Approaches to relieving aeration stress in waterlogged plants

A fertile soil contains sufficient water-filled pores to replenish losses by evapotranspiration and to sustain growth. However, too many such pores can be detrimental because the exchange of gases between the soil, plant roots and the aerial environment is impaired by the water they contain (waterlogging). The consequences include an accumulation of metabolically generated gases (such as ethylene), oxygen deficiency and the production of potentially toxic substances. Knowledge of these effects, and their consequences for growth, hormone production and inorganic nutrient uptake, enhance the prospects for ameliorating flooding injury by prophylactic or restorative means. Theexamples described are (a) the use of more porousmedia for plant containers in the nutrient film technique (NFT) of glasshouse crop production; (b) fungistatic, acid neutralising and oxygen-releasing seed coatings; (c) boron and nitrogen fertilisation; (d)foliar applications of cytokinins and gibberellins; (e) the inhibition of ethylene action or stimulation of ethylene production in aquatic species.     

Whole blood platelet aggregation in uremic dogs

Whole blood platelet aggregation responses to collagen, arachidonic acid, and adenosine diphosphate were determined by use of the impedance method in 22 dogs with serum urea concentrations greater than or equal to 20 mmol/L, which was attributable to renal disease, and in 25 healthy control dogs. The median changes in impedance for the control dogs were 23 ohms for collagen, 18 ohms for arachidonic acid, and 6 ohms for adenosine diphosphate. The median changes in impedance in uremic dogs were 25 ohms for collagen, 21 ohms for arachidonic acid, and 15 ohms for adenosine diphosphate. There were no significant differences in platelet aggregation responses to collagen, arachidonic acid, and adenosine diphosphate between uremic and control dogs. Hemorrhagic tendencies were not detected in uremic dogs by use of whole blood platelet aggregation. Results of this study suggest that platelet aggregation by use of the whole blood platelet aggregometer is not abnormal in uremic dogs, but does not exclude the possibility of a platelet aggregation defect undetected by the whole blood system.     

Immune exclusion of Haemonchus contortus larvae in sheep: dose dependency, steroid sensitivity and persistence of the response

Naive and immune sheep, treated with anthelmintic, challenged directly into the abomasum and killed 48 hours later were used to examine the steroid sensitivity, persistence and dose dependency of immune mechanisms which result in the failure of incoming Haemonchus contortus larvae to establish (immune exclusion). Immune exclusion was almost totally abolished by corticosteroid treatment, the mean percentage of larvae establishing in the mucosa of immune sheep was 1.4 per cent of the challenge infection whereas in those treated with dexamethasone it was 24.4 per cent and in naive sheep 27.3 per cent. Immune animals challenged after seven and 42 days without antigenic experience excluded more than 90 per cent of the challenge larvae from their mucosae, whereas those challenged after 84 days without antigenic experience were as susceptible as naive animals. Immune exclusion was dose dependent, animals challenged with 10(6) and 10(5) larvae excluded 93 per cent and 82.5 per cent of the challenge dose whereas those challenged with 10(4) larvae failed to exclude larvae.     

Remote sensing for agricultural water management and crop yield prediction

Research we have conducted over the past several years relative to agricultural application of remote sensing is reviewed. In addition, new data are presented from recent experiments reported here for the first time.The subjects treated are soil moisture, evaporation, irrigation scheduling, and crop yield estimation. The analyses indicate that we have the technology at hand to successfully integrate remote sensing techniques into agricultural operations designed to enhance production via intelligent water management.Avenues for additional fruitful research are indicated.     

Evaluation of Rodent Depredations to Crops and Stored Products1

Estimates of food losses to rodents vary widely. In most cases, such estimates are not statistically defensible. Adequate sampling techniques have only been developed for a few crops and a few situations. Often, estimates have been related to rodent numbers, which have not been validly determined. Environmental management is basic to rodent control, both in terms of growing crops and stored products. Many aspects of intermediate technology have important applications to this need. Needs relate to better understanding of rodent ecology, adequate assessment of damages, training of specialists in management of vertebrate pests, and use and development of appropriate technologies.     

The effect of restricting the individual daily energy intake of caged layers on the efficiency of egg production

Two experiments are described in which the daily metabolisable energy intake of laying hens fed a concentrated diet (ME = 3550 kcal/kg) was restricted on an individual hen basis. Performance on this diet was compared with that of hens fed a high‐energy diet (ME = 2690 kcal/kg). In experiment 1 medium‐weight hybrid pullets were used and in experiment 2 two light‐weight hybrid strains were used.

In both experiments maximum egg production was obtained from the birds fed the high‐energy diet ad libitum. Restriction of the concentrated diet caused a significant reduction of body weight gain and a statistically insignificant fall in the total weight of egg product and in percentage production in both experiments.

Restriction of the concentrated diet caused improvements of 22 and 18 per cent in the efficiency of utilisation of metabolisable energy in experiments 1 and 2 respectively.

The data are discussed in relation to the relevant literature and the current cost of concentrated sources of energy.