Seventy-five grass samples for first-cut silage and 131 samples for second-cut silage were collected in 1983 from intensively managed farms with coarse-textured soils. Samples with total sulphur less than 2·0 g/kg or Kjeldahl nitrogen greater than 28 g/kg, together with nitrogen to sulphur ratio greater than 14, and adequate phosphorus and potassium, were selected as suboptimal in sulphur. The extent of sulphur deficiency was assessed using water-soluble sulphate values of 300–500 and 200–300 mg S/kg to indicate yield depressions of less than 5 and 10% respectively. In the first cut, 20 and 8% of sites were likely to have suffered yield depressions of less than 5 and 10% respectively. Soil-extractable sulphate values less than 10 mg S/kg indicated marginal sulphur reserves for second-cut silage at 49% of the sites. Grass analyses of the second-cut samples showed that 11 and 3% of the sites were likely to have suffered yield depressions of less than 5 and 10% respectively. Incidental sulphur inputs from deposition, organic manures and mineralization may have obviated much of the potential sulphur deficiency for second-cut grass.

Differential growth from 1 to 20 weeks of age was studied on 320 rabbits from two lines (New Zealand White and California) and both sexes by means of the allometric equation log y = log a + b log x. Regression lines were fitted to the evolution of organs (blood, skin, thymus, heart–lungs, liver, kidneys and alimentary tract), carcass, tissues (bone, lean and fat) and anatomic components (head, breast and ribs, loin, abdominal wall, fore and hind legs) relative to empty body weight; stomach, caecum and intestines relative to alimentary tract; bone and lean groups relative to total bone and lean and fat depots relative to total fat.

The convenience for a correct description of relative growth of determining both the quantitative growth, in order to apply the allometric equation only to the real growth period of each component, and the possible existence of allometric changes, is discussed.

The results for each component are presented and discussed. There were no significant differences due to line, and sex had a significant influence (P < 0·001) only on the relative growths of total fat, lean content in the loin and hypodermic fat. All the components, with the exception only of thymus, presented a change in their allometric coefficients. These changes for most components, except fat depots, were concentrated in a small interval of time (4–8 weeks of age) between weaning and the inflexion point of the body weight growth curve.

Cobalt, as cobalt sulphate and cobalt-EDTA, was applied to pastures at 15 sites in south-east Scotland. Herbage cobalt and extractable soil cobalt concentrations were monitored at these sites over the period 1978–81. Although the sites were located in a generally cobalt-deficient area, considerable variation between sites was observed both in the concentration of cobalt present in untreated pasture and in the response to cobalt additions. There was no significant correlation between herbage cobalt concentrations and soil cobalt status as determined by acetic acid extraction. Application of cobalt sulphate (6 kg/ha) increased herbage cobalt concentrations at all sites but at several sites the response was short-lived. In general, cobalt-EDTA was less effective than cobalt sulphate in increasing herbage cobalt concentrations.

Extractable soil cobalt concentrations of the control areas showed some variability between samplings, but the variability was much greater for the cobalt-treated plots. Cobalt applied to pastures was found to accumulate in the top 0–4 cm layer of soil and penetrated deeper only in soils of low pH. Overall, only a third of the cobalt applied to pastures as cobalt sulphate was recovered by acetic acid extraction of the soil and less than 20% of the cobalt applied as cobalt-EDTA.

Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the pathogenic effect of Dipel Bacillus thuringiensis separately, and in combination with sugar on the fourth instar larvae of spiny bollworm using both a dipping and a residue film method of application. In addition the histopathological changes in the treated mid-gut larvae are described.

More than 200 wild type isolates of chickpea (C. arietinum) rhizobia were screened for their drug resistance. Only 15 were found to be resistant to one or more antibiotics at a concentration of 5 μg/ml (units/ml). When tested for multiple drug resistance, some were found to be resistant to more than one antibiotic. In competition studies, rhizobia resistant to streptomycin were found to be more competitive than antibioticsensitive strains, while those resistant to penicillin could not compete even with antibiotic-sensitive strains.

