bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Field experiments comparing ammonium nitrate and urea top-dressing for winter cereals and grassland in the U.K.
Authors: Chaney K. , Paulson G. A. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe results of 173 field experiments carried out between 1957 and 1986 are presented comparing ammonium nitrate and urea as top-dressings for winter cereals and grassland.The trials show that urea was an inferior nitrogen source to ammonium nitrate. The yield from ammonium nitrate was significantly greater than that from urea for winter wheat, winter barley and for first, second and third cut silage. The results suggest (a) that winter wheat and winter barley respond differently to the two nitrogen sources and (b) that yield losses from urea are just as likely on first cut silage as second or third cut.A breakdown of results according to soil texture, soil pH and region showed no consistent differences in yield loss. This indicates that broad generalizations based on soil characters and geographical location are not helpful in distinguishing situations where urea performance may be either better or worse than average.
Comparative studies on the use of green manuring, organic manuring andAzollaand blue-green algal biofertilizers to rice
Authors: Singh A. L. , Singh P. K. , Singh P. L. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryAzollaand blue-green algae (BGA) biofertilizers in rice cultures were compared with farmyard manure (FYM),AzollaandEichhorniacompost, green manuring withSesbaniaand chemical nitrogen fertilizer as urea. GrowingAzollacrop in rice field once before transplanting and twice after transplanting produced a fresh biomass ofAzollaof 46·7–47·6 and 36·4–40·6 t/ha, containing 83·4–92·2 and 64·7–70·4 kg N/ha, with the rice varieties IR-36 and Mahsuri, respectively. The BGA produced only 7·9–8·9 and 5·2–7·2 t fresh biomass/ha, containing 19·5–20·6 and 14·8–19·3 kg N/ha with IR-36 and Mahsuri, respectively.In the 1st year of the experiment application of FYM,EichhorniaandAzollacompost and green manuring ofSesbaniaproduced lower grain and straw yields and panicles than 60 kg N/ha as urea, but during the 2nd year all these treatments showed responses equal to that of 60 kg N/ha as urea. Nitrogen concentration and uptake by rice in these treatments were, however, lower than that of 60 kg N/ha as urea. Growing and incorporatingAzollaonce before and twice after transplanting produced higher grain and straw yields, and more panicles, and also showed higher nitrogen concentration and uptake by rice than those of organic and green manures. The BGA inoculation to rice with 30 kg N/ha as urea produced less grain and straw, and fewer panicles, and also showed lower nitrogen concentration and uptake by rice than 60 kg N/ha as urea and other organic manures. Of the two rice varieties, IR-36 produced more grain and panicles than Mahsuri, but Mahsuri produced more straw.Total nitrogen, organic carbon and available phosphorus of soil after harvest of the rice increased owing to the application of organic manures, green manures andAzollaand BGA biofertilizers. The green manuring ofSesbaniaand usingAzollaonce before and twice after transplanting and FYM showed highest organic carbon and available phosphorus in soil after harvest.
Effects of seed rates, sowing dates and methods of sowing on autumn-sown field beans (Vicia faba L.)
Authors: McEwen J. , Yeoman D. P. , Moffitt R. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryExperiments harvested in 1984, 1985 and 1986 tested the effects of combinations of three seed rates (12, 24 and 36 seeds sown/m2), with three sowing dates (late September and approximately 28 and 56 days later) and two sowing methods (conventionally drilled and ploughed-in after broadcasting) on field beans grown on Clay-with-Flints soil at Rothamsted.Grain yield was always largest with the earliest sowing, smallest with the latest. The seed rate needed to achieve the largest yields increased with lateness of sowing. For September sowings the smallest seed rate was sufficient in 1984 and 1985 but 24 seeds/m2 were needed in 1986 when the exceptionally severe winter killed many plants. In all years 36 seeds/m2 were needed for the latest sowing date.Ploughing-in the seed gave an average benefit to grain yield, relative to conventional drilling, of 0·3 t/ha but the benefit increased to about 2 t/ha for the latest sowing for the 1986 harvest.The earliest sowing advanced flowering date by 2 weeks relative to the latest but did not affect harvest date. Early sowing did not increase susceptibility to winter kill and only slightly increased the risk of chocolate spot disease (Botrytis fabae Sard.).In all years the largest yields came from combinations of treatments which led to about 35–50 pod-bearing stems per m2 at maturity. The best combinations of treatments gave grain yields of 5·6, 50 and 62 t/ha in the 3 years respectively. These reflect the benefits of correct combinations of agronomic treatments and were probably also the result of good control of pests and pathogens.
