bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of sudden introduction of rams on oestrus pattern of tropical ewes
Authors: Ngere L. O. , Dzakuma J. M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYObservations were made over a period of 3 years on a total of 331 Nungua Black Head and 104 West African Dwarf sheep. It was shown that ewes of these breeds responded strongly to stimulation occasioned by the sudden introduction of rams which had been separated from them for 10 months. Sudden ram presence apparently altered the normal oestrous cycle of a substantial number of ewes which unlike temperate breeds showed behavioural oestrus soon after being run with the rams resulting in about a quarter of the flock being bred on the first day of association with the ram. This behavioural oestrus must have been accompanied by ovulation as shown by the lambing records 5 months later. The observations also suggested the existence of breed differences in the degree of ewe response to sudden ram presence.
The influence of hydrogen-ion concentration on the decomposition of soil Organic matter by hydrogen peroxide (With two text-figures.)
Authors: Hosking J. S. 
Published: March 2009

The decomposition of the organic matter of the soil by means of hydrogen peroxide is shown to be a function of the hydrogen-ion concentration of the soil, alkaline soils permitting of a very low degree of oxidation, while with acid soils up to 90 per cent, of the organic matter is destroyed.The results obtained with a range of soils suggest that a portion of the organic matter is oxidised irrespective of the soil reaction, while the oxidation of the remainder is a definite function of the hydrogen-ion concentration, the relation being expressed by the equationThe proportion of the organic matter oxidised further appears to be a definite function of the clay content of the soil. Alkaline soils containing free manganese dioxide also show small losses.
The measurement of electrical conductivity of aqueous soil suspension and its use in soil fertility studies(With Five Text-figure.)
Authors: Sen Ashutosh 
Published: March 2009

Several factors affecting the electrical conductivity of soil suspensions have been studied leading to the development of a simple and rapid technique for its measurement, and suitable for both moist and air-dry soils.The possible use of the method in soil fertility studies necessitated examination of the effects of cultivations, manures, crop, meteorological variations, etc., on the conductivity measurements. This involved periodical determinations of initial conductivity (i.e. the specific conductivity of a 1 to 5 aqueous soil suspension determined at 25° C.) and the 7 days’ increase (i.e. the rise in specific conductivity of the same aqueous suspension after standing for 7 days in a thermostat at 25° C.). Soil samples were examined from several Rothamsted classical and nonclassical plots (over twenty plots were investigated for 15–20 months), and samples from experiments were also utilised during two growing seasons.
Effect of potassium fertilizer on cation uptake and concentration in oat shoots
Authors: Ragab S. M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYPot experiments were carried out using a system in which root mats were in contact with a Danish soil for 24, 72 or 168 h. Different rates of K fertilizer (0–80 mg K/100 g soil) resulted in marked responses at 168 h of roots–soil contact, however moderately or little responses at 72 or 24 h had occurred. Marked reciprocal K–Ca, K–Mg, K–Na relationships with yield response to rates of applied K were attributed to both dilution and antagonism. The latter was not apparently brought about by competition for the carrier binding site but from the unspecific replacement competition which occurred in the interior of plant cells and not in the outer surface of the cell root membrane.
Dispersion of surface-applied salts in porous media
Authors: Pandey R. N. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYEquations to predict the leached fractions of initially surface-applied salts either with irrigation water or broadcast on the soil surface have been derived from the solution of the dispersion-convection equation. Predictions obtained from these equations compare well with observed leaching data of chlorides and nitrates. It is shown that the loss of fertilizers when applied with irrigation water is reduced compared with that of applying it by broadcasting. The use of equations for predicting soil salinization and leaching of surface-concentrated salts is also indicated.
