The object of this paper is to define exactly the variations in the price of meat carcases due to variations in weight and to variations in quality, as shown by differences in the conformation according to breed, etc.; that is, to get facts on which a scientific system of grading meat carcases could be based.

Two experiments were conducted on two varieties of Corchorus olitorius(‘NHCo 6’ and ‘NHCo 7’). The first one was on the effect of density of planting on their growth and development whilst the second was on the best planting ratio for Corchorus-tomato intercropping.

There was no significant difference in morphological characters of the two varieties. The maximum value of leaf area index for the two varieties was around 3. Maximum marketable and edible yields were obtained for the two varieties at 30 × 5 cm (666600 plants/ha) and the best time for harvesting was 44 days after sowing.

The best planting ratio for Corchorus-tomato intercrop was 2 rows of Corchorus and 1 row of tomato for maximum edible yield of Corchorus but for maximum economic returns, the best ratio was 1 row of Corchorus to 2 rows of tomato.

On soils dominated by high proportions of clay and organic matter, soil acidity and poor nutrient use efficiency have a major impact on output potential. Due to the inherent chemical properties of these soils, reducing soil acidity and the prevalence of undesirable metallic cations poses challenges. As a result, these soils have a large capacity for phosphorus (P) fixation, therefore reducing plant P availability. Limestone (CaCO3 or MgCO3) is applied to agricultural soils to counteract soil acidity and reduce P fixation. The current study investigates the effects of four contrasting annual P application rates (0, 50, 100, 150 kg P/ha); split (50:50) between spring and summer, across soils with a range of soil pH values from a previous liming trial. The effect of soil pH ranges and P treatment rates on seasonal herbage growth and herbage P concentration was investigated over three years. Soil nutrient status was also investigated. Soil pH had a significant impact on the rate of mineralization and soil P concentration across each site. A soil pH of 6.2 caused a 1.8 mg/l increase in soil test P. An annual P application was necessary to maintain sufficient herbage P concentration for animal dietary requirements (0.35% DM), however there was no effect of P application or liming rate on herbage productivity across the three sites as all sites possessed sufficient soil P reserves. The current experiment has shown that despite optimal soil fertility status, ensuring sufficient plant available P is a problem on these particular soils.

Kinetic studies of thiaminase I in extracts of ruminant faeces showed that the affinity for one substrate varied with the concentration of the other substrate in the manner of a two-step transfer mechanism. When the alternate substrate concentration was optimal, the apparent Michaelis constant (Km) for thiamine was 176 μΜ and the apparent Km for aniline was 3·19 mΜ. It is recommended that in routine thiaminase assays, the thiamine and aniline concentrations should be at least 1·5 and 25 mΜ, respectively. When non-saturating concentrations of thiamine are used in thiaminase assays the results should be reported as unimolecular reaction constants since the enzyme activity can be calculated only if suitable Km data have been determined.

Improved radioactive and colorimetric thiaminase assays with saturating substrate concentrations gave similar results. The analytical variation of the colorimetric method was rather high but this method may be useful for laboratories which lack radioactive isotope facilities.

Thiaminase assays were performed on cultures of 14 species of rumen bacteria. Only Megasphaera elsdenii had thiaminase activity and its cosubstrate specificity was different from the rumen thiaminase associated with cerebrocortical necrosis in ruminants. It was concluded that the source of rumen thiaminase in that disease has yet to be identified.

The ammonia removal ability of heterotrophic bacteria Alcaligenes faecalis strain No.4 isolated from sewage sludge was examined in a batch operation to mitigate ammonia from piggery wastewater, consequently preventing pollution by the inflow of wastewater from piggeries adjacent to rivers. If this process works functionally, it can be effective in controlling nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitrate (NO3−) emissions derived from animal agriculture, the heterotrophic nitrifying and the aerobic denitrifying effect of A. faecalis strain No.4 on high-strength ammonium (NH4+-N) were evaluated in wastewater collected from a piggery. The removal rate by A. faecalis strain No.4 on high-strength ammonium (NH4+-N) was 0.97 kg N/m3/day which was more than 100 fold greater than that achieved using conventional aerobic nitrification and anaerobic denitrification processes. An aerobic one-step denitrification system using A. faecalis strain No.4 can be proposed to remove ammonia and phytopathogens from piggery wastewater with high efficiency and prevent water pollution in adjacent rivers.

