The effects of time of incubation on the relation between charge and pH of soil

Samples of two Andisols and two Ultisols from southern Chile were incubated with acid or with lime for up to 60 d at 25°C or for 1 day at 40°C or at 60°C. The changes in positive and negative charge were measured. The Andisols reacted slowly at 25°C. They lost protons to the solution at high _pH, thus increasing the negative charge on the soils and decreasing the pH of the solution. They gained protons at low _pH, thus increasing the positive charge on the soils and increasing the _pH of the solution. The Ultisols reacted more quickly but again charge and _pH changed through time. For all samples, the rate of reaction was increased by incubating at 60°C. Brief incubation at 60°C produces a similar relation to that obtained after longer incubation at 25°C. This provides a convenient means by which measurements can be made more quickly.     

Stoffbildung, CO2-Gaswechsel, Kohlenhydrat- und Stickstoffgehalt von Winterweizen bei erhöhter CO2-Konzentration und Trocken-streß

Dry Matter Production, CO₂ Exchange, Carbohydrate and Nitrogen Content of Winter Wheat at Elevated CO₂ Concentration and Drought Stress
Methods of mathematical modelling and simulation are being used to an increasing degree in estimating the effects of rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration and changing climatic conditions on agricultural ecosystems. In this context, detailed knowledge is required about the possible effects on crop growth and physiological processes. To this aim, the influence of an elevated CO₂ concentration and of drought stress on dry matter production, CO₂ exchange, and on carbohydrate and nitrogen content was studied in two winter wheat varieties from shooting to milk ripeness. Elevated CO₂ concentration leads to a compensation of drought stress and at optimal water supply to an increase of vegetative dry matter and of yield to the fourfold value. This effects were caused by enhanced growth of secondary tillers which were reduced in plants cultivated at atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Analogous effects in the development of ear organs were influenced additionally by competitive interactions between the developing organs. The content and the mass of ethanol soluble carbohydrates in leaves and stems were increased after the CO₂ treatment and exhausted more completely during the grain filling period after drought stress. Plants cultivated from shooting to milk ripeness at elevated CO₂ concentration showed a reduced response of net photosynthesis rate to increasing CO₂ concentration by comparison with untreated plants. The rate of dark respiration was increased in this plants.     

Plasma Cell Myeloma in the Horse

Plasma cell myelomas in horses have been reported infrequently. Data from 10 cases, 9 from the literature and 1 new case, are used to characterize the disease in the horse. Hot-blooded horses (7/10), specifically Quarter Horses (4/10), were most often affected. Median age at diagnosis was 11 years (range, 3 mo-22 yr) and both male (5) and female horses (5) were represented equally. Clinical findings included weight loss (6/8), anorexia (4/8), fever (4/8), limb edema (4/8), pneumonia (3/8), rear leg paresis/ataxia (3/8), epistaxis (3/8), palpable lymphadenopathy (2/8), and bone pain (2/8). Anemia (8/8) was present routinely, and in three horses, RBCs were macrocytic. Leukopenia (2/8), thrombocy-topenia (2/8), and circulating plasma cells (3/8) were variable findings. Except for abnormal protein concentrations and hyponatremia (3), abnormal results from serum biochemical analysis including hypo-cholesterolemia (1), hypercalcemia (1), and azotemia (1) were reported infrequently. Hyperproteinemia (8/9), hypoalbuminemia (7/9), and hyperglobulinemia (8/9) were characteristic but not invariable findings. Monoclonal proteins (7/7) were detected in the α₂, β, or γ region by serum electrophoresis. The paraprotein's heavy chain, determined in four horses, was a subclass of IgG. Three horses had decreased concentrations of normal immunoglobulins. Variable proteinuria (trace to 4+) was detected by routine urinalysis in four of six horses. Bence Jones proteinuria was detected in one of five horses (heat precipitation) and monoclonal proteins were detected in two of three electrophoresed urine samples. Three of the horses had lytic bone lesions detected radiographically. Bone marrow aspirates were diagnostic in two of five horses. Atypical plasma cells or increased numbers of plasma cells or both were present in histologic sections of bone marrow in six of eight horses. Common extraosseous sites of plasma cell infiltration included lymph nodes (8/8), kidney (5/8), spleen (5/8), liver (3/8), lung (3/8), brain (2/8), and orbit (2/8). Two horses had intracellular and extracellular crystalline deposits.     