The use of antibiotic fermentation wastes as fertilizers for tomatoes
Authors: Bewick M. W. M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYAn investigation was carried out into the potential of tylosin and terramycin fermentation wastes as fertilizers for tomatoes. Each waste was added at concentrations equivalent to 1 tN/ha to John Innes base compost. Each waste provided the sole source of nitrogen for the crop. Controls were set up with inorganic nitrogen applied at 1 tN/ha and 0·2 tN/ha, the quantity of nitrogen normally found in John Innes potting compost. Comparisons were also made between wet and dry terramycin waste. Each treatment was added to normal John Innes base compost and John Innes base minus one part peat, to determine the potential of antibiotic fermentation waste as a peat substitute. The size, weight and antibiotic content of the tomatoes produced were determined.The use of antibiotic fermentation wastes delayed the onset of tomato production due to the slow release of nitrogen. Final yields were not significantly different from the control treatments except in the tylosin treatment which produced the highest yield, both in terms of weight and numbers, of all the treatments. The reduction in the amount of peat in the base compost only appeared to affect the control treatments, where a delay in the onset of tomato production was seen in the control low in peat. No antibiotic was detected in any of the tomatoes.
Energy cost and water requirement of black Bedouin goats at different levels of production
Authors: Maltz E. , Silanikove N. , Shkolnik A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe energy and water balance for Bedouin goats before gestation and at different levels of production was worked out. Both gross energy and total water intake were linearly related to their milk production. High producing animals consumed twice as much food (up to 1256kJ/kg body weight/day) and three times more water (290ml/kg body weight/day) as non-lactating ones.The conversion coefficient of digestible energy to energy in milk ranged from 34% at peak lactation to 25% at the end of the period. No mobilization of tissue was observed even at peak lactation. Black Bedouin goats thus demonstrate ‘superior dairy merits’ throughout their entire lactating period.Water requirement of a lactating Bedouin goat was lower than reported for other ruminants and amounted to 2·5 l/kg milk produced. This ratio was maintained whether over 2 l of milk was produced or only 0·5 1.Compared with goats before gestation, lactating Bedouin goats ‘economize’ both their energy and water metabolism and were highly adapted to maintain production in the adverse desert environment.
Adenosine 5′-triphosphate and adenylate energy charge in sheep digesta
Authors: Wallace R. J. , West Aileen A. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe concentrations of adenosine 5′-mono-, -di-, and -triphosphate (AMP, ADP and ATP) in sheep digesta were measured by a new bioluminescence method. ATP in rumen digesta varied with time after feeding and diet, and most markedly according to the size of the population of ciliate protozoa: the ATP content of rumen digesta from ciliate-free sheep was less than a quarter of that of faunated animals receiving the same diet. The adenylate energy charge (EC) (ATP + ADP/[ATP + ADP + AMP]), an indicator of metabolic activity, was high (0·77–0·94) in all rumen samples, but did not appear to be as useful a measurement of activity as ATP alone. As digesta passed along the alimentary tract, the ATP content decreased progressively, from 0·9–2·2 μmol/g dry matter in the rumen to 0·5–1·0μmol/g in the abomasum and duodenum, 07middot;03–0·08 μmol/g in ileal digesta and 0·01–0·02 μmol/g in faeces. EC also tended to decrease, further emphasizing the large decrease in microbial activity which occurs in the hindgut.
Comparative rate of development of Orosius albicinctus Distant (Cicadellidae: Homoptera) on different host plants
Authors: Kooner B. S. , Deol G. S. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe comparative rate of development of Orosius albicinctus Distant was studied on different host plants, sesame, sannhemp, radish, purslane, lucerne, chicory, Indian rape, sugar beet and black gram. The duration of the egg stage was the shortest (7·1 days) on sesame and was prolonged to 12·0 days on chicory. The nymphal duration was again minimal (11·9 days) on sesame and was prolonged to 15·4 days on chicory. The nymphal survival was also more on sesame than on the other hosts. Thus, among all the host plants tested sesame was found to be the best suited host for this leaf-hopper.
