Thesis (MScAgric (Soil Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / This thesis forms part of a research program that is investigated by ARC Infruitec- Nietvoorbij and the University of Stellenbosch. The aim of this program is to quantify the effect of soil and climate on wine quality and character as a basis for scientific demarcation of production regions. Natural factors are first quantified and characterised so that relative homogeneous natural terroir units (NTU) can be identified. Thereafter wines made from these different localities are assessed for similarities which permit grouping of localities into viticultural terroirs. The present study involved seven research plots in the Robertson district, making use of initial measurements by ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij in the 2000/01 and 2001/02 seasons together with more intensive measurements in the 2002/03 and 2003/04. The seven plots are located in two wards, Le Chasseur and Vinkrivier. Sauvignon blanc plots were marked at two localities, each with two sub-plots occurring in one block. Three Cabernet Sauvignon plots were marked out. Two plots occurred in one block in Le Chasseur and one plot in Vinkrivier. Plots within the same block were located on different soil types so that the effect of soil type on wine quality and character could be monitored. Morphological examination of soil profiles at each plot was carried out together with physical and chemical analysis of samples taken at 30cm depth intervals. Soil water content was measured at regular intervals to assess soil water tension. Vineyard performance was assessed in terms of phenology, root system studies, leafwaterpotential measurements, canopy quality assessment, leaf analysis, shoot growth, and data relating to ripening, harvest and pruning. Wines were made from each plot by ARC Infruitec- Nietvoorbij and evaluated by a tasting panel after six months and then again after eighteen months. Meteorological data were collected in each ward.

Thesis (MScAgric (Viticulture and Oenology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Soil is a component of the environment and sustains growth of several plants and animals. It forms part of the biosphere and can be described as the interface between the atmosphere and the lithosphere. The interaction between soil, climate and topography and the resulting agricultural aptitude forms the concept of terroir. This relationship is complex and it is difficult to quantify the contribution of each. Grapevines are exposed to an array of soil types. Soils have varying colours, which can be ascribed to their origin from different parent materials and pedogenetic factors. Historical and experimental evidence points to the key role that soil physical conditions play in determining grape berry composition, but other soil related factors may also play a role. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of soil surface colour on the vegetative and reproductive growth characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon. The aim was to determine whether a relationship exists between soil colour, reflective light quality below and inside the grapevine canopy, vegetative growth of the grapevine and the berry and wine composition. The reflected light from soils was measured in three positions of the canopy and across the light spectrum (300–2500 nm) for three different soil surface treatments (black, red and grey). The effect of soil colour on vegetative parameters, yield and berry composition and wine quality was investigated. Soil surface colour resulted in differences in the reflected light quality below and in the canopy. The differences in the light quality were associated with differences in vegetative parameters such as mean main leaf, with grey soils inducing higher values. Potassium levels of the grapes and berry number per bunch appeared to be influenced by soil surface colour throughout berry development with red and black soils having higher levels of potassium and berry number per bunch than grey soils. Grape ripening parameters were not influenced by soil surface colour, but the grey treatment had a significantly more intense grape colour measured at 520 nm (red pigments). It is assumed that the importance of soil colour is its association with the physical and the pedogenetic properties that contribute to the grapevine water balance. From these results it can be concluded that soil surface colour appeared to have a direct effect on some aspects of vegetative and reproductive growth, and berry composition, but the contribution of different wavebands and mechanism of their effect deserves further study.

