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.     

Land use, rainfall and erosion risk on the South Downs

Abstract. In 1989–90 over 80% of the erosion on agricultural land in the South Downs was on ploughed or cultivated surfaces prepared for spring planting of cereals. This was in contrast to the pattern in previous years when most erosion was in winter cereal fields. An unusual late winter rainfall peak was the primary cause. Periods of erosion risk associated with other land uses on the South Downs are also discussed.     

The effect of exploratory laparotomy on the serum and peritoneal haptoglobin concentrations of the pony.

Serum haptoglobin concentration was used as an indicator of the acute phase response in ponies undergoing exploratory laparotomy. Preoperative, 1 h intraoperative, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h postoperative blood samples and 48 h postoperative peritoneal fluid samples were obtained for haptoglobin analysis. A spectrophotometric assay based on cyanmethemoglobin binding capacity (CyanBC) was used to determine haptoglobin concentrations. The preoperative reference range for serum haptoglobin concentrations in these ponies was 25-60 mg CyanBC/dL. Intraoperative and 3 h postoperative blood samples had decreased haptoglobin concentrations when compared to preoperative values. Serum haptoglobin concentrations began to rise by the 6 h postoperative sample and were generally elevated above preoperative values by the 24 h postoperative sample. Two of the ten ponies had mild signs of postoperative colic which were associated with twofold elevations in serum haptoglobin concentrations and fivefold elevations in peritoneal fluid haptoglobin concentrations.     

Insemination with Stallion Semen Frozen in 0,5 ml Straws

Contents: An insemination trial using frozen semen is described. The freezing procedure was slightly modified from the Hannover method. The insemination dose consisted of 7 medium straws containing approx 1 10⁹ spermatozoa. A total of 28 mares of the Norwegian Trotter breed were inseminated during the 1991 season. During oestrus the mares were examined at 12 hour intervals, and the insemination was carried out after detection of ovulation. The pregnancy rate was 43% after the first insemination, increased to 68% after second and further to 75% after the third and last insemination. The foaling rate was 61.5%.