ALBERT

Notes: Groups of calves and lambs grazed on plots of S23 perennial ryegrass, in successive periods of 2, 2 and 3 weeks, at stocking rates which resulted in a slow change in herbage mass on each plot and measurements were made of ingestive behaviour (biting rate, bite size and grazing time) and herbage intake.As the green herbage mass was progressively reduced from approx. 3000 to 1000 kg OM per ha between periods, biting rate and grazing time increased, but insufficiently to offset the rapid fall in bite size so that herbage intake declined by 24% and 39% for calves and lambs respectively. Patterns of response were similar in calves and lambs, though in all parameters except biting rate the lambs appeared to be more sensitive than the calves to changes in sward conditions and there was no evidence that lambs were better adapted to grazing on short swards than calves.Intake increased in both calves and lambs up to levels of 2500–3000 kg green OM per ha, though this response may have been attributable in part to the reinforcing effects of increasing herbage mass and diet digestibility. Lambs consistently selected a more digestible diet than calves.Both calves and lambs increased grazing time substantially in response to limiting sward conditions, in contrast to results in earlier strip-grazing trials with calves, thus supporting the suggestion that the lack of response under strip-grazing is a characteristic of the management imposed.

Notes: The effects on clover and grass growth of five levels of ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) applied before sowing, at sowing and after nodule initiation have been investigated. A pot experiment in which S184 white clover was grown in a peat soil showed that NH4-N up to 688 mg N per pot (approx. equivalent to a field rate of 120 kg ha-1 N) applied before sowing and at sowing did not affect clover growth. N-fixing activity (C2H2-reduction), on the other hand, was reduced progressively up to the highest level (688 mg N per pot). Application after nodule initiation increased growth relative to the zero-N treatment at all levels of application. Maximum growth and N fixation occurred at 516 mg N per pot where the DM yield was 70% higher than in the absence of added N. A field trial in which S184 clover and S24 perennial ryegrass were surface sown on to a peat soil showed an increase in grass and clover growth in the first year in response to 120 kg ha-1 N applied at sowing. Grass growth alone was increased at 120 kg ha -1 N applied 40 d before sowing. Lower rates of application before sowing and at sowing did not affect clover or grass growth. The effect of the delayed application of NH4-N on legume growth was less marked than that in the pot experiment, 90 kg ha-1 N stimulating clover growth by 40% in the first year. The effect was however different from that in the pot experiment, in that, whilst 30kg ha-1 N increased N fixation relative to the zero-N treatment, plants exposed to higher levels showed a depression in N-fixing capacity. N-fixation was correlated with nodule numbers in the delayed NH4-N application, the closest correlation being with the number of multilobed nodules which was highest at 30 kg ha-1 N and lowest at 120 kg ha-1 N.It is suggested that circumstances exist when the use of a relatively low starter N dressing (20–60 kg ha-1 N) at sowing would not increase clover or grass growth in the early stages of the establishment of a hill reseed. Under such circumstances higher rates of application (100 kg ha -1 N), preferably delayed until the seedlings are in a position to take up the nitrogen rapidly, would have the greatest effect.

Notes: A field trial with maize (Zea mays) was sown in two successive years at Hurley to examine whether the advantages in terms of low lignin concentration and high digestibility demonstrated in USA and France for the‘brown mid-rib-3’(bm3) mutant over its otherwise isogenic counterpart would still be manifest in a cool maritime climate. Plants of the bm3 mutant and the normal counterpart (cv. Troyer Reid) together with a locally adapted earlier maturing variety (cv. Caldera 535) were grown in 1976 and 1977 and sampled on three occasions. Despite considerable contrast in the two growing seasons, 1976 being unusually hot, differences of 4 to 8 units in whole-crop D-value and 6 to 10 units in stover D-value were demonstrated in favour of the mutant form, together with significantly lower lignin concentrations (1976, normal 22 g per kg DM, mutant 14; 1977, normal 25 g per kg DM, mutant 16). The results give strong support to the case for introducing the bm3 gene into forage maize breeding programmes in Britain.

Notes: The drying of Italian ryegrass (RvP) tillers under controlled conditions at three stages of growth is described. The rate of water loss was dependent on tiller morphology as well as on water content. Leaf laminae dried faster than stems and also aided the loss of water from stems. Drying time was shortest for vegetative tillers despite their high water content, and longest for reproductive tillers shortly before ear emergence. The practical implications in relation to haymaking are discussed.

Notes: Scots timothy was harvested three times a year for 3 years under four harvesting patterns and at all combinations of three levels of application of nitrogen and four of potassium. Harvesting patterns, H1, H2, H3 and H4, comprised cutting primary growth on 27–29 May or 14, 28 or 42 d later followed by cutting a first regrowth 8 weeks afterwards and a second regrowth on 15–16 October. N treatments, N0, N1 and N2, involved annual totals of 0,108 and 216 kg ha-1 N in three equal doses. K treatments, K0, K1, K2 and K4, involved annual totals of 0, 54, 108 and 216 kg ha-1 K also in three equal doses.Mean herbage DM yields in successive years were 8·90, 9·54 and 9·61 t ha-1 containing92·4%, 93·1% and 94·5% timothy, respectively. Systems H3 and H4 had 24% higher yields than H1 and H2. The superiority of the late systems derived from higher yields of primary growth. Mean response to 108 kg ha-1 N at 36·7 kg DM per kg N was significantly higher than the response to an additional 108 kg ha-1 N. Response in primary growth to successive increments of 36 kg ha-1 N averaged 53·9 and 27·5 kg DM per kg N. The first regrowth gave linear responses up to 72 kg ha-1 N. The possibility is discussed of more effective use of N by increasing the proportion applied to regrowth. Response to K was low except in the third year when there was a marked response at N2. It was calculated that to maintain soil potash it is necessary to apply 23·9, 47·7 and 86·6 kg ha-1 fertilizer K for each harvest at N0, N1 and N2 respectively.

Notes: The crude protein concentration, amino acid composition and protein quality of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) forage was compared to that of lucerne (Medicago sativa). The amino acid analyses showed that sainfoin contained higher amounts of lysine, histidine, proline, cystine, glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan than lucerne, whereas lucerne contained more aspartic acid, methionine and isoleucine than sainfoin; the limiting amino acid in both legumes was methionine. The protein score, an estimation of protein quality for nonruminants, was 68 for sainfoin forage and 71 for lucerne forage compared to 100 for an ‘ideal protein’. The similarity of protein quality of sainfoin forage to that of lucerne indicates that, where conditions permit, sainfoin could be grown for the production of protein as an alternative to other crops.

Notes: The outcome of spraying two bracken-infested hill sites in July with asulam at the commercial rate of 4·5 kg a.i. per ha was a 98% reduction in frond numbers which persisted for the following 3 years. Broad-leaved grasses, Agrostis tenuis, Agrostis canina and Poa pratensis, were susceptible to asulam and were severely reduced at both sites while fine-leaved grasses, Festuca ovina and Deschampsia flexuosa, were resistant. Over a period of 3 years after spray application the original bare ground under the bracken canopy and that produced by the effects of asulam was recolonized by the recovery of the broad-leaved grasses and an increase in the cover of herbs. The latter also increased on the unsprayed control areas.A favourable aspect and an abundance of the productive broad-leaved grasses appeared to be the main factors which determined the amount of increase in herbage yield observed following spray treatment. One such area gave a herbage DM yield of 3039 kg ha-1 during the growing season which was 47% greater than the control while an area with a less favourable aspect and dominated by the less productive fine-leaved grasses gave a herbage yield of 2069 kg ha-1 which was only 18% greater than the control.

Notes: The effects of cereal and protein supplements on feed intake and liveweight gain were studied. In 1975, steers were continuously stocked on autumn pasture and fed no supplement or 8 g dry matter (DM) per kg liveweight (LW) per d as rolled barley (crude protein (CP) concentration 120 g kg-1), lucerne cobs (CP concentration 190 g kg-1) or a mixed concentrate (CP concentration 300 g kg-1). In 1976, steers were continuously stocked or rotationally grazed in summer and fed no supplement or 7 g DM per kg LW per d as either rolled barley (CP concentration 130 g kg-1) or a mixture of rolled barley and groundnut meal (CP concentration 210 g kg-1). Herbage organic matter (OM) intakes in 1975 and 1976 were depressed on average by 22 and 15% respectively with supplementation, but total OM intakes were increased by 9 and 15% respectively. Daily liveweight gain was not significantly increased by supplementation in 1975 when herbage allowance was ample but was significantly increased in 1976 when herbage allowance was limited and herbage digestibility was lower. Protein concentration of the concentrate did not significantly affect daily gain in either year nor was there any difference in gain between rotational grazing and continuous stocking.

Notes: Two modifications have been made to the dry-weight-rank (DWR) method for measuring botanical composition. One previous limitation of the method has been that it gives biased results in pastures where there is a consistent relation between quadrat dry matter yield and the order in which species are ranked for yield. A weighting factor, applied to the DWR multipliers and based on pasture yield in quadrats estimated for dry weight rank, can correct for this bias. In routine pasture sampling quadrat yields are often visually estimated in the same quadrats in which composition is assessed by DWR. These estimated quadrat yields can then be used as weighting factors to improve the accuracy of DWR as well as to estimate pasture yield. Dry weight rank has also been unsuited to pastures which are heavily dominated by one species but this problem can be lessened by assigning more than one rank to the dominant species, a method referred to as ‘cumulative ranking’.Both these modifications were found to give a more accurate estimate of composition using data from a wide range of tropical and temperate pastures. On the other hand, creation of new DWR multipliers for particular cases was inadvisable. All data made available for this study and the original data ('t Mannetje and Haydock, 1963) were used to derive new multipliers: 0·705, 0·238 and 0·057. The overall benefits from using the new multipliers will, however, only be slight.

