bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparison of the growth and development of biculm wheat lines with freely tillering cultivars
Authors: Marshall C. , Boyd W. J. R. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe growth, development and grain yield of two low-tillering lines of wheat of Israeli origin were compared with those of two freely tillering Australian wheat cultivars (Gamenya and Egret) in field plots. The majority of individuals from the low-tillering selections were uniculms or biculms. Detailed observations were made on the main shoot of the biculms. There was no difference in the duration of primordia production by the main shoot apex between genotypes but the rate of initiation of spikelet primordia in the lowtillering lines was significantly greater than that of the tillering cultivars and this resulted in a large ear with more spikelets. The rate of leaf appearance was very similar in all genotypes but the later-appearing leaves of the biculms were very large in comparison with those of the cultivars. The majority of the biculms produced the tiller in T3 position. At maturity the main shoot and tiller of biculm individuals produced 60 and 40% respectively more dry weight than the equivalent shoots of the tillering cultivars. The total biomass per plant of the biculms was similar to that of Egret but less than that of Gamenya. The grain yield of the main shoot of the biculms was 50% greater than that for the tillering varieties and this was associated with an increase in the number of grains per ear as there was little difference in grain size. In the biculm a high proportion of the spikelets in the mid part of the main shoot ear produced five grains; grains from basal florets were significantly larger than those of upper florets mainly because they had a longer duration of growth. Overall the grain yield of the two tillering cultivars, either per plant or per metre of row length, was approximately 30% greater than that of the low-tillering selections. The greater growth of the main shoot axis in the biculms therefore did not compensate for the grain contributed by the tillers of the freely tillering cultivars.
Intercropping of upland rice with blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.)]
Authors: Sengupta K. , Bhattacharyya K. K. , Chatterjee B. N. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryTo increase the productivity of fields growing direct-seeded upland rice, which usually gives low yields because of weed competition, unsatisfactory establishment and exposure to intermittent drought, an experiment on intercropping of rice with blackgram was conducted in two seasons under rainfed conditions on a sandy loam soil. Blackgram, when intersown simultaneously in one row in every 30 cm wide space left between the stand of 10 cm apart paired rows of rice, reduced the yield of rice by 1·64 t/ha. When one row of blaokgram was intersown, 21 days after sowing of rice (after completing weeding) between the paired rows of rice, rice yield was reduced by only 0·24 t/ha compared with solecropping of rice with weeding. This system provided mean yields of 2·48 t/ha of riceand 0·95 t/ha of blackgram. The price of blackgram being high, it showed a mean monetary advantage of Rs. 2373/ha over sole cropping of rice. The blackgram reduced the weed population appreciably.
Metal concentrations in sludges and soil from a long-term field trial
Authors: McGrath S. P. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryMetal contents are reported of the soils from a field experiment in which two rates of various organic manures, including sewage sludge and sludge compost, were applied from 1942 to 1961. Changes in the concentrations of some elements in the sludges during the 20 years are also presented.The percentage recoveries of the added metals Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cr in the topsoil varied from 71 to 96%. In 1960, extractability of the metals from the soils by 0·05 M-EDTA was 50% of the aqua regia-soluble total metals. This figure did not vary greatly with metal or with the type of organic manure that was applied.
Effect of salt, alkali and zinc on iron equilibrium in submerged soils
Authors: Sadana U. S. , Takkar P. N. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryIn a pot experiment the effect of salt (EC 5, 10 and 20mmhos/cm at 25 °C), alkali (ESP 10, 20 and 40) and Zn (lOmgZn/kg soil) on Fe equilibria in submerged soils was studied. The required salt and alkali concentrations were obtained by adding calculated amounts of NaCl and NaHCO3 respectively to Rohi sandy loam (Typic Ustifluvent). The soil solutions drawn anoxically by gravity were analysed for pH, pE, EC and Fe. As the EC increased, pH and pE of the soil solution decreased and Fe concentration increased at all the stages of submergence. ESP had the opposite effect. Addition of ZnSO4 in combination with EC and ESP treatments further decreased pH and pE and increased Fe concentration; however, its effect was more pronounced in the former treatments. In spite of wide variation in pH, pE and Fe concentration in soil solution, the values of the expressions pE – pFe2+ + 3pH, pE – 1·5 pFe2+ + 4 pH and pE + pH were nearly constant and close to the standard values of 17·9, 23·3 and 7·3 for Fe(OH)3 – Fe2+, Fe3(OH)8 – Fe2+ and Fe(OH)3 – Fe3(OH)8 systems after 1, 14 and 14 days of submergence, respectively. Addition of ZnSO4 did not have an appreciable effect on these systems in salt- and alkalitreated soils.
Relationship of stalk morphology and chemical composition to lodging resistance in maize (Zea mays L.) in a rainforest zone
Authors: Esechie H. A. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryField and laboratory studies were carried out in 1981 and 1982 to investigate the relationship of stalk morphology and chemical composition to lodging resistance in maize in the rainforest zone of Nigeria.Morphological characters correlated with lodging were plant height, diameter and length of basal internode, thickness of rind and weight of 5 cm basal section. Lodging was negatively correlated with grain yield, and with the percentages of total nonstructural carbohydrate, protein and potassium in the stalks. Premature stalk senescence and rot were common in varieties susceptible to lodging. Lodging had no relationship with leaf area and number of days from sowing to flowering.
Hydrodynamics and the germination of oil-seed rape pollen
Authors: Corbet Sarah A. , Plumridge Janette R. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryPollen grains of oil-seed rape, Brassica napus, were germinated in vitro in conditions in which water activity could be closely controlled. Germination success depended on the humidity experienced by the grains before contact with the germination medium, as well as on the osmolarity of that medium. On contact with the germination medium the grains swelled and then shrank. Each suffered one of three fates: it burst, or it germinated without bursting, or it did neither, remaining unchanged. Grains that were to remain unchanged swelled least. Those that were to burst swelled most. Those that were to germinate were intermediate.Some implications for in vitro germination studies are discussed.
The influence of nitrogen, phosphate and potash on the secretion of nectar. Part I
Authors: Ryle Margaret 
Published: March 2009

