Two dryland wheat crops were grown in 1977 and 1978 following each of 18 cereal, oilseed, or grain legume crops grown in 1976 on a black earth soil on the Darling Downs of Queensland. Combined grain yields of the two crops following the grain legumes fieldpea, lathyrus, lentil and lupin cv. Ultra were higher (P< 0.05) than those following all cereal and oilseed crops except canary seed, safflower and rapeseed cv. Torch. Urea (0-90 kg/ha N), applied to wheat in 1977 on a site adjacent to the crop comparison experiment, had little effect on grain yield in that year. However, in 1978, wheat responded to residues of these applications up to the 50 kg/ha N rate. Variation in wheat yields following the 18 crops appeared to be related to nitrogen (N) supply. The quantity of N assimilated into wheat grain was directly related to the quantity of soil mineral N to a depth of 1.2 m when the 1977 crop was planted. This varied from 37 kg/ha N after oats to 160 kg/ha N after lathyrus. Efficiency of recovery of soil mineral N by the 1977 wheat crop was very low, due probably to the unavailability of N in top soil during the dry winter. Poor availability of N in the top soil was also the most likely cause of a similarly low recovery of fertiliser N applied to the 1977 wheat crop. There was a better apparent recovery of N by the second wheat crop; soil mineral N levels for all treatments had declined to between 17 and 28 kg/ha N after crop harvest. In spite of a low overall efficiency of N uptake by wheat in 1977, more N was assimilated into the grain following legumes (27-39 kg/ha) than following cereals (1 6-2 1 kg/ha), even when fertilised with up to 90 kg/ha N (19 kg/ha). The presence of mineral N in subsoil layers (0.3-0.9 m) following legumes was considered responsible for relatively high grain yields and N uptakes of the following wheat crop in this season of limited growing-season rainfall. Protein concentration of wheat grain was generally higher following grain legumes than following all cereals or oilseeds except safflower. Grain protein concentration was increased by the application of N fertiliser, but fertilised wheat in 1977 generally showed a lower protein content than wheat following grain legumes. However, the second wheat crop following most legumes (except lathyrus) showed a protein content similar to the second wheat crop following N fertiliser application.

Available soil mineral nitrogen (N) was determined in a Darling Downs clay at intervals of 4-6 weeks throughout summer and autumn after harvest of two cereals (wheat and oats), two oilseeds (rapeseed and linseed), and four grain legumes (chickpea, fieldpea, lupin and lathyrus). Soil mineral N (0-1.2 m) at 40,68, 107, 150 and 185 days after harvest was affected (P < 0.05) by the prior crop. At 40 days it was generally higher following grain legumes (34-76 kg/ha N) than following oilseeds or cereals (16-30 kg/ha N). Net increase during the next 145 days was in the order of cereals (2 1-27 kg/ha N) < oilseeds (40 kg/ha N) <grain legumes (53-85 kg/ha N). These differences are partly accounted for by differences in the quantities of N removed in the grain of these crops. However, a large quantity of mineral N accumulated following lupin even though a large quantity (80 kg/ha) was removed in the grain.

Performances of 18 winter cereal, grain legume and oilseed crops were compared on the Darling Downs in 1976 using cultural practices appropriate for each. All crops, except for faba bean, which had a lower population than desired, established satisfactorily. The season was characterised by twice the average number (55) of heavy frosts, although only safflower appeared to be adversely affected. Heavy rain around maturity caused lodging of the prostrate crops lathyrus and field pea, some pod shattering of most grain legumes, and delays in machine-harvest, due to waterlogging, of almost all crops. Barley and canary seed were affected by powdery mildew during August and early September but recovered after rain in mid-September. Later rainfall promoted the diseases Alternaria carthami in safflower and Puccinia sp. in vetch, reducing grain yields in both crops. Except for chickpea, all grain legumes nodulated effectively. Lathyrus produced more larger ( >3 mm diameter) nodules than any other grain legume while lentil and vetch had many small (<2 mm) nodules. At floral initiation, more herbage DM was produced by triticale and oats than all other crops except barley and fieldpea. The most productive grain legumes were fieldpea, lathyrus and lentil. All oilseeds produced similar quantities of herbage DM, which were greater than those for grain legumes but less than those for cereals. Nitrogen concentration in herbage increased in the order: cereals < oilseeds <grain legumes. Machine-harvested grain yields of cereals were generally higher than those of oilseeds or grain legumes but delayed harvest caused large grain losses for many oilseeds and grain legumes. Pod shattering and crop lodging caused large yield losses in rapeseed and field peas, respectively. Lupins (cv. Ultra) produced more harvestable grain (1.6 t/ha) than any other grain legume, rapeseed, safflower or canary seed. An even higher grain yield (3.9 t/ha) was measured at a nearby site on an acid soil. Of the other grain legumes, lentil and lathyrus appear to be poorly adapted for this region while faba bean and vetch appear moderately well suited.

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Purpose: There is a demand of international students from Malaysia studying medicine in Ireland. Malaysian medical students must develop communication skills in Malay Language as part of their preparation for internship. A Malay Language exam is mandatory before application is made. This study examined an insight of students' attitudes and awareness toward teaching and participation in a formal Malay Language Class (MLC). Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken in December 2019 at a medical school in Ireland. This involved the use of an anonymous survey to gain information on career goals, prior learning exposure, perceived area of interest and confidence in an MLC. Results: A total of 40 students responded to the survey. The analysis described low perceived confidence in communication skills in Malay Language and most respondents demonstrated an interest in participating MLC with different motives. Conclusions: The study suggests that Irish medical schools should prepare students future career by considering an effective communication skills program contextualised to their need.