Effects of bunch trimming and double bunch covering on yield of bananas during winter in New South Wales

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 229 ◽  
Author(s):  
GG Johns

Bunch trimming (removal of male bud and several distal hands from bunches soon after flowering), and double covering (use of 2 bunch covers simultaneously) of banana bunches that emerge during winter in northern New South Wales could have the potential to increase the size, and hence grade and price of harvested fruit. Consequently bunches were either trimmed to 6, 8 or 10 hands or left untrimmed (male bud retained), and either single or double bunch covers were applied on a commercial plantation on 3 occasions during winter, and the effects on fruit size and quality were recorded. Bunch emergence to bunch harvest interval was reduced by an average of 5 days by bunch trimming. Finger length increased with increasing severity of bunch trimming, with the average length for the top 6 hands increased by 2.3% (P<0.01) for the 10-hand treatment to 6.1% (P<0.001) for the 6-hand treatment. Finger weight increased with increasing severity of bunch trimming, with weights for the top 6 hands increased by up to 14% (P < 0.001) on the 6-hand treatment. Double covering increased finger weight of the top 6 hands by 4% (P < 0.01). Trimming to 10, 8 and 6 hands increased the yield per bunch of extra large grade fruit by 18, 23 and 39% respectively. Double covering did not affect the yield of extra large fruit significantly. After excluding hands suffering from the mixed ripe condition, the 6-hand treatment yielded 51% more marketable extra large fruit than untrimmed bunches. Potential profitability of the treatments depended on price scenario. When prices were low the 6-hand treatment appeared most profitable, but at higher prices the 10-hand treatment would be preferable. Double covering appeared not to be worthwhile for all price scenarios used.

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 1091 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Gray ◽  
V. J. Gale ◽  
S. L. Stringfellow ◽  
L. P. Raines

Commercial landings of dusky flathead (Platycephalus fuscus) from four estuaries in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, were sampled for data on sex, length and age composition between February and July each year for 2–3 years between 1995 and 1997. Landings primarily contained female fish, ranging from 55% to 93% by number for different estuaries. Flathead sampled in commercial catches ranged from 30 cm to 96 cm total length (TL), but the majority were 33–50 cm TL. Fish >40 cm TL were primarily female and male fish >45 cm TL were uncommon. The length composition of catches differed between gillnets of different mesh sizes, with the average length of fish being least in the smallest allowed mesh size of 70 mm. Fish were aged by otolith interpretation and the analysis of marginal increments indicated that one opaque and one translucent growth zone was formed each year; the opaque zone being deposited in June–August (winter) and first observed in September–October (spring). Commercial landings included fish aged 2–11+ years, but fish aged 2–4+ years dominated landings in all estuaries. The total mortality of dusky flathead in each estuary was estimated by catch curve analysis and was relatively high, ranging from 0.45 to 1.64. The data indicate that dusky flathead may be heavily exploited in NSW.


2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neill Jones ◽  
Greg Hardes ◽  
Stephen Ryan ◽  
Jennifer Sheehan ◽  
Cathryn Cox ◽  
...  

Objectives: To describe the statewide projections of acute inpatient activity in New South Wales. Methods: Data on acute inpatient activity in NSW for the period 1998?1999 to 2003?04 were derived from the Admitted Patient Data Collection. Regression analysis was used to project trends in utilisation and length of stay by age group, clinical specialty groups and stay type (day-only and overnight). The projected separation rates and length of stay were subject to clinical review. Projected separation rates (by age group, clinical speciality and stay type) were applied to NSW population projections to derive the projected number of separations. Bed-days were calculated by applying projected overnight average length of stay. Results: Total acute inpatient activity in NSW public hospitals is projected to increase from around 1.05 million separations in 2004 to around 1.3 million separations by 2017 (24%). Same-day separations are projected to increase from around 368 000 to around 514 000 (40%). Overnight separations are projected to rise from around 690 000 in 2003?04 to around 798 000 in 2016?17 (18%). Overnight bed-days are projected to increase from around 3.7 million in 2003?04 to around 4.1 million bed-days in 2017 (12%). Differences across age groups and clinical specialties are also evident from the modelling.


1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (33) ◽  
pp. 450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret A Oldham ◽  
WJ Greenhalgh

Trials were conducted in three successive years to test the response of Granny Smith, Jonathan, and Delicious apple varieties to Alar (succinic acid 2, 2-dimethyl hydrazide) applied at various times and concentrations. The results confirmed overseas reports of reduced shoot growth, increased fruit set, reduced fruit size, reduced pre-harvest drop, and, in some cases, increased blossoming the following spring. The Jonathan variety was less responsive to the growth retardant than Delicious, which was, in turn, less responsive than Granny Smith.


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