bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Formic acid as a silage additive for wet crops of cocksfoot and lucerne
Authors: Wilson R. F. , Wilkins R. J. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryCrops of lucerne and cocksfoot of high moisture content were ensiled without additive and with the addition of formic acid at up to 0·91% of the fresh crop weight in test-tube silos and in silos containing about one tonne of crop. Silages from the larger silos were fed to sheep for measurement of voluntary intake and digestibility.Silages made without formic acid were badly preserved and contained large quantities of acetic acid, butyric acid and ammonia. The addition of formic acid reduced the production of acids and ammonia. With test-tube silos differences between the minimum pH measured during the storage period and the final pH after 155 days were not significant for silages made from both crops with addition of 0·45% or more of formic acid: these silages were considered to be stable.Silages from the larger silos were generally not as well preserved as those from the test-tube silos, particularly at the higher levels of formic acid application. This difference was attributed to less effective application of additive to the larger silos and loss of formic acid in the effluent which was released from these silos but not from the test-tubes. Organic matter intake increased with increase in formic acid level, but organic matter digestibility was not significantly correlated with formic acid levels. Intake was closely related to the quantity of ammonia in the silage and it is argued that formic acid affected intake by influencing the pattern of fermentation in the silo rather than by a direct effect of formic acid itself.
A comparison of ryegrass populations from intensively managed permanent pastures and leys
Authors: Charles A. H. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryRyegrass populations collected from intensively used swards, both leys and permanent pastures, were compared under spaced plant and sward conditions.On average, the bred ryegrasses were higher yielding, more resistant to crown rust, and more persistent under intensive conditions than the permanent pasture populations, but there was no significant difference in cold-resistance between these two groups.The potential yield of dry matter of the best of the permanent pasture populations was similar to that of the highest-yielding leys. Several of even the most intensively used pastures were, however, dominated by ryegrass that was not nearly as high yielding as the best of the bred varieties. In addition to differences in yield of dry matter, there was a wide range in persistency, resistance to low temperature and crown rust (Puccinia coronata), as well as in mean date and variance of inflorescence emergence and in yield of digestible organic matter in dry matter (DOMD). Thus, no one type of ryegrass could be associated with permanent pastures, even when the sample was restricted to a narrow range of managements associated with intensive use.Some of the highest-yielding swards were based on complex mixtures of ryegrass cultivars; this might give rise to difficulty in relating management to stage of maturity and in predicting the composition of the sward established.A comparison of survivor material derived from S·23 leys revealed no difference in yield of dry matter or DOMD under sward conditions. Other data, however, showed that the populations differed in yield as spaced plants, rust resistance, cold-hardiness, persistency and date and variance of inflorescence emergence.There was no indication of ryegrass yield decreasing with the age of the ley from which the plants were derived.
The yield and composition of the milk of Finnish Landrace × Blackface ewes: II. Ewes and lambs grazed on pasture
Authors: Peart J. N. , Edwards R. A. , Donaldson Elizabeth 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe milk production of 14 Finnish Landrace × Blackface ewes suckling either single, twin or triplet lambs was recorded while they were wholly maintained on a high-quality grazed pasture. Intravenous administration of oxytocin followed by hand milking was used to estimate milk production within 4 days of parturition and then at weekly intervals during a 12-week lactation period. At each milking the milk from each ewe was retained for analysis. Herbage samples for analysis were cut by hand shears at weekly intervals at a height simulating the harvesting by the sheep. In vitro analysis showed a decline in the digestible organic matter in the herbage from approximately 75% in the early stages, to around 67% at the end of lactation. The percentage crude protein in the dry matter of the herbage was variable but tended to increase towards the end of the lactation period. The estimated mean total milk production values were 125, 176 and 193 kg for single-, twin- and triplet-suckled groups of ewes, respectively. Almost all of the difference in total yield between the groups of multiplesuckled ewes occurred in the first 4 weeks of lactation. Analysis of variance showed no significant differences between suckling groups in the concentration of any of the milk constituents. Regression analysis showed significant evidence for differences between the linear and quadratic components of the regressions on stage of lactation for the suckling groups only in respect of daily milk yield, energy and protein production. The concentration of constituents other than lactose was higher in colostral milk but the differences were statistically significant only in respect of energy, total solids and fat. The lactose content of ordinary milk was significantly higher than that of colostral milk. The mean daily live-weight gains of the single- and twin-suckled lambs were significantly greater than that of the triplet-suckled group.
Thiomolybdates and the copper–molybdenum–sulphur interaction in ruminant nutrition
Authors: Dick A. T. , Dewey D. W. , Gawthorne J. M. 