Thesis (MscAgric (Viticulture and Oenology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Little scientific information regarding the effect of different geological parent materials on grapevine performance is currently available in South Africa. This aspect is of special significance for the Helderberg area, where parent material may change from granite to shale over a short distance. This results in shale- as well as granite-derived soils often occurring within the same vineyard. The objectives of this study were to (i) quantify the nutritional status and other soil properties of different parent materials (shale and granite) and overlying soils (ii) investigate the impact of geological differences in the soil on the vine nutritional status and certain vine parameters. This study was done over two seasons (2006/2007 and 2007/2008). Two Sauvignon blanc and two Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard blocks were selected at two different localities for each cultivar in the Helderberg area, South Africa. Shale- and granitederived soils were identified within each block. Kaolinite was the dominant mineral, whereas quartz and feldspar were sub-dominant. Traces of mica were also present in some shale- and granite-derived soils. Granite- contained significantly higher contents of coarse sand than shale-derived soils, whilst the opposite occurred in terms of fine sand. These differences affected the water holding capacity, in general making it higher in shale- than granite-derived soils. Shale-derived soils had higher concentrations of total K but granite-derived soils had a higher ability to release K as they contained higher concentrations of soluble K. The Q/I parameters, potential buffering capacity of K (PBCK) and equilibrium activity ratio of K (ARK) showed no consistent responses to geological differences. Potassium concentrations were higher in the leaf blades (obtained before harvest in 2007) from Sauvignon blanc grapevines on granite- than on shale-derived soils. Potassium concentrations in the Cabernet Sauvignon juice (obtained in 2007) tended higher in juice from granite- than from shale-derived soils. In 2008, K concentrations tended higher in juice from shale- than from granite-derived soils for both cultivars. The pH of the Sauvignon blanc juice (obtained in 2008) tended higher in juice from shale-than from granite-derived soils, thus corresponding with the K concentrations in the juice in this season. Nitrogen concentrations were higher in Cabernet Sauvignon juice (obtained in 2007) and Sauvignon blanc juice (obtained in 2008) from shalethan from granite-derived soils. In terms of vine water status, vines on granite-derived soils appeared more stressed than those on shale-derived soils in both seasons at one of the vineyards. In these Sauvignon blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, the K nutritional status was not affected by geology in a consistent manner but there were some noticeable tendencies for a specific cultivar during certain seasons. On account of vines being planted on shale- and granite-derived soils within the same block, soil preparation was done similarly for both soils, and they were exposed to similar irrigation schedules, canopy management strategies and climatic conditions. Therefore, there is a high probability that all these practices may have negated the effect of geology on the K status of soils and especially on juice K concentration at the time of harvest. It was clear that seasonal differences and fertilisation affected the nutritional status of the vines more than geology. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In Suid-Afrika is daar tans min wetenskaplike inligting oor die effek van verskillende geologiese moedermateriale op die prestasie van wingerd beskikbaar. Hierdie aspek is veral van belang in die Helderberg-area, waar moedermateriaal oor ‘n baie kort afstand van graniet na skalie kan wissel. Dit lei daartoe dat skalie-, sowel as granietgronde, dikwels binne dieselfde wingerd voorkom. Die doelwitte van die studie was om: (i) die voedingstatus en ander grondkundige eienskappe van die verskillende moedermateriale (skalie en graniet) en oorliggende gronde te kwantifiseer (ii) die impak van geologiese verskille in die grond op wingerd se voedingstatus en sekere wingerdkundige parameters, te ondersoek. Hierdie studie is oor twee seisoene (2006/2007 en 2007/2008) gedoen. Twee Sauvignon blanc en twee Cabernet Sauvignon wingerdblokke is geselekteer by twee verskillende lokaliteite vir elke kultivar in die Helderbergarea, Suid-Afrika. Beide skalie- en granietgrond is binne elke blok geïdentifiseer. Kaoliniet was die dominante mineraal, met kwarts en veldspaat sub-dominant, terwyl spore van mika ook in beide skalie- en granietgronde gevind is. Granietgronde het betekenisvol hoër hoeveelhede growwe sand bevat, terwyl skaliegronde meer fyn sand bevat het. Hierdie verskille het ‘n effek op waterhouvermoë gehad en daartoe gelei dat waterinhoude oor die algemeen hoër was vir skaliegronde. Skaliegronde het groter hoeveelhede totale K bevat, maar granietgronde se vermoë om K vry te stel was hoër, omdat hulle ‘n hoër konsentrasie oplosbare K bevat het. Die Q/I parameters, potensiële buffervermoë vir K (PBCK) en ewewig aktiwiteitsverhouding vir K (ARK), is nie op ‘n konsekwente wyse deur geologiese verskille beïnvloed nie. Vir die Sauvignon blanc wingerde was kalium konsentrasies in blaarskywe (gemonster voor oes in 2007) hoër vir graniet- as vir skaliegronde. Kalium konsentrasies in die sap vanaf Cabernet Sauvignon (gemonster in 2007) het hoër geneig vir granietgronde. In 2008 het die kalium konsentrasies, vir beide kultivars, hoër geneig in sap vanaf skaliegronde. Gedurende dié seisoen het die pH van sap ook hoër geneig vir Sauvignon blanc vanaf skaliegronde, wat dus ooreenstem met die K inhoud van die sap. Stikstof konsentrasies was hoër in sap vanaf skaliegronde vir Cabernet Sauvignon (2007) en vir Sauvignon blanc (2008). In terme van die wingerde se waterstatus, het stokke op die granietgrond, by een van die lokaliteite, geneig om gedurende beide seisoene onder groter stremming te wees op graniet as op skaliegrond. In hierdie Sauvignon blanc en Cabernet Sauvignon wingerde, is K voedingstatus nie op ‘n konsekwente wyse deur geologie geaffekteer nie, maar gedurende sommige seisoene was daar wel duidelike tendense vir ‘n spesifieke kultivar. Omdat die stokke binne dieselfde blok op skalie- en graniet gronde geplant is, was grondvoorbereiding eenders vir die twee grondtipes terwyl besproeiingskedule, lowerbestuur en klimaatstoestande ook identies was. Daar is dus ‘n hoë waarskynlikheid dat al hierdie faktore daartoe kon bygedra het dat die effek van geologie op die K status van van gronde versluier is, veral die effek op die K inhoud van sap teen oestyd. Dit was duidelik dat seisoenale klimaatsverskile en bemestingspraktyke ’n groter effek as geologie op die voedingstatus van die wingerd gehad het.

