Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

The Naturalised And Cultivated Annual Medics Of Western Australia, B J. Quinlivan

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

IT is not many years since the term pasture improvement in Western Australia was synonymous with one species only, subterranean clover.

The amazing adaptability of this species to the environment enabled it to be grown in a wide range of rainfall conditions and in many different districts.

Wheat Quality Surveys In Western Australia. 2. Variation Between Seasons And Localities In The Production Of High And Low Protein Wheat, J A. Parish

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

Although the protein content of West Australian f.a.q. wheat averages only 9.4 per cent., often substantial amounts of comparatively high protein wheat are contained in this mixture.

However the quantity varies widely from year to year and is obtained from widely scattered areas of the wheatbelt.

Insect Pests Of Cotton In The Ord River Irrigation Area, K T. Richards

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

COTTON is grown in the Ord Valley of north Western Australia, mainly as an annual, irrigated crop during the hot summer months of the "wet season".

It is usually planted in November-December and harvested March-May.

This period of growth corresponds closely to that of maximum insect activity.

Lucerne Establishment On The West Midland Sandplain, J W. Gartrell

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

WEST of Dandaragan and the Midland line from Watheroo to Mingenew there are four million acres of scrubplain commonly called the Western Sandplain.

All virgin soils in this region are acutely nitrogen deficient so that the agricultural future of the region depends on how successfully legumes are grown.

A Chemical For Doublegee, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

DURING the past two years, finance has been made available from the State Wheat Research Fund for an intensive study on doublegee.

A newly-developed herbicide has been shown to give complete control of growing plants, while ecological studies have started to yield valuable information about seed behaviour.

Linseed Growing In The Ord River Valley, D F. Beech

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

Experimental work with linseed at the Kimberley Research Station began in 1952 and has been intensified in the last four years.

Fertiliser requirements and methods of land preparation, sowing, irrigation and weed control have been established.

Suitable varieties have been selected. Farm-scale crops have been grown in the area and, although cotton is very much more remunerative as an establishment crop, it is expected that linseed will ultimately have a place in the Ord irrigation scheme.

The Doublegee, G R W Meadly

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

DOUBLEGEE, like a number of other major weeds, is native to South Africa. It was introduced to Western Australia during the first years of settlement.

There is no more troublesome weed in Western Australia than doublegee. It competes strongly with crop and pasture and its spiny fruits penetrate the hoofs of stock, causing lameness.

Bare Patch And Poor Emergence Of Cereals. 4. Quality Of The Seed, S C. Chambers

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

The importance of using fresh good quality grain for sowing wheat crops was emphasised by results obtained in recent plot trials.

Seedling emergence was less for broken, pinched and small types of seed than for large grain and was further reduced with ageing of the seed.

A Progress Report On Commercial Cotton Growing On The Ord River Project, William John Toms

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

The recommendations given in this article have been built up from the experience of the author in growing 200 acres of cotton in the Ord River area during the 1962-63 season for the Department of Agriculture, from findings made by Kimberley Research Station, and from discussions with the present farmers in the area.

When a new form of agriculture is introduced into a new area techniques and ideas change rapidly as farmers become acquainted with their new environment and the new crops. The recommendations will therefore require constant revision.

Deep Sowing Of Wheat : The Effect On Root Systems, S C. Chambers

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

DEEP sowing appears to be an important cause of poor emergence in wheat and care should be taken to seed at the recommended depth of 1 to 1J inches.

Nevertheless some growers in drought liable areas, persist in sowing at 2 to 3 inches in the belief that it will encourage a deep root system.

Take-All Of Wheat On The Esperance Downs, S C. Chambers

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

THE agricultural development of the Esperance Downs was reviewed recently by Shier, Dunne and Fitzpatrick (1963) who indicated the great potential of this region.

They described the establishment of clover ley pastures capable of supporting heavy stocking rates. Crops of oats or linseed also give excellent returns.

Weed-free rotations which include linseed, oats or vetches may reduce wheat losses caused by take-all on the Esperance Downs.

Hard Seeds In Lupins, B J. Quinlivan

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

A study of hard seeds in the W.A. blue lupin is yielding some interesting facts about this important survival mechanism of pasture plants.

The knowledge gained will be useful in future pasture plant breeding projects.

SOME interesting facts on hard seeds in lupins have come from experiments commenced several years ago.

