bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Breed and sex differences in skeletal dimensions of sheep in the first year of life
Authors: Searle T. W. , Graham N. McC. , Donnelly J. B. , Margan D. E. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYVarious measures of skeletal size were made on five or six occasions on 30 Dorset Horn and 30 Corriedale sheep (10 entire males, 10 females and 10 castrated males) commencing at 1 month of age (live weight 10 kg) and then at increments of 10 kg until 55 kg. After weaning at 6–7 weeks, they were fed ad libitumon a high-quality diet. The data sets for each sheep were analysed separately and, where appropriate, pooled equations for sex and breed were generated. Within both breeds, males had the widest shoulders at any given age and, within the Corriedales, males had the deepest chests. Dorset Horns grew faster than Corriedales and, except for leg length, were larger and heavier at corresponding ages.At any given live weight, there was no difference between sexes within breeds and the breeds had similar chest depths. The Corriedales had longer legs and smaller shoulders than the Dorset Horns at all weights and, when heavier than 30 kg, were also larger in other body dimensions.
Influence of planting date on plant losses and yield responses of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) to root rot and wilt
Authors: Kalra A. , Parameswaran T. N. , Ravindra N. S. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYDifferent geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L. Herit) clones differed in susceptibility to root rot and wilt caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn. Reactions were consistent when assessed either by standardized laboratory tests or by pot experiments using 60-day-old well-rooted plants. Plants of an Algerian-type clone (Kd) had a lower survival rate and higher root rot index values than those of a Reunion type (Lo) and an Egyptian type (Eg). Field studies conducted in naturally-infected plots in southern India from 1987 to 1990 showed that summer planting resulted in higher plant losses of all clones than winter planting. As in the laboratory and pot experiments, the Lo and Eg clones sustained less plant loss and produced higher herbage and oil yields than the Kd clones in both field experiments.
Effects of active immunization against LHRH and melatonin on growth and plasma hormone concentrations in red deer stags during their second year
Authors: Ataja A. M. , Barry T. N. , Hoskinson R. M. , Wilson P. R. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe effects of immunization against luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) and melatonin were studied during autumn and winter 1989 in yearling red deer stags initially aged 14 months and weighing 90–96 kg. Four out of five stags immunized against LHRH and six out of eight stags immunized against melatonin developed detectable levels of antibody titre. Immunization against LHRH reduced plasma LH concentration and both delayed and reduced weight loss associated with the rut (autumn); however, it had no effect upon carcass weight and dressing-out percentage was slightly lowered, showing that non-carcass components had been affected. Immunization against melatonin had no effect either on weight loss during the rut or on the rate of liveweight gain during winter and spring. Plasma concentrations of LH and testosterone were not affected by melatonin immunization; however, plasma prolactin concentration was consistently, but non-significantly, higher in immunized than control animals.
No-tillage and dry ploughing compared with puddling for wet-season rice on an alluvial sandy clay–loam in eastern India
Authors: Mahata K. R. , Sen H. S. , Pradhan S. K. , Mandal L. N. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYNo-tillage and dry ploughing were compared with puddling under identical cultivation conditions for their effect on growth and yield of wet-season rice. The experiment was conducted on an alluvial sandy clay–loam soil over 5 years (1978–82) at Cuttack, India. In the preceding dry season, each plot was split into two halves for growing dry-season crops, with and without tillage. Growth of rice seedlings without applying N to the seed bed was faster and more vigorous after puddling, as shown by greater shoot and root weight per hill and a higher shoot:root ratio, and remained so until maturity. This was reflected in earlier flowering and maturity, followed by greater grain and straw yields. These results are attributed to the ability of the roots to obtain more N from the puddled soil.Under high water table conditions, extractable and soluble N in the root zone were not much influenced by tillage treatments. Grain and straw yields after no-tillage were similar to those produced by dry ploughing but smaller than those produced by puddling, although the differences were not significant in some years.Soil strength measured at the end of the rice-growing season in 1980 and 1981 was significantly greater after continuous no-tillage. The decreasing trend in grain and straw yield and number of panicle-bearing tillers/m2 from 1980 onwards after continuous no-tillage, was associated with increasing soil strength. The results suggest that, where percolation losses of water and nutrients are small, puddling, which is capital intensive and detrimental to soil structure, could be replaced by notillage accompanied by suitable N and weed management. However, continuous no-tillage is not recommended for a soil with a lower clay content because the soil will gradually harden with time.
