Mango seed kernels as an energy source for chicks1

1. Chemical analysis of a sample of ground mango seed kernels (MSK) revealed the following percentage composition: dry matter, 91.55; ash, 1.97; protein, 6.74; ether extract, 12.53; fibre, 1.30; nitrogen‐free extract, 77.46.

2. The ME content of MSK was 1.82 kcal/g.

3. The percentage retention of the crude fat content of MSK was only 3.38%.

4. Substituting MSK for corn at 10 or 20% led to reduced growth rate and poorer food consumption and a reduced efficiency of food utilisation in the period 0 to 4 weeks.     

Palygorskitreicher Vertisol im ariden Bereich NO-Somalias

Palygorskite rich Vertisol in the arid part of NE-Somalia In the arid part of NE-Somalia on a large plane in the central part of the Darror Valley Vertisols rich in palygorskite are found. The investigated Vertisol is very poor on smectite and vermiculite. The parent material of the soil consists of Pleistocenic fluvial sediment, which originated from Tertiary stones. In the field, slicken sides in 92 to 140 cm depth and cracks reaching a depth of 100 cm were observed in the soil. The cracks were partly filled with topsoil material. Because of the fresh appearance of gilgai microrelief and the cracks, which are partly empty, peloturbation must be active under the present climatic conditions. The high content of palygorskite in the investigated Vertisol seems to be lithogenic and originating from Tertiary sediments found in the surrounding area.     

Effects of industrial liquid wastes on dinitrogen fixation and microflora of soils and waters

Potential N₂-fixation was investigated in a number of samples representing soils and water courses under the effect of some industrial wastes in Helwan area of Egypt. Microbiological analysis of soil and water samples showed the general enrichment of fungi, actinomycetes and bacteria including N₂-fixers. Among asymbiotic N₂-fixers, azospirilla compared to azotobacters and clostridia were found to be present with rather higher densities in all samples tested. Generally, the microbial numbers increased by increasing the distance from the Industrial Complex at Helwan, which could be attributed to the high levels of salinity and total heavy metals near the factories. The results indicated that the industrial wastes near the factories exerted inhibitory effects on the acetylenereducing activity in soils, which seriously reduces their biological fertility. Such effects were decreased by getting away from the factories. Significantly negative correlations were recorded between densities of N₂-fixers or N₂-ase activity and salinity and total heavy metals content in both soil and water samples.     

Improvement of the nutritional quality of Egyptian and Sudanese sorghum grains by the addition of phosphates

1. Male broilers (0 to 35 d) were given foods with two types of yellow sorghum substituted for maize in isonutrient diets. Sorghum-based foods were also supplemented with extra phosphorus, to provide a total P of about 8 g/kg; the P being from either orthophosphoric acid or food grade dicalcium phosphate. 2. Both sorghums depressed growth and food:gain ratio and increased the incidence of locomotor disorder to about 0.50 (maize control = 0). Sorghum from Sudan, with higher concentrations of both tannin and phytate, caused more severe anti-nutritive effects than sorghum from Egypt. 3. Within the limits of statistical significance the growth depressing effect of sorghum was completely reversed by extra P. With the more toxic Sudanese sorghum this amelioration was numerically less than complete (growth = 0.94, maize control = 1). Locomotor disorders were also virtually, but not completely, eliminated by phosphorus treatment. 4. Treatment of sorghum by dry-mixing with dicalcium phosphate could form the basis of a simple and economic method for extending the use of high-tannin sorghum in poultry foods. The mode of action of the treatment remains to be determined.     