1. Experiments were carried out to test the effects of the three main mineral fertilizers on the secretion of nectar by apple, mustard and buckwheat. Factorial designs were used, and data on plant growth were collected in order to attempt to relate growth to nectar production. Apart from the apple trees the plants were cultivated in clean sand to which known quantities of pure minerals were added.2.Apple.The mean quantity of sugar per flower was significantly increased by extra potash; phosphate also tended to increase it. At the higher level of potash, nitrogen had significantly increased the crop of apples the previous year; it decreased the nectar yield. Potash increased nectar yield most when its effect on the crop had been small, and vice versa.3.Mustard. In this experiment the quantity of water supplied to the plants was varied as well as the fertilizers. On the last sampling occasion nectar was more frequently obtained from plants with the lower dose of nitrate than from those with the higher dose. At the high level of water, and with low nitrate, extra potash consistently increased the mean quantity of sugar per flower but with the high level of nitrate it consistently decreased it. The phosphate level had no significant or consistent influence on nectar yield.Treatments increasing nectar production tended (a) to decrease stem weight and total number of flowers; (b) to retard flower production, probably as a consequence of relatively slower growth; (c) to increase petal length, and (d) to increase the proportion of plants with orange or red pigment in the withering leaves.4.Buckwheat. Nectar was obtained significantly more frequently from those plants which had received extra nitrate and extra potash. It is suggested that the nitrate effect was due primarily to the senescent condition at the time of sampling of some of the plants with the lower dose, especially those which also had the high level of phosphate, and to the interactions of nitrate with phosphate and potash in respect to nectar production. Such explanations do not account for the effect of extra potash. Extra nitrate and potash always increased the stem weight and number of flower sprays; phosphate had little effect.
Observations on the development of the fleece and follicle population in Suffolk sheep
Authors: Burns Marca 
Published: March 2009

