The objective was to explore, in lines derived from a bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar, the association of grain yield with carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) and ash content (Ash) determined in both flag leaf and kernel. Divergent selection within the cv. Nestos, based on individual plant yield under very low density (11547 plants/ha), produced 20 lines. Progeny evaluation was conducted in two sites of Northern Hellas (Greece) at both low (11547 plants/ha) and high (5000000 plants/ha) density. The results showed significant differences between lines for grain yield, Δ and Ash. However, only the conclusions on grain yield were similar in low and high density, perhaps because the selection criterion under low density was grain yield. This, combined with the lack of any strong relationship of grain yield with either Δ or Ash, failed to confirm the usefulness of these physiological traits as indirect selection criteria, when the within-cultivar variation for grain yield is exploited. The possible association of grain yield with Δ and Ash appeared to be influenced by various factors such as drought, level of grain yield and altitude. Results also showed that less plant-to-plant variability, as expressed by the coefficients of variation (CV) of single-plant yields, was associated with decreased drought response and higher yield stability. The less stressed lines were those that used water more conservatively till anthesis and maintained a high photosynthetic rate during grain filling.

Stomatal conductance plays an important role in the heat avoidance mechanism of crop plants. Stomatal conductance in cotton is genetically determined and has been shown to be associated with heat resistance and higher yields. Experiments were carried out with six generations (parental, F1, F2 and back crosses) of three upland cotton crosses under heat-stressed and non-stressed greenhouse and field regimes, to understand the inheritance pattern of stomatal conductance as affected by contrasting temperature regimes. The results revealed significant variation for stomatal conductance due to generations and generation×temperature regime interaction in the three crosses. In general, heat stress reduced stomatal conductance and available genetic variability. Temperature regimes exerted a significant effect on the expression of the genes responsible for stomatal conductance. High temperature or heat stress favoured the expression of genes having additive effects, while absence of heat stress favoured those having dominant effects in two of the three crosses evaluated. The third cross showed the opposite reaction. The results suggest that genes controlling stomatal conductance in the parents of the first two crosses (MNH-552, HR109-RT, CIM-448, CRIS-19) were different from those controlling stomatal conductance in FH-900 and N-Karishma, the parents of the third cross. The selection efficiency of stomatal conductance in segregating populations was likely to be affected by the complexity of its inheritance, environmental dependency, and presence of substantial non-allelic and genotype×temperature regime interactions.

Genetic diversity in four local Greek cabbage open-pollinated populations was investigated using RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) DNA markers in 18 individual plants from each population. A total of 24 random primers detected 90 polymorphic bands in the four populations studied, with an average of 3·75 bands/primer. The mean between-population differentiation was close to 40%, leaving 60% for within-population diversity. The individual plants were grouped, based on the Jaccard coefficient, by clustering (Unweighted Pair Group Method and Arithmetic Average – UPGMA) and an ordination (Principal Coordinates Analysis – PCO) methods, resulting in 7 and 6 groups, respectively. In general, there was a notable similarity in the grouping of the individuals with these two methods. In addition, Nei's standard genetic distance between populations, as calculated on the basis of within-population gene frequencies, was employed to group the populations by the UPGMA method. Clustering results were in good agreement with previously reported results based on morphological descriptors applied to the same populations. It was concluded that RAPD markers could be exploited as alternative or supplementary tools to already established methods for the evaluation and classification of cabbage genetic resources.

A review of papers on the statistical design and analysis of experiments published in the Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge, over the last 100 years is presented. The development of significant ideas in the practical design of field experiments is reviewed. Some possible future developments in the design of spatial field trials and computer-aided design of experiments are discussed.

