Seed of 2 cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and 1 burr medic (Medicago polymorpha) with increasing phosphorus (P) concentrations (wheat 1.4-3.7 g P/kg dry matter, medic 3.3-7.9 g P/kg dry matter) were collected from field experiments with variable levels of applied superphosphate (wheat 0- 577 kg P/ha, medic 0-364 kg P/ha) in south-western Australia. These seeds were used in further experiments to examine the effect of seed P concentration on the subsequent dry matter (DM) production of seedlings and plants in 3 glasshouse pot experiments and 1 field experiment. Seed of the same size (wheat, 35 mg/seed; medic, 3.6 mg/seed) but with increasing P concentration produced substantially higher DM yields in the absence or presence of freshly applied superphosphate P up to 28-35 days after sowing in the pot experiments and 67 days after sowing in the field experiment.

Grazing hay fields (meadows) by beef cattle (Bos taurus L.) during portions of the year when hay traditionally is fed to the beef herd in the northeastern USA as a partial alternative to harvested hay, was examined in regard to yield and quality of forage produced. Four management systems were compared: (i) early spring grazing, one hay cutting, and late fall grazing (GHG), (ii) two cuttings of hay (HH), (iii) early spring grazing and two cuttings of hay (GHH), and (iv) one hay cutting and late fall grazing (HG), applied to tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) (TF) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) (OG) meadows. Early spring grazing decreased and late fall grazing increased total annual herbage dry matter yield over that produced by HH. Spring yields did not differ between forage species; however, fall and total annual dry matter yields tended to be greater for TF than for OG (3150 vs. 2540 lb/acre for the fall and 7300 vs. 6540 for the total). Based on lower fiber and greater crude protein (CP) concentrations, and higher in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), the quality of the first cutting (spring) hay was greater from meadows grazed early in the spring than for meadows ungrazed in the spring. Management of meadows in the fall did not influence the chemical composition of spring‐grazed forage. Except for decreased CP levels, tall fescue consistently maintained higher quality than OG for both the aftermath hay harvest and forage accumulated for fall grazing. Metabolizable energy intake also was greater for the cattle grazing TF in the fall than for those grazing OG.

Our results provide initial evidence on the validity and reliability of the ORSIM bronchoscopy simulator, supporting its potential value in training and assessment.

Four rumen fistulated wether and beef steers were used to evaluate differences in dry matter digestibility (DMD) between cattle and sheep. They were fed either perennial ryegrass or switchgrass hay at an ad libitum or restricted level for four experimental periods. Significant ruminant species X forage and ruminant species X level of intake (P less than .05) interactions were observed for digestible dry matter. The steers digested the switchgrass 7 percentage units greater than the wethers while ryegrass was digested equally. Digestibility differences between the steers and wethers were 6 percentage units at the ad libitum level of intake and 1 unit at the restricted level of intake. Crude protein digestibility tended to be greater (P less than .10) for sheep with a 7 unit difference for switchgrass and a 3 unit difference for ryegrass. The mean ruminal solids retention time of the digesta was approximately (P less than .01) 50% greater (26.0 vs 17.4 h) in cattle, with no difference in ruminal liquid dilution rate (LD) between animal species. Total ruminal volatile fatty acid concentration differed (P less than .01) with level of intake; however, no influence due to intake on the molar proportion of acetate (P greater than .10) or propionate (P greater than .10) was evident in spite of a difference (P less than .01) in LD. Rumen pH (P less than .05) and osmolality (P less than .01) were affected by both level of intake and forage, with the ryegrass and high level of intake decreasing pH and increasing osmolality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Prior to the development of the Diavik Diamonds Project, baseline studies were conducted to determine the geochemical characteristics of four kimberlite orebodies as an aid in the design of both the water-management system and the facilities for containment of processed kimberlite and ore stockpiles. Materials tested included field samples of volcaniclastic and pyroclastic kimberlite, processed kimberlite (i.e., kimberlite ore which had been screened and washed as part of the processing procedure), and sedimentary mudstone (a minor xenolithic unit which was assimilated during kimberlite emplacement). Approximately 200 samples of kimberlite materials were collected as part of the geochemistry program. Test-work included whole-rock chemical analyses, acidbase accounting, kinetic leach tests using columns, and mineralogical analyses.Diavik kimberlite has major oxide and trace-element concentrations consistent with global averages for kimberlite. The mean total-sulfur content of the kimberlite material is 0.22 wt% S, but with a significant range. The kimberlite has an excess of carbonate minerals over sulfide minerals (average CO2 = 4 wt%, present mainly as calcite), and has a mean neutralization potential of 311 kg CaCO3 equivalent/tonne. A reactive form of framboidal pyrite associated specifically with the mudstone xenoliths is the primary source of sulfide-sulfur. Long-term kinetic tests confirmed the preliminary interpretations that were made from the static-test results. Kimberlite and processed kimberlite are net acid-consuming materials that produce alkaline drainages and have low but detectable leaching rates for SO4 and specific trace metals such as Al, Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn. If segregated from the kimberlite, mudstone xenoliths are acid-generating (pH = 3) and produce an effluent with elevated concentrations of SO4, Fe, Al, Cu, Ni, and Zn. The study demonstrates that xenolithic units in Diavik kimberlites have an important effect on the environmental geochemistry of the ore rock. The mineralogy and aqueous geochemistry of the kimberlite materials are such that they may not be suitable for general earthworks or as an alkaline agent and should report to an engineered facility to protect site water quality.