Effects of dry-matter intake and egg production on water influx in single comb White Leghorn hens
Authors: Kam M. , Degen A. A. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryWater influx, i.e. total water intake from water drunk and water obtained from food, was measured using tritiated water in six groups, each containing ten single comb White Leghorn (SCWL) hens, in which each group received decreasing amounts of dry matter (D.M.) in decrements of 10%. Group 1 received 101·2 g D.M./day, an amount normally offered these hens, group 2 received 92·4 g D.M./day, group 3 received 81·0 g D.M./day, group 4 received 70·4 g D.M./day, group 5 received 61·6 g D.M./day and group 6 received 52·8 g D.M./day. In the first 4 weeks, egg production remained relatively high in the restricted fed groups compared with group 1 and body mass declined rapidly (period I); in the second 4 weeks, egg production declined to a great extent but body mass remained constant (period II). The ratio of water influx to DMI remained constant in the two periods in hens with the same DMI but with different egg production. The linear regression of DMI and/or egg production on water influx were significant within each period. DMI explained 65% of the variation in water influx, egg production explained 30/55% of the variation, and both DMI and egg production explained 66/70% of the variation. Within each period, the regressions of DMI on water influx in hens with similar egg production were generally significant, and, in contrast, the regressions of egg production on water influx within each DMI were generally not significant. It was concluded that DMI was more important than egg production in affecting water influx in laying SCWL hens.
Detection of cobalt deficiency in lactating heifers and their calves
Authors: Quirk M. F. , Norton B. W. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryResponses in live weight, milk production and calf growth to cobalt supplementation of groups of three and four pregnant heifers were measured to assess the value of serum vitamin B12 concentrations and the urinary concentrations of methylmalonic acid (MMA) and formiminoglutamic acid (FIGLU) for the detection of cobalt deficiency in cattle.The administration of cobalt bullets to pregnant heifers, grazing pastures containing between 0·03 and 0·05 mg/kg cobalt, had no effect on either their live-weight change or milk production, or on the birth weight of their calves. MMA and FIGLU concentrations in the urine of unsupplemented heifers were low for the majority of the experimental period, although the concentrations of vitamin B12 in their serum (< 100 pg/ml) were in the range usually considered indicative of cobalt deficiency.Calves from unsupplemented heifers had lower growth rates during the first 3 months of life and this was associated with intakes of 0·24–0·46 μg/day of vitamin B12 from milk, only 1–3% of those received by calves from supplemented heifers. Poor growth was associated with high urinary FIGLU concentrations, which increased from 500 to 2000 μmol/l between 1 and 3 months of age but decreased to less than 100 μmol/l between 3 and 4·5 months of age. Urinary FIGLU was a more reliable indicator of vitamin B12 deficiency in suckled calves than was urinary MMA, elevated levels of which were observed only at 3 months of age. The concentration of vitamin B12 in the serum of calves from unsupplemented heifers was consistently less than 100 pg/ml, but was not a reliable indicator of their functional vitamin B12 status, as judged by urinary concentrations of FIGLU and/or MMA.
Kinetics of phosphate release from soil and its uptake by wheat
Authors: Brar B. S. , Vig A. C. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryLaboratory and glasshouse experiments were conducted to study P release kinetics and uptake of P by wheat (Trilicum, aestivum L.) in ten benchmark soils of Punjab (India). Phosphorus desorption, determined by successive extraction with 0·01 m-CaCl2 solution, was lower in calcareous soils (group I) than in non-calcareous soils (group II). Desorption of surface P in soils followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The values of the kinetic constant of desorption and the radial diffusion coefficient of P increased with the amount of added P in soils.A significant linear relationship between cumulative desorbed P and both dry-matter yield and P uptake indicated that the rate of release of P from the solid matrix is important in determining P uptake by wheat crop. Phosphate uptake was less dependent on the initial solution P concentration than on the rate of phosphate release.
