Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Before 1930 the marketing of most agricultural products took place in a market environment. The agricultural marketing boards were establish in 1930, for example the Wheat Board and Maize Board. The Maize Board was establish in 1931 as a advisory board for the Government on marketing of maize. The need for a Maize Board was due to the shortfalls in marketing of maize. The most important shortfalls were the lack of marketing information and a mechanism to manage price risks, as well as price fluctuations. On the 2 October 1996 an Act on the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act 47 of 1996 was published in the Government Gazette. With this act the deregulation of the Agricultural Marketing Boards started. The cause of this was that agricultural products were back in a market environment. The act have specific aims, namely the increasing of market involvement for all roleplayers, the promotion of the efficiency of the marketing of agricultural products, the optimizing of export turnover for agricultural products and the strengthening of the viability of the agricultural sector. Naisbitt and Aburdene (1990:96) documented the folowing as one of the international trends (Megatrends): "The world is undergoing a profound shift from economies run by governments to economies run by markets". The efficiency of a market economy is illustrated in China: Only four percent of the arable land of China is cultivated by small farmers. The rest of the arable land is governmentowned farms. The Chinese government is slowly doing away with these government farms. The small farmers, their workers and their dependents make up 800 million people. They produced a third of the meat and milk and half of China's potatoes (Naisbitt & Aburdene, 1990:104). The producers in the Western Cape are not use to the situation as it was before 1930. The free market is an unknown territory for them. All the roleplayers in the market need to develop skills to train the producers on risk involved with this market environment. The author hope to help the process on the way with this thesis. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bemarking van die meeste landbouprodukte het tot ongeveer 1930 in 'n markomgewing plaasgevind. Vanaf 1930 is landboubemarkingsrade ingestel, waarvan die Mielieraad en Koringraad enkeles is. Die Mielieraad is in 1931 gestig, aanvanklik as 'n adviesraad vir die Regering omtrent die bemarking van mielies. Die behoefte aan die Mielieadviesraad het ontstaan vanweë gebreke in die mark. Die vernaamste gebreke was onder andere gebrekkige markinligting, die afwesigheid van meganismes om prysrisiko mee te bestuur en prysskommelinge wat buite verhouding was. Die gevolg van die instelling van die Mielie-adviesraad was die omvorming daarvan na die Mielieraad in 1945. Die Mielieraad was beklee met statutêre bemarkingsbevoegdhede. Op 2 Oktober 1996 is die Wet op Bemarking van Landbouprodukte Wet 47 van 1996 in die Staatskoerant gepubliseer. Hierdie wet maak voorsiening vir die deregulering van die Landboubemarkingsrade. Die gevolg hiervan is dat die bemarking van Landbouprodukte weer in 'n markomgewing geplaas word soos voor 1930. Die wet het bepaalde oogmerke, naamlik die vergroting van marktoegang vir alle markdeelnemers, die bevordering van die doeltreffendheid van die bemarking van landbouprodukte, die optimalisering van uitvoerverdienste vir landbouprodukte en die versterking van die lewensvatbaarheid van die landbousektor. Die bevryding van die bemarking van landbouprodukte plaas die Suid-Afrikaanse landboubedryf midde-in 'n markomgewing. Naisbitt en Aburdene (1990:96) dokumenteer juis bogenoemde as een van die internasionale neigings ("Megatrends") wanneer hul skryf: "The world is undergoing a profound shift from economies run by governments to economies run by markets ". Die doelmatigheid van 'n markekonomie word geïllustreer deur China as 'n voorbeeld te gebruik: Slegs vier persent van die bewerkbare oppervlakte van China word bewerk as kleinboere. Die res van die bewerkbare grond word deur staatsbeheerde boerderye bewerk. Die Chinese regering is toenemend besig om weg te doen met staatsbeheerde boerdery. Die kleinboere, hulle werkers en hulle afhanklikes verteenwoordig 800 miljoen mense. Hulle produseer 'n derde van China se vleis en melk en die helfte van die aartappels verbruik, dit op slegs vier persent van die bewerkbare oppervlakte (Naisbitt & Aburdene, 1990:104). Produsente in die Wes-Kaap wat aan die omstandighede soos voor 1930 gewoond was, is dun gesaai. Daar is dus boere wat onbekend is aan 'n vrye markomgewing. 'n Groot opvoedingstaak rus op die skouers van rolspelers in die mark om produsente so op te lei en die regte leiding te gee, dat hul voorberei kan wees op al die risiko's wat saam met deregulering gekom het. Die skrywer hoop om met hierdie werkstuk 'n klein bydrae te lewer om hierdie proses aan te help.

