indication that the lime effect was caused by increased nutrient availability in the soil or by improved root nodulation; it appeared to be associated with greatly improved root growth. White clover differed from lucerne in giving no interactions between lime and other nutrients and was much less sensitive to lime-induced boron deficiency. The results' of these experiments indicate that lucerne yields on these granitic soils cannot be maximized by the application of nutrient elements unless lime is also applied. Likewise lime has little effect unless deficient nutrients are also applied. Near-maximum yields were obtained with lime at 2.5 t/ha in the presence of adequate levels of deficient nutrients.
Summer forages under irrigation. 1. Growth and development
Authors: Muldoon DK
Published: March 2005

Summer forages, including Sorghum bicolor hybrids, S, sudanense, S. bicolor x S. sudanense hybrids, perennial sorghum, maize and Pennisetum and Echinochloa millets were grown on an alkaline clay soil at Trangie, New South Wales. They were fertilized and flood irrigated to allow the expression of potential growth characteristics. Fractional dry matter accumulation was measured during primary growth and subsequent regrowths. The accumulation pattern in primary growth was described by quadratic regressions of logarithmically transformed data. The highest dry matter yield of 31-33 t/ha was obtained in a single cut from late flowering sweet sorghum hybrids. Under a multiple cutting regime, however, these were inferior to sudangrass and sorghumxsudangrass hybrids, which produced up to 14 and 16 t/ha, respectively. The latter group maintained tiller numbers in regrowth in contrast to the poor tillering and slow regrowth of sweet sorghum hybrids. Regrowth of maize was negligible following tiller decapitation. Piper Sudangrass and Indian barnyard millet were the only species to yield as much under multiple cutting as from a single cut. The latter was exceptional among the millets in that most millets tillered poorly after the second cut. The millets produced less than half the cumulative regrowth yield of sorghum hybrids. Removal of the apical meristem appeared to jeopardize their regrowth. Consequently, if maximum dry matter production is the sole aim of forage production, millets do not compete with sorghum hybrids in a warm temperate climate.
Summer forages under irrigation. 4. The growth and mineral composition of forage legumes
Authors: Muldoon DK
Published: March 2005

Summer forage legumes from the species Vigna unguiculata, Macroptilium lathyroides, Lablab purpureus, Arachis hypogaea and Glycine max were grown under irrigation at Trangie, New South Wales. Dry matter accumulation and plant development were recorded in primary growth and three subsequent regrowths. Plant fractions were analysed for nitrogen, sulfur and sodium during primary growth. In primary growth lablab produced the highest dry matter yield of 14 t/ha. This was attributed to very late flowering (110 days) and woody stems able to support this bulk. In contrast, cowpea lodged after producing 7 t/ha. Soybean produced 10 t/ha of dry matter but rapid leaf abscission detracted from its forage potential. Phasey bean was an excellent species under a 6-week cutting regime, yielding 10 t/ha from four cuts. In contrast to other species, it branched rapidly and extensively from basal buds. The basal branching and prostrate growth habit of peanut enabled it to yield 9 t/ha from three cuts. The leaves of all species contained over 3% nitrogen; mature stems had only half this concentration. Phasey bean and cowpea had much higher sodium contents (1040 and 1535 ppm at 10 weeks) than lablab (335), peanut (80), and soybean (165), the latter three being below recommended levels for animal production. All species contained satisfactory levels of sulfur (0.21, 0.30, 0.20, 0.18 and 0.17% in phasey bean, cowpea, lablab, peanut and soybean, respectively, at 10 weeks).
Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla) on potato in south-eastern South Australia
Authors: Stirling GR , Wachtel MF
Published: March 2005

In south-eastern South Australia root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla) caused losses to potato crops in fields that were sown once every 5- 15 years and were used for grazing in the intervening years. Although seed used by some growers was infested with M. hapla, the nematode also survived between potato crops on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), the dominant pasture species, and capeweed (Cryptostemma calendula). Subterranean clover was the most abundant alternate host. Nematodes invaded clover seedlings that established following rain in April and produced eggs about 12 weeks later. A second generation was produced in late winter and spring, so that a relatively high root-knot nematode population was present when potatoes were planted. The population increased rapidly on potatoes and numbers capable of causing severe root damage were observed 10- 15 weeks after planting. The growing of non-host crops, or the use of herbicides or cultivation to eliminate subterranean clover in the winter prior to the potato crop, should be investigated. In a nematicide trial, ethylene dibromide at 70 and 110 kg/ha increased yields of potato cv. Pontiac by about 90%.
Effects of phosphorus on seed yields of subterranean clover, serradella and annual medics
Authors: Bolland MDA
Published: March 2005

