Life Sciences Commons^™

Some Concepts In Rangeland Management, R B. Hacker

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The arid and semi-arid zones of Australia occupy about 75 per cent of the land mass. The pastoral industries are located within these zones and, although productivity per unit area is low, the region nevertheless constitutes one of the nation's valuable renewable resources.

If properly managed, such a resource may be maintained as a productive asset indefinitely.

The Effect Of Applied Nitrogen And Subterranean Clover On The Growth Of Doublegee, D J. Gilbey

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Until 20 years ago doublegees in Western Australia were mainly confined to the red-brown earth soils of the wheatbelt.

Since then, they have spread to light loamy sand soils in the wheatbelt, many of which have carried subterranean clover from the mid-1940s onwards.

It has been widely presumed that the spread of doublegees on to the lighter sandy soils of W.A. can be associated with the establishment of subterranean clover on these soils.

This report summarises the results of a glasshouse experiment on the effect of clover and nitrogen on the growth of doublegee.

Why New Land Farmers Need A Super Bounty, Edgar Noel Fitzpatrick

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Development of farming land in Western A ustralia's agricultural areas requires the application of large amounts of superphosphate. Since 1963, the Phosphate Fertiliser Bounty applied to superphosphate manufacture has ensured that this superphosphate has been available to farmers at reasonable cost and has helped to make new land development economically worth while.

Originally applied as an incentive to agricultural development, the bounty is now to be withdrawn and it is feared that the resulting increase in the cost of superphosphate will retard development of many West Australian farms and reduce many farm incomes to an unsatisfactory level.

These effects will …

Department Breeds New Oat Variety, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

XBVT 189, the new oat variety which will be released to selected growers for the 1975 planting, is the product of cross-breed ng, selection and testing work conducted by the plant breeding and crop testing groups of the Department of Agriculture's Wheat and Sheep Division.

Water Economy For Lawns And Gardens, K S. Cole

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Much of the summer water consumption occurs because it is widely believed that heavy summer watering is necessary. Householders often mistakenly water heavily to keep their gardens green and growing. Many may not realise that gardens can be kept vigorous and healthy with much less water than is commonly applied.

Samphire For Waterlogged Salt Land, C V. Malcolm, G. J. Cooper

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

For non-waterlogged and mildly waterlogged salt land a number of salt-tolerant shrubs may be used for forage production.

Areas which are highly saline and regularly waterlogged are not suited to these shrubs. However, during trials with shrub species, samphires (Arthrocnemum spp.) were found to volunteer and grow well on these sites.

Research into the use of samphires has shown that it is possible to harvest seed and obtain a seed sample suitable for sowing through a drill. Established samphire stands provide useful grazing in many parts of the Western Australian wheatbelt.

Multi-Use Of The Campus Environment In The Teaching Of Botany, Jewel E. Moore

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Use of the campus environment in the teaching program is described with special reference to the campus of University of Central Arkansas. Permanent labels identify the campus trees, many of which are representative of native Arkansas trees. A Daylily Display Bed and an Iris Display Bed, both composed of hybrid varieties, are included in the campus design. This organization of the flora of the campus provides a community service as well as an outdoor supplement to the classroom studies in plant science.

Variation In Ligule Spotting In Coreopsis Basalis, Edwin B. Smith

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The ligules of Coreopsis basalis bear an attractive reddish-brown spot at the base. The spot has been used as a taxonomic character of the species. But there is variation within populations at any one time, and within individuals at sequential times, for the size of the spot. A few individuals lack the ligule spot entirely. Variation in average ligule spot size in greenhouse-grown populations of C. basalis and an artificial hybrid is described. Average spot size declines as the blooming season progresses. Some individuals with spotted ligules early in the season bore spotless ligules late in the season. No correlation …

Residual Effects Of N-K Fertilization Of Coastal Bermudagrass On Spring Populations Of Weed Species, R. A. Allured, E. C. Gordon, R. E. Frans, Lyell F. Thompson

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

A "Coastal bermudagrass" (Cynodon dactylon L.) sod was treated during a five-year period with rates of N and K fertilizers ranging from none to high levels of both elements. In the spring of the sixth year differences in weed species and population densities among the treated plots were observed. Spring weed counts showed that high rates of N fertilizer reduced the number of weed species and the total broadleaf weed population density by 37 and 81%, respectively. The higher rates of K fertilizer also reduced the population density of common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber) and yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris Hill),the …

Vascular Plant Family Lauraceae In Arkansas, Gary E. Tucker

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The family Lauraceae is represented in Arkansas by a total of four species, members of the genera Lindera. Persea and Sassafras. Keys and distribution maps are provided. Lindera melissaefolium is reported from Arkansas for the first time.

Seed Germination In Ginkgo Biloba L. I. Influences Of Cold Treatment, Gibberellic Acid And Red Light, Michael I. Johnson, James L. Wickliff

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The influences of cold treatment, gibberellic acid and red light treatment on rate of germination of seeds of Ginkgo biloba L. were followed for a 12-wk period. Dispersal units were collected, and the outer fleshy layer was removed soon after harvest. Of water-imbibed, non-cold-treated seeds, 50% of those which germinated did so within 11 wk after planting. A single application of red light accelerated the 50% germination time by 3 wk. Imbibition in GA3 solution did not appear to accelerate germination. With 4-wk cold treatment the 50% germination time was accelerated 6 wk in water-imbibed seeds. Both red light and …

Mississippi Flora. I. Monocotyledon Families With Aquatic Or Wetland Species, Samuel B. Jones Jr.

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Keys, distribution maps, habitats, references, nomenclature, and notes are given for some 16 families of monocotyledons occurring naturally or naturalized in Mississippi. These families all contain one or more species which are found in aquatic or wetland habitats. They are: Alismataceae, Araceae, Cannaceae, Haemodoraceae, Hydrocharitaceae, Juncaginaceae, Lemnaceae, Marantaceae, Mayacaceae, Najadaceae, Pontederiaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Rug piaceae, Sparganiaceae, Typhaceae, Zannichelliaceae.

Annual ('Wimmera') Ryegrass Toxicity, Geoffrey A. Pearce, O. M. Goss, P. H. Berry, J. L. Wise

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Because annual ryegrass is one of the most widespread pasture plants in Western Australia, annual ryegrass toxicity is a threat to livestock in many agricultural areas—even though the area now affected is small.

The problem is being intensively studied by the Department of Agriculture and a working group has been set up to investigate potential control measures.

In this article the group reviews the problem and reports progress in its investigations to the end of 1973.

Forty Years Of Weeds And Seeds, G R W Meadly

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Chief of the Department of Agriculture's Biological Services Division, Mr G. R. W. Meadly, retired on November 12, after more than 40 years with the Department.

Mr Meadly who has an international reputation for his work in weed control and seed certification, was Officer-in-Charge of the Department's Seed Certification and Weed Control Branch from 1950 to early 1972, when he was appointed Chief of the Biological Services Division.

Skeleton Weed : The 1974 Narembeen Campaign, C R. Chambers

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Skeleton weed took an alarming, historic turn in Western Australia at the 1974 New Year.

After a decade of an almost complacent pattern—control of one or two small outbreaks annually by the Agriculture Protection Board— general alarm erupted with the discovery of big areas at Pithara and mainly Narembeen.

What followed was a massive movement and engagement of not only Department staff but also the farming community in an attempt to beat this outbreak.