School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences - Theses
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ItemSunraysia : a social survey of a dried fruits area(University of Melbourne, 1948)
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ItemNo Preview AvailablePerformance recording of beef cattle in Victoria and adjacent regions(University of Melbourne, 1968)This thesis comprises four chapters. Chapters 1, 2 and 3 report scientific investigations involving performance recording of beef cattle. Chapter 4 contains conclusions and recommendations based on the investigations described in the first 3 chapters. My responsibilities in the preparation of this thesis included a detailed review of the scientific literature on subject matter pertaining to performance recording of beef cattle. This is presented in chapter 1 and this entire chapter was my complete responsibility. Chapter 2 describes the beef cattle breeding industry and the records which were available for this study. I am responsible for the contents and preparation of this chapter. Chapter 3 includes the analysis and interpretation of the records used in this study. Dr. R. G. Beilharz assisted with the statistical analysis. Chapter 4, which includes conclusions and recommendations resulting from this investigation, was entirely my responsibility.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableThe use & control of plants in Victorian irrigation & drainage systems(University of Melbourne, 1967)An account is given of the use of plants by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria to stabilize soils in Victorian irrigation supply channel and drainage systems. Chemical methods of controlling the growth of plants that occur naturally and create problems are also described, together with the principles that are observed when developing these methods. The importance of control of plant growth to achieve maximum channel and drain capacities, while at the same time ensuring maximum soil stability is discussed. The need for regulation of chemical usage where water supplies and irrigated crops can be contaminated is stressed. Research conducted in Victoria is described and compared with that in the U.S.A., and recommendations are made regarding the most useful avenues for future research. Publications describing various aspects of the use and control of plants in Victorian irrigation and drainage systems are attached.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableThe effect of water stress on the growth of the wheat plant(University of Melbourne, 1965)
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ItemNo Preview AvailableThe grazing intake of sheep and related measurements(University of Melbourne, 1960)In Australia, animal production is dependent largely on pasture. A basic requirement therefore in studying the nutrition of the gazing animal, is a satisfactory measurement of grazing intake. Such a measure would be desirable at the level of the individual animal and although some techniques offer this possibility, the errors associated with them at present limit their application to the investigation of comparatively large differences. Fortunately, at the present time, research into pasture utilization and the nutrition of the grazing animal is at the developmental stage and is consequently concerned with investigating large differences. As these differences become smaller however, so the techniques must become more refined. The problems associated with the measurement of grazing intake are many. Under Australian conditions there is a marked variation in both the quality and the quantity of feed available to animals throughout the year and furthermore the changes which occur can be rapid. The situation is further complicated by the feat that in the first place measurements must be made under controlled conditions with sheen in cages where the ability to select a diet is restricted. Under grazing conditions however, the opportunity for selection may be greatly increased, depending on the level of stocking, and direct application of the information from caged conditions is therefore impossible. There can be little doubt in the minds of those interested in the nutrition of the grazing animal, that there is an urgent demand for a system of feeding standards for grazing conditions. Metabolism and respiration data for animals under controlled conditions are showing which factors influence the utilization of dietary energy and protein by the animal. For this information to be applied to field conditions, a measure of the intake of energy and protein b the grazing animal is fundamental. In Chapter 1, the various techniques described in the literature to estimate the qualitative and quantitative intake of the grazing animal are reviewed and in the subsequent Chapters an experimental approach is described. Chapter 2 describes the application of one such technique to cheep grazing an annual pasture; Chapter 3 describes an appraisal of the same technique used for irrigated pastures; Chapter 4 includes the effect of sudden changes in diet on digestibility together with some observations on the measurement of digestibility and Chapter 5 describes some features of the feeding value of M. tribuloides pods which form a substantial portion of the diet of grazing sheep over the summer months.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableA survey of farm water supplies in central parts of Victoria 1956-7(University of Melbourne, 1959)The aim of this survey was to assess the present level of stock and household water facilities on farms in a selected area of Victoria. 149 farms, chosen at random from 5 shires lying in the 20.25 inch rainfall country between Stawell and Benalla, were visited. Details of all the features associated with the collection, storage, and use of both stock and household water were obtained for each of these farms. In order that the standard of stock water supply could be compared with the management of the rest of the farm, personal particulars of each farmer and general details of the farm were also recorded. The survey found that the majority of farms had inadequate provision for stock water, for example 60% of the farms visited were unable to water more than 60% of their farm area, when stocked at the rate of 1 sheep to the acre. It was also found that the standard of household water was low, for example, 28% of farms were restricted to 10 gallons per person per day, or less.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableStudies on plant pathogenic bacteria with emphasis on serological identification(University of Melbourne, 1954)The major problem in the recognition of bacterial diseases of plants, and hence their prevention or cure, is the rapid isolation and identification of the causal organism from the infected host. Although isolation procedures are adequate, provided the diseased organ is not heavily infected with secondary invaders, the identification of the phytopathogen is very difficult as is its distinction from saprophytic species. Because of these difficulties, this investigation was commenced in order to study the present methods of classification, and the prospects for using serological tests in the rapid identification of phytopathogenic bacteria.
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ItemMethods for controlling weed growth in Victorian irrigation and drainage systems with particular reference to chemical methods(University of Melbourne, 1954)
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ItemThe biology of the silverfish, Ctenolepisma longicaudata, esch. with particular reference to its feeding habits(University of Melbourne, 1939)The long-tailed silver fish - Ctenolepisma longicaudata, Escher. - is the only common species in houses in Australia. Materials normally eaten have "been determined from an examination of their crop contents. The cause of the selective attack on certain household goods, including wallpaper and writing paper, hag been examined, and a protective spray of tricresylphosphate in petroleum solvent prepared. The effect of temperature and humidity on the stages of the life cycle is described and methods of control are outlined.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableA review of pasture development in Australia, with special reference to pasture improvement in Victoria during the last decade(University of Melbourne, 1939)