This article outlines the reasons for the experiments and the results with lupins so far.

Subsequent articles will cover subterranean clover and techniques for softening hard seeds in both species before planting.

The Effects Of Irradiating Dormant Maize Seeds With Xrays And Thermal Neutrons, Rosalind Morris, E. F. Frolik

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

In 1951 a research program was started at the University of Nebraska to compare the developmental effects of thermal neutrons and X rays on different crop seeds. Three crops, barley, tomato and maize, were chosen for additional information involving induced chromosomal aberrations and seedling mutations. The maize investigations are presented in this bulletin, along with a comparison among the three crops with respect to irradiation effects.

The Use Of Nitrogenous Fertilisers For Cereal Grain Production In Western Australia, William John Toms, G. H. Burvill

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

NITROGENOUS fertilisers have so far been little used in Western Australia for wheat, oats and barley grown for grain.

However, profitable results can follow their use under some conditions. Farmers who have seen field experiments are now interested in the use of nitrogenous fertilisers.Further interest will be stimulated by recent reductions in price.

This article answers common questions asked by farmers about nitrogenous fertilisers for cereals. It is based on over 100 experiments conducted by the Department of Agriculture during the past 30 years.

Microorganisms And Soil Structure, T. M. Mccalla, F. A. Haskins

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

SUMMARY

Good stable soil structure is valuable for promoting the growth of plants and micro-organisms by permitting enhanced aeration and water penetration and by decreasing erosion under some conditions.

Micro-organisms influence water percolation through the soil. They may plug up soil pores with byproducts of growth and reduce water percolation. On the other hand, if a soil containing a large amount of microbial products is stirred and allowed to dry, then the percolation may be high.

Micro-organisms are involved in stabilizing soil structure by their products of decomposition and their cellular binding material, such as mycelia. Microorganisms differ greatly in …

Pensternon In Your Garden, Glenn Viehmeyer

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

A new race of hardy perennials is beginning to appear in American gardens. These are the penstemons, a genus of plants closely related to the familiar snapdragon, which may become important ornamentals as they become better known to gardeners. The purpose of this bulletin is to show the possibility of the genus as an ornamental and to suggest species and species hybrids of possible value to Great Plains gardeners; to provide information about propagation and culture; and to encourage gardeners to engage in penstemon breeding as an avocation.

The Significance Of Xenia Effects On The Kernel Weight Of Corn, T. A. Kiesselbach

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

The purpose of this paper is to appraise the xenia effects of the pollen parent on the kernel weight of corn (Zea mays L.), and to interpret so far as possible their genetic, physiologic and applied significance. The conclusions will be based on local experiments and a review of the literature.

Safflower : An Oil Crop For The Kimberleys, D F. Beech

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

EXPERIMENTS with irrigated safflower carried out at the Kimberley Research Station have shown that the crop is well adapted to the local conditions.

In recent years yields of 2,000 to 3,000 lb. per acre have been generally obtained. Oil content of the main variety under trial varied between 33 and 35 per cent.

Locally produced safflower oil could help to make the Australian paint industry largely independent of imports.

Safflower meal is a protein-rich concentrate and could have considerable impact on the Kimberley cattle industry.

Safflower is likely to play an important part in the early development of irrigation agriculture …

Tobacco Production In Western Australia, A E. Baker

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

THE annual consumption of manufactured tobacco in Australia is in the vicinity of 55,000,000 pounds.

Although the public is well acquainted with the use of tobacco for smoking, many people are unaware of the care and attention required to grow such a crop.

The following article attempts to outline the conditions and methods as applied to tobacco production in Western Australia.

Tobacco Seed-Bed Management, A E. Baker

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

A SUCCESSFUL tobacco crop depends initially on an ample supply of well-grown, disease-free seedlings available early in the planting season.

If planting is held up due to a poor supply of seedlings, the resulting crop will not be grown in the most favourable part of the season. Late-grown crops nearly always give low returns.

The Geraldton Strain Of Subterranean Clover, A J. Millington

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

THE cereal-growing areas of Western Australia form a narrow triangle extending about 700 miles from north to south, gradually increasing in width towards the south to about 150 miles.

