Classification of wheat areas and prediction of yields in north-western New South Wales by repetitive Landsat data

1980 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 449 ◽  
Author(s):  
KW Dawbin ◽  
JC Evans ◽  
MJ Duggin ◽  
EK Leggett

Radiance data collected by Landsat were used to derive wheat production forecasts. Radiance data at three stages of wheat growth in 1976 for the Tamworth region of the New South Wales wheat-belt were analysed by multivariate statistical methods to discriminate between paddocks that had been sown with wheat and those that had not, and to relate radiance to wheat yield. A discriminant function was derived that classified the paddocks, and a regression equation was derived to predict yields of wheat paddocks. Although data were not available for the green vegetative phases of growth, intrinsic testing of classification and yield prediction indicated high accuracy, although extrinsic testing indicated that they were less accurate. Assuming that data are available in future seasons at the vegetative stages, Landsat has a great potential for improving wheat forecasts in Australia.

1984 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farhat Yusuf ◽  
M. Hamid Sheikh

SummaryThis study examines data from 47,238 episodes of hospitalization in New South Wales, Australia, pertaining to the patients suffering from mental disorders, i.e. those patients with a principal diagnosis coded from 290 to 315 inclusive, according to the 8th revision of the International Classification of Diseases.An overall prevalence of nine episodes of hospitalization due to mental disorders was found per 1000 population per annum. Major disease categories were neuroses and alcoholism (each accounting for 21% of the total episodes) followed by schizophrenia (16%) and affective psychosis (11%); there were substantial differences by age, sex, marital status and ethnic origin.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-77
Author(s):  
Marc Hendrickx

ABSTRACT Tremolite schists in Ordovician meta-volcanic units in central New South Wales (NSW) consist of fine fibrous tremolite-actinolite. They host tremolite asbestos occurrences, and small quantities of asbestos were mined from narrow vein deposits in central NSW during the last century. When pulverized, the tremolite schist releases mineral fragments that fall into the classification range for countable mineral fibers and may be classed as asbestos despite not having an asbestiform habit. The ambiguity in classification of this type of natural material raises significant health and safety, legal, and environmental issues that require clarification. While the health effects of amphibole asbestos fibers are well known, the consequences of exposure to non-asbestiform, fibrous varieties is not well studied. This group of elongated mineral particles deserves more attention due to their widespread occurrence in metamorphic rocks in Australia. Toxicological studies are needed to assess the health risks associated with disturbance of these minerals during mining, civil construction, forestry, and farming practices.


2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Lilley ◽  
J. A. Kirkegaard

Water stored deep in the soil profile is valuable to crop yield but its availability and conversion to grain vary with preceding management and seasonal rainfall distribution. We investigated the value of subsoil water to wheat on the Red Kandosol soils in southern New South Wales, Australia, using the APSIM Wheat model, carefully validated for the study area. Simulation treatments over 106 years of historic climate data involved a factorial combination of (1) a preceding crop of either lucerne (Dry treatment) or a low-yielding wheat crop (Wet treatment) and (2) restriction of wheat root depth to either 1.2 or 1.8 m. Root access to the subsoil (1.2–1.8 m) increased wheat yield by an average of 0.6 and 0.3 t/ha for the Wet and Dry treatments, respectively, at Cootamundra (mean annual rainfall 624 mm) and by 0.5 and 0.1 t/ha at Ardlethan (mean annual rainfall 484 mm). The differences were principally related to the frequency with which the subsoil failed to wet up, which occurred in 8% and 39% of years at Cootamundra in Wet and Dry treatments, respectively, but in 21% and 79% of years at Ardlethan. In seasons where water from the subsoil was used, the mean value of the water for grain yield, expressed as marginal water-use efficiency (MWUE), was 30–36 kg/ha.mm at both sites. High MWUE (>60 kg/ha.mm) generally occurred in seasons of above-average rainfall when subsoil water facilitated extra post-anthesis water extraction, including that from upper soil layers, to realise the high yield potential. Low MWUE (<10 kg/ha.mm) occurred when re-translocation of pre-anthesis assimilate to grain in the 1.2 m treatment compensated for reduced subsoil water extraction and no yield difference between 1.2 and 1.8 m treatments was observed. Counter-intuitively, the results suggest that subsoil water will be of more value in higher rainfall environments due to its more frequent occurrence, and in above-average seasons due to more efficient conversion to grain.


