Soil mineral N and soil water content at planting, biomass accumulation, yield and grain quality parameters (hectolitermass and protein percentage) were measured on an unfertilized and recommended-N-application treatment during two consecutive growing seasons (1997-1998). The trials were planted in a fallow-wheat-wheat cropping system at three representative localities in the summer rainfall region of South Africa. High levels of available soil water and mineral N were measured following the fallow period preceding the start of the trials in 1997. For example, soil water content was 81.7%, 69.6%, and 78.2% of DUL at Bethlehem, Kroonstad and Petrusburg respectively. Although comparable total soil profile water contents to 1997 were measured in 1998 at all three sites, the cultivation zone (0-400 mm) had a substantially lower soil water content. This was due to erratic rainfall distribution during the fallow period, which prevented effective soil cultivation management, subsequent soil water conservation and residue decomposition. Undecomposed residue in the cultivation layer at planting appeared to affect availability of soil mineral N to the growing crop. At planting in 1998, undecomposed crop residue amounted to 53.6% at Bethlehem, 32.5% at Kroonstad and 46.9% at Petrusburg of that added at harvest in 1997. Soil mineral N was lower at planting in 1998 compared to 1997 due to decomposing residue (C:N ratio of above 73) in the cultivation zone immobilizing soil mineral N. This reduced initial growth, N accumulation, yield, and grain protein percentage without additional fertilizer N. Distribution of soil mineral N showed notable amounts in the 600-1200 mm soil layers, with limited changes over the trial period. This was linked to low root exploration of these soil layers (10-15% of total root distribution). The ratios of soil mineral NH(4+):N0(3)- for the different soil layers indicated similar values over the trial period. Climatic data for the localities indicated differences in the amount and distribution of rainfall and temperatures during the study period, which influenced crop development, yield and grain protein percentage. At Bethlehem above average in-season rainfall was measured during 1997, at Kroonstad average rainfall and at Petrusburg below average in-season rainfall. Response to applied N at the localities varied in magnitude during 1997. Nitrogen application significantly increased N concentrations of plant components, N uptake, yield and grain protein percentage, although values for all these parameters were lower in 1998 than in 1997. Indeed higher yields were produced in 1997 (mean=1.838 t ha(-1)) compared to 1998 (mean=0.980 t ha(-1)). A significant yield response to applied N was measured at the two higher yielding localities in both cropping years, but there was no significant response at the lower yielding locality. The limiting factors appeared to be the availability of soil water and residual soil mineral N. From the calculated response functions, the variables soil water content at planting, soil mineral N content at planting, in-season rainfall, and added fertilizer N explained the bulk of the variations in grain protein percentage, plant N uptake, and yields. It was concluded that the present fertilizer N recommendation system for dryland wheat production, which is based on fertilizer response curves for specific yield potentials, should be augmented by using initial soil mineral N and water contents in the profile measured prior to planting. / Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

African honeybee workers, Apis mellifera scutellata can activate their ovaries under queenless conditions to produce male (haploid) offspring. In contrast, laying workers of the Cape honeybee, Apis mellifera capensis, produce female (diploid) offspring via thelytokous parthenogenesis. In the early 1990’s colonies of A. m. capensis were transported into the distribution area of A. m. scutellata (corresponding to the summer rainfall region of South Africa), leading to the “capensis calamity”. Laying workers of A. m. capensis invaded and killed colonies of A. m. scutellata leading to losses of thousands of commercial colonies. A survey of the apiaries in the A. m. scutellata region was conducted over 18 months from 1997 to 1998, to determine the extent of the problem. It was found that the parasites were established in many apiaries throughout the distribution range of A. m. scutellata. As the problem seemed to be more severe with commercial and migratory beekeepers, the apiaries surveyed were divided into risk groups related to beekeeping practices. The low risk group included apiaries of beekeepers in areas that are separated from commercial beekeepers and their high risk activities. These low risk colonies were sedentary vs the migration to high risk ares eg. Aloes, sunflower pollination areas, citrus and other fruit pollination areas of the high risk apairies. The apiaries were monitored