Some disorders causing chlorosis and necrosis of the foliage of oil palms from three West African estates have been investigated by spectrochemical analysis of the dry leaflets for potassium, calcium, magnesium and manganese.

Statistical examination of the chemical analyses of leaflets from fronds of different ages, and from different positions along the frond, shows that it is important to sample and analyse separately at least upper, middle and lower fronds from each tree. Little is gained by analysing separately samples from different positions along the length of the frond.

The ‘bronzing’ diseases are tentatively ascribed to deficiency of potassium. One palm is probably a case of combined magnesium and potassium deficiency. One disease, ‘lemon frond’, cannot be attributed to a deficiency of any of the elements determined.

The differences in mineral composition of the leaflets between palms from the three estates are greater than those due to the diseases and a further survey is proposed to determine the range of variation of composition of healthy trees and the levels below which deficiencies set in.

A regression for feed-to-faeces ratio on faecal nitrogen percentage was formulated from trials in which perennial irrigated pasture cut to ground level was fed to cattle and sheep at various times over several years.

Similar data derived from ‘top’ (mainly leaf) and ‘bottom’ (mainly stem) cuts of a spring and of an autumn stand of pasture from the same vicinity did not conform with the ‘whole’ cut relationship and the three regressions which were established were heterogeneous.

It is suggested that due to selectivity, the application to grazing animals of a regression derived from pasture cut to ground level may result in considerable error.

Crop patterns of natural origin and man-created crop marks are frequently recorded on aerialphotographs taken over England and Wales. They usually indicate subsil variation over short distances, but differences in crop growth may also be evident in relation to topsoil variability. Different kinds of crop patterns and the soils on which crop patterns and marks develop are briefly described. Soil associations in which crop patterns and marks are frequently and extensively recorded cover 25% (37664 km2) of England and Wales; in dry years, patterns and marks are extensively recorded over a further 6·5% (9884 km2). Crop patterns and marks indicate that over much of England and Wales crop growth may be impeded by properties intrinsic to the soil, which are not easily ameliorated by farmers. When siting crop experiments, care should be taken to avoid these areas of complex soil patterns.

The morphological traits of alfalfa under acid soil conditions with different mobile aluminium (Al) concentrations were investigated. The study site was Vėžaičiai Branch of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, 55°70 N, 21°49 E. The experiment featuring the 30 most Al-tolerant alfalfa accessions (populations and cultivars), determined from laboratory trials was established on a Bathygleyic Dystric Retisol in 2018. In 2019 and 2020, the biological and morphological traits were evaluated: plant regrowth, plant height before flowering, wintering, leafiness, stem thickness, plant vigour, stem density, seed yield and resistance to spring black stem leaf spot. The resistance of alfalfa to mobile Al toxicity was determined using a filter-based screening method of selection cycles C1 and C2. The accessions grown in the soil with mobile Al (20.6–23.4 mg/kg) showed better tolerance to Al toxicity in the cycle C2. The hypocotyl tolerance index of these accessions was better at 8, 16, 32 and 64 mm AlCl3 concentrations in the cycle C2. The correlation analysis showed strong significant positive and negative relationships between the morphological traits. A cluster analysis showed that the accessions, grown in the soil with mobile Al (20.6–23.4 mg/kg) were the most resistant to Al toxicity in the cycle C2. These accessions produced a better seed yield and demonstrated lower values of morphological traits compared to cluster 2. Also, these accessions are considered as tolerant to mobile Al toxicity and might be used as donors in breeding for Al toxicity tolerance.

Every farmer who feeds stock finds the necessity for supplementing his home-grown foods, which are usually of a bulky nature containing large proportions of carbohydrate and fibre, by purchasing concentrated foods rich in nitrogen and fat. Experience shows that it is by no means a matter of indifference which concentrated food is selected to mix with any particular bulky food, and the trend of modern physiological chemistry seems to point to a definite explanation of this fact. According to modern views, the protein eaten by an animal is split normally by the digestive ferments into amino-acids and other crystalline nitrogenous substances. It is in the form of such comparatively simple substances that the animal absorbs its nitrogen from the alimentary canal, and from them that it builds up its own characteristic proteins.

A field experiment was carried out at the Wye College Farm during 1988 and 1989. The aim was to study the effects of three rates and timings of nitrogen fertilizer application on the grain protein content of spring wheat cv. Axona. Results demonstrated that timing of fertilizer application was more important than the rate of nitrogen used. Grain protein development and final grain protein contents are discussed in relation to the seasonal variations experienced during the 1988 and 1989 growing seasons in South East England. Due to the early February sowing in 1989, grain protein content was not affected by the summer drought. Thus, the advantage of early sowing of spring wheat to reduce the detrimental effect of early summer drought on the grain protein content is emphasised.