Notes: In 1976, 1977 and 1978 a red clover-perennial ryegrass sward was cut twice for silage, and in the autumn of 1976 and 1977 it was either grazed at low and high stocking rates, i.e. seventeen and thirty-four lambs per ha respectively, or was cut with a forage harvester. The effects of grazing on yield in the following year were examined.Herbage growth in the grazing period was slow and did not differ significantly between the treatments. The yield of silage dry matter taken in May and July was highest in ungrazed plots (9·8 and 8·1 t ha-1 in 1977 and 1978 respectively) and lowest in plots stocked at the high rate (5·9 and 5·7 t ha-1 in 1977 and 1978 respectively). The aftermath yield for grazing in 1977 was slightly but significantly greater on treatments grazed in the previous year compared with ungrazed treatments.Red clover content decreased markedly during grazing, the high stocking rate treatment containing 2·4% clover and the ungrazed treatment 57·3% clover. The high stocking rate treatment also had the lowest red clover content in the first silage cut. Red clover content in grazed plots increased to a level similar to that in ungrazed plots by the start of the grazing period in the subsequent harvest year.Animal performance was higher at the low than at the high stocking rate but herbage consumption per head did not differ significantly between the two grazing treatments.Possible reasons for the adverse effect of grazing on the red clover are defoliation and treading. It is concluded that such experiments can form the basis of an economic assessment of red clover and help the farmer decide whether or not he should integrate the crop into his system.

Notes: In two 12-week grazing experiments using twelve and eighteen spring-calved cows in 1976 and 1977 respectively, the effects of feeding either a barley or a groundnut concentrate supplement were investigated. The mean yield of herbage DM on offer was 2330 and 2030 kg ha-1, with crude protein concentrations of 192 and 193 g per kg DM in 1976 and 1977 respectively. Grazed herbage was the sole feed in the control treatment. In the other two treatments the herbage was supplemented with 3 kg per cow per d of a concentrate containing either 82·2% barley or groundnut with mean crude protein concentrations of 109 and 409 g per kg DM respectively. Similar results were obtained in both experiments with average daily milk yields of 18·3, 19·8 and 19·9 kg per cow on the control, barley and groundnut treatments respectively. The supplements had no significant effects on either milk composition or liveweight change. It is concluded, that with an ample supply of herbage of high crude protein concentration, a supplement of groundnut had no advantages over one of barley.

Notes: Twenty-four British Friesian cows were allocated between six grazing treatments (two levels of herbage mass x three levels of daily herbage allowance) in a balanced change-over design with four periods of 12 d each at monthly intervals. Herbage OM mass ranged from 3790 to 5770 kg ha-1 measured to ground level and daily herbage DM allowances were 30, 60 and 90 g per kg animal live weight. Herbage OM intake was lower at high than at low herbage mass (24·6 vs 26·3 g per kg LW), and was 26·9, 26·6 and 22·9 g per kg LW respectively at daily herbage DM allowances of 90, 60 and 30 g per kg LW. Milk yield was not affected by herbage mass but was depressed at the low herbage allowance.

Notes: Changes in the chemical composition of pasture samples from five dairy farms were observed over a 2-year period. Many of the minerals were at their lowest concentration in samples taken in the spring and early summer. At these times the concentrations of P, Mg and Na were often less than sufficient to meet the calculated requirements of the dairy cow fed on pasture alone. Cu and Co concentrations in the herbage were also generally low relative to the needs of the dairy cow.

Notes: Perennial ryegrass tillers were collected from intensively used set-stocked and zero-grazed leys and from an old permanent pasture, grown on and compared at 30 cm spacing. All swards except the permanent pasture had been sown with cv. S23 and were of known age, ranging from 6 months to 11 years from sowing.Each genotype was scored for date of inflorescence emergence, and subsequently in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD), D-value of green leaf and the ratio of leaf dry weight: stem dry weight were determined.Both DMD and D-value declined significantly in green leaf samples of populations from the older zero-grazed swards but no significant changes were detected in populations from set-stocked swards. In set-stocked populations there was a shift towards later flowering.In zero-grazed populations there was a consistent increase in the amount of leaf relative to stem with the age of the sward from which the plants were sampled. The survivor plants were more prostrate and leafier and it is suggested that under zero grazing, where cutting was to a uniform height, plants of this form were less severely defoliated and thus at a selective advantage.

Notes: Two methods were adopted of measuring sward output, following the prevention of bracken frond growth, with differing results. Accumulated growth estimation, corresponding to production under a system of open-range grazing, showed that asulam used for frond control had no effect on herbage yield in the year of application and large increases were observed in succeeding years compared with untreated control plots. In measuring production by sward regrowth after cutting, corresponding to intensive pasture utilization systems, asulam reduced yields in the year of treatment and increases were not observed until 2 years later. The inhibition of growth could be overcome by applying ground mineral phosphate at rates of 300 or 500 kg ha-1 before spraying but the 500 kg ha-1 rate showed no advantage over 300 kg ha-1. Applications of ground mineral phosphate after spraying had no effect on sward output.It is concluded that indigenous pasture plants in bracken-infested areas of western Scotland cease growth by mid July unless subjected to major earlier defoliation or severe soil moisture deficits and the removal of the frond canopy does not change this pattern significantly. Obtaining the full benefit of bracken clearance depends on making use of the resulting production of extra herbage and limiting as far as possible frond regrowth in treated areas.

Notes: A cutting experiment was carried out on a sward of S23 perennial ryegrass to study the effect of different defoliation regimes on regrowth and the factors affecting regrowth. The defoliation frequencies and intensities encompassed the range commonly found on continuously stocked pastures. The defoliation regimes produced swards of contrasting growth form with regrowth characteristics which differed in respect of senescence loss, fall in water-soluble carbohydrate concentration, residual leaf area index, photosynthesis per unit leaf area index and photosynthesis per unit area of land. Regrowth was most closely related to the latter. These results were used to interpret data for net canopy photosynthesis of continuously grazed pastures.

Notes: Grass silage made in May from S24 perennial ryegrass was offered ad libitum to twelve Ayrshire cows in a 12-week feeding experiment. The silage had a DM concentration of 217 g kg -1, contained 147 g crude protein per kg DM and had a D-value of 64·6. In addition each cow consumed 1 kg hay per d plus concentrate supplements of dried sugar-beet pulp with (A) soya bean meal, (B)‘Pruteen’, a single-cell protein (C) groundnut cake. The three concentrate supplements each contained 250 g crude protein per kg DM and were offered at the rate of 2·9 kg per 10 kg milk. The daily intakes of silage DM were 8·38, 7·94 and 7·49 kg on treatments A, B and C, respectively, with the extreme values being significantly different. The mean daily yields of milk on treatments A and B were both 16·2 kg per cow, and were significantly higher than the yield of 15·2 kg per cow on treatment C. The fat and lactose contents of the milk on the three treatments were not significantly different, but the CP content on treatment C was significantly lower than that on the other treatments. It is concluded that soya bean meal and‘Pruteen’were superior to groundnut cake as a protein supplement in a silage-based ration.

Notes: Nine varieties of Italian ryegrass were subjected to two generations of selection for cold tolerance using a controlled environment test. Selection led to a significant overall improvement in average tiller survival from 39·8 to 47·7%, even though the selection intensity achieved was not more than 20%. Although individual varieties varied in initial tolerance from 31·1 to 71·4%, the cold room tests were not sufficiently sensitive to attach significance to differences in response to selection which varied from 0·3 to 17·6%. Agronomic assessment of spaced plants indicated that the winter and spring growth potential of all nine varieties was unaffected by selection for cold tolerance. Although some of the selected populations showed a significant decline in their total yields and persistency, others showed no significant change in these characteristics. The plant breeding implications of these results are discussed.

Notes: Two experiments are described in which two levels of winter feeding and three levels of herbage allowance during the grazing season were imposed upon March/April calving British Friesian dairy cows. The winter treatments resulted in differences in live weight and milk yield at turnout of 35 and 53 kg and 3·4 and 3·2 kg d-1 for the two trials. Subsequently, when grazed at generous herbage allowances, the cows were able to compensate for much of this difference but when herbage was restricted the milk yield differences were accentuated.Groups of cows from each winter treatment were offered 25, 50 or 75 (Experiment 1) and 30, 50 or 70 (Experiment 2) g herbage DM per kg LW daily during the grazing season. Daily herbage intakes on the three allowances in each trial were 14·1, 13·3, 10·7 and 12·5, 12·1, 11·5 kg OM and milk yields were 16·0, 15·3, 12·5 and 15·2, 14·3, 11·8 kg SCM respectively. Both intake and milk production were depressed once the cows were forced to consume more than 50% of herbage on offer or to graze the sward down to a mean height of less than 8–10 cm. Grazing behaviour observations indicated that under rotational managements the cows did not compensate for restrictions in available herbage by grazing longer. Highest levels of milk production per unit area were observed in both trials when production per cow was depressed by 20–25%.