For the determination of soil organic carbon (OC) concentrations, the availability of a fast, low-cost analysis method is required. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possibilities of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to build a spectral database and to develop calibrations for the prediction of organic carbon concentrations in grassland soils. NIRS spectra of 1626 soil samples from different grasslands (both agricultural and natural) were collected between 1100 and 2500 nm. NIRS calibrations were developed with modified partial least square regression and tested with independent validation samples. The best equations were obtained with the first derivative of the spectra without scatter corrections. For the global calibration, containing the samples of all origins, the standard errors of calibration (SEC) and of prediction (SEP) were respectively 3·70 g OC/kg dry soil (R2=0·89) and 3·95 g OC/kg dry soil (R2=0·88). The ratio of the standard deviation of the reference validation data to the SEP (RPD), indicating the performance of the calibration, was 2·9. Dividing the samples into groups according to their practice (agricultural or natural grassland), improved SEP by 5·8 and 7·7%, respectively. Dividing the samples into texture groups (clay, silt, sand) improved SEP for agricultural grassland by, on average, 7·4% and for natural grassland by 16·2%.

The development of rice blast disease in four slow-blasting (SB) genotypes was compared with that in the fast-blasting (FB) genotype Karuna, under natural field epidemics over a period of 3 years at five levels of nitrogen, in order to determine if the application of high doses of nitrogen influenced the expression of disease progress in the SB types. The treatment effects were compared through estimation of nine parameters viz. (i) lesion number (LN); (ii) area under disease progress curve (AUDPC); (iii) relative area under disease progress curve (RAUDPC); (iv) logistic apparent infection rate (r); (v) Gompertz apparent infection rate (k); (vi) logit line intercept (logit-a); (vii) gompit line intercept (gompit-a); (viii) time required for the disease to reach 0·25 severity in logistic (T25r); and (ix) Gompertz (T25k) models. There was a significant increase in LN, AUDPC, RAUDPC, r and k with increased levels of nitrogen application in all genotypes, but the rate of increase in disease severity was much lower in SB genotypes than the FB one and did not lead to breakdown of resistance in the SB genotypes, since severity level was much below the economic injury level. Among the nine derived parameters for evaluation of resistance LN, AUDPC, RAUDPC, r and k were best. The AUDPC and RAUDPC had lower degrees of error variance compared with the other parameters and hence were considered superior measures for characterization of disease progress curves.

Seed yield and seed quality determine much of the value of rice (Oryza sativa L.) crops to the producers. The effects of genotype and environment on seed yield and quality were investigated using 12 rice genotypes grown during 3 years (2000–2003) at four different sowing dates in India, where detailed environmental data were collected. Yield, seed weight, proportion of seed setting and quality in terms of potential seed longevity, proportion of discoloured seeds, seed leachate conductivity and percentage germination were evaluated. The results were subjected to analysis of variance and the influence of environmental factors was evaluated by correlation analysis. Analysis of variance suggested that proportion of seed setting, seed leachate conductivity, potential seed longevity, percentage seed germination and proportion of seed discoloration were influenced more by environmental effects than by genotypic effects. In contrast, yield, panicle number, seed weight, and proportion of high-density grains were influenced more by genotypic than by environmental effects. The significant interaction effects of genotype and environment for all characteristics were attributed to differential resistance of genotypes to lodging (caused by increased plant height, low radiation and excessive rain at the time of grain filling) and were associated with fewer panicles harvested, lower seed setting and lower seed weight. Correlation analysis suggested that warm weather conditions with high solar radiation and without excessive rains during grain filling stage gave the best rice seed yield with high quality.

