Nitrogen fertilizer requirements of cereals following grass

Abstract. The effect of increasing rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the yield response of 3 or 4 consecutive winter cereal crops after ploughing out grass was investigated at six field sites on commercial farms in England and Wales. Amounts of N required for an economically optimum yield (>3 kg of grain for each kg of fertilizer N applied) ranged from 0 to 265 kg ha⁻¹ and were dependent on soil N supply, but not on crop yield. Optimum N rates were large (mean 197 kg N ha⁻¹) at three sites: two sites where cereals followed 2-year grass leys receiving low N inputs (<200 kg N ha⁻¹), and at one site where a cut and grazed 4-year ley had received c . 315 kg N ha⁻¹ of fertilizer N annually. At the other three sites where 4 and 5-year grass leys had received large regular amounts of organic manures (20–30 t or m³ ha⁻¹) plus fertilizer N ( c . 300 kg ha⁻¹ each year), optimum N rates were low (mean 93 kg N ha⁻¹) and consistently over-estimated by the farmer by an average of 107 kg N ha⁻¹. Optimum N rates generally increased in successive years after ploughing as the N supply from the soil declined. Determination of soil C:N ratio and mineral N (NO₃N+NH₄N) to 90 cm depth in autumn were helpful in assessing fertilizer N need. The results suggest there is scope to improve current fertilizer recommendations for cereals after grass by removing crop yield as a determinant and including an assessment of soil mineralizable N during the growing season.     

Changes in contribution of white clover to canopy structure in perennial ryegrass/white clover swards in response to N fertilizer

Twelve plots were laid down on an existing perennial ryegrass/white clover sward, one plot in each of six replicated blocks receiving 100 kg  N ha⁻¹ (100N) and one plot receiving no N (0N). Biomass, canopy development (stratified cuts and point quadrat records at 2–4-week intervals) and changes in stolon population density were recorded during one 8-week regrowth period (25 July–23 September) to investigate the likely causes of N effects on white clover in mixed swards.
Over the period, N fertilizer resulted in an increase of 74% in perennial ryegrass biomass and a reduction of 24% in white clover biomass. There was also a reduction of 44% in stolon growing point density, mainly due to lower density of younger stolon branches. White clover's contribution to the upper three leaf area index (LAI) units (taken as an estimate of the proportion of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) intercepted) was, on average, 70% at 0N producing 74% of the sward biomass, compared with 46% contribution to interception and 37% contribution to biomass at 100N.
While there was no evidence of overtopping, it is concluded that N fertilizer application increased the LAI of perennial ryegrass in the upper layers of the canopy thereby reducing the share of available PAR to white clover. This, coupled with a lower radiation use efficiency at high N and lower population density, results in white clover's reduced performance in mixed swards receiving N fertilizer.     

Multi‐modality diagnostic imaging of a cervical articular process fracture in a Thoroughbred horse including a novel C‐Arm imaging technique

Interpretation of cervical radiographs can be challenging due to the complex anatomy and superimposition of osseous structures on either side of the vertebrae. This report describes the investigation of neck pain in a Thoroughbred gelding following a traumatic fall. Several imaging modalities were used to demonstrate the presence of a fracture of the left cranial articular process of the fourth cervical vertebra (C4), including nuclear scintigraphy, ultrasonography, oblique radiographic projections and a novel cineradiographic technique. Oblique radiographs were superior to standard lateral‐lateral radiographs in both the diagnosis and for monitoring the progression of healing of the articular process fracture in this case.     

Enrofloxacin enhances the effects of chemotherapy in canine osteosarcoma cells with mutant and wild‐type p53

Adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival time in dogs receiving adequate local control for appendicular osteosarcoma, but most dogs ultimately succumb to metastatic disease. The fluoroquinolone antibiotic enrofloxacin has been shown to inhibit survival and proliferation of canine osteosarcoma cells in vitro. Others have reported that fluoroquinolones may modulate cellular responses to DNA damaging agents and that these effects may be differentially mediated by p53 activity. We therefore determined p53 status and activity in three canine osteosarcoma cell lines and examined the effects of enrofloxacin when used alone or in combination with doxorubicin or carboplatin chemotherapy. Moresco and Abrams canine osteosarcoma cell lines contained mutations in p53, while no mutations were identified in the D17 cells or in a normal canine osteoblast cell line. The addition of enrofloxacin to either doxorubicin or carboplatin resulted in further reductions in osteosarcoma cell viability; this effect was apparent regardless of p53 mutational status or downstream activity.     

In vitro conservation of crop germplasm and the IBPGR databases

Summary The availability of a wide genepool is a prerequisite for crop improvement and the material involved is usually conserved in collections. The genetic resources of most crops can be conserved as seed but some vegetatively propagated crops and those that produce recalcitrant seeds cannot. In vitro (tissue culture) storage methods including cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen are being developed to conserve such problem materials in a complementary way to the maintenance of whole plants in the field. To aid the effective utilization of plant genetic resources, it is essential that as much associated information as possible be available to potential users — the plant breeders. The International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR) has taken the lead in genetic conservation work including related areas of information management. A significant example is the promotion of in vitro conservation. The IBPGR's In Vitro Programme includes the establishment of databases holding data on technological developments. An international survey of the in vitro research community is conducted by questionnaire every two years. Data are gathered on the crop under investigation, field of interest, propagation method, problem areas, characterization, disease indexing, exchange of cultures, and storage of material under normal or slow growth conditions or by cryopreservation. The survey returns are computerized into databases that are available for consultation by request. Such databases have been compiled for in vitro research carried out in 1980, 1983 and 1985. The 1985 database, for example, covers the work of 589 scientists who contributed information on 654 different species. The most recent phase of the project involved the circulation of a new questionnaire to approximately 2,500 scientists in over 70 countries. All databases are available for search requests.     

Internal (intra‐abdominal) herniation in the horse

Internal abdominal hernias are an uncommon occurrence in the horse. Protrusion of an abdominal organ or viscus may occur through a normal or pathological aperture within the peritoneal cavity, and incarceration of bowel through such an opening may lead to a strangulating obstruction of the intestine, characterised by luminal blockage and concurrent vascular compromise. As such, entrapment of bowel in internal hernias can represent an important indication for colic surgery in the horse.     

Scope for growth of Texas Bay scallop Argopecten irradians amplicostatus

Bivalves have exceptional potential as sentinel organisms because their sedentary benthic lifestyle and ability to pump large volumes of water in short periods of time results in bioaccumulation of pollutants and toxins present in the water column. Scope for Growth (SFG) is an instantaneous measure of production that ranges from maximum positive values under optimal conditions to negative valves when the organism is stressed and utilizing its body reserves for maintenance. We determined baseline SFG for the Texas bay scallop Argopecten irradians amplicostatus so that this species might be used to determine sublethal effects of toxins, contaminants, or other environmental stressors in light of recent harmful algal bloom events in the Gulf of Mexico. We also quantified the effects of different diets (phytoplankton, zooplankton, mixed phytoplankton/zooplankton) on Texas bay scallop SFG. SFG of starved animals was negative, indicating that body reserves were used for maintenance. SFG varied significantly (P < 0.001) by diet, with rotifers yielding the highest value (mean = 14.88 Joules hr^?1g dry weight, SE = 0.72). We determined that the Texas bay scallop has presently unrecognized potential as sentinel organisms to define effects of various environmental and anthropogenic perturbations.