Thesis (M.A. Agricultural Management (Crop Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / Guar bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub) is a drought tolerant leguminous crop usually grown for its seed which has a special gum (galactomannan) used in the food and the mining industries. The study aimed at evaluation of yield potential and agronomic management of 14 determinate and indeterminate guar accession lines sourced from the Australian Tropical Crops and Forages collection grown under dry-land conditions of Limpopo province and assessing their response to phosphorus and inoculation. Two different experiments, one on variety evaluation and the other on response to P fertilizer and inoculation were conducted during 2006/7 and 2007/8 growing seasons at Syferkuil and Tompi Seleka in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. There were significant differences amongst the 14 guar accession lines at Syferkuil during 2006/7 and 2007/8 and Tompi Seleka during 2007/8 growing seasons. Tompi Seleka showed higher potential for guar bean production over Syferkuil on the basis of grain yield. Seed yield from the two locations during the two seasons ranged from 326 kg ha-1 by variety Stonewall to 2340 kg ha-1 by variety Durgapurasaffed. At Syferkuil in 2006/7 Brooks variety recorded the highest seed yield of 1103 kg ha-1 while Hall achieved lowest seed yield of 353 kg ha-1. During 2007/8 at Syferkuil, TRCF 95203 recorded the highest seed yield of 701 kg ha-1 and Stonewall recorded lowest of 326 kg ha-1. At Tompi Seleka in the same season, the highest yield was recorded with Durgpurasaffed variety that recorded 2340 kg ha-1 and lowest Stonewall with 720 kg ha-1. The varieties which consistently performed well and were within the top five performing lines at the two locations were Durgapurasaffed, TRCF CSIRO and Brooks. The accession lines at Tompi Seleka experiment gave higher dry matter and seed yields than at Syferkuil, suggesting their preference for hot environments. In the second experiment, the response of two guar bean varieties to phosphorus level and inoculation was evaluated. Variety did not influence seed yield. Application of phosphorus (P) at 60 kg ha-1 plus inoculation significantly increased seed yield. At Tompi Seleka 2007/8 season, 60 kg ha-1 of P application achieved seed yield 37% higher than the control treatment. In the same season at Syferkuil the highest seed yield was also recorded at 60 kg ha-1 P application and was 57% xiii more than lowest seed yield from the control treatment. Grain yield significantly increased during 2006/7 as influenced by P application rate of 30 kg ha-1 compared to zero P fertilizer while there was no significant different between P rates during 2007/8 season at this site. The results from the study showed good response P application in the range of 30 to 60 kg ha-1. Inoculation significantly increased seed and dry matter yield at all sites. Variety X P levels and variety X inoculation interactions significantly influenced seed yield and dry matter at all sites. Both varieties achieved the highest seed yield at 60 kg ha-1 and the lowest was with the control at Syferkuil for both varieties. At Tompi Seleka, the control and application 30 kg ha-1 of fertilizer gave similar seed yield for both varieties. At Syferkuil in 2006/7 and Tompi Seleka in 2007/8 both Stonewall and Cedric were higher with inoculation but in 2007/8 Cedric had lower seed yield with inoculation at Syferkuil. The Phosphorus X inoculation interaction was significant with combination of 60 kg P ha-1 and inoculation giving significantly higher seed yield than the 0 kg P ha-1 and no inoculation. Future experiments should consider inclusion test in these guar accession under dryland conditions, levels of P higher than 60 kg P ha-1, include nodulation data, quality evaluation of guar seed and conducting basic growth margin analysis on P and inoculation of guar. / ACIAR Project

MSc (Plant Production) / Department of Plant Production / See the attached abstract below

MRDV / Institute for Rural Development / This study originated from the realisation that non-conventional crops such as Bambara nuts (Vigna subterranea) were becoming increasingly important in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition in the smallholder farming sector of countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, some of the smallholder crop farmers were observed to be continuing to rely on indigenous techniques to forecast rainfall and adapt agricultural activities in response to climate variability. However, it was not clear how climate change influenced the productivity of V. subterranea. Nor were the indigenous approaches that farmers used to forecast rainfall on this phenomenon well understood. Thus, a study was carried out to identify and document indigenous approaches that smallholder farmers used to forecast rainfall and adaptation practices relating to V. subterranea. The study was conducted in Xigalo and Lambani villages located in Collins Chabane Local Municipality of Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. The villages served as case study areas that helped to compare the native approaches that the Va-Tsonga and Vha-Venda used to forecast rainfall in the course of producing V. subterranea. A multi-case study research design, which was exploratory in nature was adopted. Convenience and snowball sampling techniques were used to identify and select respondents. The triangulation of participatory methods, techniques and tools guided the collection of qualitative data. Key informant interviews, learning circles, photovoice, one-on-one interviews and narrative inquiry techniques were applied during data collection. Smallholder farmers and the elderly members of communities were the respondents. Nine key informants in Xigalo and Lambani villages were interviewed. One retired and two currently serving government extension officers were also interviewed. Separate learning circles comprising mainly elderly men and women were also organised. Each learning circle was made up of 7-10 respondents. Atlas.ti version 7.5.7 software was used to analyse the qualitative data following the thematic content analysis approach. It was observed that the respondents were aware of climate variability events that affected V. subterranea. Some of the events were shifts in rainfall patterns, heavy rainfall, extreme temperatures, scarcity of summer rainfall, the disappearance of lunar signs and the seasonal cycle variations. Eighteen types of phenological signs used to predict rainfall were identified. The most common signs included the Milky Way Galaxy of stars, musical sounds of birds and frogs, moon shapes, cumulus and cumulonimbus cloud types. A close relationship between conservation of V. subterranea and adaptation strategies was said to exist. It was evident that most commonly used conservation strategies were rainmaking ceremonies, planting after the summer rains, hoeing weeds, soaking seeds before planting, hilling or earthing up around the base of the V. subterranea plant and storing the legumes in traditional vessels and sacks. The need for integrating western scientific knowledge with native forecasts to inform the production of V. subterranea was uncovered. In addition to this, the needs of Tsonga and Venda communities should inform local policy interventions. Lastly, adaptation strategies that address food insecurity with V. subterranea being part of the agro-ecosystem deserve attention in scientific investigation and policymaking. / NRF