A common method to describe maize phenology during the vegetative phase is to determine the number of leaves. The thermal interval between the appearance of successive leaves, called the phyllochron, is critical for predicting the duration of vegetative development. In general, there is a high correlation between the final number of initiated leaves and the duration from sowing to silking. The development of a crop depends on temperature and photoperiod and genetic response to these environmental factors, thus bio-meteorological indices are needed to describe this process. The goal of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the phyllochron and its impact on the final number of leaves. A second objective was to evaluate three thermal indices for predicting the duration of sowing to silking and silking to physiological maturity for four maize hybrids grown off-season in a subtropical region of the Southern Hemisphere (São Paulo State, Brazil). The modified general thermal index (mGTI) was compared with the classical thermal time concept (TT) with two sets of cardinal temperatures, including TT(10) with 10 °C as minimum base temperature (Tb) and TT(8) with 8 °C as Tb. Three field experiments that included four hybrids with different relative maturity ratings were conducted during the autumn and winter growing seasons of 2001 and 2002 at the University of São Paulo, in Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. Phenology was recorded daily. Also, an independent evaluation of three methods for estimating phenology was conducted with data obtained from the variety trials of the ‘Instituto Agronômico’ for four regions of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The results indicated that the value for the phyllochron was about 50 °Cd/leaf until approximately the appearance of the 12th leaf, and then declined. For estimating the planting to silking period, the TT(10) method resulted in a coefficient of variation (CV) of 2·01%, while for TT(8) the CV was 1·37% and for mGTI the CV was 1·04%. For the period from silking to physiological maturity, the CV was 2·91% for the TT(10), 2·64% for the TT(8) and 2·01% for the mGTI method. All CVs were very small, suggesting that there was only a slight difference between algorithms. It can be concluded from this study that the mGTI can be used for estimating both silking and physiological maturity dates for maize grown off-season in subtropical regions of Brazil because it resulted in the smallest CV. However, additional studies with different maize hybrids are necessary to confirm the advances in estimating the main phenological phases for maize based on the mGTI.

The present study was conducted to investigate whether white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in grazed swards in Uruguay can produce and shed sufficient seed, and whether sufficient seedlings can develop and survive, to make an important contribution to the long-term persistence of the species. Five sites, on which survival of white clover had been better than is usual in Uruguay, were studied in 1995–97. The sites had been sown with white clover 11–15 years previously and were managed mainly by cattle grazing. The number of white clover inflorescences/m2 was at least 18 at nearly half the counts in the study and the number of viable seeds in the top 5 cm of soil was at least 1500 at half the counts. The results for both the above variables suggest that all five sites had a supply of seed greater than a commercial seed rate at some times of the year. However, the number of seedlings/m2 was >100, a possible target in these conditions, at only one fifth of the counts, and the proportion of seedlings that survived from one recording date to the next (a period of 4–5 weeks) varied from >0·7 to zero. It seems, therefore, that, in these conditions, the failure of seeds to convert to established plants is likely to be a greater constraint than the production and shedding of seeds. There was considerable variability with time, and between and within sites at each stage of the reproductive cycle. On one site, competition from Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) greatly reduced the number of white clover seedlings/m2. Overall, the results suggest that white clover in grazed swards in Uruguay can produce and shed sufficient seed, and that sufficient seedlings can develop and survive, to make a significant contribution to the long-term persistence of the species. However, each year there is a risk of seedlings being killed in dry, hot weather.

A study of the commercial growing of different varieties of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton compares the performance of growing official and unofficial hybrid varieties of Bt cotton and conventional (non-Bt) hybrids in Gujarat by 622 farmers. Results suggest that the official Bt varieties (MECH 12 and MECH 162) significantly outperform the unofficial varieties. However, unofficial, locally produced Bt hybrids can also perform significantly better than non-Bt hybrids, although second generation (F2) Bt seed appears to have no yield advantage compared to non-Bt hybrids but can save on insecticide use. Although hybrid vigour is reduced, or even lost, with F2 seed the Bt gene still confers some advantage. The F2 seed is regarded as ‘GM’ by the farmers (and is sold as such), even though its yield performance is little better than the non-GM hybrids. The results help to explain why there is so much confusion arising from GM cotton release in India.