Published: March 2009

In 1945 we reported (Dick & Bull, 1945) the first observations on the effects of molybdenum in the diet of ruminants in limiting the accumulation of copper in their tissues.Further observations (Dick, 1952) indicated that there was a third factor which materially altered the control by molybdenum of copper accumulation and this factor, present in lucerne hay, was identified as inorganic sulphate (Dick, 1953a). It was also shown that sulphate regulated molybdenum excretion (Dick, 1953b) in the urine and hence the level of molybdenum in circulating blood (Dick, 1953c).
Changes induced by cowpea green manure and farmyard manure in the timing of phenological events in maize (Zea mays)
Authors: Aggarwal G. C. , Sekhon N. K. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe effect of cowpea green manure (CGM) and farmyard manure (FYM) on phenological events in maize grown with different rates of nitrogen (N) was evaluated at Ludhiana, India in 1988–89 as part of a long-term experiment on sandy loam. Tasselling (T), anthesis (A), silking (S), maturity (M) and appearance of leaves were recorded in 1988 and 1989 from plots of maize manured with cowpea and FYM and grown at 0, 75 and 125 kg N/ha. Time to phenological events was calculated in terms of calendar days and growing degree units (GDU).Phenological events in maize were significantly advanced by CGM, FYM and N. The occurrence of T, A and S with CGM was earlier by 60·5, 84·5 and 114·5 GDU, respectively, than without it and the end of each of the growth stages T, A and S was advanced by 81·0, 99·0 and 78·5 GDU, respectively. Maturity was earlier than in the control by 65·0 GDU. Leaf emergence occurred earlier after organic manuring. Farmyard manure advanced development less than CGM. Changes in phenological events due to N followed the same pattern of changes as those found with organic manures. Time from sowing to onset of T, A, S and M, and the interval between T, A, S and M were significantly correlated with yield and yield-related characters. Desirable changes in the timing of phenological events are thus one of the factors contributing to the improvement in productivity caused by organic manures. Calendar day was found to be as accurate an index as GDU for evaluation of the effect of cultural practices on phenological events.
The effects of soil type on the early growth of lettuce
Authors: Costigan P. A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYLarge and consistent differences in growth rate of lettuce on different soils were recorded in two consecutive experiments in which lettuce cv. Avondefiance was grown for about 4 weeks in miniplots of 13 different soils. The miniplots were 20 cm in diameter and 20 cm deep and were buried flush with the soil surface at a single site. Each soil received the recommended amount of fertilizer and only seedlings emerging on a particular day were allowed to grow on. The relative performance of the different soils was very similar in each of the experiments with the plants in the best soil being 2·2–3·3 times heavier than those on the worst soil by the end of the experiments. The relative growth rates (RGR) of the plants were positively correlated with % P in the plants (accounting for 44–68% of the variation in RGR) and in turn with the availability of P in the soil. There was also a negative effect of soil organic matter on RGR, acting independently of % P, so that a multiple regression with % P and organic matter accounted for 65% of the variance of RGR in Expt 1 and 75% in Expt 2. Soil solution phosphorus appeared to be a useful measure for assessing phosphorus availability as plant growth was reduced only when concentrations fell below about 1 μg/ml.
Optimum sowing date and nitrogen fertilizer rate for rice varieties under intermediate deepwater conditions (15–50 cm)
Authors: Sharma A. R. , Reddy M. D. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYIn an intermediate deepwater situation (15–50 cm) at Cuttack, India, three improved high-yielding rice varieties, Utkalprabha (semi-tall), CR 292–8051 (intermediate tall) and Gayatri (semi-dwarf) were sown on 20 May, 30 May and 10 June in 1988 and 1989 with an application of either 0, 20 or 40 kg N/ha at sowing. Tall varieties performed better than the dwarf type but grain yield decreased with delay in sowing. The early-sown crops (20–30 May) germinated with pre-monsoon rains and were established well before water accumulated in the field from mid-June onwards. The late-sown crops (10 June), despite good initial germination, could not withstand immediate waterlogging. The tall variety, Utkalprabha, elongated faster with rising water level and escaped complete submergence; whereas the semi-dwarf Gayatri failed to withstand such extreme excess water stress. Application of N fertilizer up to 40 kg/ha proved beneficial to the crops sown by the end of May. However, with crops sown on 10 June, the application of N could not compensate for the loss in yield due to an inadequate initial crop stand. Therefore, early sowing of tall varieties by the end of May along with a basal application of N fertilizer is recommended for higher productivity of rice under excess water conditions.