Notes: Three grass silages of different chop lengths made from a uniform sward of S23 perennial ryegrass were compared in four experiments including a feeding experiment with twelve lactating cows, an eating behaviour study, a rate of passage investigation and a selection trial. The silages had median chop lengths of 9·4, 17·4 and 72·0 mm, termed short, medium and long, with pH values of 3·93, 3·94 and 4·17 and D-values of 65·9, 65·2 and 64·4 respectively.The daily intakes of silage DM and the daily milk yields increased as silage chop length decreased. The milk yield response to shorter chopping was significant with a supplement of groundnut but not significant with a supplement of sugar-beet pulp. Chop length had small and generally non-significant effects on milk composition.Eating and ruminating times expressed as min per kg DM decreased as silage chop length decreased but the retention time of the silage residues in the entire digestive tract was not significantly affected by chop length. When offered simultaneously, the intakes of the individual silages were 52·2, 31·9 and 15·9% of the total DM intake for the short, medium and long treatments respectively.Although silage with a chop length of 9 mm had nutritional advantages over longer silages, it is concluded that the mechanical and economic aspects of silage making must be considered fully when defining optimum chop length.

Notes: The milk yields obtained from 845 herd-years within the ICI Recorded Farms Scheme have been correlated, by multiple regression analysis, with the N fertilizer supplied to the grassland, the quantities of concentrates fed and the stocking rates. The large quantity of data gave highly significant correlations which indicated that, over the whole period, the supply of an extra 1 kg N from fertilizer was associated with an average extra yield of 9·9 1 milk. 4·9 1 were associated with the extra N independently of any simultaneous changes in either stocking rate or concentrate feeding, and 4-5 1 were ascribable to a simultaneous increase in stocking rate. There was a substantial variation in the ‘milk yield per kg N’ response from year to year, but the average value over 6 years agreed closely with that observed in the period 1949–52.

Notes: Seed development and seed shedding were studied in seven populations of Lolium multiflorum. Five of these populations were from the North Italian Plains, two from the Piedmont area and three from the Lombardy region. The remaining populations were Delecta, a variety derived from ecotypes from the Lombardy Plain, and RvP Lemtal. Seed shedding was greatest in the three ecotypes from the Lombardy Plain and lowest in RvP Lemtal. The two ecotypes from the Piedmont Plain, and Delecta, gave intermediate values. Moisture loss during ripening was greatest in the Lombardy ecotypes but there were no differences in the time taken to reach maximum 1000-seed weight. Germination values had reached a maximum 27 d after anthesis in all populations. It is suggested that the North Italian ecotypes, or varieties derived from them, should be harvested by direct combining at a moisture concentration of 450 g kg-1 (≡45%) to obtain the maximum weight of germinable seed.

Notes: Grass silage containing 180 g crude protein and 660g digestible organic matter per kg DM was offered to forty-two dairy cows for 20 weeks in a self-feeding system. In addition, supplements of either mineralized barley (130 g crude protein per kg DM) or barley plus groundnut (180 g crude protein per kg DM) were offered. The mean daily milk yields were 18·5 and 19·4 kg per cow respectively.

Notes: The effects of water and nitrogen (N) availabilities and their possible interactions on the seed yield and yield components of S23 perennial ryegrass grown in pots in the glasshouse were investigated. Increasing the N fertilizer from 0 to 5 g per pot more than doubled the seed yield but no further increase in seed yield was found by increasing N fertilizer from 5 to 10 g per pot. The main effect of increasing water availability was to increase both seed and straw yield. When N had been applied, accumulated evapotranspiration was linearly related to seed and straw yield. The component of yield having the greatest effect on yield was the number of fertile tillers and, although both N and water availability affected this component, N had the larger effect. Implications of these responses are discussed in relation to the potential yield of the crop and to the field situation.

Notes: Book review in this article Ethology of Free-ranging Domestic Animals G. W. Arnold and M. L. Dudzinski. Modern Milk Production By M. E. Castle and P. Watkins Faber and Faber Ltd

Notes: Oven-drying at 60°, 80° or 105°C was compared with microwave and freeze-drying as a method of preparing samples for the estimation of formononetin, the major oestrogenic factor in red clover. There was no significant difference in the formononetin concentration of clover samples either oven-dried at 60°C or freeze-dried. The formononetin concentration was reduced by drying at higher temperatures and by microwave-drying but was not affected by wilting for up to 8 h after harvesting. The routine determination of formononetin in ten varieties of red clover showed no significant differences between samples cold stored at – 18°C prior to oven-drying at 60°C and samples freeze-dried.

Notes: A series of trials was conducted to compare the digestibility of organic matter in castrated male sheep and non-lactating and lactating cows given diets containing lucerne cobs. Similar digestibility coefficients were determined when sheep and non-lactating cows were given hay and lucerne cobs, but lactating cows digested diets of hay, lucerne cobs and concentrates less well than sheep. It is concluded that if sheep are used in digestibility trials with diets containing processed lucerne and concentrates intended for milking cows, appreciable errors of prediction of digestibility of organic matter may arise.

Notes: Leakage of electrolytes was the criterion used to study the effects of several herbicides on cell membrane permeability in Lemna minor L. Dinoseb. sodium azide, linuron, prometryne and simazine were the most active in increasing cell membrane permeability, followed by oxyfluorfen, amitrole, and 2,4—D. Glyphosate and dalapon were the least active. In all cases, the longer the period elapsed after treatment (i.e. 96 h) the lower was the concentration needed to alter cell membrane permeability. Light was necessary for oxyfluorfen activity. With glyphosate, dalapon and oxyfluorfen, visible injury symptoms were noted after 48–96 h, but no further significant increase in cell membrane permeability occurred as a result.

Notes: When grown in mixtures with equal numbers of wheat plants Satvia reflexa was found not to be a strong competitor. The height and inflorescence dry weight of wheat was increased by watering the mixtures from above ihe foliage. These effects were accentuated by moisture stress. Aqueous leachatcs oi S. refiexa foliage were found (o inhibit the germination and/or early growth of wheat grown on filter paper in petri dishes and in different soil lypes.

Notes: Buthidazole (3-[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3.4-thiadiazol-2-yl]-4-hydroxy-l-methyl-2-imidazolidinone) at concentrations of 10−6-10−4M did not affect germination of corn (Zea mays L.,‘Pioneer 3780’), redroot pigweed (Amaranlhus retroflexus L.), alfalfa (Medicago saliva L., ‘Vernal’), and quackgrass (Agropyron repens(L.) Beauv.) seeds. Stressing the seeds obtained from mature corn plants treated either pre-emergence or pre- plant incorporated with buthidazole at several rates by accelerated ageing and cold treatments further indicated that this herbicide did not affect germination. Total photosynthesis and dark respiration of corn plants 12 days after pre-emergence application and of redroot pigweed, alfalfa, and quackgrass plants after postemergence application of buthidazole at several rates were measured with an infrared CO2 analyser. The results suggested that buthidazole was a rapid inhibitor of photosynthesis of the sensitive redroot pigweed and quackgrass plants, with less effect on corn and alfalfa. Buthidazole did not affect respiration of the examined species except for a transitory increase in corn and alfalfa 12 days after pre-emergence or 4 h after postemergence treatment with buthidazole at 0.56 or 1.12 and 2.24 kg/ha, respectively. A long-term inhibition of quackgrass respiration 96 h after treatment with buthidazole at 1.12 and 224 kg/ha was also evident.

Notes: The effects of picloram formulated with a nonionic surfactant (X-77) and of the surfactant alone on the ultrastructure of leaf cells of velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina Woot.) and catclaw [Acacia greggii var. ariznica (Gray) Isely] were examined The surfactant induced temporary protrusions from chloroplasts in both species. A proliferation of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) was noted in velvet mesquite within 8h of application of the herbicide and in catclaw with in 27 h. By 72h after treatment. both species exhibited distortions of organelles with more severe symptoms in catclaw. the species more sensitive to the herbicide Leaf abscission occurred subsequently and was more pronounced in catclaw than in mesquitel It is known that RER proliferation is induced by ethylene and that ethylene evolution is stimulated by picloram. The present study suggests that the interaction between these two chemicals was similar in the two plant species studied.

Notes: In five commercial-scale storage trials of winter white cabbage during 1974–78, post-harvest drenches of benomyl, thiabendazole or iprodione gave good control of rotting by Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Pers., which was the main cause of spoilage in untreated cabbage stored at 0–1°C and about 95 per cent relative humidity. All three fungicides controlled rots caused by Mycosphaerella brassicicola (Duby) Lindau and iprodione also controlled Alternaria spp. Some drench treatments resulted in more bacterial rots due to Pseudomonas marginalia (Brown) Stevens, and the early development of ‘pepper-spot’ (a non-microbial leaf necrosis disorder) was accelerated by drenching. However, the recovery after 30 or 36 weeks’ storage of trimmed cabbage suitable for coleslaw manufacture was increased by up to 11 per cent by the fungicide treatments, which could also extend the storage season and reduce trimming costs.