1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
CL Bellamy ◽  
GA Willams

Two new species of Paratrachys, the first known from Australia, are described. P. australia, sp. nov., from coastal New South Wales is placed in the nominate subgenus and P. queenslandia, sp. nov., from Queensland, in P. (Friendiella) Holynski. The species are fully described, illustrated and a brief discussion is presented on the recent generic review by Holynski and the placement of this genus in the familial hierarchy. A modified key for both Paratrachys (Friendiella) and P. (s. str.) the Hederae-circle is presented to incorporate these new species. A cladistic analysis shows that the Paratrachydina is best defined as monotypic.


1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 263 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Chen ◽  
R. D. B. Lefroy ◽  
G. J. Blair ◽  
J. M. Scott

Differences in concentrations of n-alkanes in the cuticular waxes of plants can be used to estimate the species composition of herbage mixtures or the diet consumed by grazing animals. The objectives of this study were (i) to provide information on the n-alkane (C25-C35) ‘signatures’ or patterns of pasture species occurring in ‘degraded’ and perennial pastures of the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, and (ii) to examine the extent of the field variation in the signatures. There were considerable differences in odd-numbered alkanes and in their total content between species. There were also significant differences in n-alkane concentrations among species within grasses, legumes, and weeds. For the individual odd-numbered alkanes, differences between species accounted for 87-93% of the total variance in alkane concentration over 3 samplings. Variable results for the temporal effect suggest that time-specific herbage samples are needed in animal diet studies. Analyses of the spatial effect indicate that random cuts over each treatment plot can obtain representative samples of each species. Multivariate statistical analyses using principal component and discriminant analyses indicated that the patterns of alkanes in species occurring on both degraded and perennial pastures were readily distinguishable. These results confirmed that the alkane technique could be used for estimation of diet composition in grazing sheep on the Northern Tablelands, NSW, where differences in n-alkane signatures between species were sufficient and persistent over time.


2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Møller Andersen ◽  
Tom A. Weir

Water striders and their allies (Hemiptera, Gerromorpha) are familiar inhabitants of water surfaces throughout the world. One of the most species-rich groups is the subfamily Microveliinae (Veliidae) and, in particular, the genus Microvelia Westwood, 1834. This genus comprises small or very small bugs inhabiting the nearshore areas of stagnant or slow-flowing fresh water. Accumulation of material during the past 30 years has shown that the Australian fauna of Microvelia is much richer and more diverse than previously recognised. In the present paper we discuss the subgeneric classification of the genus Microvelia based on the results of a phylogenetic analysis using maximum parsimony, describe three new subgenera and redescribe all previously known Australian species of the genus. The new taxa are: Microvelia (Austromicrovelia), subgen. nov. (type species: Microvelia mjobergi Hale, 1925) with the species Microvelia (Austromicrovelia) spurgeon, M. hypipamee, M. margaretae, M.�monteithi, M. tuberculata, M. myorensis, M. woodwardi, M. carnarvon, M. annemarieae, M. mossman, spp. nov. (all from Queensland), M. eborensis and M. milleri, spp. nov. (New South Wales), M. queenslandiae, M.�ventrospinosa, spp. nov. (New South Wales, Queensland), M. angelesi, M. alisonae, M. odontogaster, spp. nov. (Northern Territory), M. apunctata, sp. nov. (Northern Territory, Queensland), M. pennicilla, sp. nov. (Northern Territory, Western Australia), M. herberti, M. malipatili, M. torresiana, and M. australiensis, spp. nov. (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia), Microvelia (Barbivelia), subgen. nov. (type species: Microvelia barbifer, sp. nov.) with the species Microvelia (Barbivelia) barbifer, sp. nov. (Queensland) and M. falcifer, sp. nov. (Northern Territory); Microvelia (Pacificovelia), subgen. nov. (type species: Microvelia oceanica Distant, 1914) with the species M. tasmaniensis, sp. nov. (Tasmania), M. lilliput, and M. kakadu, spp. nov. (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia). We further recognise the subgenus Microvelia (Picaultia), stat. nov. (type species: Picaultia pronotalis Distant, 1913), and describe the following new species: Microvelia (Picaultia) justi and M. paramega, spp. nov. (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia), and M. cassisi, sp. nov. (New South Wales). Finally, Microvelia fluvialis weiri Malipatil, 1980, is synonymised with Microvelia fluvialis Malipatil, 1980. Keys to adults of all species are provided and their distributions mapped.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Merrilyn Walton ◽  
Patrick J. Kelly ◽  
E. Mary Chiarella ◽  
Terry Carney