Histology of allometric growth in hindlimb muscles of pigs
Authors: Swatland H. J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYHindlimbs of pigs were dissected at 4-week intervals from 9 to 29 weeks after birth. Allometric growth ratios of the gluteal muscles, biceps femoris and semitendinosus were calculated relative to gastrocnemius. Relative growth in weight of the proximal limb muscles was greater than that of the distal muscle, gastrocnemius. The greater relative growth of proximal muscles was not due to greater relative growth of muscle fibre diameters, nor to greater relative growth of muscle cross-sectional areas. In biceps femoris and gluteal muscles, growth in the area of musole cross sections did not keep pace with the radial growth of muscle fibres. The relative longitudinal growth of proximal limb bones exceeded that of distal bones, and the relative longitudinal growth of biceps femoris and semitendinosus exceeded that of any of the limb bones. New sarcomeres were added to muscle length at a faster rate in biceps femoris and semitendinosus than in the peroneus longus located distally in the limb.
On the Yields and Composition of Pasture Grass from the tree Field Plots at Cockle Park.
Authors: Thomas Brynmor , Elliott F. J. 
Published: March 2009

1. The results of an investigation into the yield and composition of pasture grass from certain of the Tree Field plots at Cockle Park have been described. Samples were taken from randomised cutting areas, at intervals of 14 days, during a season of 22 weeks. The experiment was so designed as to admit of the application of statistical treatment to the results.2. The differences between the mean yields of dry matter from plots under varying manurial treatment could not be regarded as significant, and it is noteworthy that the control plot has not proved inferior to any other. The yields showed marked and significant seasonal variation, the occasion mean reaching its highest values in early summer and in autumn. The correlation of dry matter with rainfall, sunshine and temperature data yielded no significant results.
The Azotobacter Test of Soil Fertility Applied to the Classical Fields at Rothamsted.
Authors: Ziemięcka Jadwiga 
Published: March 2009

Summary and abstract1. The kneaded plate (plaque moulée) method of detecting deficiency in lime and available phosphate was applied to seventy-nine soil samples taken from the classical Rothamsted arable plots, and the Azotobacter population from some of these samples was estimated by counts on silica jelly.2. The silica jelly counts showed that Azotobacter cells were very much reduced in number, or even absent in soil receiving 86 lb. per acre or more of mineral nitrogen. It is suggested that this is due to competition with other organisms whose growth is stimulated by added nitrogen compounds.3. The kneaded-plate test correctly indicaṫed whether phosphate had been applied in soils receiving little or no nitrogen manures.4. In those soils receiving 86 lb. or more of mineral nitrogen, the kneaded-plate test usually showed little or no Azotobacter growth even in the presence of phosphate and calcium carbonate. This failure was probably due to the paucity of Azotobacter cells originally present in such soil samples. In some cases the test was modified by inoculating the sample with a culture of Azotobacter and it then gave correct indications as to phosphate content.
Ruminal volatile fatty acids and ammonia in cattle grazing dry tropical pastures
Authors: Playne M. J. , Kennedy P. M. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryTotal VFA concentrations, individual VFA proportions and ammonia concentrations in the rumen of cattle grazing tropical pastures for 7 months during the dry season were compared with concentrations of these metabolites in cattle grazing in the wet season and in cattle given two pasture hays in pens.Neither total VFA nor ammonia concentrations were altered by periods of new pasture growth within the dry season although responses in live weight occurred. Further evidence that concentrations of total VFA were insensitive to differences in feed quality was shown in the pen experiment.VFA concentrations were 53% higher in the rainy season than in the dry season and ammonia concentrations doubled from 62 mg/1 in the dry to 128 mg/1 in the wet season. Ruminal ammonia was related to ingested bolus N concentration (r= 0·58,P< 0.001) during the dry season.Individual VFA proportions did not vary greatly. The highest acetic (79·1%) and lowest butyric acid (5.10%) proportions occurred in the same sample. Iso-valeric and valeric acid proportions were related positively to ruminal ammonia (P< 0·001).In grazing cattle, concentrations of VFA and ammonia in their rumen taken at hourly intervals between 07.00 and 18.00 h did not vary greatly with time. Samples taken before 10.00 h had higher VFA and ammonia levels.
