Tillage Systems in the Establishment of Pastures in Argentinian Subhumid Area

The effect of three tillage systems on the number of plants produced and forage production of a pasture the first year of establishment was assessed in this experiment. The components of the pasture were alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb), orchard grass (Dactilys glomerata L), and prairie grass (Bromus unioloides). Treatments were three tillage systems: conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and direct sowing (DS). Sowing was performed with (NI) and without fertilizers (N0) in each treatment. A split-plot experimental design with two repetitions was used, with tillage being the main factor and the fertilization levels the secondary one. Results were subjected to ANOVA while means were compared by the Duncan Test Counts. These were conducted 90 days after sowing to determine the number of emerged alfalfa and grass seedlings. In November, before starting direct grazing, hand cut samples were taken to determine total biomass and also biomass production of each component of the pasture. Total stand plant and grass stand, was significantly affected (P \u3c 0.05) by the tillage factor. Forage production of both alfalfa and grass, and total production was higher with conventional tillage (CT) and differed significantly (P \u3c 0.05) from direct sowing (DS). The fertilizing effect and its interaction with the tillage factor was not statistically significant (P \u3c 0.05) for any of the components measured. Results indicate that direct sowing seems to condition grass plant stand and forage production of each of the pasture components in the year of establishment

Biomass Vertical Distribution in a Grazed Grassland Under Monoespecific and Mixed Grazing

Mixed grazing is defined as the use of the same forage resource for more than one herbivore species. It has been shown that different herbivore species have specific grazing modalities (Black and Kenney, 1984), which may differentially modify the structure of the pasture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomass vertical distribution in a sward with mixed grazing

Fabrication and Evaluation of Membranes as Specific Electrodes for Calcium ions

Membranes fabricated from an inert polyvinyl chloride matrix impregnated with tributyl phosphate and with tributyl phosphate plus thenoyl trifluoroacetone were tested as electrodes specific for calcium ions. Both types of membrane exhibited a high specificity for calcium ions in the presence of sodium, magnesium, and barium ions. In the presence of perturbing ions, the usefulness of membranes is limited by both the transport of current and development of potentials by the interfering ion. An experimental method for evaluating these interfering quantities is presented