Thesis (MAgricAdmin)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Agriculture is heavily subsidised and protected in most of the major industrial countries. Some of the effects are obvious through the heavy costs imposed on national budgets. Other effects, such as those on consumers or on overall economic efficiency, are less obvious but are nonetheless extremely important. In South Africa there has never been an attempt to calculate total government intervention in agriculture. However, this changed at the time of the negotiations for the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations under the auspices of the GATT, and the greater importance of the consumer in the designing of agricultural policies. The aim of this study is to determine whether the production of wheat in the Western Cape is economically optimal under the current policy environment. The study investigates if there was a comparative advantage in the production of wheat as of April 1999. The technique used to calculate the various indicators of comparative advantage is the Policy Analysis Matrix. This technique is used to identify the effects of policy measures on the social profitability of wheat production. The analysis used data from eight areas, and seventeen varying enterprise budgets were constructed in order to compile a representative picture of the industry's condition. The results of the analysis indicate that Western Cape wheat producers do not have a strong comparative advantage in the production of wheat for the selected areas. The reasoning behind this is complex, but is primarily a result of high levels of input use. Input prices are inflated by policy distortions in input markets, partly because of tariffs on imported inputs. The net effect of the total policy environment also had a negative effect on producers, in the sense that sub-normal profits were achieved. The future of the Western Cape and South African wheat farmer is uncertain. What is certain is that, if the wheat farmer in South Africa does not take immediate and swift action, directed at improving efficiency in current management and production techniques, and implementing some form of crop diversification, farm debt will ultimately be the demise of the farmer. As interest rates rapidly increase, and producer prices remain constant or decrease, the farmer begins to farm more for the bank than for private remuneration. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die meeste groot industriele lande word landbou grootliks gesubsidieer en beskerm. Sommige van die effekte word weerspieël in hoë kostes in die nasionale begroting. Ander effekte soos die op verbruikers is minder vanselfsprekend, maar steeds baie belangrik. Voorheen is daar geen poging aangewend om die totale owerheidsinmenging in landbou in Suid-Afrika te bereken nie. Dit het egter verander met die onderhandelinge rondom die Uruguay Ronde van die AOTH, en die groter belangrikheid van die verbruiker in die ontwerp van landboubeleid. Die doel van hierdie studie is om te bepaal of dit ekonomies optimaal is om koring in die Wes-Kaap te produseer onder die huidige beleidsomgewing. Met ander woorde, die studie poog om te bepaal wat die vergelykende voordeel, indien enige, is by koringproduksie. Die tegniek wat gebruik is om die verskillende indikatore van vergelykende voordeel te bereken, is die Beleidsanalise Matriks of PAM. Die tegniek word gebruik om die effek van die beleid met betrekking tot koringproduksie te identifiseer. Agt produksiestreke in die Wes-Kaap is ontleed vir die doeleindes van hierdie analise. Sewentien verskillende bedryfsvertakkingsbegrotings is hiervan afgelei om sodoende 'n goeie verteenwoordigende beeld van die bedryfstoestande te kry. Die resultate van die analise toon aan dat koringproduksie in die Weskaap nie 'n sterk vergelykende voordeel het nie. Die rede hiervoor is kompleks, maar die hoë vlak van inset gebruik kan beskou word as hoofrede. Hoër insetpryse, na aanleiding van die beleidsversteuringe in insetmarkte, is deels die gevolg van invoerbeskerming in die vorm van tariewe op ingevoerde insette. Die netto effek van die totale beleidsomgewing het ook 'n negatiewe effek op die produsente gehad, veral in die sin dat subnormale winste behaal is. Die toekoms van koringboere in die Wes-Kaap en Suid-Afrika is onseker. Wat wel seker is, is dat as koringboere in Suid-Afrika nie daadwerklike en vinnige hul bestuurs- en produksieeffektiwiteit verbeter me, sal skuld toeneem en sal dit koeringboerdery se einde beteken. Soos rentekoerse vinniger toeneem en die produsenteprys konstant bly of afneem, sal boere meer aan skuld afbetaal as wat hulle uit koringboerdery kan verdien.