Notes: Questionnaires completed by 140 growers from 12 allotment sites around Leeds, West Yorkshire, listed a wide range of crop pests. Of the seven crops grown by over 50 per cent of the growers, brassicas, potatoes and carrots were damaged more frequently than expected from the average frequency for all 20 crops, peas and celery less often, and beans and onions at about the expected frequency. The main pests reported for brassicas and potatoes were slugs, and the most common pest of carrots was carrot fly. Further examination of 92 plots revealed a large number of pests; slugs, carrot fly (Psila rosae (F.)), aphids and cabbage root fly (Delia brassicae (Wiedemann)) were the most common. Results for soil samples showed pale potato cyst nematode (Globodera pallida (Stone) Behrens) to be at potentially damaging population levels in 21 out of 33 plots sampled at 10 allotment sites established for more than five years and in one of six plots sampled at two newly formed allotment sites. Soil sampling for carrot fly at eight allotment sites revealed widespread overwintering populations of about 1·5 larvae and pupae/100 ml of soil. Baiting for slugs on one plot indicated that a large population of these animals was present.Pesticides were not used by 22 of the 140 growers in the survey. The most widely favoured chemicals with at least 20 users each were a disinfectant, slug pellets, organophosphates and calomel.

Notes: Eggs of Spodoptem littoralis (Boisd.) in commercial boxes of chrysanthemum cuttings were treated with combinations of cold storage at 0–2°C for one, two or four days and fumigation using four dosages of methyl bromide each at a different temperature. After laboratory tests at Harpenden and commercial trials in the Canary Islands and the United Kingdom, cold storage at 0–2°C for four days followed by fumigation at 15°C with methyl bromide at a dosage (CTP) of 54 mg. h/1. for a period of four hours was employed as a routine measure to prevent the entry of S. littoralis and other cutworms into the United Kingdom.

Notes: In 1975 and 1976 commercial potato crops, mainly cv. King Edward, grown on farms in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire were sampled to investigate the possibilities of forecasting storage disease from assessment of actual disease or latent infection, both on the seed tubers used and on the growing crop. Crops were stored in various conditions on the farms where they were grown or in a common store at the Potato Marketing Board Experimental Station at Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire, at 3°C in 1975 or at Rothamsted in 1976.Skin spot, silver scurf and black scurf showed the greatest range of disease incidence between crops and skin spot the closest relationship between latent infection in growth and disease in store. In general the closer to harvest that tests were done, the closer the relationship to subsequent disease in store.In each year potatoes from only one farm had much gangrene and this was related to the incidence on the seed used and to the large amount of damage done to these tubers at harvest. There was little bacterial soft rot in either year. The assessments of disease and inoculum potential did not produce results sufficiently closely related to the amount of subsequent storage rot or disease to be helpful in making decisions on storage strategy, although the potential benefits from accurate forecasting would be great.

Notes: Scanning electron microscope examination ofadaxial leaf surfaces of Salria reflexa revealed specialized structures from which chemical release was apparently promoted by immersion in water. The significance of ihese slruciures and their contents is discussed in relation to the alletopathic activiiy of this species.

Notes: Wild oats were trealed with benzoylprop eihyl and flamprop methyl alone or in combination with other herbicides and the effects on plant growth studied using histological techniques, Benzoylprop ethyl caused severe reductions in the growth of both the leaves and internodes of treated plants, Evidence was obtained which indieaies that cell division as well as cell elongalion was inhibited. The effects of flamprop methyl on plant growth were similar lo those observed for benzoylprop ethyl. Both compounds interfered with normal differentiation of vascular tissues which could account for retarded development of the higher internodes and shoot apex of treated plants. Of the various herbicides applied in combination with the wild oat herbicides, 2,4—D was more antagonistic than MCPA. while bromoxynil was the least antagonistic. Plants treated with benzoylprop ethyl plus 2.4—D had increased cell, leaf and internode lengths compared to plants treated with benzoylprop ethyl alone. Reductions in cell and internode lengths of plants treated with the herbicide combinations were not always proportional lo dry weight reductions.

Notes: Thlaspi perfoliatum L. is an introduced winter annual that grows in waste places, but it is not a troublesome agricultural weed. Seeds are dormant at maturity in spring, afterripen during summer and germinate in autumn. Non-dormant seeds that fail to germinate in autumn are induced into secondary dormancy by low winter temperatures and cannot germinate the following spring. These seeds afterripen during summer and germinate in autumn if conditions are suitable. Vernalization is not an absolute requirement for flowering. However, it shortens the time to flowering, and vernalized plants produce many more flowers and seeds than non-vernalized plants. Results from studies on seed germination and flowering of T. perfoliatum are compared to published studies on the life cycle of Thlaspi arvense L., an introduced species that is a serious agricultural weed which behaves both as a winter and a summer annual.

Notes: Application of small amounts of glyphosate and aminotriazole to the top 2–3 leaves of potato stems killed those stems. Untreated stems attached to the same plant did not die, although they showed symptoms of herbicide damage. Glyphosate caused the death of the apices of the untreated stems, growth of axillary buds and sometimes aerial tuberization. Concentrations of glyphosate between 025 and 8% a.i. and of aminotriazole between 1 and 4% a.i. achieved equally good control of treated stems, although the higher concentrations worked more quickly and generally resulted in more symptoms on the untreated stems. The more stems that were treated on a particular plant, the greater the symptoms on the untreated ones. When all the stems were treated, no healthy tubers were produced; when only some were treated, both healthy and deformed tubers were found at harvest. The effects on the untreated stems are examined in relation to the translocation of glyphosate and the anatomy of the potato plant.

Notes: Studies were made at Kairi on the Atherton Tableland of Queensland, Australia, on the effects of varying lemperature regimes, both controlled and natural, on the germination of seed of Setaria antcept Stapf. cv. Nandi and Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. The germination of E. indica seed was found to be much more temperature labile than that of S. ancepts. The temperature required for peak germination was higher for E. indica seed than for S. ancepts seed.The effects of temperature on competition between E. indica and S. ancepts were studied in the field by varying the time of planting. It was shown that at mean screen temperatures measured throughout the growth period of 〈23° C, S. ancepts was dominant in mixtures of the two species. At mean temperatures 〉23° C E. indica was dominant. There was a tendancy for S. aweps yields to decline with increase in E. indica plant density but there was a much closer negative correlation between E indica top dry weight and S. aancepts yield.From the meteorological data for Kairi for the past 25 years predictions were made on the best times to plant S. ancepts to avoid serious competition from E indica.

Notes: The literature on various aspects of the biology of Johnson grass. Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. is reviewed. Topics discussed include its distribution, cytology, taxonomy, life cycle, variability and the dormancy and germination of its seeds and rhizomes.

Notes: The occurrence of noxious weed species on roadsides and adjacent farmland was studied in ten agricultural areas throughout Victoria. Australia. The presence of noxious weeds in both situations was influenced by the other vegetation present and was reduced by tree cover on roadsides or improved pastures on the farmlands. Most of the noxious species recorded were found both on the roadsides and on farmland. The shrubs (e.g. Acacia armata R. Br., Crataegus monogyna N.J. Jacq., Genista linifolia L. and Lycium ferocisinnum Miers) were more abundant on roadsides, and usually occurred only as hedges on farmland. Hypericum perforatum L. was recorded only on roadsides since this species is now generally controlled in farmland by pasture improvemenl.Because noxious weeds did not appear to invade better managed farmland the significance of their control on roadsides should be reassessed. Where control on roadsides is considered to he necessary, better suppression should be achieved by maintaining good tree and grass cover.

Notes: Experiments investigating the effect of weed density on the yjeld of a wheat crop at three levels of applied nitrogen were conducted in north-western Victoria. Australia, during 1970. There were five sites, each infested with a pure stand of one of the following annual broad-leaved weed species: Lithospermum arvense, Brassica tournifortii. Lamium amplt'xicaule, Amsinckia hispida and Fumaria parviflora. At the three-leaf stage of crop growth, the weed populations were systematically thinned with a specially developed spray boon) (which is described) to give a range of weed densities in competition) with the crop.The relalionship between dry matter production and population density for all but one weed species was curvilinear, but the degree of curvature was small and competition in the wheat crop was linear for four of the five weed species. There were large differences in the competitive ability of individual weed species and these have been described by regression equations. Applied nitrogen increased wheat yields at all sites but weed competition was not affected.The use of these grain yield-weed density relationships in predicting crop losses from weed competition is discussed.

Notes: Divers aspects de la biologie du liseron sont abordés dans ce travail à travers l'étude comparative de populations d'origine française et espagnole. Le poids des semences, la caryologie, les résultats del'électrophorése des protéines séminales solubles, la morphologic foliaire et l'aptitude à la floraison, ont été les caractères utilisés. L'observation des plantes cultivées ensemble à Madrid et la comparaison des électrophorégrammes ont permis de proposer un schéma de différenciation intraspécifique chez Convolvulus arvensis L., en se fondant principalement sur l'influence de sa répartition géographique, facteur rendant bien compte des variations enregistrées. Ce phénomène introduit un élément supplémentaire de variation pouvant affecter la réussite des traitements herbicides.

Notes: Established Greenhouse grown plants of cogongrass Imperata cylindrica (L) Beauv.) and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundusL.) were given three different soil moisture regimes; field capacity, moderate stress and extreme stress, followed 6 weeks later by glyphosate [(N-phosphonomeihyl) glydne] applications to the shoots at 0.2,0.4 and 0.8 kg/ha for Imperata and 0.3,0.6 and 1.12 kg/ha for Cyperus. Field capacity watering stimulated most vegetative growth in hoth species. Glyphosate given at field capacity decreased shoot dry weight in both species, and rhizome length, rhizome dry weight and total carbohydrate in Imperata and total number of tuber-bulbs in Cyperus. In contrast. at extreme soil moisture stress, glyphosate showed reduced activity which appeared to be related to the physiological and morphological behaviour of the plants arising from the drought trealment. Application of waier to the roots of the plants grown at soil moisture stress. I week before and I week afler glypbosate spraying, enhanced glyphosate activity, probably because of the recovery of processes disturbed by ibe soil moisture deficit.

