bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Milk-fed calves: 2. The effect of length of milk feeding period and milk intake upon herbage intake and performance of grazing calves
Authors: Le Du Y. L. P. , Baker R. D. , Barker J. M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYForty-eight Hereford × Friesian steer calves purchased at 7–10 days of age were reared on reconstituted milk substitute and groups of 12 were weaned at 86, 128, 170 or 212 days. Six calves at each weaning age were fed high (H) and low (L) quantities of milk normally associated with 240-day lactation yields of 2000 or 1000 kg. Calves were housed until day 63 of the experiment and then strip-grazed on swards of Loliun perenne with a daily allocation of herbage dry matter equivalent to 60 g/kg LW.Herbage intake per unit live weight prior to weaning was consistently greater for the calves receiving low quantities of milk. Following weaning there was a rapid rise in herbage intake towards a maximum of 30 g OM/kg LW when sward conditions were non-limiting. The amount of milk fed prior to weaning affected herbage intake after weaning, and H groups did not achieve similar intakes to their L contemporaries until some weeks after weaning. The H groups grew faster from birth to weaning than the L groups but they experienced a more severe check in live-weight gain after weaning which nullified the advantage of better weight gains between the start of the grazing period and weaning. In consequence, there was no significant effect of the quantity of milk consumed prior to weaning upon live-weight gain during the grazing season. The results indicate a marked benefit from distributing a given quantity of milk over a longer feeding period as similar growth rates occurred for the H86 v. L128, H128 v. L170 and H170 v. L212 groups. Calves receiving milk consumed less herbage and spent a smaller proportion of the day grazing than weaned contemporaries, which suggests that metabolic rather than physical or behavioural factors are likely to limit their intake.
Effect of short-term water deprivation in summer on Marwari sheep
Authors: Ghosh P. K. , Khan M. S. , Abichandani R. K. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYEffect of 24 h and 48 h of water deprivation on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and on blood and urine electrolyte levels in Marwari sheep of the Rajasthan desert, India, have been recorded. Body weight, urine volume, GFR and erythrocyte sodium concentration in these animals registered considerable decreases due to dehydration. Both plasma sodium and urinary potassium concentrations remained unaffected. While plasma potassium was somewhat reduced, the potassium in red blood cells increased after 48 h of water deprivation. The most remarkable response was in the concentration of urinary sodium which rose to more than double the normal level.
A new record of root rot of broad bean (Vicia faba) from the Sudan
Authors: Ibrahim G. , Hussein M. M. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryFusarium solani f. sp. fabae Yu & Fang was isolated from root-rotted field bean (Vicia faba)plants at the Research Farm, Hudeiba Agricultural Research Station, Northern Province, Sudan. This is the first record of this fungus on field beans in the Sudan. Cultural and morphological characteristics of the fungus on potato-dextrose agar (PDA) and the symptoms caused are described.
Investigations on Nigerian root and tuber crops: effect of potassium on starch yields, HCN content and nutrient uptake of cassava cultivars (Manihot esculenta)
Authors: Obigbesan G. O. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryField experiments were made in the rainforest zone of Western Nigeria over three cropping seasons on the effects of potassium fertilizer of one local cassava cultivar 53101 and two improved cultivars 60506 and 60447 which wereF1hybrids of the former. The results showed that K-fertilizer increased the starch yields only slightly. Cultivar 60506 produced significantly higher starch yields (P< 0–01) than the local strain, 53101, while cultivar 60447 gave lower starch recovery than the local cultivar.A definite influence of K application on the cyanide (HCN) content of the tuber roots could not be established. The peeled tubers of the improved cultivars contained much less cyanide than those of the local 53101 strain (P< 0–01). Potassium had the highest (0·72–1·28% dry weight basis) while phosphorus had the lowest concentration (0·06–0·12%) in the peeled tuber. Owing to its higher yielding capability the unfertilized 60506 removed larger amounts of potash (average 110·9 kg k20/ha) from the soil than unfertilized 53101 (average 82·2 kg k20/ha).