The digestibility of dried microbial cells grown on methanol in diets for growing pigs
Authors: Whittemore C. T. , Moffat I. W. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryA microbial cell product was compared with fish meal at three levels of dietary inclusion, using barley as the basal diet. Digestibility coefficients for flash-dried microbial cells (DMC) were calculated to be 0·85 for gross energy and 0·91 for N. Digestible energy (DE) values were 18·8 MJ DE/kg D.M. for DMC and 16·5 MJ DE/kg D.M. for the fish meal. Digestible nitrogen (DN) values were 119 g DN/kg D.M. for the DMC protein and 108 g DN/kg D.M. for the fish meal. The metabolizable energy (ME) values for diets containing DMC were similar to those for diets containing fish meal; ME/DE for diets containing about 16·5% crude protein was 0·96. Microbial N was less efficiently utilized than fish meal N; this was largely attributed to the different contents of nucleic acid N.
Some factors influencing the effect of alkali treatment on crop residues
Authors: Nikolić J. Anna 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYFive agricultural by-products, maize stover and cobs, wheat straw, grape marc and sunflower husks, were treated with alkaline reagents under various conditions.Maize stover and wheat straw reacted quickly with both sodium hydroxide applied at a level of 4 g NaOH/100 g dry residue and a mixture of calcium and sodium hydroxides (1:1), which led to changes in chemical composition and increases in digestibility. However, ensilage of the treated product at about 37% dry matter (D.M.) was not successful.When dried grape marc was treated with sodium hydroxide (4·3 g NaOH/100 g dry residue) apparent lignin content increased, although other changes in composition and digestibility were similar to the above. Nevertheless, digestibility remained low. Moreover, when previously ground marc was treated in the same way lignin and cellulose fractions increased markedly while digestibility decreased.Treatment of maize cobs with increasing amounts of sodium hydroxide (2·1–4·2 g/100 g dry residue) at 80% D.M. gave progressively more favourable results, although no improvement in digestibility was noted when half the sodium hydroxide was replaced by calcium hydroxide. Similar positive results were obtained under industrial conditions at application rates of 3·2 and 4·5 g sodium hydroxide per 100 g dry residue. Pelleting the product led to a further increase in digestibility.Sunflower husks also showed a decrease in hemicellulose content and increases in digestibility and volatile acid content after treatment with 4·4 g NaOH/100 g dry residvie under industrial conditions. Lignin content was unchanged. The pelleted products (about 80% D.M.) were stable for more than 6 months when stored in paper sacks.Except with grape marc loss of hemicellulose provided a general indication of the success of alkali treatment, although correlation with increased digestibility did not reach statistical significance (r = 0·34). Volatile acid production and alterations in lignin content were not suitable as general indicators.In general, alkali treatment of the examined materials improved digestibility, although the products with a high water content were subject to undesirable fermentative changes during storage and therefore should be used within a few days.
Yields and components of yield of dry beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) in the United Kingdom
Authors: Hardwick R. C. , Hardaker J. M. , Innes N. L. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryExotic accessions of Phaseolus vulgaris selected for seedling cold tolerance by Austin & Maclean (1972) in a test in controlled environments were grown in a field experiment at Wellesbourne in 1974. Yields of up to 4·;7 t/ha at a plant density of 34 plants/m2 were obtained. In 1975, six selected accessions were grown at 21 plants/m2 at six different sites. Mean site yields ranged from 1·0 to 3·1 t/ha. The six accessions all had better emergence and higher yields than two commercial cultivars used as controls. The genotype × site interactions for yield (and for yield components) were small. The variation in yield between accessions (from 2·0 to 2·5 t/ha) was smaller than the variation in yield between sites. Variation in yield components tended to be additive between sites, and compensatory between accessions. There was a negative correlation between crude protein content and yield across accessions; the correlation between protein content and yield across sites was not significant. Accessions differed significantly in the amount of green leaf still attached to plants at harvest. This variation was not related to maturity as judged by moisture content of the seed. There was a negative correlation across accessions between the weight of leaf per plant at harvest and harvest index (the ratio of seed weight to stem weight).