Notes: The response, of cell suspension and callus cultures of celery to asulim (6–600 μmoll−1) in the nutrient medium was compared with that of seedlings. The callus cultures were treated.at three slages of differentiation: undifferentiated callus, differentiated callus on which embryoids had developed to the globular and heart-shaped stage, and finally plantlets which had secondary leaves and roots. Cell division in the suspension culture was enhanced at low concentrations (6 and 12 μmoll−1) and inhibited at higher concentrations Cell expansion was unaffecte by the presence of asulam In differentiated tissue the growth stimulation at low concentrations was absent. and there was a steady decline in accumulation of fresh weight with increasing concentration. Root length and number of laterals of intact seedlings showed a similar pattern, indicating that the response of the tissue to asulam was not radically altered by differentiation

Notes: Application of N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine or GLY'PHO-SATE to couch grass Pancum repens (L) Beauv. resulted in an intitial increase of the total amino acid content in the plant. which reached a maximum on the 8th day following treatment This was most marked in the rhizomes where the value was about three times that of the control plants. The initial increase fell off rapidly with time and on the 15th day after application the total amino acid content of the treated leaf and rhizome samples was less than the controls Resurgence of rhizome activity was noticeable on about the 48th day (viz. 7 weeks after t he Ist application).

Notes: The effect of plant-induced changes of soluiion pH upon the adsorpiion of s-lriazme herbicides in either K-monimorillonite or Na - bentonite ciay-nutrieni suspensions and iheir phyioioxi- city in soil was studied. ln clay-NO3− suspensions (wiih NO3- as the nitrogen source) maize planls (Zea may L.) caused a marked rise in solution pH and this resulted in a rapid descrp- tion of bound atrazine or simazine. in clay-NHa + suspensions (with NH4 + as the nitrogen source) the lowering of solution pH through plant aclivity resulted in jnereased adsorption of these herbicides.In soil, changes of rhizosphere pH were also found when either KNO3 or (NH4) 2SO4 were supplied as fertilizers, bul it was nol established whether ihis had a direct effeci upon the significant increase in weight of (NH4)2SO4 treated wheat (Tri- ticum aestivum L.) planls at low herbicide concentrations compared with KNO3 treated wheat plants.

Notes: Bei den mit 10-monatigen Schafböcken durchgeführten Versuchen wurden folgende Ergebnisse erhalten:Die Ausscheidungsrate (Versuehsdauer 96 Stunden nach Verfutterung) der Samen von lOverfutterten Weidepflanzenarten betrug bei Medicago sativa 55,5%, Phteum pratense 53,4%, Coronitta varia 42,8%, Lotus cornicutatus 34,8%, Agrostis alba 32,9%, Trifotium repens 24,5%, Stipaviriduta 16,6%, Vicia sativa 9,3%, Hordeum nodosum 1,4%, Onobrychis sativa 0,8%.Ausscheidungszeiten: Ohne bestimmte zeitliche Regelmäßigkeiten wurden die Samen von Hordeum nodosum im Verlauf der 96-stündigen Versuehsdauer ausgeschieden. Bei Medicago sativa wurde ein Ausscheidungsmaximum bei 62 Stunden, bei Phteum pratense bei 86 Stunden festgestellt. Bei den anderen 7 Samenarten lag das Ausscheidungsmaximum zwischen 38–48 Stunden.Wahrend bei 8 Samenarten eine Verminderung der Keimfähigkeit nach Passieren des Verdauungstrakts im Vergleich zu frischen Samen festgestellt wurde, konnte man eine Erhöhung des Keimwertes bei Agrostis atba und Hordeum nodosum feststellen.Keimfahig waren die Samen von Vicia sativa bis zu einer Ausscheidungszeit von 38 Stunden, Onobrychis sativa bis 48 Stunden. Samen von Hordeum nodosum waren keimfahig bis zu einer Ausscheidungszeit von 62–96 Stunden, Trifotium repens 24–86 Stunden. Bei den restlichen 6 Arten waren die Samen auch nach 96-stündiger Verweildauer im Verdauungstrakt zumindest noch teilweise keimfähig.Nach 3-monatiger Mistgärung waren die Samen von Vicia sativa, Hordeum nodosum und Onobrychis sativa vollig vernichtet. Bei den restlichen 7 Samenarten betrug die Keimpotenz bei Coronitta varia 6,8%, Lotus cornicutatus 6,1%, Trifotium repens 5,1%, Phteum pratense 4,9%, Medicago sativa 4,6%, Agrostis alba 3,2% und Stipa viridula 1,1%.

Notes: Eighty comparisons were made between the numbers of weed seedlings emerging after seedbed preparation and the numbers of apparently viable seeds extracted by sieving and flotation from samples of the top 10 cm of soil. When soil moisture was adequate, the total seedling numbers represented 3–6% of the numbers of seeds; when dry weather followed cultivation, the percentages were lower than this. The percentages were relatively high for Poa annua L. and Stellaria media (L.) Vill. but low for Chenopodium album L. and Papaver spp. Relatively high numbers of seeds of Potygonum aviculare L. gave rise to seedlings in early spring but few appeared on seedbeds prepared after mid-May; the reverse was true for Aphanes arvehsis L. It is suggested that data of this kind could provide a basis for predicting weed floras following cultivation at any time of year from determinations of seed numbers made at the start of the year.

Notes: In glasshouse experiments foliar application or 14C-labelled herbicides to water hyacinth plants at the 4-leaf stage indicated that amilroie transport from the treated leaf blade was faster and greater than 2.4-D. but a little less than asulam. From the treated leaf 14·2, 25·9. 39·7. 44·5 and 51·8% of the recovered 14CNamitrole was translocated at intervals of 6 h. and 1. 3. 6 and 12 day., respectively. Both xylem and phloem transport of asulam and amitrole was evident, whereas 2.4-D moved only from ‘source to sink’.Movement of the herbicides from the mother to the connected daughter plant or vice versa was dependent upon the size of the latter. Maximum transport of these herbicides in either direction took place at the 2-leaf stage of daughter plants. With any increase or decrease in the number of leaves on daughter plants, the transport of herbicides was reduced. As an exception, daughter plant to mother plant movement of amilroie was maximum at the 1-leaf stage.After extraction, fractionation and TLC separation of foliage applied 14C-2.4-D 76–4 and 72·1% of the radioactivity was detected in the chloroform phase of the leaf extract at 3 and 6 day intervals, respectively.In another pot culture experiment, it was observed that after spraying the mother plants with 2.4-D-amine at 0–75 kg/ha the connected daughter plants at 1 to 4-leaf stages werckilled if the culture solution was contaminated while spraying, or by dying leaves. When contamination was totally avoided, the connected but unsprayed daughter plants at 3 to 4-feaf stages survived.

Notes: Research conducted in El Salvador, Central America, demonstrated that an interval of 3 days between application of glyphosate and tillage was sufficient to cause 90% reduction in purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) plants, while delays of 11–23 days generally gave slightly less reduction. à second application to the same plots 35 days following tillage resulted in more than 90% reduction with all intervals. Approximately 3 months after the initial treatment, tuber numbers had been reduced to half the original population. Germination of the remaining tubers was reduced by more than 50%.Glyphosate applied during the dry season caused an average of 79% reduction in plant numbers compared with 88% in the rainy season. However, in the dry season, the remaining plants had no competition from other weeds and after 5 months there was only à 40% reduction in nutsedge population. During the rainy season, 1, 2 and 3 kg/ha were equally effective, but 1 kg/ha was not sufficient in the dry season.

Notes: Kivc main points have emerged from this study: (i) populations of the cactus Opuntia aurantiaca Lindley are highly aggregated; (ii) searching efficiency of spray teams applying herbicides is low because they fail to locate small isolated plants; (iii) searching efficiency is positively correlated with aggregation of the target plant; (iv) the presence of the cochineal Dactylopius austrinusDe Lotto is also positively associated with aggregations of the host plant and; (v) consequently, cochineal populations are selectively eliminated by current spraying techniques to the detriment of biological control. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to future strategies for chemical and biological control of the weed.

Notes: The mechanism whereby Iinuron changes the functional and structural characteristics of chloroplast membranes was studied. The primary effect of the herbicide, the inhibition of phoiosynihetic electron transport results in an immuediatecessa-tion of carbon dioxide fixation and alterations in the membrane energization. These are accompanied by secondary processes contributing to phytotoxicity. The fundamental action in its phytotoxicity, as shown in a model system of isolated chloro-plasts, is the peroxidaiive breakdown of the polyunsaturated membrane lipids. This leads to destruction of the pigments, changes in the energy transfer, disorganization of the chloro-plast membranes, and accumulation of toxic organic peroxides.

Notes: I‘activité biologique d'un résidu de synthese du diuron, identi-fiéåla 1.3-his-(3,4-dichlorophényl) urée. a éiéétudiée sur E. coli. mitochondries de pomme de terre. chloroplasies et lipo-somes.Ce composé inhibe la croissanee d'E. coli et semble modifier les permétions membraires. II ayit comme un découplant trés actif des oxydations phosphorylames: il bloque la réaction de Hill de chloroplastes isoles et modifie les pro-priété des membranes liposomales. Cette activité est comparée à celle dea diuron technique et purifié et peut †tre responsablede certames actions du diuron technique.