A field trial was made for 3 years at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi under semi-arid rainfed conditions to study the effect of the preceding season cultural practices on mustard and to assess the possibility of double cropping, and the results are discussed. Preceding season cultural practices, i. e. ploughing in fallow or growing cow pea for fodder or mung for grain (both short-duration crops) increased the yield of the mustard crop compared with no tillage or growing pearl millet in preceding season. Yield of mustard following tillage, fodder cow pea or mung with mulch was similar; hence it is concluded that double cropping is possible under such conditions instead of conventional tillage-mustard, monoeropping practice. It is also concluded that frequent ploughings could be greatly reduced to give few but more effective cultivations, but more research into reducing cultivation during the preceding season should be carried out.

Untreated and paclobutrazol-treated field-grown plants of winter oil-seed rape cv. Jet Neuf were exposed to 14CO2 at anthesis. Redistribution of labelled assimilate was followed in sequential harvests between exposure and maturity.

Labelled assimilates moved progressively from the leaves into the stem and reproductive parts. At maturity 9% of 14C fixed at anthesis had been mobilized into reproductive organs. Paclobutrazol increased the proportion of 14C translocated to the uppermost branches especially the terminal raceme.

It is suggested that stem reserves are valuable for yields commonly achieved in U.K. commercial practice.

A replicated pot experiment is described in which six lettuce varieties were grown in four contaminated soils of different Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations. Webb's Wonderful absorbed least and All Year Round absorbed most Cd and Zn from all four soils. Uptake of both metals by all six varieties increased with increasing soil contents and leaf Cd and Zn concentrations were positively and significantly correlated. There was little evidence for a varietal control of the absorption of Pb and none for Cu, but a significant positive correlation between leaf Cu and Pb concentrations was observed.

Adult Finn-cross ewes, pregnant from September matings, were kept under natural (control) or artificial photoperiod (experimental). The artificial photoperiod consisted of an abrupt increase in daylength to 18 h for 30 days in November, followed by a step wise decrease of 30 min every 10 days until May.

The ewes of the two groups were either exposed daily to rams after lambing in January-February or after weaning in March, or were kept isolated from the males until mating in April. Time of mating in the latter animals was determined by measuring the intra-vaginal electrical impedance. Hormone treatment for oestrus induction was given after weaning to a portion of the control and experimental ewes. The ovarian activity of the animals was determined by examining their plasma progesterone changes.

Daily teasing of the ewes from lambing to weaning and/or treatment with artificially decreasing daylength did not influence the ovarian activity during this period. All the ewes which were examined for ovulation, from both the control and experimental groups, ovulated 40–60 days after lambing, and 96% of the animals of the two groups which were not treated with hormones for oestrus induction exhibited spontaneous oestrus in March–May.

The lambing–first ovulation and the lambing–first spontaneous oestrus intervals were longer in the light-treated than in the control ewes, and in the animals kept isolated from the rams until mating than in those exposed to the males after lambing or weaning.

A conception rate of 70–100% and a high rate of cycle activity were obtained during the two consecutive years of the experiment in both control and experimental animals, treated or not with hormones and exposed or not to rams. In view of these results, no conclusions could be drawn about the effectiveness of the artificial photoperiod, ram effect and hormone treatment, alone or in combination, in inducing cycling activity and to increase the fertility of Finn-cross ewes during the seasonal anoestrus in Israel.

From 1980 to 1983 factorial experiments at Saxmundham were made on winter wheat following beans, so as to minimize losses from foot and root rots and increase potential yields. All tested seed-bed N, and amounts and times of application of N in spring, both with and without sprays intended to limit losses from aphids and from diseases. The tests were made on one semi-dwarf variety in 1980 and on two contrasting varieties from 1981 to 1983. In 1982 and 1983 a comparison was made between wheat following beans and wheat following wheat; all treatments were applied cumulatively to the two successive wheat crops.

In 1980 and in 1981 N given in March greatly increased the number of shoots in April but had little effect on the final number of ears. Yields of grain were greatly increased by N given during April and by sequential sprays with fungicides and aphicide; these two factors interacted so that responses to N were larger with the sprays than without. Yield responses to seed-bed N, although small, were greater than the benefits from applying divided instead of single N dressings in spring. The number of ears was greatly increased by increasing the amount of N given in April, but only slightly by any of the other treatments. The weight of 1000 grains was greatly increased by the sprays of aphicide and fungicides and was decreased by N in 1981, but not in 1980. Largest yields of grain were 10·14 t/ha in 1980 and 10·91 t/ha in 1981 when N was given in spring at 160 and 200 kg/ha respectively, and the crops were sprayed with pesticides.