Sowing sugar beet in autumn in England
Authors: Wood D. W. , Scott R. K. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYExperiments in England from 1970 to 1973 investigated the possibility of extending the growing season and increasing yields of bolting resistant sugar beet by sowing in autumn rather than in spring. September-sown plants grew rapidly in spring and achieved a complete leaf cover by mid-June by which time they had intercepted 40 % of radiation incident since mid-April compared with 28 and 9% for crops sown on 13 October and 13 April respectively. By early June autumn-sown plants were 20 fold heavier than spring sown but this advantage was progressively lost with the onset of bolting. Root growth slowed as assimilates were diverted to stem and inflorescence growth. Delaying autumn sowing from late September until mid-October delayed and reduced the frequency of bolting, probably because of a shortening of the period when plants were sufficiently large to respond to cold. Cutting down bolting inflorescences at frequent intervals improved root growth of both bolters and non-bolters. However, yields from autumn sowing never exceeded those from spring sowing, the best yield from an autumn-sown crop was 6·1 t/ha of sugar which was similar to that of the spring-sown crop. To try to prevent bolting of overwintered plants the growth regulator ethephon was applied at 10000 mg a.i./l water sufficient to wet the foliage in mid-April. Growth was severely checked and 55 % of plants died. Of the remainder 25–30% fewer than in the untreated crop bolted but yields were 26–42 % less. Less concentrated doses of ethephon did not affect bolting.
Transmission of Helminthosporium solani from potato seed tubers and effects of soil conditions, seed inoculum and seed physiology on silver scurf disease
Authors: Firman D. M. , Allen E. J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe transmission of silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani) disease of potatoes was examined in field experiments at Cambridge University Farm in 1988–90. Treatment factors examined were seed size, seed age, seed incubation, soil moisture regime and planting date. A laboratory experiment investigated the viability of conidia of Helminthosporium in soil stored under different conditions.Incubation of seed at high humidity before planting increased sporulation of Helminthosporium on seed tubers after planting and fewer conidia were produced from small seed than from larger seed. Delay in planting caused more rapid growth of Helminthosporium on seed tubers after planting.Early planting and late harvesting increased the severity of silver scurf on progeny tubers. Severity of silver scurf was also increased by ageing seed and by incubating seed. Weight loss of potato tubers during storage tended to be greater from treatments with most severe silver scurf in all years but a significant linear regression of weight loss on silver scurf severity was found in only one year out of three from a late harvest. The viability of conidia added to soil was found to decrease rapidly so that by 10 weeks after addition, < 1% of conidia were apparently viable.