Changes in the angle and curvature of the uppermost leaves of winter wheat
Authors: Ledent J. P. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryEach of the three uppermost leaves of wheat canopies studied in 1975 and 1976 showed a downward movement after its emergence. The variations with time of leaf angle were greatest in the flag leaf. Genotypes differed markedly in the rate of change with age in flag-leaf angle. Leaf curvature did not vary with age. There were differences between years in the rate of leaf movement, but cultivars ranked roughly the same in terms of leaf angle in each year. Grain yield per hectare was not related to leaf angle change. Most of the higher-yielding genotypes included in the study had straight leaves, the correlation between curvature and yield being —0·30 in 1975 and —0·60 in 1976.
Response of lentil to Rhizobium inoculation and N fertilizer
Authors: Sekhon H. S. , Kaul J. N. , Dahiya B. S. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryField investigations were undertaken during the winters of 1971–6 to study the grain yield responses of lentil cultivars to seed inoculation with single and mixtures of Rhizobium strains. An effective symbiosis and consequent increase in the grain yield was associated with the efficacy of the strain. Inoculation with a superior strain produced 23–32 % more grain than no inoculation on loamy-sand soil and 46–90% more on sandy-loam soil.In separate studies comprising inoculation and nitrogen treatments, the seed treated with an effective Rhizobium strain gave on average 43% more yield than no inoculation and the application of 25 kg N/ha alone gave the same yield as inoculation. Rhizobium inoculation plus 20 kg N/ha was the best combination for maximum yield under both loamy-sand and sandy-loam soils.
The digestion of dry-matter, organic matter and nitrogen in calves fed diets containing broiler-house litter
Authors: Jacobs G. J. L. , Leibholz Jane 
Published: March 2009

SummaryFour diets were fed to two Friesian bull calves fitted with re-entrant duodenal cannulae. The diets contained no poultry litter (diet 0); 30% poultry litter (diet 30 D); 50% poultry litter (diet 50 D) or 30% poultry litter which had been ensiled at 45% moisture content for 3 weeks (diet 30 W). The total flow of digesta from the abomasum was measured over four 24 h periods for each diet.The flow of dry matter and organic matter to the duodenum was similar on all four diets but the percentage of apparent digestion occurring in the stomach was higher when the diets containing poultry litter were fed.Less nitrogen was digested in the hind gut on diet 30 W than the other three diets. Greater amounts of the nitrogen ingested and also of the nitrogen flowing to the duodenum were apparently digested in the hind gut on the diet containing no poultry litter. Microbial protein synthesized/100 g organic matter apparently digested in the stomachs was lowest when the calves were fed the 30 W diet.The results obtained in these experiments were then used to evaluate the results of growth trials previously reported.
Possible causes of the high death rate of ciliate protozoa in the rumen
Authors: Coleman G. S. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe protozoa in washed suspensions of rumen ciliates were killed by freezing or heating at 49 °C for 5 min before incubation at 39 °C, aeration during incubation or incubation in hypotonic salt solution (30% of ncrmal) and released their intracellular cellulose and amylase during 4–6 h. With the last two treatments it was only necessary to expose the protozoa to the conditions for 2 min to obtain over 50% of maximal enzyme release 4–6 h later. It is suggested that death of the protozoa during exposure to air and/or hypotonic salt solution for short times during drinking and rumination by the host animal could be the explanation for the high postulated protozoal death rate in the rumen. The amylase and cellulase released from the protozoa tested were stable in the presence of mixed rumen bacteria for 1·5 h and could be of importance in the degradation of plant constituents in the rumen.
Sequential design for estimating levels with low response rates in potato drop tests and other binary response experiments
Authors: Kershaw C. D. , McRae D. C. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYTests were to be made to estimate the ED 10 for surface splitting of potatoes; that is the dropping height for which on average 10% of potatoes sustain a surface split. To got good estimates for the ED 10 it is necessary to drop potatoes from heights close to this level. It was decided that a sequential procedure should be used to alter drop heights so that most drops would be made from heights close to the ED 10. Several procedures were investigated by calculation of large-sample properties of estimators and computer simulation of experiments. A procedure was then chosen for the drop tests. Results show that this procedure is easy to use, and also yields satisfactory estimates of ED 10s.