The effects of stubble burning and tillage on soil carbon sequestration and crop productivity in southeastern Australia

Abstract. In Australia, stubble burning and tillage are two of the major processes responsible for the decline of soil organic carbon concentration in cropped soils, and the resulting soil degradation. However, the relative importance of these two practices in influencing the soil organic carbon concentration and the long-term impact on soil quality and productivity are not clear. The effects of stubble burning as practised by farmers in southeastern Australia were evaluated in two field trials, one of 19 years duration, the other of 5 years. Conventional tillage (three tillage passes) led to greater loss of soil organic carbon than stubble burning. Loss of total soil organic carbon attributed to stubble burning in the 0–10 cm layer was estimated to be 1.75 t C ha⁻¹ over the period of the 19-year trial, equivalent to 29% of that lost due to tillage. In the 5-year trial, no change in soil organic carbon due to stubble burning was detectable. Changes in soil quality associated with stubble burning detected in the longer trial included a reduction in macro-aggregate stability, and increases in pH and exchangeable K⁺. Only the latter two were detected in the shorter trial. A higher mean wheat yield (average 0.15 t ha⁻¹) following stubble burning was observed in the 19-year trial but not in the 5-year trial. Research to monitor the longer term effects of stubble burning is needed, and to identify conditions where loss of soil organic carbon is minimized.     

CCC对葡萄试管苗生长的影响

ＣＣＣ对葡萄试管苗的茎叶生长有显著的抑制作用，茎的高度、节数及节间长度均有明显减少；ＣＣＣ对生根率没有明显影响，但对插段的生根数量有较大的影响，在一定浓度范围内（２０～８０ｍｇ／Ｌ）ＣＣＣ处理的生根数量有所增加，其中以４０ｍｇ／Ｌ时增加最多，为８．６７～８．９５条／段。但ＣＣＣ对根系伸长有明显的抑制作用，随着ＣＣＣ浓度的升高根长逐渐变短；从干、鲜重的变化来看，ＣＣＣ处理后墓叶的干、鲜重是随着浓度的升高而减少，但根系的干、鲜重在０～４０ｍｇ／Ｌ范围内呈略增加的趋势，４０ｍｇ／Ｌ以后则大幅度减少。     

灭菌肥Ⅰ型涂治苹果树腐烂病效果

试验于１９９２～１９９４年在山东和北京的６个地区，１４个苹果园进行。田间试验表明，用灭菌肥Ⅰ型５０倍液涂治苹果树腐烂病患处，平均治愈率可达９０％以上，比对照２％福美砷当年平均治愈率提高７．２２─２９．５１％，周年平均治愈率提高１８．０５％～３２．３９％，愈伤组织宽度增加３．０３％～２９．２３％。室内试验表明，灭菌肥Ⅰ型最低抑菌剂量１０００倍，抑菌面积可达２２８９．０６ｍｍ２。     

Effect of ivermectin and oxfendazole on shedding of larvae of the lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus) by red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Thirty eight newly weaned hinds were randomly allocated to one of two equal groups. One group received ivermectin, the other, oxfendazole at dose rates of 0.2 mg/kg and 4.5 mg/kg, respectively. All deer were drenched four times and were grazed on pasture. Both anthelmintics reduced D. viviparus faecal larval counts to low levels 20 days after dosing, but the mean larval output and the proportion of deer shedding D. viviparus larvae at 27 and 33 days after treatment, were significantly lower in the ivermectin treated group. There was no significant difference in weight gain between the two groups throughout the trial. This study suggests that ivermectin prevents reinfection with D. viviparus for approximately 14 days longer than oxfendazole.     

Synergistic interactions between phenylamide fungicides and respiration inhibitors in controlling phenylamide-resistant populations ofPhytophthora infestans on potato tuber disks

The efficacy of mixtures of respiration inhibitors and phenylamide fungicides (oxadixyl and metalaxyl) in controlling late blight was investigated using potato tuber disks. Results showed that uncoupling agents(e.g. DNP), inhibitors of ATP formation(e.g. oligomycin), ionophores(e.g, valinomycin) and inhibitors that block specific carriers in the electron transport chain(e.g. rotenone, antimycin A) increased significantly the control efficacy of both metalaxyl and oxadixyl towards populations ofPhytophthora infestons when applied to tuber slices pretreated with sublethal doses of both fungicides. When applied alone at the same doses, respiration inhibitors did not inhibit the development of the late blight fungus. Increased control efficacy of mixtures was not noted against phenylamide-sensitive populations of the fungus.     

Estimation of the costs of mastitis, using National Animal Health Monitoring System and milk somatic cell count data

Data collected by the National Animal Health Monitoring System in Ohio for a 12-month period during 1986 and 1987 were used to determine the relative magnitude of costs associated with mastitis in the following categories: milk production loss, veterinary services, drugs, producer labor, and "other" factors. The cost of milk loss associated with mastitis that was reported by producers cooperating in the National Animal Health Monitoring System program was compared with estimates based on bulk tank somatic cell counts and individual cow milk somatic cell counts. Using producer-reported estimates, milk loss accounted for about one third of the total cost associated with mastitis. When estimates of milk loss were replaced by estimates based on bulk tank somatic cell counts, milk loss accounted for over 80% of the total cost of mastitis. Estimates of the cost of milk loss based on studies relating milk yield to somatic cell counts differed considerably. Consequently, it was unclear how to best estimate the relative magnitude of the milk loss component of mastitis costs.     

Synergism in fungicide mixtures againstPseudoperonospora Cubensis

Mixtures of cymoxanil with mancozeb (Mancur) or with mancozeb plus oxadixyl (Pulsan, Sandocur-M) were effective in controlling either metalaxyl-sensitive (MS) or -resistant (MR) isolates ofPseudoperonospora cubensis on cucumbers (cv. ‘Elem’) in growth chambers. Metalaxyl+mancozeb (Ridomil-MZ) and oxadixyl+mancozeb (SAN-518) mixtures were effective against the metalaxyl-sensitive but less so against the metalaxyl-resistant isolate. Fungicide mixtures were far more effective in controlling either the sensitive or the resistant isolates than were the individual components applied alone, thereby representing significant levels of synergistic interactions. Increased efficacy of mixtures relative to their combined components (synergy factor) was calculated by the Wadley method. Mixtures containing cymoxanil showed high synergy factors against the resistant isolate, whereas Ridomil-MZ and SAN-518 did not evince this phenomenon. We concluded that cymoxanil mixtures might be suitable for the control of downy mildew incited by a metalaxyl-resistant isolate ofP. cubensis.