The effect of interval between harvests and nitrogen application on the proportion and digestibility of cell wall, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin and on the proportion of lignified tissue in leaf cross-section in two perennial ryegrass varieties
Authors: Wilman D. , Daly M. , Koocheki A. , Lwoga A. B. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe effect of six intervals between harvests and two levels of N application on the proportion and digestibility of cell wall was studied in two perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) varieties in the first and second harvest years in a field experiment. In the oase of four of the six intervals between harvests the proportion and digestibility of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin and the N content of cell wall were determined. Diets derived from three of the harvesting treatments were fed, at maintenance level, to sheep as a partial in vivo check on the in vitro procedures. The effect of six intervals between harvests and two levels of N application on the proportion of lignified tissue in leaf cross-section was determined in two varieties in the first harvest year.Effects of interval between harvests and time of year on herbage digestibility were due to effects on both proportion and digestibility of cell wall, particularly the latter. Hemicellulose digestibility appeared to be rather more affected by interval between harvests and rather more closely associated with the proportion of lignin than was cellulose digestibihty. The proportion of cell wall was particularly low and its digestibility particularly high in April and early May.The N in cell wall accounted for about 10% of total N in harvested herbage on all treatments. The ratio of cellulose to hemicellulose averaged 1:0·88 and hemicellulose was rather more digestible than cellulose. Cellulose and cell wall were less digestible in vitro than in vivo.The application of N tended to reduce the proportion of cell wall and to increase its digestibility in leafy but not in stemmy crops.Interval between harvests and N application had no effect on the proportion of lignified tissue in leaf cross-section.
The effect of interval between harvests and nitrogen application on initiation, emergence and longevity of leaves, longevity of tillers and dimensions and weights of leaves and ‘stems’ in Lolium
Authors: Wilman D. , Droushiotis D. , Mzamane Mary N. , Shim J. S. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe effects of six intervals between harvests and three levels of N application on the initiation, emergence and longevity of leaves and longevity of tillers of Italian ryegrass and on dimensions and weights of leaves of four ryegrass varieties were studied in the first harvest year in field experiments. Dimensions and weights of leaves and ‘stems’ of the four varieties were recorded on three dates in the second harvest year.The number of leaf primordia on the shoot apex of young Italian ryegrass tillers was increased by N application and seemed to be increased by increasing the period of uninterrupted growth allowed to the parent tillers. The number of leaves which emerged on marked tillers during a 30-week period was approximately halved by increasing the interval between harvests from 3 to 10 weeks, but was not affected by N application. The number of leaves which died on marked tillers was at least doubled by increasing the interval between harvests from 3 to 5 weeks. The second and third leaves to emerge on a tiller had a longer potential life than the first leaf. Increasing the interval between harvests greatly increased the average age of the green leaves in the canopy at the time of harvest.Length and width, but not thickness, of fully expanded green leaf blades were increased by both N application and increased interval between harvests. The effect of applied N in increasing leaf size appeared to be an important reason for the positive effect of N on yield, particularly with the longer intervals. The effect of N in increasing the number of tillers and leaves was important with the shorter intervals. Applied N reduced dry weight per unit volume of plant tissue and increased ‘stem’ length and increased weight and volume of herbage per unit volume of canopy. The area of exposed surface of ‘stem’ seemed too large to be ignored when considering the photosynthetic capacity of the canopy, particularly with the longer intervals.
Changes in soil pH and exchangeable calcium in two liming experiments on contrasting soils over 12 years
Authors: Bolton J. 
