Soil and erosion features of the central plateau region of Tigrai,Ethiopia

The results of reconnaissance soil surveys covering 6,000 km² are used to describe the Central Plateau region, which lies at elevations of 2,000 to 2,800 m in northern Ethiopia. Landform and soil sequences on calcareous shales, dolerites and sandstones are described, in which the principal soil units are Lithosols, Luvisols, Cambisols, Arenosols and Vertisols. Detailed morphological and analytical data are presented for a profile representative of arable soils in each sequence.Small-scale subsistence cultivation of cereals is the dominant land use; all land which is physically cultivable is at present cultivated. Settlement patterns are closely related to soil type, nucleated settlement occurring on fine textured soils but dispersed settlement on coarser textured and more freely draining soils.Erosion and soil moisture features of the three landforms described were investigated and compared. Empirical methods and suspended sediment measurements indicate high rates of regional soil loss (17–33 t ha^?1 yr^?1), accounted for by seasonally high rates of rainfall erosivity, steep terrain and poor land use. The recent development of gully erosion is seen to be linked to the disintegration of waterfall tufas. Application of the universal soil loss equation to arable lands indicates potential annual soil losses in the range of 400 t ha^?1 on Vertisols to 200 t ha^?1 on Cambisols: differences in rates are ascribed principally to differences in crop planting dates, which affect the degree of vegetative protection during periods of high rainfall erosivity.Soil moisture is shown to be in the available range for less than three months in the year. The time at which moisture in the profile enters the available range differed between the three soils monitored and was found to be closely related to the crop planting date, thus indirectly affecting the erosion hazard.     

MECHANICAL TREATMENT FOR IMPROVING UPLAND GRAZING

The botanical changes in a wet ( Molinia ) and a drier ( Nardtts ) upland pasture that followed a single defoliation by a forage harvester are briefly described. Without fertilizer the bare and litter-covered areas were soon recolonized by the original dominants; with lime and fertilizer the recolonization was mainly by Agrostis spp., even when Agrostis was a minor element in the original sward. These changes were markedly accelerated by the forage-harvester treatment. The results of surface seeding after the forage-harvester treatment are compared with those obtained after rotary cultivation. Contrasting moisture regimes and competitive thresholds led to considerable differences in sward balance and in establishment of sown species, and seeding was successful only on the wetter site. Too rapid regeneration of undesirable remnants was prevalent, but this and other hazards are related to the uneven deposit of litter left by the forage harvester; thick, slowly-rotting accumulations inhibited the redevelopment of rapidly-growing species and germination on seeded areas.     

17种报春苣苔属植物的组培苗移栽季节研究

探讨不同季节对报春苣苔属植物组培苗移栽成活的影响,为其今后组培苗工厂化、规模化生产提供技术支持。以17种报春苣台属植物的组培生根苗为材料,研究季节对移栽成活的影响,分析不同物种间在同一季节的移栽成活差异以及同一物种在4个不同季节的移栽成活差异。大部分种类在春季移栽具有较高的成活率;成活率最高与最低的种类为三苞报春苣苔和粗茎报春苣苔,成活率分别为100.0%、51.3%;适宜春季移栽的种类是：贵港报春苣苔、硬叶报春苣苔、永福报春苣苔、紫花报春苣苔、三苞报春苣苔、阳朔小花苣苔、褐纹报春苣苔、柳江报春苣苔、尖萼报春苣苔、大根报春苣苔。17个种类在夏季移栽具有较低的成活率;成活率最高与最低的种类为大根报春苣苔和漓江报春苣苔,成活率分别为68.7%、15.3%。在17个种类中,超过一半的种类在秋季、冬季移栽具有较高的成活率。秋季移栽成活率最高为桂海报春苣苔、那坡报春苣苔,均为100.0%,成活率最低为褐纹报春苣苔,为20.0%;适宜秋季移栽的种类是：桂海报春苣苔、粗茎报春苣苔、那坡报春苣苔。冬季移栽以冬花报春苣苔的成活率最高,为100.0%,永福报春苣苔的成活率最低,为32.7%;适宜冬季移栽的种类是：桂中报春苣苔、紫萼报春苣苔、冬花报春苣苔、漓江报春苣苔。17个种类的移栽季节以春季的最好,夏季最差,秋季和冬季介于春季和夏季之间。不同季节不同种类移栽成活率不同,不同种类其适宜移栽的季节不同,应根据季节移栽合适的种类以保证其获得较高的成活率。     

Comparison of media used for the primary isolation of Mycobacteriurm bovis by veterinary and medical diagnostic laboratories

Veterinary and medical laboratories engaged in the cultural diagnosis of bovine or human tuberculosis were requested to supply samples of the media that they routinely use for the primary isolation of M. bovis. Fourteen laboratories supplied 7 basic media types; these were Lowenstein-Jensen, Stonebrink's, modified Middlebrook 7H11 agar, tuberculosis bovine blood agar, egg yolk agar, Gerloff's egg and Herrold's egg yolk. Two strains of M. bovis were used to test the media, strain AN5, a glycerol-tolerant laboratory strain and M86/90 a glycerol-sensitive wildtype strain. AN5 grew well on all media with the exception of Herrold's and strain M86/90 did not grow on media containing glycerol and grew poorly on Herrold's medium. It is recommended that Lowenstein-Jensen with pyruvate (but without glycerol), Stonebrink's, modified Middlebrook 7H11 and tuberculosis bovine blood agar should be considered the media of choice for the primary isolation of M. bovis. Egg yolk agar also proved adequate for this purpose in the trial. This medium may be suitable for routine use but to date experience with its use is limited.     

Psoroptic mange in goats in Fiji

Summary Mange caused byPsoroptes cuniculi was first recognised in goats in Fiji in 1977. Of 33 widely separated herds examined 16 were infested 4 herds having the extensive type lesions in older goats. Treatment of the skin and superficial ear lesions with malathion or gamma-BHC was successful but mites survived in the proximal parts of the ear canal. Re-appearance of the mites following treatment was a common problem.

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Gale Psoroptique Chez Les Chevres, Aux Fidji

Résumé La gale causée parPsoroptes cuniculi a été reconnue pour la première fois aux Fidji, sur les chèvres, en 1927. Sur 33 troupeaux largement distants les uns des autres, 16 ont été reconnus comme étant infestés, les animaux les plus âgés de quatre d'entre aux présentant des lésions du genre extensif. Le traitement de la peau et des lésions superficielles des oreilles avec du malathion ou du gamma BHC a été un succès mais les acariens ont survécu dans les parties les plus proches du canal auditif. Le retour des acariens après traitement a été la régle.

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Sarna Soroptica En Cabras En Fiji

Resumen El primer informe de la occurrencia de sarna soróptica (Psoroptes cuniculi) en Fiji se publicó en 1977. De 33 rebaños de cabras examinados se encontraron 16 infestados, cuatro de ellos con lesiones extensivas en animales viejos. El tratamiento de la piel y lesiones superficiales de las orejas con malathion o gamma BHC fué exitoso en la mayoría de los casos, sin embrago, los ácaros sobrevivieron en las partes proximales de los canales de las orejas. La reaparición de los ácatos despues del tratamiento fué un problema común.