Availability to subsequent crops and leaching of nitrogen in 15N-labelled sugarbeet tops and oilseed rape residues
Authors: Thomsen I. K. , Christensen B. T. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYIn autumn 1991, sugarbeet tops (Beta vulgaris L.) and different components of oilseed rape residues (Brassica napus L.), both labelled with 15N, were incorporated into the soil under field conditions at Askov Experimental Station, Denmark, using stainless steel cylinders to contain the treatments. The availability of this labelled N to a subsequent crop was measured, using as test crops autumn-sown rye (Secale cereale L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). In spring 1992, cylinders with 15 N-residues received NH4NO3 and those without 15NH415NO3. In a parallel experiment, 15N-labelled beet tops were incorporated in lysimeters. A four-course rotation of sugarbeet, spring barley (undersown with perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne L.), perennial ryegrass and winter wheat at two rates of calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) or animal slurry was grown in these lysimeters. Leaching and the availability of beet top N to successive crops were followed for 2 years. The soil in the cylinders and lysimeters was a light sandy loam (˜ 10% clay).Of the 7·10 g N/m2 added in beet tops, 10–15% was harvested in two subsequent crops of barley and ryegrass and 13–19% was lost by nitrate leaching. Beet top N accounted for 3–7% of the total N offtake in 1992. In 1993 < 1·5% of the total N offtake in ryegrass was from the beet tops applied in 1991. Combining results from mineral fertilized treatments, it was found that 9% of the beet top N was removed in the first cereal crop, 9% was lost by nitrate leaching and 68% remained in the 0–20 cm soil layer (including roots), suggesting that the denitrification loss was < 15%.Incorporation of oilseed rape stubble (1·35 g N/m2), two rates of pods (6·25 and 18·75 g N/m2) or mixed residues (12·25 g N/m2) contributed 0·5, 2·3, 7·4 and 4·6%, respectively, to the total N harvested in the following crop of winter wheat. The percentage of the added labelled N taken up by the wheat ranged from 4·9 to 6·1%, with 60–79% remaining in the 0–20 cm layer after harvest.For beet tops it was calculated that 100 kg N/ha in residues incorporated in the autumn could replace 18 kg N/ha given in the following spring as mineral fertilizer. For oilseed residues, the corresponding average value was 9 kg N/ha.In fertilized cropping systems, oilseed rape residues had minor effects on the subsequent crop, so that an uneven return of residues, as often occurs with combined crops, would do little harm. A considerable proportion of the N applied in sugarbeet tops was lost by leaching and the residual value of the sugarbeet tops to subsequent crops was low.
Influence of nitrogen on the development of Septoria epidemics in winter wheat
Authors: Leitch M. H. , Jenkins P. D. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYField experiments were undertaken at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth over two seasons to investigate the effects of N fertilizer rate and timing on the development of Septoria diseases (principally Septoria tritici) in winter wheat and its subsequent effect on crop growth. Rates of 100, 200 and 300 kg/ha N were applied at GS23, GS30, or split (GS23/30/38) in 1985/86 and 100 and 250 kg/ha N at GS23, GS30, GS23/30, or GS23/30/37 in 1987/88. Foliar diseases were allowed to develop or were controlled with fungicide. Early disease levels were temporarily enhanced soon after N application and were greater at the higher rates of N. In April and June a significant correlation between disease infection and concentration of N in leaf tissue was shown. Despite differences in the level of early infection, dry matter production up to and including anthesis was unaffected by disease. Infection during grain filling caused premature senescence of the flag leaf which significantly reduced grain yield, primarily through a reduction in grain size. Loss of yield was directly related to severity of disease on the flag leaf in early July, with a yield loss of 0·45% for every 1% increase in disease infection. The severity of Septoria post-anthesis increased with increasing rate of fertilizer N by an average of 11·1% per 100 kg/ha N (translating to a potential yield loss of 5% for each 100 kg/ha N given as fertilizer), but was unaffected by its timing of application.