Published: March 2009

SummarySoils were analysed from two long-term liming experiments on a sandy-clay loam at Rothamsted and a loamy sand at Woburn. Plots given four levels of limestone factorially combined with phosphate and potassium fertilizers (with magnesium subplots in 1974) were cropped with beans, barley, potatoes and oats from 1963 to 1974.The smallest limestone applications (5 t CaCO3/ha) increased soil pH the following year to values predicted by lime-requirement determinations using a standard advisory method. The larger limestone applications (10 and 20 t/ha) increased pH proportionally less. Soil pH decreased after the first year with 5 t/ha in both experiments but increased at the 20 t/ha rate for 6 years in the sandy-clay loam and for 3 years in the loamy sand before starting to decline.Exchangeable calcium (soluble in N ammonium acetate) decreased at approximately linear rates in all plots of both experiments from the first year. Slopes of the regressions were smaller at low than at higher rates of liming, depending primarily on the average pH. Rates of CaCO3 losses from the surface 23 cm of soil ranged from 225 to 823 kg/ha per year at Rothamsted and from 307 to 852 kg/ha per year at Woburn.Observed rates of Ca loss were compared with an empirical relationship suggested by Gasser (1973) between annual Ca losses and soil pH under average rainfall conditions and estimates based on a model system.
An evaluation of potential seed treatments to control Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli, the cause of foot and root rot of Phaseolus vulgaris
Authors: Russell P. E. , Mussa A. E. A. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryTwo systemic fungicides, benomyl and thiabendazole, were more active than the non-systemic fungicide Drazoxolon in inhibiting fungal growth in vitro. A similar pattern was obtained in glasshouse trials with benomyl and thiabendazole giving adequate protection at low concentrations while Drazoxolon was ineffective unless applied at 50% the commercial product concentration. A field trial using thiabendazole, Drazoxolon and a mixture of benomyl and thiram confirmed the glasshouse results.Some phytotoxicity was noticed with high concentrations of both benomyl and thiabendazole, but satisfactory disease control was achieved using fungicide concentrations which did not induce phytotoxicity.
Effects of fertilizer N and number of years in tillage on the protein content of feeding barley straw (cv. Nessa) and on N uptake and recovery
Authors: Gately T. F. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe effects of six amounts (0, 17, 34, 51, 68 and 85 kg N/ha) of fertilizer N, applied at sowing time as calcium ammonium nitrate, on the crude protein (N × 6·25) content of barley straw sown as the first, second and fourth or later tillage crop after grazed pasture were studied over three seasons at a total of 126 sites. In addition total N uptake and apparent recovery of fertilizer N were calculated for each cropping sequence.The mean crude protein content of the 126 sites was 4·1% without N, increasing to 4·8% with 85 kg N/ha. Maximum protein content with 85 kg N/ha ranged from 4·4% in 1971 to 5·4% in 1973. It was highest in the year which gave the lowest straw yields. Protein content was higher when the barley was sown as the first or second crop after pasture than when it was sown as the fourth or later crop. Incremental of fertilizer N gave only small increases or decreases in straw protein contents. Over all sites straw protein content amounted to about 36% of grain protein contents. There was a significant positive relationship between grain and straw protein contents.Nitrogen uptake in the straw without fertilizer N was 19, 18 and 12 kg/ha in barley sown as the first, second and fourth or later tillage crop after grass. The total uptake of N in the grain and straw combined was 93, 102, 107, 109, 111 and 116 kg N from applications of 0, 17, 34, 51, 68 and 85 kg/ha of fertilizer N. The mean apparent recovery of fertilizer N in the straw varied from 12% with 17 kgN/ha to 8% with 85 kg N/ha.
Performance of yam (Dioscorea spp.) setts planted without water
Authors: Onwueme I. C. 
Published: March 2009

SummarySetts of Dioscorea alata and D. rotundata sprouted as rapidly in dry soil, dry sawdust, or dry shredded newsprint as in moist sawdust. Sprouting was slightly less rapid when the setts were kept on a laboratory shelf. Sprouting loci were smaller but more numerous in the dry-sprouted setts. Sprout buds produced during dry-sprouting remained relatively unelongated when compared with moist-sprouted setts, but setts wetted after dry-soil sprouting for 14 days produced a greater number of vines per sett.When D. rotundatasetts obtained from 8-month stored tubers were subjected to alternating wetting and drying during sprouting, several sprouting loci developed into negatively geotropic, finger-like structures, rhizome-like in appearance but tuber-like in bulk.The cultural implications of the results are discussed, and a scheme is proposed for pre-sprouting yam setts indoors before planting them in the field.