Growth and metabolism studies in growing pigs given diets containing a low glucosinolate rapeseed meal
Authors: Rowan T. G. , Lawrence T. L. J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYTwo growth and two metabolism experiments were made in which a low gluoosinate rapeseed meal (var. Tower; TRSM) was compared with soya-bean meal (SBM) as the sole protein-rich material in simple diets containing barley and a vitamin and mineral supplement only.In the first growth experiment 108 pigs were fed individually and restrictedly SBM and TRSM diets so that digestible energy (DE) and crude-protein intakes were similar. The DE used to promote a unit of growth or a unit of carcass weight was significantly less for the SBM, than for the TRSM, diet. In the second experiment 48 pigs were given, in groups of four, diets similar to those in Expt 1. There were no significant differences in growth rate or in serum thyroxine concentrations, but a significantly higher degree of thyroid hypertrophy was induced in pigs given the TRSM diet.The two metabolism experiments compared the same diets used in the first growth experiment. Apparent digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and gross energy, and retention of nitrogen relative to intake, were significantly greater for the SBM diet than for the two RSM diets. The addition of synthetic lysine to the TRSM diet significantly improved the apparent digestibility and retention of nitrogen. Pooled DE values (MJ/kg dry matter) calculated for SBM, TRSM and barley were 13·72 (S.E. 0·318), 13·97 (S.E. 0·211) and 14·01 (S.E. 0·080) respectively.
Effects of defoliation and time of harvest on tuber dry-matter percentage of Pentland Crown Potatoes
Authors: Wilcockson S. J. 
Published: March 2009

Two experiments are reported which investigated the effects of time and method of crop defoliation and of extending the interval between defoliation and harvest on the relationship between dry-matter percentage and tuber size in Pentland Crown potatoes.Differences in average tuber dry-matter content between seasons and treatments were large, but the relationship between tuber dry-matter percentage and tuber size was always negatively quadratic. The dry-matter content of tubers of all sizes invariably decreased after defoliation, by about 0·6 % on average for each week that harvest was delayed in 1983 and 0·3 % in 1984. The largest decrease was from 22·7 to 16·7 % over the 10-week period following mechanical defoliation in mid-August 1983. In 1984, chemical defoliation in mid-August gave a smaller decrease than the mechanical method (0·25 and 0·38%/week) but their effects were similar when carried out in mid-September. Water uptake was the main factor responsible for the decrease because evidence showed that fresh weights of tubers increased proportionally following defoliation whilst dry weights remained virtually constant.Natural senescence was late in both seasons experiments so that the crops foliage was still mostly alive when defoliation occurred, even in September and early October. Thus, the relatively large effects of late defoliation may have been greater than might be expected where haulm senescence is already well advanced by this time and water uptake has almost ceased. Nevertheless, the decline in dry-matter percentage which may occur between defoliation and harvest can be extremely important where potatoes for processing are concerned. It could make them unacceptable for particular outlets and should be considered when defoliation and harvesting programmes are planned.
Effects of underfeeding and of fish meal supplementation on forage digestion in sheep
Authors: Kabré P. , Doreau M. , Michalet-Doreau B. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe effects of severe food restriction and of protein supplementation on the apparent digestibility of a forage were studied on 12 wethers in 1992 at INRA, Theix. Ruminal digestion of the forage cell walls was studied in a second experiment carried out on four ewes fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulas, receiving the same diets as the wethers. The animals were fed on two different hay-based diets: hay only (58 or 25 g/kg BW0·75 per day) or hay supplemented with fish meal (48 or 20 g hay with 6·5 and 3·0 g fish meal respectively per kg BW0·75). The effects of fish meal supplementation on apparent digestibility of the hay cell walls were small, + 1·8 and + 2·3 units for neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) respectively. In contrast, NDF and ADF digestibility was respectively 4·0 and 4·7 units higher at low than at high intake. Rumen fluid volume decreased by 2·4 1 with decreasing intake, while water concentration in rumen content increased slightly from 89·8 to 91·8%. The mean retention time of the hay particles in the foreguts increased concomitantly from 39·5 to 55·1 h. This was achieved by a higher retention time to a similar extent in both slow and fast compartments. The calculated in situ degradability of NDF and ADF increased respectively by 12·1 and 13·1 units with decreasing intake. This reflected the lower fractional outflow rate recorded at low intake. If a fractional outflow rate value of 4·1%/h (as measured in high intake diets) was applied to all dietary treatments, NDF and ADF in situ degradability would be greater at low than at high intake (31·7 v. 26·6% for NDF; 27·9 v. 22·1 % for ADF), indicating a higher microbial activity in restricted diets. Interactions between intake and fish meal supply were detected for in situ degradation parameters, indicating principally a reduction of the cell wall undegraded fraction in supplemented diets when intake declined. Ruminal fermentation was modified by the dietary treatments, the acetate: propionate ratio being higher at low intake. Fish meal increased concentrations of ammonia and of isoacids in rumen liquid. The relationship between apparent digestibility and in situ degradability of plant particles is discussed.