In three experiments located near Esperance, Western Australia, the effect of superphosphate phosphorus on seed yields of subterranean clover, serradella and annual medics was measured on newly-cleared soils, using low seeding rates. In two experiments, the relationship between seed yield and the amount of phosphorus applied was linear for subterranean clover and serradella; seed yields increasing by 7-24 kg/ha for each kg/ha of phosphorus applied, depending on species, strain or cultivar, and location. In the third experiment, seed yields of annual medic species also increased markedly with increasing amounts of applied superphosphate phosphorus, this response also depended on species and strain or cultivar, but the responses become less marked with increasing amounts of phosphorus. For the annual medic species, the phosphorus treatments had no effect on average weight of one burr, number of seeds per burr, weight of one seed, or the rate of softening of hard seeds as measured both in a 15/60� alternating temperature oven (one cycle/day) or for samples of burrs collected periodically during summer from the field. For all legumes, the appearance of first flowers was not affected by phosphorus treatment.
Phosphorus nutrition of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) on Cockatoo Sands of the Ord River Irrigation Area
Authors: Bell MJ
Published: March 2005

Yield response of field-grown Virginia Bunch peanuts to a range of soil phosphorus levels, determined using 0.5M NaHCO3 extractant, in the top 10 cm of the soil profile was evaluated on Cockatoo Sands of the Ord River Irrigation Area. Critical levels of soil phosphorus (required to attain 90% of maximum yield recorded in fertilized plots) was 7.3 ppm for pods and 7.9 ppm for kernels. Yield increases obtained with higher soil phosphorus status were due to increased pod number and kernel size. Trends in tissue phosphorus concentration in uppermost fully expanded leaves were monitored during the season, and critical concentrations for 90% of maximum pod yield were derived. The critical concentration (0.30% P, dry-weight basis) did not change with time during the vegetative phase of development, but declined in a linear fashion over time during reproductive development, from 0.27% P at 60 days after emergence to 0.12% P at 100 days after emergence.
Influence of root-knot nematodes on yield of tobacco in northern New South Wales
Authors: McLeod RW
Published: March 2005

Root-knot nematode galling and yield of tobacco were measured in six nematicide trials in northern New South Wales. There were significant differences in the average galling indices of treatments in all trials. Treatment yields differed significantly in only one trial. Straight-line regression analyses of plot yield on plot galling index showed a significant correlation in four trials. These analyses indicate yield losses of 2.6-9.4% for increments of 10 in galling index. [Index = 1.25 X (sum of gall scores for 20 plants), where scores range from 0 (no galls) to 4 (75- 100% of root galled).]
Effects of flooding, rootstocks and fungicides on Phytophthora crown rot of almonds
Authors: Wicks T , Lee TC
Published: March 2005

Flooding for 2 days in the absence of Phytophthora cambivora either killed or severely retarded the growth of seedling Chellaston almonds and the peach rootstock Nemaguard. Flooding either before or after inoculation favoured the development of P. cambivora in Chellaston almond seedlings. Both Chellaston and Mission were more susceptible than Nemaguard to P. cambivora. A water suspension of 250 ml of metalaxyl at 333 or 1000 mg a.i./litre in hibited the development of lesions on stems if applied as a drench before or at the time of inoculation, but not when applied 3 or 7 days later.
Effect of pasture allowance and level of concentrate feeding on the productivity of dairy cows in late lactation
Authors: Stockdale CR , Trigg TE
Published: March 2005

This experiment examined the effects of level of concentrate feeding and pasture allowance on the productivity of dairy cows in late lactation. Thirty-two cows in their 8th month of lactation were allocated to eight treatments; these were combinations of two pasture allowances (about 15 and 26 kg DM/cow.day) and four levels of concentrates (0,2,4 kg/cow.day and ad libitum). Milk and protein yields increased linearly with level of supplementation but the response of milk fat yield was curvilinear; peak fat yield occurred at 4 to 5 kg DM/cow.day of concentrates fed. The marginal returns from feeding 1 kg of concentrates were 0.57 kg milk, 0.030 kg fat and 0.022 kg protein from feeding up to 5 kg DM/ cow.day. The different pasture allowances significantly influenced only fat yield; the cows at the higher allowance produced 0.044 kg more fat than did the cows at the lower allowance.