and records of the colonies’ condition were taken. Samples of workers were collected for dissection. It was found that the low risk group had a lower rate of infection, a higher production of brood and honey and a higher rate of survival over a 12 month period. The significant characteristics for identifying infection of a colony were determined as being the colour of the workers, the brood pattern, the presence of multiple eggs in cells and the presence of the queen. Indeed, the presence of dark workers with a black scutellum, an irregular brood pattern, the presence of multiple eggs in cells and the absence of queen were all prevalent in infected colonies. As sample of workers from all inspected colonies were dissected and the average ovariole counts as well of the development stage of the ovaries proved to be significant variables in the diagnosis. Other variables eg. Ovariole counts, spermatheca size and aggression proved to be not significant, but in conjunction with other variables, could be used for diagnosis. The genetic nature of the invasive parasitic population was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Nine loci were tested and the DNA fingerprints of all individuals sampled throughout the summer rainfall region were proved to be identical. This genetic identity led to the descripter of these individuals as a pseudoclone. In contrast, workers of A. m. scutellata were tested with the same loci and showed the normal distribution of an out-breeding population. In order to investigate the spread of the parasite within an apiary, colonies were exposed to heavily infected hives and inspected regularly. Ninety five percent of the colonies had either died or absconded within 12 months. It is concluded that this phenomenon of social parasitism is the consequence of apicaultural activities and that it can be managed by adopting low risk beekeeping practices. / Dissertation (MSc (Zoology and Entomology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

Thesis (Ph.D. (Geography)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Agriculture in South Africa, particularly in the summer rainfall areas, faces the challenge of optimal crop production in the face of climate change. Climate change scenarios for South Africa have been predicted to have a negative impact on agriculture particularly in the summer rainfall areas because of its dependence on climate variables. Within the context of the South African agricultural sector, it has become important to identify who and what is most vulnerable to impacts of climate change, so that support for adaptation can be targeted appropriately. The aim of this study was to assess the hazard of climate change in relation to the production of selected dryland crops, namely: sunflower, soybean, and groundnut in the summer rainfall areas and to model their vulnerability and response to climate change as well as to develop coping and adaptation strategies. A survey of 800 farmers was carried out in three agro-ecological zones of Limpopo and Free State. The population was purposively selected and were present for focus group discussions and questionnaire administration. Questions on agronomic practices, cost of production, climate change impact on productivity, coping and adaptation methods used in the face of climate change were asked. The response showed that farm production was not at the optimum, not only because of the influence of climate but as a result of the poor agronomic practices by the farmers. Following a factor analysis, 70% of the decline in crop yield was attributed to poor farming decisions. A further look at climatic factors affecting farmers indicated that frost with a 0.989 loading was the most climate extreme affecting most of the farmers. In order to buffer the effects of climate change, the farmers undertook various changes in their farm management and also received some support from the various governmental and non-governmental institutions. It was however, found that though there were policies in place for farmer support, such supports were not administered in a timely fashion and some support types were not adequate for the farmers. A correlation between the number of supports received and yields showed an increase in yield for farmers who received more than one type of support and with such variations evident across the agroecological zones. Physical modelling was conducted to model crop suitability based on downscaled data from the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios A2, (SRES A2) for the time periods centred on 2020, 2050 and 2080. The results showed areas which were not suitable for either soybean, sunflower or groundnut production in the future over time with some areas gaining and losing under different farm input regimes. To establish the effects of climate change on yield, a field experiment was carried out for two consecutive seasons and the results obtained were used to feed the AquaCrop crop