In 1982 and 1983 N applied in March again greatly increased the number of shoots in April, but not the final number of ears. Yields of grain were larger after beans than after wheat, mainly because the number of ears and the weight of 1000 grains were greater. This may have been because take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminisvar. tritici) was more severe where wheat followed wheat. Previous cropping also interacted with variety; Avalon yielded slightly less than Norman where take-all was slight but much less where take-all was severe. Where N was given the mean loss in yield from growing Avalon rather than Norman in the 2 years was 2·47 t/ha after wheat and 0·37 t/ha after beans. The take-all disease ratings of Norman and Avalon after wheat were 132 and 197 respectively. Yields of grain were greatly increased by N given during April, especially of wheat following wheat and where it was protected with sprays; then the mean yield was only 2·79 t/ha without N but 8·78 with 235 kg N/ha. Where wheat followed beans, yields were 6·89 t/ha without N and 11·07 with 175 kg N/ha. Applying N to the seed bed increased yields slightly, and again by more than by dividing the dressing of N in spring. The number of ears was greatly increased by N in spring and a little by all the other factors that increased grain yield. The weight of 1000 grains was increased greatly by the sprays of aphicide and fungicides, was decreased by N, and was larger for Norman than for Avalon.

In 1980–1, after beans, the mean amounts of N removed by the grain (where aphicide and fungicides were given) ranged from 81 kg/ha without N fertilizer to 167 where most N was given. In 1982–3 comparable values ranged from 86 kg N/ha to 191 where wheat followed beans and from 35 kg N/ha to 168 where wheat followed wheat.

A method is described in which glucosinolates are simultaneously extracted from crushed seeds and degraded by myrosinase. Glucose released by myrosinase is measured by an autoanalyser using a single reagent.

Using conditions optimized for samples of 200 mg, yields were slightly greater than those obtained from corresponding samples of defatted meal. Coefficients of variation of about 4% were obtained over a range of more than 100 μmol of glucosinolate/g seed. It is suggested that the method will be of value to plant breeders selecting from populations having low and intermediate concentrations of glucosinolate and to others wishing to obtain a rapid but precise measurement of these important compounds.

Forty-five triple test cross progenies produced by crossing 15 homozygous strains of wheat with three testers (varieties HD 2160 and NP 846 and their F1) and 17 parents, were raised in a randomized-block design in two environments (normal and stress). The data on five randomly chosen plants from parents and F8 and ten plants from F1 x lines were recorded for number of days from sowing to heading, plant height, the number of tillers per plant, total biomass, the number of grains per ear, 1000·grain weight and grain yield per plant. The additive and dominance components of genetic variation were each estimated by three methods to determine their relative usefulness in estimating these components. The variance of parents gave better estimates of the additive component than the two other methods (1i + 2i and 1i + 2i + 3i). The method 1i + 2i + 3i proved its superiority over the 1i + 2i method. The dominance component was better estimated by the method 1i - 2i than by the 4σ2d + 9σ2 (1i + 2i - i) and 25 (σ2 (21i - i) pooled with σ2 (22i - i)) methods. The two methods 4σ2d + 9σ2 (1i + 2i - i) and 25 (2σ2 (21i - i) pooled with σ2 (22i - i)) provided similar results for the estimation of dominance component.

The yield results are reported for an experiment in which 21 rates of nitrogen fertilizer were applied on pure-sown swards of four grasses, S. 24 and Barvestra perennial ryegrass, S. 37 cocksfoot and S. 53 meadow fescue. Growth curves fitted to the herbage yield data for each grass in each year are presented. On average the total dry-matter yield curves for the two ryegrasses were similar to one another, but showed a slightly smaller response to nitrogen rates below 300 kg/ha than did S. 23 ryegrass in an earlier experiment, and a more rapid decrease in response at higher rates. S. 37 cocksfoot had a similar dry-matter yield response to the ryegrasses at the low nitrogen rates, but the response decreased more rapidly at nitrogen rates over 250 kg/ha. The dry-matter yield response of S. 53 fescue decreased even more rapidly with nitrogen rates over 200 kg/ha. The mean estimates of the optimal nitrogen rate for each of the four grasses, i.e. the nitrogen rate at which the dry-matter response had decreased to 10 kg/kg N, was 380, 372, 357 and 327 kg N/ha for S. 24, Barvestra, S. 37 and S. 53 respectively, compared with 409 kg/ha for S. 23 ryegrass in the earlier experiment.