A non-destructive indicator of seed water content could significantly help crop scientists with assessment of the effects of environmental conditions during drying on grain qualities or on seed physiological quality. This is particularly important for grain legumes which simultaneously bear pods of different ages. Visual assessment of pod colour has so far been used to date grain legume stages, but now colour can be easily and accurately measured with a portable spectrophotometer. Relationships between the spectrophotometer measurements and the pod and seed water contents were tested in various climatic contexts (3 years: 2000, 2001, 2002; field or greenhouse, two or three sowing dates) for two bean cultivars (Booster and Calypso) and also for one pea cultivar (Baccara) in 2003 near Angers, France. Among the different spectrophotometer measurements, hue angle (h) clearly shows the transition from green (h=180 °) to yellow (h=90 °) and then to red (h=0 °). In each context, h and seed water content (SWC) relationships showed the same pattern of three linear phases: first a steady state; then a sharp decrease from green (h=106–108 °) to yellow (h=85–93 °) just before the end of the seed filling stage for Booster or between the end of the seed filling phase and the beginning of seed drying for Calypso and pea; finally, a slow decrease from yellow to ochre (h=75–78 °) during seed drying. For each bean cultivar, the parameters of the linear relationships showed no differences between maturation conditions. Therefore, 6 h classes matching six SWC classes could be defined over a wide range of SWC between 0·56 and 0·2 g/g for Booster. However for Calypso and pea, only 3 h classes could be defined because of the tight relationships between h and SWC during the end of seed drying, which can be explained by pod walls drying faster than seeds. Hence, spectrophotometer measurements, if calibrated for a given cultivar of a species, could now be used to select pods with seeds of the same water content and therefore to study environmental effects on quality criteria either in controlled conditions or in the field.

Changes in the seed coat morphology of 12 annual legumes were studied using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). The seeds of Biserrula pelecinus L. cv. Casbah, Ornithopus sativus cv. Cadiz, Trifolium clypeatum L., T. spumosum L., T. subterraneum L. cv. Bacchus Marsh, Trigonella balansae Boiss. & Reuter., Trigonella monspeliaca L. and Vicia sativa subsp. amphicarpa Dorthes (morthes.) were examined by ESEM after exposure to field conditions for 6 months, while those of Medicago polymorpha L. cv. Circle Valley, Trifolium clypeatum L., T. glanduliferum Boiss., T. lappaceum L., T. spumosum L., and T. subterraneum L. cv. Dalkeith, were examined after 2 years' exposure. The entry of water into seeds was followed by covering various parts of the seed coat with petroleum jelly and soaking the treated seeds in dyes.

As the seeds softened over time, more and larger fractures appeared on the seed coat. Water entered the seed either through fractures, over the seed coat as a whole or through the lens. It is hypothesized that the formation of fractures occurs after physicochemical changes in the seed coat, probably associated with changes in the amount and nature of seed coat lipids.

The newly matured whole seeds of M. polymorpha cv. Circle Valley, T. clypeatum, T. glanduliferum, T. lappaceum, T. spumosum, and T. subterraneum cv. Dalkeith were analysed for lipid content in 1997. The seed coats of T. subterraneum cv. Dalkeith and T. spumosum were separated from the cotyledons and examined in detail for lipid content.

The lipid content of whole seeds ranged from 48 (T. lappaceum) to 167 mg/g (T. subterraneum cv. Dalkeith). Total lipid of the whole seeds of T. subterraneum cv. Dalkeith and T. glanduliferum declined by about 9 mg/g over 2 years, while in T. spumosum it declined by about 17 mg/g.