simulation model to model the effects of climate change on yield under different management conditions.The results obtained from the survey, field experiments and climate indices guided the development of vulnerability indicators in a spatial manner. Using the socioeconomic and biophysical results, the vulnerability of the summer rainfall area was calculated. The results showed that areas in Limpopo, North West, Eastern Cape, and Northern Cape were the most vulnerable. Based on the types of adaptation options employed by farmers which included a change in planting dates, employing support from institutions, other sources of income, farming practices and recommendations for future adaptation, various scenarios were run in a crop simulation model to determine the cropping regimes suitable for the study area. Options included technology, on-farm management, out of farm management, human and social factors. The results indicated that coping and adaptation measures are place specific and the effects of a climate extreme are felt differently by different farming communities and farmers in the same community. It is hence recommended that the government in its policies towards alleviating the risk of farmers to climate change should look at site-specific options and not a one model fits all. Farmers should also play a role in enhancing their adaptive capacity as well. It is only when barriers are bridged and a proper network of communication established alongside resource provision, will there be a change in farmer’s attitude toward implementing suggested adaptation options. / University of Limpopo VLIR-IUC

El fenomen atmosf��ric de les brises marines adopta a l���illa de Mallorca caracter��stiques protot��piques, i la seva efectivitat permet una f��cil constataci�� com�� i la subseq��ent verificaci�� cient��fica. Operant simult��niament des de les diferents costes, les brises adquireixen un car��cter unitari i centr��pet que ocasiona converg��ncies d���aire a ��rees de l���interior, a on la precipitaci�� estival tendeix a focalitzar-se. L���espai agrari de Mallorca s���ha conformat hist��ricament amb el massiu desplegament territorial d���infrastructures de base cereal��stica, fonamentalment eres de batre. El principal factor de la seva localitzaci�� ��s la disponibilitat de vent, tot constituint unitats de significaci�� e��lica susceptibles d���interpretar-se en clau clim��tica. La seva georeferenciaci�� per fotointerpretaci�� de l���ortofotografia de l���any 1956 s���ha tradu��t en un mapa sint��tic d���eres, m��s una metodologia in��dita per a determinar indirectament les direccions del vent a cada empla��ament. El model ���anemogr��fic��� resultant s���ajusta amb relativa bondat amb les simulacions del sistema de brises precedents. / El fen��meno atmosf��rico de las brisas marinas adopta en la isla de Mallorca caracter��sticas protot��picas, y su efectividad permite una f��cil constataci��n com��n y la subsiguiente verificaci��n cient��fica. Operando simultaneamente desde las diferentes costas, las brisas adquieren un car��cter centr��peto que ocasiona convergencias de aire en ��reas del interior, donde la precipitaci��n estival tiende a focalizarse. El espacio agrario de Mallorca se ha conformado hist��ricamente con el masivo despliegue territorial de infraestructuras de base cereal��stica, fundamentalmente eras de trillar. El principal factor de su localizaci��n es la disponibilidad de viento, constituyendo unidades de significaci��n e��lica susceptibles de interpretarse en clave clim��tica. Su georeferenciaci��n por fotointerpretaci��n de la ortofotografia del a��o 1956 se traduce en un mapa sint��tico de eras, m��s una metodolog��a in��dita para determinar indirectamente las direcciones del viento en cada emplazamiento. El modelo ���anemogr��fico��� resultante se ajusta con relativa bondad con las simulaciones del sistema de brisas precedentes. / In Mallorca, sea breeze presents prototypical characteristics. It is so consistent that its effectiveness allows for easy common as well as scientifc verification. Daytime breezes operate simultaneously from different coasts, and penetrate inland. Its centripetal nature causes wind convergences in certain inland areas, where summer rainfall tend to focus. The agricultural area has historically made with massive territorial deployment of cereal production infrastructure, mainly threshing floors, the main factor of its location being the quantity of the wind resources available. These are small circular spaces that can be interpreted in relation to climate. A synthetic chart of threshing floors and a methodology designed to indirectly determine the dominant wind directions at each site have been developed, based on their geo-referencing by photo-interpretation of the ortho-photographs of 1956. The resulting ���anemographic��� model fits nicely with the main features of the sea breezes identifed by the theoretical-experimental and numerical simulations already tested.