Improving fertiliser management: redefining the relationship between soil tests and crop responses for wheat in WA

Most soils in Western Australia (WA) are highly weathered with very low levels of phosphorus. WA soils initially contained adequate indigenous soil potassium for cropping but removal of potassium over time in harvested grain has gradually resulted in the some soils becoming potassium-deficient for grain production. Fertiliser costs represent a significant part of the variable costs of growing crops in WA. Chen et al. (2009) identified the need for updated soil test interpretations due to substantial changes in farming systems, fertiliser practices and crop yield potential. The aims of this study were (1) to compile experimental data containing the standard soil test measurements and observed wheat crop yield responses for both nil and fertilised treatments across different soil types and seasons from published or unpublished sources, and (2) to critically analyse soil test-crop response relationships to derive better critical soil test values in soils and environments suitable for wheat grain production in WA

Cardiovascular effects of calcium supplementation

Peer reviewedPostprin

Calcium supplements with or without vitamin D and risk of cardiovascular events : reanalysis of the Women's Health Initiative limited access dataset and meta-analysis

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

New Data to the Knowledge on the Corticolous Mite Fauna in Hungary (Acari: Prostimata, Astigmata, Oribatida)

Authors give a report on the results of the regular collections made between 1990 and 1998 on ornamental trees and shrubs,on streets, in parks, in green spaces of housing estates, in private gardens and in arboreta. A total of 19 corticolous mite species were found belonging to 14 families.Michaelopus corticalis (Michael,1885), Hericia hericia Robin,1868, Eupalopsis maseriensis (Canestrini et Fanzago, 1876), Mediolata vandergeesti (Gomaa et Bolland,1982), Cunaxoides kielczewskii Michocka, 1982, and Neophyllobius spec.nov. are reported for the first time for the Hungarian fauna. Hemisarcoptes budensis Fain et Ripka, 1998, M.corticalis and Cheletogenes ornatus (Canestrini et Fanzago,1876) were the most frequent species in the acarofauna associated with scale insects

Effect of calcium supplements on risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular events : meta-analysis

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Calcium supplements and cancer risk : a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Effect of soil P supply on the early growth and nodulation of lupins.

Trial 89GL33 Location: Glasshouse University of Western Australia. Four seeds were sown at 2.5 cm depth in pots containing 4.5 kg of steam sterilized soil treated with the following basal nutrients (mg/kg soil) : K2SO4, 121.7; MgSO4.7H20, 17.5: CaCl2, 21; FE sequestraene, 7.2; H3BO3, 0.5; MnSO4, 10.8; ZnSO4, 7H20, 7.5; CuSO4, 5H20, 5.3; Na2Mo04.2H20, 0.27; CoSO4.7H2O, 0.07

Win, win, win: Low cost baffle fish pass provides improved passage efficiency, reduced passage time and broadened passage flows over a low-head weir

The number of low-head barriers to fish migration far outweighs the number of large magnitude barriers and thus the cumulative negative impact on fish communities could also be far greater. Removal of man-made obstructions to fish migration is the most beneficial mitigation measure for reconnecting fragmented rivers but is not always possible and thus fish passes must be constructed. Given the large number of low-head barriers, cheap but effective fish passes must be identified. This study measured passage of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) at a low-head gauging weir on Eshton Beck, England, before and after low cost baffle (LCB) fish pass construction using passive integrated transponder (PIT) telemetry. The LCB fish pass significantly improved overall passage efficiency from a maximum of 64% to 91%. There was a significant decrease in delay at the obstruction after the LCB fish pass was constructed and fish passed on a greater range of flows (0.08 – 5.39 m3s-1) in comparison to before (0.56 - 1.92 m3s-1). Fish ascended the fish pass through the low velocity channel (gaps in the baffles) as well as over the baffles, though a higher proportion were detected ascending over baffles at higher flows. It was therefore concluded that similar low-head structures should incorporate this style of fish pass to improve longitudinal connectivity for brown trout and other species with similar passage capabilities

Efficiency of a nature-like bypass channel for restoring longitudinal connectivity for a river-resident population of brown trout

Man-made, physical barriers have disrupted longitudinal connectivity for migratory fish in many river systems throughout the world for centuries. These barriers are considered to be a key reason for the decline of many fish species in river systems. To date, most research to ease movement of anadromous salmonids past such barriers to help dwindling populations has focused on the use of technical fishways. More recently emphasis has been placed on nature-like fishways to enable a wider range of fish species to bypass these barriers, but few studies have examined their efficacy. In this study, Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) telemetry was used to assess the upstream-directed movements of 111 river-resident brown trout (length, 151–510-mm) into and through a 150-m long, nature-like bypass on the River Aire, England. Attraction (51%), entrance (86%), passage (78%) and exit (97%) efficiencies were high, and trout of a wide range of sizes entered and exited (197–510 mm) the pass across a wide range of flows (entrance = 3.55–67.44 m 3 s −1 and exit = 3.89–35.5 m 3 s −1 ). There was evidence that two trout inhabited the pass during the day, entering at sunrise and exiting at sunset. This information is important to improve understanding of fish pass performance, thus informing future best practice guidance of fish passage designs

Wheat and barley experiments on the Kumarl soils at Salmon Gums

The water-holding capacity of these soils, and their location in a low rainfall area combine to make them marginal for producing grain. In contrast to sowing wheat on ley pasture, mechanically fallowing the year before planting markedly improved grain yields by 1.3 to 4 times