In contrast, the major fatty acids in the seed coat declined by 0·67 mg/g over the 2 years. Change in seed coat lipids showed a marked similarity to changes in hardseededness for both T. subterraneum cv. Dalkeith and T. spumosum. The results strongly suggest that seed softening is associated with loss of lipids in the seed coat, because lipids have physical characteristics that are altered at temperatures experienced in the field.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) in Sri Lanka is grown predominantly on sloping highlands. Incorporating trees as hedgerows along contours is aimed at reducing erosion and improving soil fertility through addition of prunings as mulch. However, there could be significant competition for essential growth resources between the hedgerows and tea. The primary objective of this study was to determine the influence of six hedgerow species (Calliandra calothyrsus, Senna [Cassia] spectabilis, Eupatorium inulifolium, Flemingia congesta, Gliricidia sepium and Tithonia diversifolia) on mature (6-year-old) and young (6-month-old) tea. This study had three on-farm, long-term (from Nov 1998 to Dec 2002) field experiments. Experiment 1 had 12 treatment combinations with the six shrub species and two mulching treatments (i.e. hedgerow prunings added to the tea plot as a mulch, and unmulched) on mature tea plus a sole tea crop as control. The same was repeated on young tea in Experiment 2 to determine whether resource competition on young tea was greater than that on mature tea. Experiment 3 examined the effects of removing tree root competition on tea by cutting a 1-m deep trench between hedgerows and tea.

In all experiments, total tea yields of hedgerow intercrops, cumulated over the 50-month experimental period, were significantly lower (by 3–50%) than sole tea crops, thus indicating significant resource competition except in the case of mulched hedgerow systems involving Eupatorium and mature tea (18% yield increase). Removal of below-ground competition significantly increased tea yields by 11–19%. Addition of hedgerow prunings as a mulch significantly increased yields of both mature and young tea by 13–21%. Tea yields of hedgerow systems with Calliandra, Flemingia and Eupatorium showed greater yield reductions in young tea than in mature tea, but the opposite was shown with other hedgerow species. There was a significant negative linear relationship between tea yield and pruned biomass of hedgerows. Tea yields of all experiments showed significant negative correlations with several hedgerow characters, which are indicators of their competitive ability. These included hedgerow root density, canopy lateral spread, height and cross-section. In a majority of hedgerow systems, the available phosphorus content of topsoil (0–20 cm depth) was up to 51% lower compared to sole crops. It is concluded that incorporation of contour hedgerows in to an existing tea crop could result in significant resource competition with tea and thereby cause tea yield to decrease. However, there is scope for selection of hedgerow species that minimize competition through spatial and temporal complementarity with tea in resource capture.

Simple models that can forecast yield loss from weed seedling density at crop emergence are useful tools for both research and practice. In 1985 Cousens presented the rectangular hyperbolic curve as a solution to this problem for the one-weed species case (Cousens 1985a). To address the multi-weed species case, the present theoretical paper investigates two published models and develops a third model, termed ‘recursive density equivalents’. The models were analysed and evaluated based on their biological rationale and using already published data. The earlier models were both found to rely on biologically unrealistic assumptions. The new model avoided additional assumptions, providing a neutral method of summarizing the Cousens curves for many species. Recursive density equivalents were found to be additive in a more intuitive fashion than the ‘density equivalents’ introduced earlier. An over-estimation bias was found to be inherent in the earlier density equivalents model, increasing with species richness. The new model corrected for this bias when checked against one year's field data but for another year, both models over-estimated markedly. All three models were found to be too simple to accommodate all possible modes of intra- and inter-specific competition, yet the new model is an improvement, as it agrees better with the biological principles of crop-weed competition.

Three successive field experiments (2000/01–2002/03) assessed the effect of wheat cultivar (Consort, Hereward and Shamrock) and fungicide (epoxiconazole and azoxystrobin) applied at and after flag leaf emergence on the nitrogen in the above-ground crop (Total N) and grain (Grain N), net nitrogen remobilization from non-grain tissues (Remobilized N), grain dry matter (Grain DM), and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtEg=Grain DM/Total N). Ordinary logistic curves were fitted to the accumulation of Grain N, Grain DM and Remobilized N against thermal time after anthesis and used to simultaneously derive fits for Total N and NUtEg.