The effect of paclobutrazol (applied at several concentrations and timings) on stem length and the seed yield of oil-seed rape was explored in three field trials during 1981–4. Spring applications were most effective in reducing plant height, but they had an adverse influence on the yield components. Autumn applications increased seed yield in one season, but were less effective in the final trial when soil conditions were much drier at establishment. Data indicated that autumn treatments may increase the productivity of the uppermost racemes. Future studies must investigate the persistency of paclobutrazol in the soil, and its possible influence on subsequent arable cropping.

The wool production of pregnant, lactating and non-pregnant, non-lactating (dry) Merino ewes eating one of three diets: chaffed oaten hay (OH), chaffed lucerne hay (LH), and a 50/50 (w/w) mixture of OH and LH, was determined. Measurements were made for 2 months prior to mating, during pregnancy and for 3 months after lambing, and for the dry ewes over the same period.

Production of clean wool (Y, g/day) by dry ewes was linearly related to digestible organic matter intake (X, g/day):

Y = 0·0301 X - 3·34, r = 0·97.

Clean wool growth was significantly less (P < 0·01) than dry ewes in the 4th and 5th month of pregnancy and throughout lactation. During pregnancy the total deficit in clean wool growth (calculated as the difference between observed wool growth and that expected on the basis of the relationship between feed intake and clean wool growth of dry ewes) was 456 g for ewes bearing a single lamb and 578 g for those bearing twins, with no difference between diets. In lactation the total clean wool growth deficit increased as milk production increased, and for every litre of milk produced there was a deficit of 12 g clean wool.

Wool fibre diameter was reduced during the 1st month of lactation. There was no consistent effect of pregnancy or lactation on the number of wool follicles per mm2, the ratio of primary plus secondary to primary wool follicles, or on the thickness of skin on the midside.

Digestibility of dietary organic matter (DOM) was reduced during the last 3 months of pregnancy, and the first 2 months of lactation. However, this was insufficient to account for the magnitude of the decrease in wool growth seen during pregnancy and lactation.

Wool sulphur content increased during pregnancy (P < 0·001), but not during lactation. The relationship between total plasma cyst(e)ine concentration and DOM intake during pregnancy was similar to that in dry ewes, but during lactation total plasma cyst(e)ine concentration was less than expected. It was calculated that during pregnancy the amount of sulphur saved through reduced wool growth was greater than that deposited in the conceptus, and during lactation the amount of sulphur saved in reduced wool growth matched that excreted as milk.

These results are discussed in relation to control of wool growth during pregnancy and lactation.

An experiment comparing continuous winter wheat with the two wheat crops in a rotation of beans, oats, wheat, wheat, with four rates of application of N fertilizer, is described and the results discussed.

The wheat following wheat in the rotation consistently outyielded the wheat following oats, but the continuous wheat yielded on average less. Response to N fertilizer was not affected by sequence of cropping and since there was practically no response to the highest increment of N, it is clear that additional N could not have brought the yield of the continuous wheat up to the level of the wheat in rotation.

To evaluate the accuracy of various techniques for determining the sexual state of sows, four multiparous Landrace sows were housed in stalls 2–5 weeks after weaning. Catheters were inserted under anaesthetic into a prominent ear vein on each sow. Four days later blood and urine sampling commenced, along with other measurements to assess the oestrous state of the animals.

Oestrus was detected in all four sows and so were corresponding oestradiol·17β peaks (22–49 pg/ml) in serum of the three sows from which blood was successfully sampled during the complete 25·day collection period. Serum progesterone concentrations were highest between days — 5 and — 12 (day 0 = 1st day of standing heat) (peak values of 33·1–58·2 ng/ml), with values of 3·55 ng/ml or less on day 0. Urinary oestrogen was less well correlated with oestrous state than were serum hormone concentrations, but progesterone derivatives in urine corresponded well to serum progesterone with peaks between days —5 and —9. Vulval redness, vulval size, social interest and the occurrence of flehmen were markedly greater during the oestrous period than at other times in the cycle. Body temperature, vaginal pH, the presence of vaginal mucus and behavioural manifestations of oestrus (with the exception of back pressure test) were less well correlated with sexual state. A combination of vulval colour and size, back pressure test, a more detailed study of behaviour and possibly with urinary progesterone derivatives, should give the best indication of the incidence of oestrus in sows.