Bodenentwicklung am Rande oligotropher Moore im Raum Berlin

Soil development in the surrounding of oligotrophic mires in the Berlin region Polygenetic soils, surrounding oligotrophic kettle hole mires in the valley and aeolian sand areas of the Berlin region, were investigated. The typical soil catena is formed by the sequence of Ombric Histosol (Niedermoor), Ombric Histosol/Albi‐gleyic Podzol (Moor‐Podsol‐Gley), Albi‐gleyic Podzol (Nasspodsol‐Gley), Gleyic Podzol (Podsol‐Gley), and Dystri‐gleyic Arenosol (Gley‐Podsol‐Braunerde) (German soil classifications in parenthesis). Field and laboratory work showed, that the investigated soils were strongly related to each other and that their development depends on the trophy of the mire and groundwater fluctuations during the Holocene. Compared with the Bh‐horizon of terrestrial soils the Gh‐horizon is nearly free of Fe and Mn, but very rich in pedogenic Al‐oxides and rich in organic matter. The genesis of the soils is explained as follows: 1. The development of different Gleyic Podzols was due to rise of groundwater. Consequently the Bh and Bs horizons of Podzols surrounding the mire were converted to Gh and Gr horizons. 2. Humic substances and Al in the Gh and Gr horizons were not re‐mobilized due to the rise of groundwater, whereas Fe and Mn were reduced and removed by groundwater. 3. At the periphery of the mire Fe was enriched in the Go horizon of the Gley‐Podzols but not Mn. 4. The fact that the mire is completely surrounded by Podzol‐Gleys, indicates, that movement of the groundwater from the central parts of mires towards the periphery is an essential pedogenetic factor.     

Overwintering ofTrichogramma evanescens Westw. in Egypt (Trichogrammatidae,Hymen.)

Eggs ofA. kuehniella parasitized byT. evanescens were held outdoors in a shadow place during the period from November 20th, up to parasite emergence. Blackness of the parasitized eggs appeared 3 days later.Overwintering lasted for 99 days starting from 24th, November till 2nd of March at an average temperature of 10.1° C. When temperature increased to an average of 16.6° C, the parasitoids continued their development for 5 days till the emergence of adults.Emerged adult parasitoids showed relatively normal bioaspects as those reared in the laboratory.With 2 tables     

Use of some plant extracts to control Biomphalaria alexandrina snails with emphasis on some biological effects

The present work was carried out to evaluate, the molluscicidal activity of cold water, boiled water, methanol, ethanol, acetone and chloroform extracts of some plant species against Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. Preliminary screening tests on 10 plant species showed that the highest molluscicidal potency was recorded for Euphorbia splendens, Atriplex stylosa and Guayacum officinalis. Exposure of B. alexandrina snails to plant’s methanol extracts led to a significant reduction in their survival and growth rates. In addition, newly hatched snails were susceptible to plant’s methanol extracts than elder ones. LC₂₅ of methanol extract from these plants caused a considerable reduction in the infectivity of Schistosoma mansoni miracidia to the snails. It caused a reduction in number of cercariae per snail during the patent period and in the period of cercarial shedding. The results, also, revealed that the glucose concentration in treated snails was increased in haemolymph, while soft tissue glycogen decreased. The activities of glycogen phosphorylase, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), glucose-6-phosphatase and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) in homogenate of snail’s tissues were reduced (P < 0.001) in response to treatment with plants methanol extract, while glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activity increased (P < 0.001). It was concluded that the application of LC₂₅ of methanol extracts of E. splendens, A. stylosa and G. officinalis may be helpful in snail control as it interferes with the snails’ biology and physiology.     

The effect of xylazine on basal serum prolactin concentrations in male rats

In this study the effects of the major tranquilizer, xylazine, on serum prolactin level were studied in male rats. The results showed that, unlike all other tranquilizers, xylazine produced significant decrease (P less than 0.05) in serum prolactin levels. Xylazine at doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) induced significant decrease in serum prolactin levels 1 h after its intramuscular injection which remained significantly low for 4 h. The inhibition produced by 5 mg/kg and the 10 mg/kg b.w. doses was observed to be stronger in both magnitude and duration than that produced by the lower dose (2.5 mg/kg). This inhibitory effect of xylazine on prolactin levels may be attributable to its dopaminergic and/or alpha adrenergic antagonist activity. However, this point needs further investigation.