Electrofocusing: A new method for characterization of soil humic matter

Electrofocusing in polyacrylamide gel was carried out on humic substances extracted by 0.1 n NaOH, 0.1m Na₄P₂O₇, and by the method of Burns, El Sayed and McLaren (1972) from the upper and lower organic horizons of an alpine podsol. The electrophoretic patterns were characteristic of both humus origin and extractions procedure. The best resolution of the isoelectric bands for the humus were obtained by the Burns-McLaren procedure. The ionic component does not have much influence on the distribution of humus constituents within the electrophoretic pattern, but the presence of phosphate appears to be essential to obtain good separations.     

The penetration of soil by mycelial strands of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Soil factors affecting growth of mycelial strands from ectomycorrhizas into surrounding soil were studied experimentally. Treated soil cores were inserted into root boxes for 4–6 weeks, then infiltrated with gelatin, sectioned, and mycelial strands harvested. Very large differences in mycelial strand growth (measured by weight) occurred between different soils, some soils completely inhibiting growth of strands of the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizopogon luteolus. Compaction of soil reduced mycelial strand penetration greatly e.g. by 80 per cent in one experiment. Soil sterilization ameliorated compaction effects. High soil phosphorus tended to increase strand growth but nitrogen level and Pseudomonas fluorescens. a common soil bacterium, had small or inconsistent effects.     

THE EFFECT OF NITROGEN, STOCKING RATE AND GRAZING METHOD ON THE OUTPUT OF PASTURE GRAZED BY BEEF CATTLE

An experiment was conducted in 1971 and 1972 to study the effects of two levels of fertilizer N (50 and 504 kg/ha) on the productivity of pastures grazed by young beef cattle. Two stocking rates were imposed at the lower N level and three at the higher. In addition to rotational grazing, set-stocking and an integrated grazing-conservation system were included. The responses/kg N were approximately 1 kg live-weight gain, 19–24 Meal ME and 8–9 kg DM. Maximum yields of 1200–1300 kg live-weight gain/ha and 25,000–27,000 Meal ME/ha were recorded. Productivity of set-stocked pasture was similar to rotational grazing at the high N level, but lower at low N. The integrated system yielded comparable results to high-N rotational grazing. Performances and herbage intakes per animal reflected the stocking rates imposed.     

Sorption of phosphate by aluminium and iron(iii)-hydroxy species on mica surfaces

Freshly cleaved mica sheets with aluminium- or iron(III)-hydroxy species on the cationexchange surface were prepared by suitable treatment with AlCl₃ or FeCl₃. These surfaces were considered as model soilk mineral surfaces and their interaction with phosphate studied using techniques previously developed for the study of single planar surfaces.Adsorption isotherms for both the iron(III) and aluminium systems were very similar and could be interpreted as two Freundlich isotherms indicating two different adsorption processes, one operating below a solution concentration of 10^?5 M and thee other above. Results obtained from the continuous monitoring of adsorption indicate that a rearrangement of adsorbed phosphate occurs with time on both the aluminium- and iron(III)hydroxy surfaces. This rearrangement reduces the rate of desorption and could be a cause of phosphate fixation in soils.     

Genetic differences in susceptibility to two diseases among strains of the common carp

In a test involving 5 inbred strains, and 9 strain crossbreds of the common carp, one inbred strain was found to be infected by Epidermal epithelioma disease and a second inbred strain was infected by a swim bladder inflammation. Crossbreds between these 2 strains, as well as between them and other strains did not show a single fish infected by either disease. It was concluded that susceptibility to both of these diseases is controlled by recessive genetic factors. It appears that the decreased incidence of Epidermal epithelioma in Israeli fish ponds in recent years has been due to the increased use of selected crossbred carp fry. The incidence of Epidermal epithelioma was twice as high in experimental ponds with a high stocking rate than in those with a lower stocking rate.The swim bladder inflammation was apparently due to a blockage of the pneumatic duct, with secondary infection by Aeromonas liquefaciens.     

The Effect of Gravity on Root Emergence from Cuttings of Some Tree Species

Poplar shoots trained horizontally and normally growing shootswere used to compare the effect of horizontal and vertical orientationin summer on the subsequent rooting of terminal cuttings; asignificantly greater number of preformed roots emerged fromcuttings of vertical shoots. This difference in rooting abilitymay be due to the lower concentration of indolyl-acetic acidin the upper than in the lower half of horizontal poplar stemsas shown by Leach and Wareing (1967). Decapitation of a seriesof these poplar cuttings (Populus ? robusta Schn.) showed thatwound-root production was influenced by the larger terminalbuds on vertical than on horizontal shoots. From a comparison of horizontal and vertical storage of applerootstock cuttings at 45 ?F in the autumn, 29 per cent moreof the horizontal cuttings than the vertical ones had a basalcallus in the following February. Of these cuttings which madesatisfactory shoot growth (over 5 cm) in the following summer,horizontal cuttings exceeded vertical ones by 80 per cent; aresult which was correlated with root production. In a second experiment with M II apple rootstocks in which cuttingswere both stored and grown at the same angle more roots occurredon cuttings placed horizontally rather than vertically, andthis orientation also induced the rootings of a greater proportionof leafy Worcester Pearmain apple cuttings.