Observations were made on four Suffolk lambs from birth to 14 months of age, wool and skin samples being taken periodically. The lambs were on a high nutritional plane and grew well throughout the experiment.1. There is good agreement between estimates of growth based on body weight, calculated surface area, and expansion of tattooed squares.2. Fibre Type Arrays were Valley or Plain.3. Benzene tests showed considerable medullation in the fleeces of all the lambs, mainly in the posterior parts. There were practically none on the shoulder.4. The weight of keratin produced daily per unit area of skin reached or exceeded the figure given as maximal by Galpin (1948) in only six samples, of which four were grown prior to 1 month old.5. The follicle population completes its development early, only a few secondary follicles being added after birth. The definitive S/P ratio is 5/, which is similar to the Leicester, and lower than in the Romney breed. The follicle density, although high at birth, is lower than in the Romney or Leicester, after 9 months old. Both S/P ratio and follicle density are higher than in the Blackface breed.6. The transitory black colour of the birth-coat of Suffolk lambs is due to pigmentation of the tips of many fibres; this may affect any type of fibre from haloes and sickles to histerotrichs. With very few exceptions all follicles cease to produce pigmented fibre at or shortly after birth of the lamb. Large amoebic melanoblasts are present in the skin.
Studies on soil phosphorus III. Phosphorus fractionation as a fertility index in South Australian soils
Authors: Williams Colin H. 
Published: March 2009

A simplification of Ghani's method for the fractionation of soil phosphorus has been used to study relationships between soil and plant phosphorus in field and pot-culture experiments.In pot-culture experiments with red-brown earth soils (pH 5·6–6·1) wheat derived approximately 60% of its phosphorus from the fraction of soil phosphorus soluble in 2·5% acetic acid-1% 8-hydroxyquinoline and 30% from the inorganic fraction soluble in 0·1 n-sodium hydroxide, even although the amount of acetic acid soluble phosphorus present in these soils was only about half that present as inorganic alkali soluble. Very little use was made of organic phosphorus.In field experiments with similar soils there was a correlation between the percentage phosphorus in the plant material and the acetic acid soluble, the inorganic alkali soluble, and the sura of these two fractions of soil phosphorus. The sum of these two fractions was also correlated with the amount of phosphorus taken up by the crop.In pot-culture experiments with a wider range of soil types there was good correlation between the total extractable inorganic soil phosphorus and both the phosphorus content of the plant and the phosphorus uptake. Correlations between individual inorganic extractable soil phosphorus fractions and plant phosphorus were influenced by the pH of the two groups of soils examined.
Effective temperature as a measure of environmental conditions for pigs
Authors: McLagan Joan R. , Thomson W. 
Published: March 2009

1. Three experiments confirmed the view that losses, poor weight gains and low food consumption were always problems among pigs reared in an open pen in a large uninsulated building in comparison with the better results for pigs reared in wooden ark huts. Pigs in an ark hut with an outdoor run did better than those in one with an indoor run.2. The effective temperature of the different types of housing was estimated. The differences found were not large but the environment which produced the best pigs had the highest effective temperature.3. The provision of an insulated, dry floor to sleep on made it possible to rear good pigs in a pen where before they had failed. Woollen jackets did not provide sufficient insulation to affect the growth or health of pigs in a hut or pen.
Studies in grazing management II. The amount and chemical composition of herbage eaten by dairy cattle under close-folding and rotational methods of grazing
Authors: Waite R. , Holmes W. , Campbell Jean I. , Fergusson D. L. 
Published: March 2009

1. An attempt has been made to measure the amount of herbage eaten by groups of milking Ayr shire cows when grazing under two different systems, (a) close-folding and (b) rotational.2. Under close-folding the daily consumption of dry matter varied from 18 to 27 lb. per cow. Long herbage reduced the amount eaten. Considerable increases in the weight of herbage offered resulted in only slightly increased consumption. On good leafy pasture the dry-matter intake was about 24 lb. per cow per day.3. Under the rotational system the intake was more constant at about 28 lb. dry matter per cow per day. Some abnormally low results were obtained which were associated with the difficulty of obtaining a representative sample of herbage, particularly after grazing.4. Frequent chemical analysis of the pasture before and after grazing on the close-folding system were made, and the intake of the major grass constituents calculated. A comparison of nutrient intake as calculated from these results with that theoretically required has been made.
Investigations on copper deficiency in plants
Authors: Piper C. S. 
Published: March 2009