Barley development as affected by rate of change of photoperiod
Authors: Kernich G. C. , Slafer G. A. , Halloran G. M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe rate of leaf appearance of barley varies substantially with time of sowing. This variation has been related to both the length and the rate of change of photoperiod at the time of plant emergence. An outdoor pot experiment was conducted to test if rate of change of photoperiod directly affects phasic development and rate of leaf emergence of spring barley. Two photoperiod-sensitive cultivars (Bandulla and Galleon) were subjected to five photoperiod regimes: two constant photoperiods, of 14 and 15·5 h, and three different rates of change of photoperiod ofc. 2, 9 and 13 min/day from seedling emergence to awn initiation.Photoperiod treatments significantly affected the duration from seedling emergence to awn initiation in both cultivars. Rate of change of photoperiod did not affect the rate of development towards awn initiation independently of the absolute daylength it produced. Although Bandulla had a longer duration than Galleon at any photoperiod regime, the cultivars did not vary in their sensitivity to photoperiod. When this phase was divided into the leaf initiation (LI) and spikelet initiation (SI) phases, it was evident that the sensitivity to photoperiod was not constant, being in general higher during the SI than during the LI phase. However, the magnitude of the change in sensitivity was cultivar-dependent, indicating that sensitivity to photoperiod during the different phases could be under independent genetic control.Final numbers of primordia (leaves together with maximum spikelet number) were negatively affected by increasing photoperiods, but once again, there was no evidence of any effect of the rate of change of photoperiod which was independent of the average photoperiod. Both cultivars showed similar sensitivities for final leaf number but maximum spikelet number was more sensitive to photoperiod in Galleon than in Bandulla.Highly significant linear relationships between leaf number and thermal time were found for all combinations of cultivars and photoperiod regimes (r2> 0·98). The rate of leaf appearance (RLA) was similar for both cultivars (c. 0·0185 leaves/°Cd) and did not alter during plant development or in response to the change in photoperiod at awn initiation. The range in RLA was greater for Galleon (0·0170–0·0205 leaves/°Cd) than for Bandulla (0·0173–0·0186 leaves/°Cd). Neither of these cultivars exhibited a significant relationship between rate of leaf emergence and photoperiod or rate of change of photoperiod. The lack of significant relationships between RLA and length or rate of change of photoperiod is in contrast with previous reports using time of sowing as a main treatment.
Growth, development and yield of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) in response to soil moisture
Authors: Collinson S. T. , Azam-Ali S. N. , Chavula K. M. , Hodson D. A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYStands of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verde.) were grown in five controlledenvironment glasshouses at the Tropical Crops Research Unit, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, in 1990. Five soil moisture regimes were imposed (one per house), from fully irrigated each week (treatment A), to no irrigation after crop establishment at 35 days after sowing (DAS) (treatment E). Decreasing the amount of water applied resulted in a decline in total dry matter production and harvest index, and a reduction in pod yield from 412 (treatment B) to 0·041 ha-1 (treatment E) at 125 DAS. A maximum leaf area index of 5–4 was achieved by treatments B and C at 90 DAS, resulting in a fractional interception of c. 0·8 of incoming radiation. Total accumulated radiation interception values were 749, 693, 688, 618 and 554 MJ m-2 for treatments A, B, C, D and E, respectively. The efficiency of conversion of the radiation intercepted into dry matter was reduced from 1·41 to 0·50 g MJ-1 by drought.
Pre- and post-natal wool follicle development and density in sheep of five genotypes
Authors: Edwards J. E. Hocking , Birtles M. J. , Harris P. M. , Parry A. L. , Paterson E. , Wickham G. A. , McCutcheon S. N. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe pre-natal and post-natal development of wool follicles in sheep of five genotypes with contrasting wool types was examined to provide data on which to base studies of physiological factors affecting wool type via follicle development. This study was conducted following Autumn mating in 1992 at Palmerston North, New Zealand (40° S, 176° E). The rate and timing of follicle development in midside skin samples from Romney, Merino, Merino × Romney (M × R), Drysdale and Wiltshire foetuses and lambs collected at weekly intervals from days 76 to 143 of gestation and 1, 3, 7, 12 and 32 weeks after birth were examined.Primary (P) follicle density had a similar pattern of development in each of the genotypes, although the Merino had a significantly greater density of P follicles than the other genotypes. There was a difference in the rate of P follicle maturation between genotypes with the Drysdale, Wiltshire and M × R completing P follicle maturation before the other two genotypes. However, the majority of P follicles in all genotypes were producing fibres by 111 days of gestation. It was concluded that the small differences in the density and time of development of the P follicles could not cause the differences in wool type between genotypes.The pattern of development of the secondary (S) follicle population was examined by comparing S: P ratios. The initiation of S follicles began at similar ages in the five genotypes, but initiation was completed earlier in the Romney, Drysdale and Wiltshire than in the Merino and M × R, as indicated by a significant genotype by age interaction (P < 0·001). There was no difference between genotypes in S:P ratio from 90 to 104 days of gestation. The S:P ratio of the Romney, Drysdale and Wiltshire did not change significantly from 104 days of gestation until the end of the study, indicating that few S follicles were initiated in these genotypes after 104 days of gestation. The M × R data showed a significant increase in S:P ratio until 119 days of gestation and the Merino S:P ratio increased until 126 days of gestation.The period between days 90 and 125 of gestation was identified as being the critical period for the development of different follicle populations in Merino and non-Merino genotypes and it is this period which should be the focus for studies to determine physiological factors controlling secondary follicle development.