Four experiments involving the two-stage in vitro digestibility technique of Tilley & Terry (1963) were undertaken to investigate whether cow rumen liquor could be replaced with effluent or extract from feed residue containing micro-organisms derived from the long-term rumen simulation technique (Rusitec) of Czerkawski & Breckenridge (1977).

In Expts 1 and 2, the dry matter digestibility (DMD) of hay was determined using either cow rumen liquor or Rusitec liquid effluent or extract from feed after 48 h of digestion in a Rusitec apparatus using various volumes of liquor and artificial saliva. Digestibilities determined with rumen liquor were c. 70% (c.v. 1·2%) while those determined with Rusitec effluent or extract were c. 62% (c.v. 1·8%). In treatments common to Expts 1 and 2, Rusitec effluent digestibilities were more repeatable than extract or rumen liquor digestibilities.

In Expts 3 and 4, Rusitec effluent was compared with cow rumen liquor for determining DMD of seven forages with DMD ranging from 33 to 70%. For a given feed there was good agreement between experiments in DMD values determined with Rusitec effluent, and for ten paired values there was a high correlation (r2 = 0·976) between DMD determined by the two methods. DMD determined using rumen liquor (y) was accurately predicted by Rusitec liquid effluent digestibility (x) from the equation y = 2·663 + 1·06477.x; R.S.D. 2·433.

The results show that Rusitec liquid effluent can be used instead of rumen liquor as a source of micro-organisms for the two-stage in vitro digestibility method. Routine use of Rusitec would obviate the need for using fistulated animals.

Sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda, applied at monthly intervals, produced increases in the carotene content of poor pasture grass amounting to 28%. Sulphate of potash, also applied monthly, produced an increase of 6·2%. A single dressing of carbonate of lime, which was sufficient to satisfy the lime requirement of the soil, produced no effect on carotene content, whilst monthly dressings of superphosphate also had no influence except in the month of June, when an increase of 14·5% was produced. All five manurial treatments significantly increased the yields of dry matter and carotene.

Carotene contents were very low during the drought experienced in April and May 1938, increased significantly in June, and showed very marked and highly significant increases in the autumn months.

Ash content was increased by the three non-nitrogenous manures, and protein content by nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia and superphosphate. Ether extract was increased by superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia, whilst nitrogen-free extract was decreased under all manurial treatments except carbonate of lime. None of the five artificial fertilizers had any effect on the mean fibre content of the grass, although various significant differences were observed on certain sampling occasions. Normal seasonal variations occurred in the percentages of ash and organic constituents.

Correlations of carotene with crude protein, fibre, nitrogen-free extract and ash have been computed for each manurial treatment and several significant differences have been observed. The physiological significance of these correlations has been briefly discussed.

In a pot experiment, the growth of sugar beet on one soil with three levels of exchangeable Na ceased when the intensity of K measured as the activity ratio aK/√[a(Ca + Mg)] in the equilibrium soil solution had fallen to 6 × 10–4 (mole per litre)½;, the intensity of Na, aNa/√[a(CaH-Mg)], to between 1·7 and 4 × 10–3 (mole per litre)½;and exchangeable Mg to 0·14 m-equiv per 100 g soil. It was concluded that both the Na and the K intensities were exhaustion values but that K supply was preventing further growth. The additions of Na did not affect either yield or the uptake of K, Mg and Ca, but more Na was taken up from soils with higher Na levels.

In parts of peninsular India, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is grown during the dry season using water stored in the root zone. The optimum application of nitrogen is difficult to assess because no comprehensive model exists for the interaction of water and N. To explore this system as a basis for modelling in the first instance and ultimately for better management, sorghum (cv. SPH–280) was grown in the post-rainy season at ICRISAT (Andhra Pradesh, India) with and without irrigation and at six rates of nitrogen from zero to 150 kg/ha applied before sowing. The biomass of top components was measured weekly and of roots every 2 weeks. Interception of solar radiation was monitored continuously in all treatments.