The importance of seed size in early growth of wild and domesticated cowpeas
Authors: Lush W. M. , Wien H. C. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryDomesticated cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp.) have larger seeds than their wild relatives. The effects of this increase in seed size on seedling emergence and growth were investigated. In shallow sowings, to 5 cm, seed size had no effect on emergence, but in deeper plantings ahigher proportion of the larger-seeded accessions emerged, and they emerged earlier than smaller-seeded accessions. The size of seedlings just after emergence was inversely related to depth of planting and directly related to seed size. The greater size of the seedlings of larger-seeded accessions was maintained until at least 40 days after sowing, despite the higher relative growth rates of smaller, wild seedlings. When compared at the same size there was no general difference in the growth rate of wild accessions and that of domesticates. During the evolution of domesticated cowpeas, large seeds have probably been advantageous because of their better emergence and establishment under agricultural conditions, and because of the greater size of plants arising from them.
Downward movement and transformation of phosphorus in soils after long-continued fertilizer application to coconut (Cocos nucifera)
Authors: Loganathan P. , Nalliah V. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryDeterminations of sodium bicarbonate (pH 8·5) extractable P made on profiles of a sandy loam soil 7 and 8 years after fertilizer application to coconut in the Dry zone of Sri Lanka showed that the downward movement of P from concentrated superphosphate was greater than from rock phosphate (saphos). The surface layers (0–15 cm) of soil given concentrated superphosphate had higher P values (60 and 89 mg/kg for the 8th and 9th year respectively) than those given rock phosphate (3 and 16·5 mg/kg). At 40 cm depth the concentrated superphosphate treatment had 6 and 30 mg P/kg but the rook phosphate treatment had almost zero P at and below 40 cm.Phosphorus in the soil profile 8 years after fertilizer application was fractionated by the method of Chang & Jackson. Concentrated superphosphate treatment increased the Al-P and to a lesser degree Fe-P and Ca-P. Rock phosphate treatment increased the Ca-P and to a lesser extent Fe-P and Al-P. Phosphorus concentration in the 14th leaf was significantly correlated with Al-P, Fe-P and NaHCO3-P but not with Ca-P and organic P.The significance of the findings to phosphorus fertilizer application to coconut is discussed.
The fate of acetyl groups and sugar components during the digestion of grass cell walls in sheep
Authors: Morris E. Jane , Bacon J. S. D. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe digestibilities of grass cell wall constituents determined in a digestion trial were compared with those obtained by suspending various isolated cell wall preparations in nylon bags in the rumen of a sheep. Particular attention was paid to acetyl groups and to individual sugars, which were determined in both cases by gas liquid chromatography.For dried grass and hay in the digestion trial the cell wall constituents showed digestibilities decreasing in the following order: arabinose, galactose, glucose, xylose, acetyl, lignin.For a leaf cell wall preparation derived from all cell types except mesophyll, the nylon bag technique allowed the same order of digestibilities; rhamnose and uronic acids were also measured and found to be rapidly digested. Mesophyll cell walls placed in nylon bags were more readily digested than non-mesophyll. All the sugars, and also acetyl groups, were digested to the same extent.In a grass cell wall preparation isolated from sheep faeces, tested similarly, xylose and glucose were digested to the same extent, but acetyl groups were less digested.Removal of acetyl groups, using sodium ethoxide, which left the sugar composition and lignin content unchanged, increased the digestibility particularly of the cell walls from faeces.The results are discussed with reference to the relationship between cell wall composition and digestibility.