When disease was controlled, Consort achieved the greatest Grain DM, Total N, Grain N and NUtEg; in each case due mostly to longer durations, rather than quicker rates, of accumulation. Fungicide application increased final Grain DM, Grain N, Total N and Remobilized N, also mostly through effects on duration rather than rate of accumulation. Completely senesced leaf laminas retained less nitrogen when fungicide had been applied compared with leaf laminas previously infected severely with brown rust (Puccinia recondita) and Septoria tritici, or with just S. tritici. Late movement of nitrogen out of fungicide-treated laminas contributed to extended duration of both nitrogen remobilization and grain N filling, and meant that increases in NUtEg could occur without simultaneous reductions in grain N concentration.

Flax fibre for industrial purposes differs from that for linen production, although the agronomic factors that influence fibre development and which factors are most important for industrial fibre production have still to be defined. A description of variations in the performance of fibre flax varieties is also necessary as current guidance relates to the European market rather than the UK. Field trials were sown in 2002 and 2003 at the Henfaes Research Centre in north Wales, investigating 29 and 26 varieties, respectively, of European fibre flax and dual-purpose flax varieties. In 2002 a nitrogen treatment was included in the trial with two treatments, 40 kg/ha and 80 kg/ha. Varieties were evaluated for 20 agronomic and fibre production variables, and the differences between the varieties were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and principal components analysis (PCA). The higher nitrogen rate was found to increase crop lodging, although some varieties were found to be more susceptible than others. Environment had a strong influence on crop success, with some varieties showing more year to year stability than others. PCA allowed those varieties that were the highest yielding, highest fibre producers and showed the best stability across the 2 years to be identified. Understanding the agronomic results presented and discussed here is important if fibre flax production is to become economically viable in the UK.

Surface liming as a means for controlling the soil reaction in established leys was investigated in a series of 4-year field trials. Application of 625, 1250, 2500 or 5000 kg CaO equivalents/ha in spring of the first year caused an immediate rise in pH in the top 0–25 mm of the soil. The rate and range of the response below 25 mm was related to the precipitation at the experimental sites. Lime-induced changes in pH were not dependent on the initial level of soil reaction, whereas the positive response in grass production was greater and more immediate at sites where pH was below 5·3 rather than above. The increases in yields of macro elements were, in most instances, relatively lower than the increases in dry matter (DM) yields. Important exceptions here were the yields of Ca in all cuts and P in the second cuts, and the yields of Mg when dolomite rather than limestone was applied. The concentration of Ca in the herbage was positively affected by liming according to ruminant needs. The same holds for the concentration of Mg when granulated or coarse dolomite was applied. Liming lowered herbage uptake of Mn, Co and Zn, whereas Mo uptake was increased. There appeared to be no consistent relationship between liming and the plant uptake of Fe and Cu. Dependent on the initial conditions, liming might both improve and worsen the trace element status of harvested herbage with respect to the demands of ruminant animals. It is concluded that frequent surface liming at low rates might be an appropriate strategy for adjusting the soil pH in semi-permanent and permanent pastures.

Three animal experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of condensed tannins (CT) on parasitic gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections of sheep. Experiment 1 investigated the long-term effect of varying dietary levels (0–80 g/kg diet) of quebracho tannin (QT) on faecal egg counts (FEC) and feed consumption of lambs with experimental Haemonchus contortus infection. Dietary QT did not cause significant reductions in FEC although at high inclusions of QT there was an indication of a reduction in FEC. Some undesirable effects of tannins were also observed; feed consumption was significantly reduced (P<0·001) by dietary QT, while faecal water content increased significantly (P<0·01). In order to reduce the undesirable effects of dietary tannins in the host, short-term exposure to tannins was adopted. QT was administered as a drench, for 3 consecutive days, to growing lambs infected with H. contortus (Experiment 2) or its mixed infection with Trichostrongylus colubriformis (Experiment 3) and its effect on FEC, worm burdens and the GI tract was investigated. Administration of QT drench to sheep infected with the abomasal H. contortus alone significantly (P<0·05) reduced FEC and worm burdens (P<0·01) compared with the control group. In Experiment 3 the drench had little effect (P>0·05) on small intestinal T. colubriformis although similar effects to those seen in Experiment 2 on H. contortus were observed, suggesting that the location of the nematodes in the gut might be important. Apart from reducing feed consumption, the drench caused some physiological changes in the gut, particularly an increase in faecal water and mucus content, which were more marked following the drench than seen in the dietary inclusion trial. In conclusion, unlike dietary inclusion, QT worked more quickly and more effectively against H. contortus when administered as drench; T. colubriformis may require a higher dose or a prolonged exposure to the drench. The present findings suggest that it may be possible, perhaps with limited use of synthetic anthelmintics, to design appropriate feeding strategies using tannins to alleviate the problem of nematode infections in small ruminants. This may be particularly relevant to the tropics and subtropics where many species of plants contain high levels of tannins and where extracts high in tannins are readily available.