Cationic Activities And The Exchange Phenomena Of Plant Roots: Relationship To Practical Problems Of Nutrient Uptake, E. O. Mclean, D. Adams, F. E. Baker

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Thermal-Neutron Irradiation Of Maize And Barley Kernels, John W. Schmidt, E. F. Frolik

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

It is the purpose of this paper to report the effects of thermal-neutron irradiation of maize and barley kernels on subsequent germination, plant establishment, and early plant development. Comparisons are made with equivalent neutron treatments of maize pollen, results of which have been reported in part in previous publications.

Progressive Development And Seasonal Variations Of The Corn Crop, T. A. Kiesselbach

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

The chief purpose of these studies has been to determine the normal growth changes that occur in the corn plant at successive intervals when growing in the field, and to observe annual yield variations in relation to prevailing weather conditions. Aside from supplying information regarding the physiology of this crop, the data are of interest to the corn grower because they indicate comparative yields, shelling percentages, moisture contents, and feed constituents at various stages of development. Some data also are presented concerning the effects of frost, drouth, day length, and the economic value of tillers and seminal roots.

Microorganisms And Soil Structure, T. M. Mccalla

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

SUMMARY

Laboratory tests were made to determine the effectiveness of different compounds and microbial groups in increasing the stability of Peorian loess lumps against the action of falling water drops. The influence of these on percolation tests in the laboratory was also determined.

Many organic substances-dextrose, sucrose, starch, peptone, cullulose, and gum arabic-did not themselves contribute directly to soil-structure stability, though these substances do furnish energy material for soil microorganisms, which can convert them readily into either microbial tissue or decomposition products that increase soil-structure stability. Lignin, proteins, oils, fats, waxes, resin, and paraffin increased the stability of lumps of …

Pollination Cycles And Pollen Dispersal In Relation To Grass Improvement, Melvin D. Jones, L. C. Newell

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

The plant breeder is initially concerned with gaining a knowledge of the breeding behavior of his plant materials in order that improvement may be undertaken effectively. It is important to know the different characteristic pollination habits of these plants. To develop and apply techniques applicable to the improvement of a given grass crop, it is desirable to know the time of day and the number of days that the grass sheds pollen. The effects of temperature, humidity, light, and wind on pollination must be considered. Once superiority of germplasm is obtained, the most important consideration is the maintenance of this …

The Genetics Congress, R. A. Emerson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Mice and men reported from

Edinburgh after the Congress

(JOURNAL OF HEREDITY for

September 1939) but since then there

has been silence, as far as getting into the

record any details of the Congress. On

account of the disruption to trans-Atlantic

travel caused by the declaration of

war between England and Germany,

September 3, the American delegation to

the Congress was considerably delayed

in getting back. Only two failed ultimately

to return, Dr. and Mrs. F. W.

Tinney of the Division of Farm Crops

of the University of Wisconsin. They

were among about a dozen members of

the Congress who …

A Zygotic Lethal In Chromosome 1 Of Maize And Its Linkage With Neighboring Genes, R. A. Emerson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

A Bolivian maize

maize with mosaic red pericarp and cob, here designated by the symbol M-M, crossed with a local inbred strain of maize having white pericarp and cob, W-W, produced in F₁ 21 M-M and 28

W-W plants, not far from the I : I relation expected on the assumption that

the M-M parent was heterozygous for pericarp and cob color, M-M/W-W.

In F₂ and segregating F₃ cultures, however, there were 130 M-M and 64

W-W plants obviously a 2 : I instead of the 3 : I relation expected. Later cultures

increased these records to …

Relation Of The Differential Fertilization Genes, Ga Ga, To Certain Other Genes Of The Su-Tu Linkage Group Of Maize, R. A. Emerson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The Ga, or “gamete” gene of maize can be studied only or principally by its disturbance of normal Mendelian ratios of contrasted characters differentiated by genes linked with it. The amount of this disturbance can be used as a measure of the intensity of linkage between Ga and other genes of the su-Tu group.

Disturbance of the 3:1 ratio of starchy, Su, to sugary, su, endosperm has been most studied. In one of the early papers on Mendelian inheritance, Correns (1902) reported that, although crosses between most starchy and sugary varieties gave an F₂ ratio of …

The A Series Of Allelomorphs In Relation To Pigmentation In Maize, R. A. Emerson, E. G. Anderson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Introduction ... 503

The allelomorph A^b ... 504

The allelomorph a^p ... 505

Dominance ... 508

Summary ... 508

Literature Cited ... 509