Notes: Four field experiments were conducted at The International Rice Research Institute during the 1975 and 1976 crop seasons to develop minimum and zero tillage techniques for transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.). High rates of glyphosate followed by a lower rate of paraquat effectively controlled Paspalum distichum L., but not Fimbristylis littoralis L. The tenminimum tillage treatments based on different combinations and sequences of pre-plant herbicide application, tillage and flooding, gave a similar grain yield to conventional tillage, and significantly higher grain yield than zero tillage treatments. Conventional, minimum and zero tillage were compared over four successive crops. After two crops with zero tillage, the plots were dominated by the perennials, P. distichum and Scirpus maritimus L., but with minimum or conventional tillage, weed control and grain yield were satisfactory. Efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer usage by the crop was the same with minimum as with conventional tillage but higher than with zero tillage and was increased by placement at 10 cm depth. The studies indicate that minimum tillage systems are a dependable alternative to conventional tillage for lowland rice production.

Notes: Plants of wild myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) collected at full bloom contained substances inhibitory to the germination and seedling growth of perennial ryegrass. (Lolium perenne L. cv Hollandi)Tissue suspensions had a greater inhibitory activity than water extracts of the plant tissue. Boiling the plant material also increased the inhibitory activity of suspensions and extracts. Flower, and buds, fruit covers and leaves had the greatest inhibitory effect/unit weight ot tissue but inhibitory activity was also present in stems and roots at lower concentrations.The effect of myrtle leaf suspensions on germination of seed of thirteen common garden flowers was also examined: Germination of Petunia. Antirrhinum, Liaum. Cheiranthus and Lathyrus was inhibited completely or substantially depressed. Germination of Zinnia, Tagrtes. Verbena and Dianthus was not much affected, while that of Brllis. Gaillardia. and Viola was affected to an intermediate extent.These results suggest that the possible use of wild myrtle as an evergreen hedge plant needs to be examined further because of possible interference with the growth of nearby lawns and flowers.

Notes: The differential tolerance of resislant creeping red fescue (Fes- tuca rubra L, var, rutra) and susceptibie reed canarygrass (Pha- laris arundinacea L.) seedlings to glyphosate [N-(phosphono- meihyDglycine) was confirmed under growth chamber condilions. The absorption, transiocation and metabolism of 14C-glyphosate was examined in both species to determine if differences in these processes could account for the observed selectivity, Creepmg red fescue actually absorbed more glyphosate than did t-eed canarygrass, and both species rapidly translocated the herbicide throughout their respective tissues. No metabolism of glyphosate was detected in either species. Differential interception and retention of the glyphosate spray can probably be eliminated as possible selectivity mechanisms. The relative tolerance of creeping red fescue to glyphosale appears to be related to its ability lo regenerate roots and shoots from the crown of the plant, but the mechanism of resistance remains obscure.

Notes: Studies were conducled to cstmiate the adsorption parameter k and the bioactivity (in terms of G R50) of di-allate [S-2,3-dichloroallyl N, N-di-isopropyl (thiocar bamate)], iri-allate [S-2,3,3-trichloroallyl N, N -di-isopropyl (thiocar bamate], and [trifiuralin (2,6-dinitro N, N-dlpropyl-4-trifluoromelhylaniline) in a number of Saskatchewan soil. The k values ratiged from 5 for di-allate adsorption m Asquilh loamy sand to 315 for trifluralin adsorption on Melfort loam and were closely related to the soil organic matter content. The relative degree of adsorption was irifluralin 〉 tri-allate 〉di-allaie. For each herbicide, the G R50 values were positively correlated wich organic matter conienl atid wilh k. It was suggested that these nonionic herbicides may be amenable to a predictive approach for field application rates in different soils. Among herbicides for any one soil, however, there was not the same relationship between G R50andk. since the G R50 was least for trifluralin and there was no significant difference between di-allate and tri-allate.

Notes: In an in vivo study, the rate of iodide oxidation by horseradish peroxidase was found to be reduced by the addition of ammonium thiocyanate to the system. The seleetive herbicidal activity of sodium iodide towards dwarf bean, pea, kale and cabbage was tested while the poicnlial ihioeyanale conteni of these platits was measured, A good relationship between inereasmg thiocyanale content and inereasing resistance to iodide was observed.

Notes: Wild oat (Avena fatua L.) plants sprayed at the 2-or 3-leaf stages of growth with diclotop-methyl developed chlorosis over the entire leaf blade of all leaves. The leaves became necfrotic 7days after spraying Shool growth was inhibited. In wheat (Triticum aesicum L cv.Waldron) discrete chlorotic areas developed only where the herbicide convicted the 2nd or 3rd leaf with no visible injury so new growth uf'ter treutment. Growth inhibition of susceptible oat (Avena sativa L. cv. Garry) was sensitive to placement of diclutop-methyl near the upica and meristematic sites of the plant. Chlorosis and necrosis were independent of herbicide placement. Selective herbicide placement induced chlorosis only or both chlorosis and growth inhibition Root growth in wild oat and barley (Hordeum rulgare L. cv. Dickson) was strongly inhibited by 1–0 μM diclofop-methyl. Wild oat shoots were killed when seedlings were root-treated with 10 μM diclofop-melhyl. The 100 μM rool treatment killed barley shoots but only stunted the growth of wheat shoots by approximately 50%. In root-ireated wheat plants the shoots were turgid and developed a light purple colour, whereas in foliar-treated plants the shoots developed discrete chlorotic areas.

Notes: The persistence of dichlobenil following the application of dichlobenil granules was studied in a replicated plot experiment including both surface and incorporated treatments of 8·3 and 16·6 kg/ha ai. Soil analyses showed an initial half-life of about 4 weeks but the persistence increased with time and a year after application the half-life was about 1 year. Incorporation of the granules into the soil markedly increased the persistence of dichlobenil and its metabolite dichlorobenzamide. The most sensitive crop was carrot which was damaged by residues of only 1–2% of the recommended dose. Residues phytotoxic to carrots persisted for 2 years from the 8·3 kg/ha surface application and 5 years from the 18·6 kg/ha incorporated application. Lettuce was also highly sensitive to residues.

Notes: Changes in ihe species composition of a ryegrass pasture were examined over a 2 year period from a spring establishment. Seed of S23 perennial ryegrass was sown in main plots, eilher broadcast or drilled, at rates of 15, 25 or 35 kg/ha in a field experiment at Oxford. The whole area was oversown withfour weed grasses (Agrostis siolonifera.Holcus lanatus. Poa annua and P trivialis). Five cultural and three herbicide treatments were applied across the plots. These consisted of three levels of nitrogen (0. 50 and 100 kg N per ha), two companion species (Italian ryegrass and white clover) and 2.4-D, benazolin and methabenzihiazuron applications.Ten weeks after sowing, broad-leaved weeds accounted for nearly half the lotal dry-matter yield, except where controlled by the three herbicides. Grass yields were nol increased by herbicide treatment. The only cultural treatment checking broad-leaved weeds was ihe 35 kg/ha seeding rale.Seven months after sowing, the only treatment which had decreased the abundance of weed grasses was melhabenzthiazuron especially againsi A. stolonifera and Poa spp. Two years afler sowing, perennial ryegrass had only 34% ground cover and had been replaced largely by H. lanatus (38%), Poa spp, (15%) and A. stolonifera (7%), Where methabenzthiazuron had been used the ryegrass ground cover was 48%. with less P. trivialis and A. stolonifera. but H. lanatus was nol altered. White clover decreased H. lanatus cover.In two supplementary pot experiments, methabenzthiazuron sprayed pre-emergence damaged perennial ryegrass unless the seed was covered with at least 4 mm of soil. Only H. lanatmand F. rubra out of sixteen grasses were relatively resistant to methabenzihiazuron when applied at ihe tillering stage, confirming that this herbicide has potential for preventing the ingress of many unsown grasses in new leys.

Notes: The persistence of [14C]2,4-D at a rate equivalent to 1 kg/ha was studied in the laboratory on a heavy clay and a sandy loam at 85%of field capacity and 20°C both alone and in the presence of 1 kg/ha dicamba, dichlorprop, difenzoquat, TCA, and 2,4,5-T. The persistence of 2,4,5-T was also monitored in both soils under the same conditions in the presence and absence of [14C]2,4-D. All soils were extracted at weekly intervals using aqueous acidic acetonitrile and analysed for [14C]2,4-D remainining radiochemical techniques. The extracts containing 2,4.5-T were additionally analysed gas chromatographically for that herbicide.In each soil type the half-life of the 2,4-D was similar regardless of whether applied singly or in combination with the five herbicides tested. Similarly, [14C]2,4-D did not affect the breakdown of 2,4,5-T in either soil type.The persistence of tri-allate (1·5 kg/ha) and trifluralin (0·75 kg/ha) both singly and in combination were compared using small field plots at two locations in Saskatchewan. Applications were made during May of 1977 and 1978 and the plots were sampled and analysed for herbicide(s) remaining after 10 and 20 weeks, respectively. The results indicate that within experimental error the loss of both tri-allate and trifluralin from the plots treated with the mixture was the same as from plots treated with the individual compounds.