Study of the relation between straw quality and its colonization by rumen micro-organisms
Authors: Bhat Siva , Wallace R. J. , Ørskov E. R. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe relation between the dry-matter degradability (DMD) of different cultivars of barley straw and their colonization by rumen micro-organisms was studied in incubations of straw with the mixed populationin situand with pure cultures of rumen bacteriain vitro.The total attached populationin situwas quantified by particle-associated i glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity, while the cellulolytic population was assessed by bound carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) activity. CMCase reached a peak between 24 and 36 h incubation, and the peak activity was highly correlated with DMD between 24 ) and 96 h. After 36 h, CMCase activity declined, particularly with the more degradable (varieties. GDH continued to increase after 36 h and had no relation to DMD. The adhesion of pure cultures of both cellulolytic and non-cellulolytic bacteria was measured i turbidimetrically in a 30 min incubation. No relation was found between DMD and the extent of adhesion by any ofRuminococcus flavefaciens, Bacteroides succinogenes,Butyrivibrio fibrisolvensorSelenomonas ruminantium.It was concluded the rate of degradation of straw is not determined by the initial rate of attachment of cellulolytic micro-organisms, but by the way in which colonization subsequently develops after attachment takes place
Influence of some chemical and biological additives on the fibre fraction of lucerne on ensilage in laboratory silos
Authors: Morrison I. M. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryLaboratory silos were prepared from lucerne (Medicago sativa)which had been treated with a number of chemical and biological additives. The additives used were the acid additive, formic acid, the sterilant, formaldehyde, the oxidative enzyme, glucose oxidase, and the starch hydrolysing enzyme complex, Termamyl. Silos were prepared in duplicate and pairs of each treatment were opened at 0, 2, 9, 20 and 60 days ensilage. The pH, volatile fatty acid patterns and dry-matter yields were determined and the composition of the residual fibre was determined for cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin and phenolic acids. The only treatment to enhance the rate of fall in pH was formic acid. The rate of decline in pH of the silages treated with glucose oxidase was not significantly different from the other treatments. The starch degrading enzyme complex did enhance the loss of starch from the lucerne but it did not appear to have any significant effect on the silage characteristics measured. No loss of true lignin was observed from the fibre but most of the phenolic acids present were removed. All the treatments appeared to have a significant effect on the cellulose content which was in contrast to earlier work on ryegrass silages where no effect was observed. On the other hand, the treatments had less effect on the hemicellulose fraction than was observed in the previous work with ryegrass. These results can be explained by differences in the structures of the fibres from lucerne and ryegrass.
Yield and quality of triticale cultivars at progressive stages of maturity
Authors: Brignall D. M. , Ward M. R. , Whittington W. J. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryTwo experiments were done in which the yield, digestibility and protein content of several autumnsown triticale cultivars were compared with rye and, on one occasion, ryegrass. Rye and an earlyflowering triticale cultivar (A208) had the highest early season yields and, at that stage, all cultivars and species had high digestibility.When harvesting was delayed, the yield of later flowering cultivars (A386 or the latest flowering variety, A876) was greatest. When the plots were cut and harvested again, the intermediate and late maturing varieties (e.g. A386, A876–10) gave the highest yields of digestible dry matter. It was concluded that there was no advantage in using a mixture of cultivars as in the commercially available ‘Trical’ and that the available cultivars offered farmers useful alternatives in harvesting strategy and breeders the opportunity to develop earlier high-yielding triticale cultivars.
Nitrogen response of autumn planted sugar cane grown with various companion crops
Authors: Verma R. S. , Yadav R. L. 
Published: March 2009

SummarySugar cane (Saccharum sp. hybrid cv. Co 1148) was planted in October alone and in association with potato (Solarium tuberosum cv. Kufri Chandramukhi), coriander (Coriandrum sativum cv. Sheetal), mustard (Brassica juncea cv. T59) and wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. K816) to find the optimum N dose in alluvial entisols of Lucknow, India. The yield of sugar cane was least in association with wheat and most with potato. The optimum N doses for sugar cane were 152, 175, 186 and 231 kg/ha when grown in association with potato, coriander, mustard and wheat respectively. The optimum N dose for sugar cane grown alone was 186 kg/ha.