Results of a 2-year studyin the rainforest and savannah zones of Nigeria todetermine the responses of yield, components of yield and nutrient content of maize to soilapplied zinc showed that Zn significantly increased yield in the new and old savannah soils, whereas significant yield response was recorded only in an old field of the forest zone. Ear weight was the only yield component significantly influenced by Zn treatments in the two zones. Application of 2·5 kg Zn/ha appears adequate for successful maize production in the savannah and old forest zones in the tropics.

Soil-applied Zn significantly increased ear-leaf N and Zn, but P concentration was significantly decreased. Grain yield was positively correlated with ear-leaf Zn.

A study was made of growth and N concentrations of field-grown crops of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Georgie or Triumph). Nitrogen concentrations were calculated on the basis of both dry matter and tissue water because previous research had indicated that K concentrations expressed on the basis of tissue water were better for assessing the K status of crops. The aim was to see whether this was also the case for N.

When supplies of P and K were adequate, the addition of N fertilizer stimulated growth in all crops except when sufficient N was already supplied as farmyard manure. Percentage N in dry matter declined as plants grew and was higher in plants given N than in plants grown without N, although the difference diminished with time. Nitrogen concentrations calculated on the basis of tissue water were very similar for both N-sufficient and N-deficient crops despite large differences in growth rates. Nitrogen concentrations in tissue water also declined but only until anthesis, thereafter they increased. This pre-anthesis decline was due to the increase in the amount of stem tissue which had lower N concentrations in tissue water than leaves. Similarly the post-anthesis increase in N concentrations was due to the development of the ears which had high concentrations of N in tissue water.

The effects of deficiencies of P or K or water on N concentrations in tissue water of the cultivars Georgie or Julia were studied also in field experiments at Rothamsted. Lack of P and K inhibited growth of crops given 144 kg N/ha. Crops grown without N grew more slowly than those given N but their growth was not further inhibited by lack of P or K. Deficiencies of either P or K increased N concentrations calculated on the basis of tissue water in crops given 144 kg N/ha but not in crops grown without N. The increase in concentration was not due to changes in the proportions of leaves and stems but to real increases in N concentrations in leaves, stems and ears. Drought decreased growth and also resulted in higher N concentrations in tissue water.

In the absence of other limiting factors, N concentrations expressed on the basis of tissue water were very similar for both N-sufficient and N-deficient crops. They increased only when growth was limited by factors other than N. The implications of this for the control of N concentrations by crops is discussed.

It is concluded that N concentrations expressed on the basis of tissue water are unlikely to be useful for determining the N requirements of barley. Percentage N in dry matter might be more useful for this purpose.

Experiments were carried out to study the effects of dietary P depletion on plasma concentrations of inorganic P (P1), calcium, 1,25-(OH)2-Vit.D3 and alkaline phosphatase, and to investigate the effects of P depletion, in comparison with P repletion, on intestinal flow and net disappearance of Ca and P in sheep. The animals were adapted to an experimental diet of pellets and chopped straw providing between 0·91 and 1·04 g P/day for depletion. They were repleted by single infusions of phosphate into the duodenum raising total P supply to about 4·1 g/day. During P depletion plasma P1, concentrations decreased significantly whereas those of Ca increased. The development of hypercalcaemia is discussed with respect to intestinal absorption and bone accretion and resorption. Plasma 1,25-(OH)2-Vit.D3 and alkaline phosphatase were not affected by P depletion.

In P depletion the flow through the gastrointestinal tract of total P contained in the digesta and faecal P excretion were significantly reduced and the P balance was slightly negative. Calcium net absorption from the gut was also reduced. Daily flow of total P and P1, contained in the particle-free intestinal fluid was markedly lower in P depletion as compared with P repletion. The percentage of net disappearance from the small intestines of total P and P1, in the particle-free fluid was 57 and 70 % in the depleted state and 79 and 93% in the repleted state.