A water-culture technique has been described which makes it possible to determine with precision the effects on plant growth resulting from the absence of traces of the various heavy metals.The essential nature of copper for plant growth has been confirmed, and the quantitative data presented show that the addition of traces of copper to a nutrient solution leads to increases of growth of the order of 200–1200%.The characteristic symptoms produced by growing oats, peas, wheat, Wimmera rye-grass,Phalaris, flax, tomato, subterranean clover, and lucerne in nutrient solutions devoid of copper are described. Copper becomes necessary for normal healthy growth at an early seedling stage and is required so long as active growth is proceeding. Optimum growth of oats was obtained throughout a wide range of copper concentration in the nutrient solution.Oats grown in a copper-free nutrient solution until the development of acute deficiency symptoms recovered and completed their normal life cycle on the addition of sufficient copper to the solution.The copper content of oats at various stages of growth has been determined. The proportion of copper in the dry matter of the plant was greatest in the young stages and rapidly decreased as growth proceeded.The copper content of mature oat plants showing symptoms of copper deficiency was less than 1·0 mg. per kg. whether grown in nutrient solution or obtained from copper-deficient soils. Oats which ceased growth from copper deficiency at an earlier stage of development contained a relatively greater amount of copper in their dry matter.
The composition and nutritive value, when fed to ruminants, of pea-pod meal and broad-bean-pod meal
Authors: Woodman H. E. , Evans R. E. 
Published: March 2009

Attention is directed in this paper to the desirability, particularly at the present time, of conserving, for purposes of winter-feeding, the pea-pods that accumulate in large quantities at the factories during the pea-canning season. Conservation on the farm is best carried out by the method of ensilage, young pea-pods, such as are obtained in the factory, giving rise to a very satisfactory type of silage without the use of molasses. Broad-bean-pods, on the other hand, do not lend themselves to successful conservation by ensilage, owing to the fact that they become “slimy” in the process and yield an unpalatable product.Both pea-pods and bean-pods are conserved in the factory by the method of artificial-drying. One such process is described in the present paper. The final product in both cases is obtained as a fine brown meal. Pea-pod meal, in some respects, particularly in regard to its satisfactory content of protein and lime, has a composition not unlike that of the leguminous hays. The similarity, however, does not extend to the fibrous constituent, pea-pod meal having a very much lower fibre content than the hays.An outstanding characteristic of pea-pod meal is its richness in sugar, no less than 16·5% of the dry matter consisting of a mixture of sucrose and invert sugar. It is the presence of this abundance of sugar that accounts for the favourable fermentation that takes place when young pea-pods in the fresh condition are conserved as silage.Bean-pod meal displays the same general features in respect of composition, but is distinctly poorer in lime and sugar than the pea-pod meal. Pea-pods and bean-pods, both in the fresh and artificially-dried condition, contain very little carotene and have, therefore, little or no significance as a source of this vitamin A-precursor in the feeding of live-stock.
Clinical and experimental observations on reproduction in the mare
Authors: Day F. T. 
Published: March 2009

1. The length of oestrus in mares varied from 3 to 54 days, although in most cases it was 7–8 days.2. The length of dioestrus varied from 5 to 30 days, but in most cases was 11–16 days.3. Ovulation occurred in most cases on the last day of oestrus, but a considerable number of ovulations occurred on the 1st and 2nd days before the end of oestrus, and in a few cases from the 5th day before the end of oestrus to 1 day after the end of oestrus.4. Artificial insemination of mares was equally effective in the intervals of 24, 48 and 72 hr. before ovulation but was unsuccessful in intervals of 2 and 4 hr. after ovulation.5. Pregnancy was diagnosed in all mares by rectal palpation on the 23rd day and in one mare as early as the 16th day.6. The foetus developed in the opposite horn of the uterus to the ovary which ovulated at the onset of pregnancy in five out of seven mares.7. Ovulation occurred in one mare on the 23rd day of pregnancy.8. Gonadotrophic hormones had no effect when given in the anoestrous period (November to March).9. Ovulation was induced in 20–40 hr. in most cases after the intravenous injection of 1000–2000 mouse or rat units of pregnancy urine extract intravenously, provided a fairly mature follicle was present in the ovary at the time of injection.When this ovulation occurred, the duration of oestrus was shortened.
The movement of potassium in irrigated and fertilized red sandy clay
Authors: Lachower D. 
Published: March 2009