Physico-chemical conditions in the rumen of Bedouin goats: effect of drinking, food quality and feeding time
Authors: Brosh A. , Choshniak I. , Tadmor A. , Shkolnik A. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryIn Bedouin goats maintained outdoors during the summer, fed lucerne hay and watered once daily, drinking was followed by a 35% increase in rumen fluid volume, with a concomitant drop in osmolality from 300 to 150 m-osmol/kg. When water was provided to these goats only once every 4 days, a three-fold increase in the rumen fluid volume was recorded and osmolality dropped from 360 to 80 m-osmol/kg.Feeding, which was depressed during the hot hours of the day, resumed in the afternoon and was followed by an expansion of rumen fluid volume. This expansion occurred irrespective of drinking and was sustained throughout the night. On the 1st day of water denial it amounted to 40% of the noontime rumen fluid volume and was less pronounced during the rest of the water deprivation period. An evening increase in the concentrations of volatile fatty acids, along with a compatible increase in the osmolality and a drop in the pH, also followed the afternoon resumption of feeding.In goats maintained on wheat straw, drinking as well as feeding time affected the physico-chemical conditions in the rumen to a lesser degree than in goats maintained on lucerne hay.
Live-weight gains on leucaena and native grass pastures after dosing cattle with rumen bacteria capable of degrading DHP, a ruminal metabolite from leucaena
Authors: Quirk M. F. , Bushell J. J. , Jones R. J. , Megarrity R. G. , Butler K. L. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe effect on live-weight gain from dosing cattle with rumen bacteria capable of degrading 3-hydroxy-4(l H)-pyridone (DHP) was measured on cattle grazing leucaena and native grass pastures in south-east Queensland. Dosing increased the growth rate of cattle grazing only leucaena pasture: from 0·52 kg/head per day when not dosed, to 1·03 kg/head per day when dosed, in the period 6·19 weeks after treatment. Dosing did not affect the growth rate of cattle either grazing leucaena with native pasture, or grazing only native pasture. The introduced bacteria spread naturally to untreated cattle after 19 weeks post-dosing.The response to dosing occurred when untreated cattle grazing only leucaena pasture had high urinary concentrations of DHP (maximum 0·28%) and low concentrations of serum thyroxine (< 30 nmol/1). The results show that DHP-induced depressions in growth rate may occur in this environment when cattle graze mainly on leucaena-based pasture. Dosing with DHP-degrading bacteria will overcome this problem.
Effects of dietary levels of oxytetracycline on the growth and organ weights of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris)
Authors: Oguntona Tunde 
Published: March 2009

summaryGrowth and visceral organ weights of male guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) given different levels of oxytetracycline have been studied in two experiments. In the first experiment 0, 5·0, 10·0, 15·0 and 20·0 mg oxytetracycline per kg diet were given to male guinea fowl from day 1 to 12 weeks. Body weight showed significant (P < 0·05) increases with incremental levels of the antibiotic up to 10 mg/kg diet. No further increases in growth were recorded with supplementation above this level. There were no treatment effects on the gizzard, lungs and male reproductive organs. Only the heart, liver and intestine weights were significantly (P < 0·05) affected by the treatment, and then only at the highest (20 mg/kg) of the inclusion rates examined. A second experiment was conducted to find out if the growth response obtained with 10 mg/kg oxytetracycline could be produced with a smaller dose. This was achieved at 6·6 mg/kg.