Studies on reproduction in prolific ewes. 3. The development in size and shape of the foetal skeleton
Authors: McDonald I. , Wenham G. , Robinson J. J. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryMeasurements of 21 bone lengths and breadths were made on radiographs of 215 foetuses of known gestational ages ranging from 50 to 145 days obtained from 80 Finnish Landrace x Dorset Horn ewes. Number of foetuses per ewe varied from 1 to 5, but the main statistical analyses were based on the 22 sets of twins, 34 of triplets and 11 of quadruplets. Equations were fitted to relate each of the linear measurements to foetal weight alone, to foetal age alone, to foetal age together with number of foetuses, and to foetal age together with foetal weight. It was found that there were significant differences between the twins, triplets, and quadruplets in the lengths their bones attained at any specified weight or at any specified age but not when both weight and age were fixed. The relationships to weight and age jointly were significantly closer than to either of them alone even after allowing for number of foetuses. The mathematical model that fitted best was a modified Gompertz equation of the formwhere ywas the measured length, w was the number of days prior to expected parturition, w was foetal weight, wu was an estimate of the expected foetal weight at time u, and P, Q, R and Dwere fitted constants.
Promotion and synchronization of cereal grain germination by osmotic pretreatment with polyethylene glycol
Authors: Akalehiywot T. , Bewley J. D. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe effects of osmotic pretreatments were tested on the germination responses of oat and wheat grains. Temperature and duration of the pretreatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG) at two osmotic potentials (OP) were the experimental variables. The rate and synchronization of germination at 5–25 °C were significantly improved in both species by osmotic pretreatments compared with untreated controls. Maximum promotive effects were obtained after pretreatment periods of 6 and 4 days at – 10 bars at 5 and 10 °C respectively, and after 3 days at – 20 bars at 25 °C. Rapid and synchronized germination of seeds may be of advantage by minimizing their exposure to environmental hazards at early stages following imbibition and by allowing more favorable competition with other fast-germinating and growing species.
Lactation performance of ewes and the growth of lambs, in Awassi sheep, under two different suckling regimes
Authors: Guirgis R. A. , Kassem M. M. , Kazzal N. T. , Abdallah R. K. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe present study was carried out on 39 local Awassi ewes. After parturition, lambs were left to suckle their dams for the first month of age, after which they were separated into two suckling regimes, restricted and continuous.The average milk yield of ewes in the continuous system was 155·7 kg during the lactation period of 167±6·1 days whereas that of the restricted system was 139·8 kg during a lactation period of 183 ± 5·7 days. However, differences were not significant. Significant differences (P < 0·01), in favour of the continuous system, occurred in the amount of milk suckled by lambs in the different suckling systems from the 8th week onwards till weaning. Measured hand milk showed no significant differences between the two regimes.Averages of butter fat percentages were 5·63 and 6·69 in the continuous and restricted systems respectively. The total percentage suckled milk, regardless of suckling regime, was 36·7 ± 1·99; averages were 41·6 ± 0·89 and 31·7 ± 3·52 in the continuous and restricted systems respectively.The averages of commercial milk production from the 9th week after lambing until the end of lactation were 45·9 and 61·7 kg in the continuous and restricted systems respectively (P < 0·01). Averages of butter fat quantities in the commercial milk yield were 3·25 and 5·03 kg in the continuous and restricted systems respectively (P < 0·01).The weights of lambs in the two suckling regimes started to differ significantly from the 14th to the 46th week of age; lambs reared under the continuous system were 4 kg heavier at the yearling age than those of the restricted system.It might be worth considering weaning and selling extra lambs at 3 months of age to make full use of the high growth rate encountered in this period. The breeder could also obtain 11·4 kg more milk from ewes from 9 to 17 weeks after lambing in the restricted system than those in the continuous one. It might be advisable to use the restricted system and wean the lambs at 12 weeks of age; the excess milk obtained will outweigh the extra gain in body weight of 1·52 kg encountered in the continuous system.
Interaction between maize and cowpea at various frequencies
Authors: Remison S. U. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryMaize and cowpea were grown at various replacement ratios (100/0, 67/33, 50/50, 33/67 and 0/100) in field experiments. The experiments were carried out during the early growing seasons of 1977 and 1978 at Ibadan in the rainforest zone of Nigeria. A maize cultivar (FARZ 17) and three cowpea cultivars (Ife brown, New Era and TVu 4557) were used.Maize sown alone gave a greater yield than all mixtures. The yield of New Era cowpea was no less when grown in mixture with maize than when grown alone; indeed when grown in a 50/50 mixture it was significantly greater.