The present investigation was intended to furnish information concerning:(1) The movement of water-soluble and exchangeable potassium in the soil profile after successive fertilizer applications.(2) The form of potassium—exchangeable, soluble, or non-exchangeable—into which added potassium fertilizer is converted in the soil.(3) The effect of doubling the fertilizer ration on the absorption of potassium by the soil; and the effect of doubling the ration of irrigation water on the absorption and accumulation of potassium in the soil.(4) The effect of frequent successive summer irrigation following fertilizer application on the distribution of the three forms of soil potassium.(5) The effect of fertilization followed by irrigation on soil pH. value.
The fate of manganese sulphate in alkaline soils
Authors: Wain R. L. , Silk B. J. , Wills B. C. 
Published: March 2009

1. Experiments have been made to determine the effect of treating alkaline soils with manganese sulphate on the quantities of manganese which can be extracted by N-ammonium acetate.2. Two soils of known total and ‘extractable’ manganese content were treated with manganese sulphate solution in the laboratory and re-analysed after definite time intervals. In the first of these, a calcareous soil from the College Farm, the extractable manganese decreased for 14 days after treatment, after which time manganese was again liberated, presumably due to a waterlogging effect. The extractable manganese in the second soil, a slightly alkaline soil with a high organic matter content, increased appreciably after treatment and remained at this level for the duration of the experiment.3. An experiment conducted in the field on a highly calcareous soil showed that the extractable manganese content down to a depth of 12 in., had fallen to its original level only 7 days after treatment. This behaviour is in agreement with the observations of other workers that there is little residual effect from manganese sulphate treatment for subsequent crops. The desirability of performing similar experiments on other soils is suggested.4. The effect of waterlogging and steam sterilization was to increase the quantities of extractable manganese in the soils examined.The authors wish to express their grateful thanks to Mr B. S. Furneaux, M.Sc, for the descriptions of the soils investigated, and to Dr N. H. Pizer for his valuable suggestions in the preparation of this paper. They are also indebted to Mr J. Hargrave of the Agricultural Institute, Kirton, Lines, for providing the Bourne Fen soil, and to Mr J. Tinsley, B.Sc., for pH and organic matter determinations.
The effect of herbage allowance on herbage intake and performance of ewes and their twin lambs grazing perennial ryegrass
Authors: Gibb M. J. , Treacher T. T. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe effect of herbage allowance on the intake and performance of Scottish Half bred ewes with twin lambs was investigated over the first 16 weeks of lactation. Herbage allowances were defined as g herbage D.M./kg live weight (LW)/day, and were maintained by provision of fresh areas of ungrazed sward each day.Herbage allowances in the range 25–120 g D.M./kg LW/day were offered on an area of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. S. 23). Parturition was synchronized and ewes and lambs were turned out to pasture 1 day after lambing.Measurements were made of the herbage intake, live-weight change and milk yield of ewes, of lamb growth rates and of the herbage intake of lambs from 10 weeks of age.Herbage allowance had a significant linear effect on intakes of grass by ewes and lambs. The highest intakes by the ewes were achieved during the second week, and were in the range 23–43 g OM/kg LW/day. Intakes declined, as lactation proceeded, to 19–29 g OM/kg LW/day at week 12. Intakes of lambs were similar in weeks 10 and 12 and were in the range 17–24 g OM/kg LW/day. Allowance had a significant effect on live-weight change of the ewes after the first month and upon final body condition.There was no effect of allowance on milk yield until week 6. Mean milk yields were 2·3 kg/day at day 14, 1·0–1·5 kg/day at day 42 and 0·7–1·1 kg/day at day 84. There was a positive effect of allowance on growth rates of the lambs after the first month. Mean overall growth rates to 84 days of age were 175–243 g/day.