Gestation length, birth weight and growth rates of pure-bred indigenous goats and their crosses in Kenya
Authors: Ruvuna F. , Cartwright T. C. , Blackburn H. , Okeyo M. , Chema S. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryData on gestation period of 701 indigenous East African and Galla does and pre- and postweaning growth of 810 pure-bred and cross-bred kids were analysed by least squares statistical analysis. Breeds of kids were East African, Galla, Toggenburg × East African, Toggenburg × Galla, Anglo-Nubian × East African and Anglo-Nubian × Galla. Average gestation length was 149 days and was significantly (P < 0·05) affected by type of birth of the kid, year–month of kidding, and age of dam. Does carrying twins had shorter gestation length than does carrying singles. Sex and breed of kid did not have significant effect on gestation length.Significant (P < 0·05) factors affecting birth weight, weight at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 210 and 270 days of age, and preweaning growth rate were breed and sex of kid, type of birth, year–month and age of dam. Male kids grew faster and were heavier than females. Kids born single were heavier and grew faster than twin-born kids. Kids from dams less than 3 years old weighed less than kids from older dams. Cross-bred kids had higher preweaning growth rates than indigenous pure-bred kids. The Anglo-Nubian × Galla cross was heaviest while the East African ranked lowest. The results point to importance of cross-breeding with temperate breeds to increase growth rates of indigenous goats. Comparison of Toggenburg and Anglo-Nubian sires for cross-breeding showed both buck breeds produced kids with roughly equal growth rates. Evaluation of indigenous Galla and East African dams for cross-breeding showed Galla dams produced heavier kids than East African but preweaning growth rates were not significantly different.
Control of the grey field slug (Deroceras reticulatum(Muller)) by stock management prior to direct-drilled pasture establishment
Authors: Ferguson C. M. , Barratt B. I. P. , Jones P. A. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe use of stock management has been shown to be an effective means of manipulating numbers of the grey field slug,Deroceras reticulatum(Muller). At stocking rates of 1500 sheep days/ha or more, slug control in excess of 90% can be achieved with the flexibility of employing various combinations of stock numbers and length of grazing period. In the same trials methiocarb slug baits applied at 10kg product/ha gave 50% control of slugs. A quantitative sampling technique was developed and is briefly described.
Effects of a concentrate supplement on the intake and digestion of a low-quality forage by lambs
Authors: Doyle P. T. , Dove H. , Freer M. , Hart F. J. , Dixon R. M. , Egan A. R. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryWeaned lambs of mean weight 25 kg were offered a diet of mature oaten hay or hay supplemented with a pelleted mixture of oat grain and sunflower meal (2:1), at one of three rates, for 86 days. The effect of the supplement on the voluntary intake of hay was measured during the first 20 days when feed was offered twice daily (Expt 1), after which the effects on ruminal and post-ruminal digestion were investigated under continuous feeding conditions (Expt 2).In Expt 1 the first increment of supplement increased the total intake of organic matter (OM) but increasing the supplement further, up to 510 g D.M., had no additional effect. The voluntary intake of oaten hay was not significantly reduced by the lowest rate of supplementation but at higher rates was depressed at a mean rate of 92 g/100 g supplement. Rates of change in fasted weight on the four treatments were —63, —5, 21 and 45 g/day, respectively.In Expt 2, where the rates of hay intake were held at 85% of those achieved in Expt 1, the first increment of supplement increased the pool size of OM and cell wall components in the reticulorumen by about 50%. It also increased their outflow rates at the abomasum by 24% and 33%, respectively, but significantly decreased the fractional outflow rate and fractional digestion rate of cell wall components. Supplementation decreased the proportion of apparent OM digestion that occurred in the reticulo-rumen from 76% to 65%. The presence of supplement doubled the ammonia pool in the rumen and increased the abomasal flow on non-ammonia nitrogen (NAN) and microbial NAN by 70%. Estimates of the amounts of crude protein apparently digested in the intestines (DCPi) increased linearly with proportion of supplement in the diet. However, the apparent digestibility of the hay was decreased, rather than increased, by the supplement. Although higher rates of supplement did not significantly change the elevated rumen pools of OM and cell wall components, there was a consistent tendency for these to decrease.The results are consistent with the view that the intake of unsupplemented hay was limited by its low nitrogen content and the intake of supplemented hay may have been limited primarily by the capacity of the reticulo-rumen, although other factors were increasingly involved at higher rates of supplementation.
Influence of plane of nutrition and diet composition on rumen fermentation and energy utilization by dairy cows
Authors: Sutton J. D. , Broster W. H. , Schuller E. , Napper D. J. , Broster Valerie J. , Bines J. A. 
Published: March 2009

J. agric. Sci., Camb. (1988), 110, 261–270The authors regret that there is an error in Fig. 1 of this paper. The values on the x-axis should be reversed to read from left to right: 200, 150, 100 g ADF/kg diet D. M.