Calag Archive

Stabilization of streambanks along creeks and rivers throughout California is an important means of protecting agricultural land from erosion. Riprapping, willow planting, and other methods of bank stabilization effective in curtailing erosion are often considered limiting to the establishment of native riparian woodlands. Recent research has suggested that retention of natural woodlands is an important means of preventing bank erosion. Therefore, stabilization techniques that do not prevent the establishment of riparian woodland species should provide additional streambank protection. The study reported here evaluates the influence of several streambank stabilization methods on the establishment of riparian woodlands and compares treated areas and native streamside woodlands with regard to species composition and density.

In the past 30 years, there have been decided increases in the reproductive efficiency of turkeys. Refinements in artificial insemination techniques have eliminated problems associated with natural mating, such as injury to the hen, clumsiness of the male, and preferential mating. Specially formulated diluents have made it possible to extend the semen from superior toms and reduce costs associated with maintaining large numbers of males. However, the turkey breeder hen still does not produce fertile eggs at the same level or with the same persistency as the chicken breeder hen.

The dairy cow, like other ruminants, has four compartments in its stomach. The first compartment, the rumen, partially degrades feedstuffs by anaerobic microbial fermentation processes. The fourth compartment, or abomasum, corresponds to the single stomach of nonruminants, where final degradation of ingested material takes place.

California Brussels sprout growers, lacking adequate sampling techniques to determine economically significant damage by insects, historically have applied preventive sprays of pesticide combinations after each irrigation (approximately every 18 days). An average of 19 pounds (active ingredient) of insecticides per acre were applied by growers in 1981.