Notes: Wettable powder formulations of simazine, metribuzin and linuron and a suspension concentrate of simazine were sprayed on to soil particles which were either at a water content equivalent to pF 2·5 or air dry. Air dry samples were then wetted to pF 2·5 immediately or after 24 h. Soil solutions were removed using a pressure membrane apparatus at intervals up to 96 h after wetting. In each case the concentration in soil solutions expressed after 96 h following application to wet soil, or dry soil wetted immediately, were close to those predicted on the basis of Freundlich adsorption isotherm data obtained in slurry equilibrium conditions. There were, however, some differences after shorter periods.Concentrations were always lower in solutions obtained from air dry soil that was not wetted for 24 h. After 96 h simazine and metribuzin concentrations were about 50% of those obtained following application to wet soil, while that of linuron was about 25%. Differences of this size may be large enough to affect mass transfer phenomena and phytotoxicity. It seems likely that suspension of these herbicides sprayed in formulations on to wet soil dissolved in soil water at least as fast as would be predicted theoretically.

Notes: The effects of handweeding and of varying timing of applications of nitrogen were examined in three experiments on maize grown in Southern Nigeria. At two weedy sites which had been cropped for several years, weed competition lowered maize yields by 50% and two hand weedings at 3 and 7 weeks after planting were as satisfactory as more extended weedings. At the third site after an extended fallow period weed competition was not severe. Splitting of nitrogen application generally had no advantage over a single application of the same amount. There was no significant interaction between nitrogen and weeding treatments at any site.

Notes: Hmergence of dodder (Cuseuta australis R. Br.) was unexpecledly prevented in plois of a sugarbeet field where ethofumesate had been applied at 1.6 Kg/ha. Appropriate laboratory tesls have shown that ethofumesate is a potent inhibitor of dodder seed germination (I D50= 10 μg/ml) and of early stem elongalion (ID50= 73μg/ ml). Wheat. a standard susceptible species to field applications of ethofumesate, is equally susceptible to inhibition of stem elongation (ID50=68 μg/ml), but it is far less susceptible to inhibition of germination (I D50=188 μg/ml). Compared to propyzamide. ethofiimesate is a stronger inhibitor of germination. Metolachlor and Hercules 22234 [eihyl N-chloroacetyl-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl) aminoacetate] are also active in inhibiting dodder germination and stem elongation, but at higher concentrations than ethofumesate. Current methods of controlling dodder in sugarheets may be improved with inclusion of pre-emergence use of ethofumesate.

Notes: Non-competitive effects between lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album L.) and maize (INRA 25H)Maize is extremely sensitive to competition from weeds, lamb's quarters (C.alhum) often being particularly competitive, Under controlled conditions in a growth chamber short term bioassay methods techniques have shown that lamb's quarters exerted inhibiting influences on maize growth which were not attributable to competition alone. These non-compctitive, specific influences became apparent mainly from the early flowering stage of lamb's quarters both in soil and in nutrient solution. With an identical concentration of lamb's quarters roots, the growth-inhibiting effects are more marked when the soil structure is modified than when it is not, similarly when the aqueous extract is obtained by placing soils in suspension, the inhibiting effects are more marked than when it is obtained by percolation. Finally, water leached from the leaves, roots or seeds of lamb's quaners shows inhibiting effects proport ional to the concentration on root growth of maize. The presence of phytotoxins in the culture media of lamb's quarters is discussed.

Notes: Experiment conducted in the glasshouse with water hyacinth plants in pots revealed that 3h.after spraying parquet or 2.4-D at recommendeb herbicida rates, 43 to 53, of the herbicide is found in the plants and the rest is present in the water culture Out of the total [14Clparaquat applied,38,9,8·8. 32 and 0.9% was found in the leaf blads. petioles, underwater foliage and roots respectively. The corresponding values for [14C]2, 4-D were 320. 94. 13 and 0.2% As the time interval after spraying increased, a greater accumulation of herbicide in the under-water parts was evident A net loss of 14 and 60%. of the applied 2,4-D was recorded 1 and 2 weeks after spraying respectively the rate of paraquat loss from the plant water system was similar to 2,4-D.Absorption of [14C]2,4-D from the culture solution by the roots and the floats of the water hyacinth was. evident Translocation of root-absorbed 2, 4-D into the meristematic folrar parts was dernonstrated If the substrates was treated with 2,4-D.a minimal concentration of 1 p. p. m. was required for water hyacinth death In another experiment glyphosite at 2 to 6 kg a 1 ha and 2.4-D.amine at 0–75 2.25 kg a ha gave complete control of water hyacinth Asulam was found to be unsatis factory even at 6 kg a.1 ha the highest rate tried.

Notes: Soil core samples taken from a sandy loam soil at Woburn during January 1972, following spring beans during the previous year, indicated that half the rhizome dry weight of Equisetum arvense (L.) occurred in the uppermost 25 cm of soil and 10% between 75 and 100 cm. Tubers occurred relatively more deeply with half the number and three-quarters of the weight deeper than 50 cm. However, after a 2-year fallow 80% of the rhizomes and tubers were in the uppermost 25 cm of soil. In general, the weight of individual tubers increased with increasing depth in the soil. In pots in the glasshouse, tubers that were formed in one season lost weight when new shoots emerged in the following year; those formed during summer germinated readily in warmth indoors when detached in the autumn, but not until June of the following year in the field. Burial of tubers at a range of depths down to 25 cm did not affect the number of shoots emerging but emergence was delayed.Plants made more growth in neutral than in acid or basic soil, more in silty clay loam than in sandy loam and appeared well adapted to growth in soils with little nitrogen. In general, rhizome growth was less affected by variations in pH and nitrogen level than were shoots and tubers. Plants grown from tubers were suppressed greatly by wheat sown densely and given a moderate amount of nitrogen fertilizer but had negligible effect on the wheat. With fewer wheat plants given less nitrogen, the species partitioned more of its assimilate into tubers than when it was grown alone.The significance of tubers in the biology of the species is briefly discussed and areas meriting further study are highlighted.

Notes: In an attempt to find a control for stem nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kühn) Filipjev) on strawberry crops in south-west England, aldicarb, ethoprophos, oxamyl, terbufos, thionazin and Tirpate were tested on severely damaged plants in pots. All treatments, except terbufos, decreased the number of infested plants; aldicarb and thionazin gave the best control. Fewer infested runner plants were found when the mother plant was grown in soil treated with aldicarb or thionazin. Soil treatment with ethoprophos, oxamyl or Tirpate was less effective or inconsistent in reducing spread of nematodes to the runners. Leaf treatment of the mother plants with ethoprophos or oxamyl reduced the number of infested runners.In a field trial in 1973/74, aldicarb, oxamyl and thionazin were compared with soil fumigation with dichloropropane-dichloropropene mixture (D-D). Aldicarb applied at planting decreased the number of plants damaged by stem nematode and increased the number and yield of fruits. Oxamyl granules at planting followed by a spray in February also increased the number and weight of fruits harvested compared with D-D treated plots. A single application of oxamyl at planting, with or without previous D-D soil fumigation, or a thionazin drench in February did not reduce damage.In three subsequent field trials in 1974–76, amounts and methods of application of aldicarb were compared with D-D treatment. Spot applications of aldicarb to plants in heavily infested soil 15 weeks after planting reduced the rate of spread of stem nematode damage but treatment at 30 weeks had little effect. In a less severely infested plot, spot and band treatments of aldicarb, applied 10 and 21 days, respectively after planting, gave good control. Treatment with aldicarb 21 days after planting decreased the number of plants with severe symptoms, whereas serious damage was not prevented by treatment with D-D in October or May.

Notes: Measurements of herbage intake and ingestive behaviour were made on British Friesian calves 4–9 months old, which were strip-grazed on swards of S24 perennial ryegrass at three (Experiment A) or four (Experiment B) levels of daily herbage allowance in three (A) or four (B) 12-d periods. Herbage intake declined by approx. 18% as daily herbage allowance was reduced from 90 to 30 g DM per kg LW in both experiments, but the relationship between intake and allowance was not consistent between periods.Bite size and rate of biting were greater in calves on low than on high allowances after entry to a new strip of herbage but the positions were reversed towards the end of grazing. Reduced herbage intakes at low allowance resulted from reductions of approx. equal magnitude in bite size, rate of biting and grazing time, though not all of these effects were significant. It is suggested that these responses result from the increasing difficulty of prehending and ingesting herbage as swards are grazed down. The calves at low herbage allowances did not increase grazing time, probably because their behaviour was conditioned by anticipation of a new allowance of herbage.Bite size and daily herbage intake were greater on a spring sward than on an autumn sward, but within experiments herbage intake was not consistently related to any of the sward characteristics measured.

Notes: Friesian heifers grazing Cenchrus ciliaris cv. Biloela were supplemented with 0, 3 or 6 kg concentrates daily during weeks 10–34 (±1·7) of lactation during either the rainy or the dry season. The overall responses to concentrate were identical between seasons at 0·27 kg extra milk and solids corrected milk per kg. Supplementation increased total feed intake and modified the grazing behaviour of cows. For each kg concentrate organic matter eaten, herbage organic matter intake was reduced by 0·64 and 0·42 kg in the rainy and dry seasons respectively and the time spent grazing by 11 min. Higher intakes in the dry season were the result of an increased rate of biting and were reflected in liveweight change but not milk yield.