Leaf expansion was strongly influenced both by water and by N, whereas specific leaf area was almost independent of treatment. In the irrigated treatment, the Biomass Radiation Coefficient (e) for the main growth period was almost independent of N application at 1·3–1·4 g/MJ and was also independent of leaf N. In consequence, the main source of differences in yield was a decrease in radiation interception with decreasing N. In contrast, without irrigation, biomass, yield, e and leaf N were all maximal at 60 kg/ha N.

At 33 days after emergence (DAE), root mass was almost independent of N whether water had been applied or not, but was somewhat smaller with irrigation. Later, root, leaf, and panicle mass all responded to N and to water, but stem mass was unresponsive to N with irrigation. There was evidence of translocation from stem to grain in most treatments. With irrigation, a maximum grain yield of 4·8 t/ha was obtained at 150 kg/ha N and without irrigation the maximum was 3·2 t/ha at 90 kg/ha.

The work reported in two previous papers, Robinson (1960a, b) led to certain conclusions which required evaluation in terms of coffee yields (Coffee arabica Linn). The work describes changes in nitrate and ammonia-N in the Kikuyu red loam coffee topsoil, both natural and fertilizer derived, in the presence and absence of mulches.

This paper presents early coffee yield results which have been obtained from field trials laid down on the Coffee Research Station, Ruiru, Kenya, to measure the effect of treatments based on the conclusions drawn from the soil studies.

In experiments on peas, beans, carrots, kale, beetroot and spinach appropriate dressings of fertilizers placed in one band 3 in. below the soil surface and 2 in. to the side of the seed did not damage germination. Peas and beans are likely to be injured when even small dressings of soluble fertilizers are drilled in contact with or below the seed.

In sixteen experiments on peas and nineteen experiments on beans in 1949–51 broadcast fertilizer gave small increases in yield of beans and peas in dry years and larger increases in wet years. In about one-quarter of all the experiments fertilizer broadcast early and either ploughed or cultivated deeply into the soils gave significantly higher yields than late dressings worked into the seed-beds. In roughly one-third of all the experiments on each crop there were significant increases in yield from placing as compared with broadcasting fertilizer. The average extra yields produced by placing fertilizer were 1·8 cwt. per acre of threshed peas, 9·3 cwt. per acre of green peas, 1·0 cwt. per acre of winter beans and 1·3 cwt. per acre of spring beans. For spring-sown crops extra yields from placement were greater than the increases from broadcasting fertilizer. There was little advantage from splitting the fertilizer dressing, broadcasting half and placing the remainder beside the seed.

In most experiments on peas and beans, yields given by a single dressing of placed fertilizer were equal to, or greater than, the yields given by double dressings of broadcast fertilizer. When placed in the correct position quite small quantities of fertilizer are sufficient for maximum yields of such crops. The use of suitable drills should be profitable to farmers growing appreciable acreages of peas, beans and rapidly maturing horticultural crops. Where special placement drills are not available, fertilizers for peas and beans should be broadcast before cultivating to prepare the seed-bed and, when possible, the dressings should be ploughed-in. There was no advantage from placing fertilizer at the side of the seed for carrots, kale or beet. Placed fertilizer gave a higher yield of spinach than broadcast fertilizer.

Placing fertilizer at the side and below the level of the seed is likely to give better yields than broadcast fertilizer for crops having short growing seasons or poorly developed roots and when broadcast nutrients are immobilized in the surface soil by drought.

Starting with the F2 generation of a single-cross hybrid, a maize population was improved from cycle 0 (= F2) to cycle 4 by mass honeycomb selection and from cycle 5 to cycle 8 by pedigree honeycomb selection. Seven half-sib families were derived from cycle 8. The grain yield of these, their corresponding S1 lines, testcrosses with B73 and diallel crosses were studied. The results showed (i) that the seven half-sib families contained half the percentage of the load of deleterious genes present in the F2 generation, (ii) that four of them outyielded their corresponding single-cross hybrids, (iii) that they could constitute an open-pollinated variety, which could be used as a source population and (iv) that they revealed different patterns for general and specific combining ability. Honeycomb selection for grain yield was successful in favouring the existing additive genetic variation in the derived families.

The common use of range by different types of animals may be more efficient than separate grazing by each type in that they may be complementary in their utilization of forage. Also, under certain pasture and range conditions the danger of permanent damage by over-grazing can be critical. This paper presents a method of assessing the optimum carrying capacity of range under single or common use subject to constraints on the level of utilization of forage plants. The joint optimum carrying capacity for the animal types may vary as the management objective varies between maximum profit, maximum animal gain or maximum utilization of forage, all subject to the same protection against over-grazing.