Pollination requirements of linseed (Linum usitatissimum)
Authors: Williams I. H. , Martin A. P. , Clark S. J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe phenology of anthesis, anther dehiscence, fertilization and petal fall in the linseed cultivar Antares and its response to supplementary pollination when grown in a glasshouse were investigated. Anthesis commenced 15–30 min after the onset of the photophase and was complete within 2 h. Anthers dehisced when buds were in the tube stage of opening and produced a mean of c. 4·5 × 103 pollen grains per flower. Most ovules were fertilized within 6 h of the onset of the photophase. Flowers self pollinated naturally and, although supplementary pollination increased the percentage of flowers that produced capsules and the number of seeds per capsule, it decreased flower production and individual seed weight and conferred no increase in seed yield. Flowers retained their petals for at least 2 h after the onset of the photophase but, by 10 h, 97% of hand-pollinated flowers had shed their petals; those naturally self pollinated or shaken retained their petals for longer.
Response of eight winter crops to zinc fertilizer on a Typic Ustochrept soil
Authors: Tiwari K. N. , Dwivedi B. S. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe responses to Zn fertilizer of wheat, barley, oats, lentil, chickpea, pea, mustard and linseed were studied on a Typic Ustochrept soil in Pura, India in winter 1982/83 and 1983/84. Application of Zn significantly increased the grain or seed and total biomass yield of all the crops and enhanced Zn concentration and uptake. The response was greatest in lentil, followed by chickpea, pea, wheat, linseed, mustard, barley and oats. Cereals accumulated the most Zn, followed by the pulses and oilseeds. The pulses were more sensitive to Zn deficiency than the other crops.
Effect of monensin on in vitro fermentation of maize starch by hindgut contents of cattle
Authors: Marounek M. , Petr O. , Machañová L. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYContents of the caecum and the colon of four steers and four cows fed concentrate-plus-roughage diets were obtained at an abattoir, transferred to the laboratory and incubated anaerobically with maize starch in the presence (10mg/l) or absence of monensin. Samples taken at the end of incubation were assayed for fermentation acids and methane production.Monensin significantly increased the molar percentage of propionate and decreased that of butyrate. Acetate percentage was not significantly influence by the addition of monensin. There was no consistent effect of monensin on total volatile fatty acid concentrations. Monensin decreased methanogenesis in all incubations. The production of methane was small, only 1 mmol/13–50 mmol of volatile fatty acid.
Effect of drought stress during grain filling in near-isogenic tall and dwarf hybrids of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)
Authors: Mahalakshmi V. , Bidinger F. R. , Raju D. S. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe susceptibility to drought stress during flowering and grain filling of dwarf hybrids of pearl millet carrying the dwarfing gene d2 was investigated in 1987 at Patancheru, India, under field conditions during the dry season and, in the rainy season, under a rain shelter, using four pairs of near-isogenic tall and dwarf hybrids. Drought stress during grain filling reduced the number of grains per unit area and individual grain mass. Grain yields of the dwarf hybrids were lower than those of the corresponding tall hybrids in the unstressed control and under drought stress and were associated with a lower individual grain mass in the dwarf lines. In the dwarf hybrids, harvest index was similar to or better than that of the tall versions but a reduced biomass resulted in lower grain yields. Dwarf hybrids were not more adversely affected by water stress, however, than their tall counterparts, indicating that susceptibility to drought stress would not be likely to limit acceptance of new dwarf varieties.