Objective. The aim of this study was to summarise the process and outcomes of complaints from five regulated health professions in Australia, and to compare these between the national and New South Wales (NSW) systems. Methods. This is a retrospective cohort study of all complaints lodged from 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2013 for medicine, nursing and midwifery, dentistry, psychology and pharmacy registered practitioners. Data were extracted from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, the NSW Health Professional Councils’ Authority and the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission databases. The main outcome measures were frequencies and percentages of process decisions and outcomes. Results. Systems differed in classification of complaints as conduct (national 47%; NSW 22%) and performance (national 45%; NSW 71%). Thirty-eight per cent of complaints were investigated or managed through a health or performance stream (national 40%; NSW 34%), but the national system investigated more matters (national 35%; NSW 6%). Over 50% of complaints resulted in ‘no further action’ (national 60%; NSW 70%). The most common action was caution or counsel (national 12%; NSW 15%), followed by conditions, (national 10%; NSW 5%). Practitioner registration surrender was more common with the NSW than national system (national 0.1%; NSW 1.3%), but registration suspensions or cancellations were similar (national 0.6%; NSW 1.0%). Conclusion. The main difference between the two systems is the administrative decision as to how complaints are assessed. In NSW, a classification of a complaint as ‘performance’ usually means the complaint is not investigated; rather, the practitioner is assessed by peers and may be required to undergo further education and training. Reaching agreement and understanding of complaints that should be investigated and those appropriate for performance review would strengthen a national approach to health complaint regulation. What is known about the topic? The national system of managing healthcare complaints is relatively new (since 2010) compared with the NSW system (since 1993). Annual reports of the regulatory authorities provide summaries of types and outcomes of complaints separately for each profession, and separately for NSW and the national system, but we do not know how the two systems directly compare in terms of complaint management or their outcomes. What does this paper add? This study examined how different types of complaints are managed between the two systems and whether there are any differences in outcomes. The types of complaints are almost identical between the two systems, but classification of complaints as ‘performance’ or ‘conduct’ differed. Immediate action is more common in the national than NSW system, especially for health impairment and boundary crossing. Health impairment complaints are much less likely to be discontinued at the assessment stage in NSW compared with the national system. The NSW and national systems are similar in terms of complaints proceeding to either an investigation or performance or health assessment, but the national system investigates more than the NSW system. For many types of complaints the outcomes were similar between systems, but there were clear differences for some types of complaints, such as health impairment and boundary crossing. What are the implications for practitioners? An efficient and fair regulatory system is crucial for maintaining practitioner trust, as well as trust of the public. This study shows that there are many similarities between the national and NSW systems in terms of process and outcomes, but there are differences in the way some types of complaints are assessed between the two systems. This knowledge may assist regulatory authorities in their efforts to achieve a nationally consistent approach to complaints.


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