Effects of nitrogen applied through new carriers on yield and quality of sugarcane
Authors: Yadav R. L. , Kumar R. , Verma R. S. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYIn a field experiment at Lucknow in 1985/87 and 1986/88, the ‘new’ N carriers urea super granules (USG), neem-cake-coated urea (NCU) and dicyandiamide-treated urea (DCD) and the traditional source of N, prilled urea (PU), were used to supply 150 kgN/ha to the plant crop (first crop after planting) of the cultivar Col 148. The ratoon crop was fertilized at 0 and 150 kgN/ha with PU over all the plant crop treatments. In both plant and ratoon crops, N application increased cane yields but decreased quality: differences in yield resulting from use of the new carriers were not significant, though the fertilizers tended to increase the final plant population density. Uptake and recovery of N were significantly greater using USG, NCU and DCD than using PU. The direct effect of N was 184 kg cane/kg of N applied to the ratoon crop but residual and cumulative effects of N applied to the plant crop on yield and quality of the ratoon crop were small. Adequate direct application of N is therefore suggested for increasing the yields of ratoon cane.
Stimulation of root growth and soil nitrogen uptake by foliar application of urea to wheat and sunflower
Authors: Sen S. , Chalk P. M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYWheat and sunflower plants were grown in a temperature-controlled glasshouse in Melbourne, Australia (37° 50′ S, 145° 00′ E), from 9 August to 2 October 1991, in cylinders containing two soils (Walpeup loamy sand (LS) and Gombalin clay loam (CL)) of low and moderate N status, respectively. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied by immersion of leaves in 0·18 M urea solution (10·5 atom%15N).Plants were N-deficient in the Walpeup LS but not in the Gombalin CL soils. Both species had higher root: shoot ratios, and higher proportions of foliar-absorbed N were transferred to the roots, in the Walpeup LS plants. Plant N derived from the fertilizer and root or shoot dry matter were significantly correlated only when plants were N-deficient.In the Walpeup LS soil, N-fertilized wheat harvested 33 days after sowing (DAS) took up significantly less soil N compared with unfertilized plants, whereas significantly more soil N was taken up by N-fertilized sunflower compared with unfertilized plants harvested at 54 DAS. The fertilizerinduced response in uptake of soil N was directly related to the observed response in production of root biomass for both species. The different responses were related to the severity of the N deficiency and the limited effectiveness of foliar applications of urea in ameliorating the deficiency.
Efficiency of experimental designs for estimating common-row-and-column (CRAC) effects
Authors: Connolly J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYTwo factor designs are considered in which the levels of the two factors are linked (e.g. certain diallel cross and reciprocal transplant experiments). A common-row-and-column (CRAC) effect is defined as a systematic effect in the response when the treatment combination has the same level of the two factors. The efficiency of designs for estimating CRAC effects is discussed. Square designs with various levels of extra replication for CRAC treatment combinations and strand designs, based on omitting certain treatment combinations for which the two factors do not have the same level of the two factors, are defined and their efficiency examined.In the design for optimal estimation of a single CRAC effect in square or strand designs, half the total replication is in CRAC treatment combinations and half in the other combinations. This gives a major increase in design efficiency, particularly where the number of levels of the factors is five or greater. Designs with equal replication of all treatment combinations are generally very inefficient. The optimal square and strand designs have equal efficiency for estimating the CRAC effect, but the strand designs are more flexible in practice, requiring fewer plots to make a complete block and this relative flexibility increases with the number of levels of the factors.Most of the square or strand designs allow the estimation of n separate CRAC effects where n is the number of levels of the factors. Optimal square designs for estimation of separate CRAC effects give replication of CRAC combinations as ((n–1)(n–2)/2)½ times that of other combinations, which is different from the optimum value for estimating the single CRAC effect. However, for many designs, the difference is not of major importance because optimal designs for the estimation of a single CRAC effect are relatively insensitive to small deviations from the optimal ratio.When the replication of CRAC combinations differs from that of the other treatment combinations, the designs are less efficient in estimating the factor effects. Where estimation of factor effects is also of relevance, a trade-off between increased efficiency in the estimation of CRAC effects and of factor effects may be desirable.Strand designs are not as efficient as the optimal square design for estimating separate CRAC effects. For three-strand designs of even order examined, the CRAC effects are confounded with factor effects and are not all separately estimable. When factor effects and/or separate CRAC effects are of interest, square are preferable to strand designs.Some of the results generalize readily to three linked factors. There is a three-factor CRAC effect and three two-factor CRAC effects. The replication allocation for CRAC relative to other combinations, to optimize the estimation of the three-factor CRAC effect is (n–1)(n–2)/2 for the three-factor CRAC combinations and (n–2)/2 for the two-factor CRAC combinations. Selection to optimize the estimation of the two-factor CRAC effects gives very different optimal allocation.