Yield Stability of Winter Wheat (Triticum sp.) Cultivars and Lines

The purpose of this study was to compare responsiveness to environment as well as the stability of newly developed promising lines with traditional commercial cultivars. Subject research was conducted in Ankara between 1983-1989 on common and durum wheat cultivars and lines. Regression coefficient (b) was used as the criterion of genotypes' responsiveness to environment whereas deviation from regression (S²d) and coefficient of determination (r²) were used as stability parameters. Each experiment year was regarded as an environment and yield average of each year was used as the environmental index.
In consequence of the research, it was determined that new varieties with high yield, adaptable to diverse environments could be developed by means of hybridizations between parents having different genetic characteristics which were provided from diverse ecological regions.     

Evaluation of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Legume Intercropping Under 1:1 and 2:1 Row-replacement Series System

A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 1992–93 and 1993–94 at Agricultural Experimental Farm, Giridih, Bihar to evaluate the intercropping systems of legumes, gram ( Cicer arietinum L.), pea ( Pisum sativum ) and lentil ( Lens culinaris ) with wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) in 1:1 and 2:1 'row replacement series'. Intercropping systems were assessed on the basis of new indices termed as actual yield loss (AYL) and intercropping advantage (IA). This paper highlights the comparative effectiveness of evaluating the intercropping systems through the existing intercropping indices like LER, RCC, aggressivity. The indices AYL and IA seem to be more appropriate particularly when per plant yield is considered. Intercropping reduced the yield of component crops compared with respective pure stands. Wheat + pea in 1:1 row replacement series gave the highest wheat yield equivalent value (3.02 t ha⁻¹) followed by wheat + lentil (2.91 tha⁻¹). When the actual sown proportion was considered wheat + lentil (1:1) resulted in maximum AYL (+0.610) and IA (+0.279) values. This treatment also gave the maximum monetary advantage (Rs 5985.45 ha⁻¹).     

Valvular pulmonic stenosis in bullmastiffs

Six bullmastiffs with congenital heart disease were evaluated over a three-year period. In all the cases the problem was shown to be dysplasia of the pulmonary valve. Five cases were male, one was female. All dogs available to follow-up developed signs of cardiac decompensation. Bullmastiffs must be added to the list of breeds in which valvular pulmonic stenosis is encountered frequently.     

Effects of α2-adrenergic drugs on blood platelets in sheep

Xylazine (0.2 mg/kg, iv) alone or preceded by atipame-zole (0.125 μg/kg, iv) or by aspirin (10 μg/kg, iv) was administered to 18 sheep. Medetomidine (60 μg/kg, iv) was also administered to 12 sheep. Xylazine, but not medetomidine, significantly reduced the number of platelets. Both atipamezole and aspirin prevented this reduction. It was concluded that α₂-agonists would seem to produce platelet aggregation that may contribute to the development of the respiratory changes that follow the administration of α₂-agonists in sheep, but probably not always to a degree that could result in a significant decrease in the number of circulating platelets.     

Measurement of nitrate leaching losses from arable plots under different nitrogen input regimes

Abstract. Leaching losses of nitrate-nitrogen were measured from a set of eight hydrologically isolated plots on a clay loam soil over the period from September 1987 to February 1990. Variable drainflow recovery from the plots hampered accurate estimation of nitrate loading, but results suggest that, when inorganic nitrogen fertilizer is applied up to the recommended amount, there is little influence of the amount applied on the amount leached. We did, however, observe the following effects on nitrate leaching: leguminous green manure incorporated in autumn increased leaching of nitrate-nitrogen by 10–15 kg per hectare during the winter; autumn cultivation caused some increase in leaching compared with no cultivation in one year; some systematic variations in nitrate leaching occurred between years and between plots, but were unrelated to treatments.
From the results we conclude that green manuring does not provide sufficient nitrogen for organically grown crops on this soil but contributes significantly to nitrate leaching, and that growing spring cereals, with the land remaining in stubble as long as possible in autumn, may be the best strategy to minimize nitrate leaching.     

Mangroves as indicators of coastal change

In view of the unique biological characteristics of mangroves, it is interesting to assess the extent to which these ecosystems can be used as indicators of coastal change or sea-level rise. From recent studies of mangrove mortality at several locations (including Guiana, Gambia, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, India and Bangladesh), it appears that these coastal ecosystems are so specialized that any minor variation in their hydrological or tidal regimes causes noticeable mortality. Each species of mangrove (but particularly those belonging to the genera Rhizophora, Bruguiera, Sonneratia, Heritiera and Nypa) occurs in ecological conditions that approach its limit of tolerance with regard to salinity of the water and soil, as well as the inundation regime. If the duration of daily immersion were to be modified by tectonic, sedimentological or hydrological events, the species either readjusts to the new conditions or succumbs to unsuitable conditions. Consequently, the use of remote sensing data for mangrove ecosystems offers excellent potential as a tool for monitoring coastal change.