Weed control in rice with metham-sodium.

Metam-sodium is a soil fumigant with herbicidal properties. A field experiment was conducted in 2000 at Copiano (Pavia, Italy) to determine the efficacy of three rates of metam-sodium (300, 450 and 600 l/ha) at three different planting times (5, 12 and 18 days after chemical treatments) for the control of weeds in rice cultivation. The study mainly focused on the control of red rice (Oryza sativa var. selvatica), a weed which is worldwide distributed in rice fields and difficult to eradicate Test design was a split-plot with four replications. The main plot size was 13, 5 by 15 m and the subplot size was 13, 5 by 5 m. The chemical treatments were carried out as pre-sowing. Two days after chemical treatments, all field plots were flooded with 10 cm of water as practiced locally. An early variety of rice (Loto) was sown at 150 kg/ha. Weed control was visually evaluated as a percentage of ground covering by all weeds and by each weed individually at three, four and five weeks after treatments. Observations were made also on rice selectivity, and rice grain yield was assessed at the end. Metam-sodium did not injure the rice plants. Metam-sodium at 450 l/ha controlled 100%, 97% and 92% of red rice at the first, second and third observations, respectively. Good results were also obtained with metam-sodium at 300 and 600 l/ha, which controlled 94 to 82% of red rice during the season. Echinochloa crus-galli was better controlled with the higher rates of metam-sodium, particularly in the early part of the season. Metam-sodium did not show enough efficacy in this study against Heteranthera reniformis, Bulboschoenus maritimus and Lindernia spp. The best rice grain yield was obtained with all rates of metam-sodium, when rice was sown 5 days after treatment.

Effects of distillery vinasses on vineyard yield and quality in the D.O.C "Oltrepò Pavese Pinot Nero"--Lombardy, Italy.

In a fifteen year old vineyard of Pinot Noir at a density of 5000 vines per hectares, located in the DOC zone Oltrepò Pavese, the influence of growing doses of distillery vinasses on vegetative growth, leaf mineral levels, grape yield and quality was tested in a four year period. Doses of vinasses were computed to apply 0 (test), 50, 100, 150 kg N ha(-1). Vinasses doses were factorially combined with three levels of urea (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha(-1)). In plots without vinasses supply, ureic nitrogen reduced the number of blind buds and increased the potential and actual bud fertility. The application of vinasses nitrogen had a similar result, even if ureic and vinasses nitrogen had no additive effects. The most profitable grape yield was obtained by application of 50 kg ha(-1) of nitrogen either in urea or in vinasses form. Highest vinasses supply improved the ripening levels of grapes increasing sugars and reducing acidity of juice. Results clearly show the possibility to use vinasses for proper vineyard fertilisation.

Effects of water management and herbicide treatments on red rice control.

Two field experiments were conducted in 1999 and 2000 at Zeme (Pavia, Italy) to determine the effects of water managements and herbicide treatments on red rice control. In the first experiment, all plots were flooded 10-13 cm deep from April 1 to May 17 in 1999 and from April 3 to May 6 in 2000. At the same time, in the second experiment, the plots were alternately drained-flooded. At the end of water management, all plots of both experiments were drained and sprayed with herbicides to control the emerged red rice plants. In both years were applied: Propaquizafop 78 g a.i.ha-1, Cycloxydim at 300 and 400 g a.i. ha-1; Dalapon at 15.300 Kg a.i. ha-1; Quizalofop-ethyl at 100 g a.i. ha-1. Six days after the chemical treatments, all field plots were flooded 10 cm deep and three days later, an early variety of rice (Loto) was sown at 150 Kg ha-1. Seedling emergence was reduced by lack of oxygen (especially from seeds covered with soil in flooded condition). In alternately drained-flooded soil, the red rice emerged and developed from seeds located in the top 4-5 cm. In flooded condition, no red rice plants emerged from seeds at more than 1 cm depth. In both experiments, the density of red rice plants increased during the season in the untreated check and in the plots where treatments were ineffective or performed poorly. The best red rice control, both in submerged and in alternately drained-flooded soil, was obtained with Quizalofop-ethyl (100 g a.i./ha), Cycloxydim (300 and 400 g a.i.ha-1) and Propaquizafop (78 g a.i.ha-1). These herbicides controlled 90-99% of red rice. Partial control of red rice resulted with the other chemical treatments. The shattered grains of red rice were reduced in both experiments by the herbicide treatments. Grain yield reflected the level of red rice control. In fact, the highest commercial grain yields were obtained with Quizalofop-ethyl, Propaquizafop, and Cycloxydim (400 g a.i.ha-1), in both years and experiments. The red rice percentages of the total yields resulted about 3.6-5.7% with all chemical treatments except Dalapon, which was not much effective.

Priapism of the clitoris.

Priapism of the clitoris is a rare entity. A case of painful priapism is reported in a patient who had previously suffered a radical cystectomy for bladder carcinoma pT3-GIII, followed by local recurrence in the pelvis. From a symptomatic point of view she showed a good response to conservative treatment (analgesics and anxiolytics), as she refused surgical treatment. She survived 6 months from the recurrence, and died with lung metastases. The priapism did not recur. The physiopathological mechanisms involved in the process are discussed and the literature reviewed.