Thesis (MSc(Agric)) -- Stellenbosch University, 1966. / INLEIDING: Die ontstaan van kooperasiewese kan teruggevoer word na die jaar 1844 toe 28 wewers van Rochdale in Engeland 'n suksesvolle koöperatiewe verbruikswinkel geloods het. Die sogenaamde Rochdale-pioniers word veral onthou vanweë die feit dat hulle die beginsels van koöperasiewese duidelik geformuleer het. In Suid-Afrika speel landboukoöperasie vandag 'n belangrike rol in die bemarking van landbouprodukte, die verskaffing van boerderybenodighede en die lewering van dienste aan boere. Koöperasies is, veral in die beginjare, meesal gestig met die doel om gebreke in die bemarking en verwerking van landbouprodukte te oorbrug. In Suid-Afrika het koöperasiewese ontwikkel sedert die twintigste eeu toe 'n Ier, Mnr. P.J. Hannon na die land gebring is om te dien as superintendent van landboukoöperasies. Vandaar het dit ontwikkel tot feitlik al die sektore van die landboubedryf in Suid-Afrika.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 1932. / No Abstract Available

Thesis (MSc) -- Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: One of the main objectives of the South African Wine of Origin Scheme (SAWOS) is to guarantee the quality of wine products emerging from South Africa’s viticultural production areas by preventing the abuse of names of products originating from outstanding viticultural areas. The study of terroirs contributes to knowledge that assists in delimiting potential viticultural areas in South Africa. Terroirs are areas with homogeneous groups of natural factors that, with the aid of effective management, have the potential to produce a unique product over a recognizable period. Natural terroir units (NTU) reflect the integration of relatively homogenous environmental factors, which include topography, climate, soil and geology. This study investigates the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing methods in the identification of NTU in the Robertson wine district. Existing topographical, soil, geological and climatic GIS data layers were collected at various scales. In addition to this spatial data, orthorectified and radiometrically corrected SPOT 5 and ASTER satellite imagery were used to classify the land use/cover using an object-based image analysis (OBIA) approach. Eight land use/cover classes were distinguished by a sequential ruleset and an overall accuracy of 81.2% was achieved. The land use/cover layer was combined with the slope aspect and soil landscape to provide a three-component NTU description. One hundred and seventy NTU were identified, of which fifty five units exist for agriculture. These NTU can be used for site selection of agricultural produce and effective planning and management of land use. Climate was not included in the delimitation of NTU because the coarse resolution of climatic data could not be used to distinguish between different NTU. Therefore, all NTU identified in this research has similar climatic conditions. The major drawback of GIS-assisted terroir studies is the difficulty of representing a number of NTU on one GIS map. Therefore, it is recommended to associate the NTU map with a table of the classes instead. Furthermore, the accuracy, scale and resolution of available GIS data in South Africa influence the delimitation of NTU. Although remote sensing was found to provide efficient methods for land cover mapping, the use of multiseasonal satellite images would classify vineyards more efficiently because such an approach accounts for the different growth cycles of grapevines. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Een van die hoof doelwitte van die Suid-Afrikaanse Wyn van Oorsprongskema (SAWOS) is om die kwaliteit van wynbouprodukte afkomstig van Suid-Afrikaanse wingerdbougebiede te verseker. Die studie van terroirs is geïdentifiseer as ‘n metode om moontlike wingerdbougebiede in Suid-Afrika af te baken. Terroirs is gebiede met relatief homogene natuurlike faktore wat oor ‘n erkenbare tydperk en met behulp van effektiewe bestuur die vermoë het om ‘n unieke produk te lewer. Dié natuurlike faktore word, “natuurlike terroir eenhede” (NTE) genoem en sluit topografie, klimaat, grond en geologie in. Hierdie navorsing ondersoek die gebruik van geografiese inligtingstelsels (GIS) en afstandswaarnemingstegnieke om NTE in die Robertson-wyndistrik te identifiseer. Bestaande ruimtelike topografiese-, grond-, geologiese- en klimaatdata is op ‘n verskeidenheid skale versamel. Bykomend tot hierdie ruimtelike data, is ortogekorrigeerde en radiometries-gekalibreerde SPOT 5 en ASTER satellietbeelde gebruik om landgebruik/ -bedekking te klassifiseer. Objekgerigte beeldanalise (OGBA) is toegepas tydens hierdie klassifikasie en agt landgebruik/ -bedekkingsklasse is onderskei deur gebruik te maak van ‘n stapsgewyse reëlstel. OGBA het ‘n algehele akkuraatheid van 81.2% gelewer. Die landgebruik/ -bedekkingsdata is gekombineer met hellingaspek en die grondlandskap om ‘n drieledige NTE-beskrywing te lewer. Een honderd en sewentig NTE is geïdentifiseer waarvan daar vyf-en-vyftig eenhede vir landbou bestaan. Hierdie NTE kan aangewend word vir die selektering van geskikte terreine vir landbou-gewasse en effektiewe grondgebruikbeplanning en -bestuur. As gevolg van die bestaande klimaatdata se growwe resolusie, was dit ongeskik om te onderskei tussen verskillende NTE. Dus heers daar soortgelyke klimaatstoestande vir elke NTE wat in hierdie navorsing geïdentifiseer is. Die grootste stremmende faktor wat GIS-verwante terroir navorsing beïnvloed, is die uitdaging om ‘n groot getal NTE op een kaart voor te stel. Daarom is dit beter om die NTE kaart met ‘n tabel te assosieer. Verder beïnvloed die akkuraatheid, skaal en resolusie van beskikbare digitale geografiese data in Suid-Afrika die afbakening van NTE. Alhoewel bevind is dat afstandwaarneming ‘n effektiewe metode is om landbedekking te karteer, sal die gebruik van meerseisoenale satellietbeelde wingerde meer doelmatig karteer omdat dit verskeie siklusse in die groei van wingerde in ag neem. SLEUTELWOORDE EN FRASES terroir, natuurlike terroir eenhede (NTE), geografiese inligtingstelsels, afstandwaarneming, wingerdkunde

Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The acceleration of biodiversity loss is understood to threaten the ecosystems upon which life on earth depends. Existing conservation approaches have proved insufficient to stem global biodiversity losses. Mounting evidence indicates that responsible biodiversity conservation requires an integration of ecology with economics. Accordingly, contemporary conservation interventions incorporate a concept that ecosystems and biodiversity can be used and also conserved. In South Africa, such interventions can be appropriately applied in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), an area containing severely endangered biodiversity where land use and conservation goals rarely mesh. More than 80% of land in the CFR is privately owned, with large tracts transformed for viticulture. Conservation challenges thus include the reconciliation of wine production needs with biodiversity protection necessities. This thesis comprises a case study of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative, an organisation that simultaneously promotes biodiversity conservation in the South African wine sector, by a process of mainstreaming within an viticultural context. The overall study aim was to improve understanding of the BWI as a mainstreaming initiative. Specifically, the area of inquiry is an investigation into how effectively the BWI has protected biodiversity in the CFR between 2005 and 2008. Individual aims were to investigate reductions in threat to biodiversity in the CFR; to assess farmer adoption levels of BWI strategy; and to formulate a sustainability appraisal of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative. A strategic triangulation of methods was employed. Stakeholder interviews were conducted to probe adoption levels and opinions of BWI strategy. Case studies of two BWI champion estates provided data on best practice. Towards a critical appraisal of sustainability, an assessment was made of the BWI as a functioning mainstreaming model, which included case studies of two model farms.