Notes: The vegetation of an upland deep peat soil consisting mainly of Festuca rubra, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Juncus acutiflorus and Potentilla erecta was sprayed with 1·5 kg a.i. per ha glyphosate applied to separate plots at monthly intervals from April to August. In July of the following year, April and May applications showed no effect on sward composition while June, July and August treatments resulted in increasing proportions of mosses and bare ground. August spraying gave almost complete control of the indigenous species with the exception of F. rubra and mosses. The results are discussed in relation to the establishment of improved pastures in upland areas by surface seeding.

Notes: Two experiments were carried out to examine the nitrogenous changes occurring in herbage during harvesting and ensiling. In the first, ryegrass-clover was wilted rapidly in the laboratory (6 h) and in the field under good (48 h) and poor (48 h and 144 h) weather conditions. Protein breakdown and ammonia formation were negligible in herbage wilted rapidly and it was only when the crop was exposed to a prolonged wilt in humid conditions that appreciable proteolysis occurred. In the second experiment ryegrass-clover was ensiled in laboratory silos after treatment with varying levels of formic and sulphuric acids. An additional treatment included herbage inoculated with a mixture of lactic acid bacteria and glucose. The silos were opened after 4 and 50 d and samples were analysed for protein-N, ammonia-N, water-soluble carbohydrates and organic acids. There was a high negative correlation between level of addition of either acid and the degree of proteolysis and deamination. Even at the highest levels of formic acid (7·7 g per kg) and sulphuric acid (4·0 g per kg) additions, however, about 45% of the original herbage protein was degraded after 50 d in the silo. The inoculum treatment was also effective in reducing proteolysis, the effect after 50 d being comparable with formic acid applied at a rate of 4·1 g per kg.

Notes: Book review in this article U.S.-Canadian Range Management, 1935–1977: A Selected Bibliography on Ranges, Pastures, Wildlife, Livestock, and Ranching Compiled by J. F. Vallentine Oryx Press Grasses, Sedges and Rushes in Colour By M. Skytte Christiansen Translated by G. Harty.

Notes: Grass and maize silages were fed alone and with two levels of a barley supplement to Friesian steers of about 300 kg liveweight. The organic matter (OM) intakes of grass and maize silage were similar although the OM digestibilities of the silages were 0·722 and 0·649 respectively. For both silages, barley supplementation increased total OM intake and total digestible OM intake by 0·46·0·08 and 0·37·0·06 g per g OM of supplement respectively. Liveweight gains on grass and maize silage diets were 1·38 and 1·20 kg d-1 respectively, but the differences were not significant (P〉 0·05).

Notes: An apparatus in which shoot and root CO2 exchange and acetylene reduction can be simultaneously measured in specific white cloverrhizobium associations is described. In mature stolonating clover there was a fairly constant ratio between net photosynthesis, root respiration and acetylene reduction. Of the net carbon fixed daily (12 h light of 80 W m-2, 400–700 nm; day/night temperature 15°C) 12% was lost during the dark period by the shoot and 17% by the nodulated root. Changes in the rate of acetylene reduction by nodulated root systems occurred more slowly than those in rates of root respiration in response to reduced irradiance. In 21·5 h continuous darkness the rate of acetylene reduction remained constant. Responses to increased irradiance were more immediate in both root respiration and acetylene reduction. In plants maintained at 15°C in a 12-h, 80-W m-2 photoperiod there was no significant diurnal variation in acetylene reduction or root respiration. Acetylene depressed root respiration by 20%. Assuming the energy requirement of the nitrogenase system to be the same when reducing acetylene and N the depression can be used as an indication of the energy requirement of fixed N assimilation, metabolism and export in the nodulated root. Of the net carbon fixed daily 3·4% was utilized in this way in plants growing in a 12-h photoperiod (80 W m-2, 400–700 nm) at 15°C.

Notes: Book review in this article Measurement of Grassland Vegetation and Animal Production Edited by L.'t Mannetje

Notes: Sixty-four samples were used to measure the accuracy of in vitro techniques using rumen fluid-pepsin or pepsin-cellulase for predicting digestibility of grasses grown with different levels of fertilizer calcium(Ca), sulphur(S), phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). In each case, fertilizers changed in vivo dry matter digestibility (DMD) and the in vitro techniques accurately predicted the changes in in vivo DMD caused by fertilizer Ca, P and N. The in vitro techniques gave biased estimates of in vivo DMD in studies with fertilizer S. This bias was caused by a decrease in the digestive efficiency of the sheep when fed the unfertilized feed. It was concluded that biased estimates of DMD may be associated with low fertilizer levels and these cannot be eliminated by improving the in vitro techniques and would also apply to estimates of DMD based on chemical analysis of the feed.

Notes: A sampling procedure for estimating herbage intake by the ‘Difference’ method over short grazing periods using an electrically powered sheep-shearing head to cut long narrow sample strips, was compared with several indirect animal techniques on single-variety grass swards. The method provided intake estimates in good general agreement with those obtained by animal methods but discrepancies arose when used on a semi-prostrate variety due, probably, to incomplete recovery of sampled herbage cut from post-grazing residues.It was concluded that the method might be usefully adopted for the preliminary assessment of the intake characteristics of herbage varieties in routine evaluation programmes, provided that care is taken to ensure the efficient collection of herbage sampled post-grazing and that a reduction in the land requirement can be achieved without undue loss of accuracy or precision. Confirmation of results should be sought using animal methods when possible.

Notes: Three experiments were carried out in boxes to determine the response of L. perenne seedlings to competition from P. trivialis seedlings at different densities and ages and when the proportions of the two species were varied according to the replacement principle. Tiller numbers per plant were significantly reduced by P. trivialis at densities commonly found in the field. Prior establishment of P. trivialis caused disproportionate damage to L perenne tillering and the early removal of such plants resulted in yield benefits to L. perenne. When sown together, P. trivialis was shown to be competitive towards L. perenne during the first 4 weeks of establishment but during the next 4 weeks, although competition was still occurring between the two species to the detriment of Poa, relative productivity (but not total productivity) was marginally greater in the mixture. The need for early herbicide treatment to prevent interspecific competition between graminaceous species during establishment is discussed.

Notes: The effect of level of removal of current season's shoots of heather (0,40 and 80% of the dry matter of the shoots) in the summer and autumn on the intake and diet selection by grazing Scottish Blackface wether sheep was examined in an experiment conducted over two years in which all combinations of level and season of grazing were provided. The treatment plots were grazed for 5 weeks at any one time and measurements made of intake and diet selection in weeks 2 and 5.In both the summer and autumn grazing periods level of removal in week 2 had little effect on the quality of the diet selected. In week 5, digestibility of organic matter was higher for the 40% than the 80% level of removal in the summer (0·543 vs 0·508) and particularly in the autumn (0·503 vs 0·449). Digestibility of the diet selected was higher in week 2 than in week 5 in both the summer (0·555 vs 0·525) and in the autumn (0·511 vs 0·476). Mechanisms of diet selection are discussed.In the summer grazing period only small differences existed in intake of organic matter between levels of removal but in the autumn intakes were higher at the 40% than the 80% level of removal. In a clipping experiment in which 0, 40 or 80% of the length of current season's shoots was removed in May, July and September in 3 consecutive years the nitrogen content of clippings in May and July was higher and the cell wall constituent lower at the 40% level in comparison to the 80% level of removal. Higher levels of removal at the previous clipping increased the nitrogen content of the clippings in May, July and September and reduced the cell wall constituent content in September.

Notes: Dates of initiation of reproductive development and of ear emergence were determined for four cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) representing a range in maturity from early to late in a single trial in 1977. The influence of climatic factors upon the reproductive development was investigated and it was found that, while day-length largely influenced the dates of initiation, subsequent growth and development towards ear emergence was influenced mainly by temperature. The data indicated that cultivars may have similar requirements in terms of accumulated temperature between the physiological growth stage of initiation and the agronomically significant growth stage of ear emergence. The possibility of achieving greater accuracy in forecasting ear emergence dates by relating meteorological data to the physiological development of the individual cultivars is suggested.

Notes: Book review in this article Principles of Herbage Seed Production Technical Bulletin No. 1, Welsh Plant Breeding Station. 2nd edition. Revised by E. W. Bean. Environmental Role of Nitrogen-fixing Blue-green Algae and Asymbiotic Bacteria Edited by U. Granhall. Ecological Bulletin No. 26, Swedish Natural, Science Research Council Production Ecology of British Moors and Montane Grasslands Edited by O. W. Heal and D. F. Perkins, assisted by W. M. Brown. Food Production Systems Course T273. A Technology Second Level Course.

Notes: The parameters used to assess the performances of soil surface and sub-surface bands of chlorfenvinphos, chlormephos, diazinon, and fonofos granules against the cabbage root fly (Delia brassicae (Wiedemann)) in field trials at five sites in different parts of England in 1971 were: the root damage indices (RDIs) 4–5 weeks after transplanting and at harvest, the numbers of eggs, larvae and pupae per plant, the marketable yield and the percentage of plants with marketable curds. When the treatments were ranked for each parameter, the numbers of eggs or of larvae and pupae were no more informative than the RDIs 4–5 weeks after treatment or at harvest. Ranking also indicated that the percentages of plants yielding marketable curds, which could be determined without harvesting, revealed the relative effects of the treatments on yield as satisfactorily as the weights of the curds or the calculated numbers of crates per hectare.When the data for all parameters were summarised by ranking, the sub-surface applications of chlormephos, chlorfenvinphos and fonofos were consistently the most effective treatments. Surface bands of chlormephos or diazinon granules were ineffective or, at some sites, enhanced root damage.