In cereal-livestock farming systems of North Africa and West Asia the straw of durum wheat [Triticum turgidum (L.) Thell. ssp. turgidum conv. durum (Desf.) MacKey] is frequently used for feeding animals during the dry season and may enhance the sustainability and the flexibility of farming in various respects. In Algeria the average sale price per unit weight of the durum straw is around 30% of that of grain. Six tall and 18 semi-dwarf locally well-adapted cultivars were grown in the season 2000/01 at five Algerian locations representing the main durum wheat cropping areas to verify: (i) the impact of straw yield on the economic merit of cultivars for recommendation and (ii) the interest of tall v. semi-dwarf plant types for breeding. The tall material comprised four cultivars derived from local landraces and two old varieties. The semi-dwarf germplasm originated from CIMMYT, ICARDA or various Mediterranean countries. In the economic assessment the straw value was expressed in terms of grain-equivalent, defining an economic yield as: grain yield+(0·30×straw yield). The merit of individual cultivars was markedly affected by ignoring or taking into account the straw yield. On average, tall germplasm had a moderate (about 3%) but significant (P<0·02) economic advantage over semi-dwarf material as a result of much higher straw yield (+25%) and aerial biomass (+12%) and somewhat lower grain yield (−7%). However, three semi-dwarf varieties from CIMMYT were top-ranking for economic yield. They possessed outstanding aerial biomass and similar harvest index compared with the mean response of other semi-dwarf germplasm. On average, the tall germplasm showed higher grain yield stability (P<0·01), lower straw yield stability (P<0·01) and slightly higher stability of economic yield (P<0·11) than the semi-dwarf group as measured by Shukla's stability variance. Grain yield was negatively correlated with straw yield (r=−0·41, P<0·05), and was not correlated with aerial biomass, in the whole set of cultivars. However, it was not correlated with straw yield, and was positively correlated with aerial biomass (r=0·61, P<0·01), within the semi-dwarf germplasm. Information on straw yield can improve the targeting of cultivars for cereal-livestock farming systems. Breeding for these systems may target either a tall type within semi-dwarf material (i.e. a ‘tall dwarf’), or a truly tall plant type.

To clarify the reproduction probability of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) in meadows for herbage cutting, the demography of this legume was studied in a meadow in the central mountainous district of Japan. The present study shows the demography of deposited red clover seeds in a meadow, where timothy (Phleum pratense L.) predominated and herbage had been harvested for making hay or silage in early June and late August of a year. The densities of deposited seeds, buried seeds and seedlings were monitored to determine their survival. Deposited seeds were collected using seed traps, buried seeds were monitored seasonally by sampling them from topsoil and seedlings were counted in ten permanent 1×1 m quadrats. Many permeable and hard seeds of red clover were deposited on the soil surface of the meadow during the mechanical operation of the second haymaking in mid- to late August. Of the population of deposited permeable seeds, 0·16 germinated and 0·84 were lost in the present autumn. Conversely, of the population of deposited hard seeds, 0·11 germinated in the succeeding spring, 0·83 were lost and 0·06 remained as hard seeds until the succeeding autumn. The deposited permeable and hard seeds could contribute to the persistence of red clover population when their seedlings survived for seed setting in the meadow.