Thesis (MScAgric.)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: After sixty years of state control, the agricultural sector in South Africa has been transformed to the so-called free dispensation, with the driving forces being market access and rules of the WTO. On the one hand, this increased the exposure of the sector, particularly at international level where interest for South African produce developed. On the other hand, transformation induced a considerable degree of price squeeze and risk in the production of certain commodities including wheat. Notwithstanding, local wheat producers like any other farmers are generally price takers, and in some cases do not have a comparative advantage in what they produce. This is worsened by policy distortions in product markets, although to a lesser extent than before. These distortions are responsible for farmers to make decisions that are neither economically efficient nor optimal in a social sense. Therefore, the uncertain future of the wheat industry, particularly in the Western Cape, including the changing business environment, urges producers to adapt quickly if they wish to stay in business. Hence, the challenge for a farmer and agricultural support organisations is to find solutions to these problems. One of the factors that can be looked into in finding solutions is to look at the demand side of the equation by taking product differentiation and market identification into account. In other words, products that carries a specific character, and a niche market where these products attain higher prices are the main objectives of this exercise. In looking at these options, it is necessary to first study the end consumer of these products. Looking at the local market first, there is a relatively small but growing market for high priced niche products, but for the most part, local consumers are looking for low cost commoditytype products. In many cases, South Africa is marginally competitive in these products and so must look at alternative markets. On the export market, on the other hand, consumers are generally more sophisticated and specific in the kind of food they demand, where they are looking for quality and tracebility, and are willing to pay a premium which can be exploited. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine whether wheat would have a comparative advantage if produced under organic management, as a system that have products with these attributes. The study first evaluates the comparative advantage of the existing industry, the so-called conventional wheat, specifically looking at the policy environment around this commodity, as these are likely to affect the potential of organic wheat. The Policy Analysis Matrix technique is used to calculate various indicators of comparative advantage and to identify the effects of policy measures with regard to wheat. The analysis used the available data for ten selected farming areas. On the other hand, organic wheat farming is not practised in the Western Cape at present. As a result, expert assessment was used to provide information based on the reference method. As the study is the comparison of two systems, the results therefore indicates that some areas of the Western Cape do not have a comparative advantage in wheat production under conventional practices, which would not be the case if produced under organic management. The reasoning underlying this is complex, but mainly traced from high levels of input use that carries a distorting effect, partly because of tariffs on imported inputs, unlike organic production which is less subject to this effect. The net effect of the whole policy environment has a negative impact on producers including those of potential organic wheat, as some policies are likely to affect this potential industry. Consequently, it is recommended that farmers must evaluate their options by looking at systems that utilise less distorted inputs, and hence higher profits like organic farming. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Na sestig jaar van staats-geheer is die landbsektor van Suid-Afrika omvorm na In sogenaamde vrye bedeling met marktoegang en die reels van die WHO as drywers. Hierdie omvorming het enersyds die blootstelling van die landbou sektor verhoog, veral in die buiteland waar belangstelling in Suid-Afrikaanse produkte toegeneem het. Aan die ander kant het die transformasie die realiteite van die prys-koste knyptang en produksierisiko, ook in die geval van koring, na yore gebring. Plaaslike koringprodusente, soos aIle ander boere, is in die algemeen prysnemers en in sommige gevalle het hulle weinig mededingende voordele in wat hulle produseer. Dit word vererger deur beleidsversteurings in produkmarkte al is die versteurings minder as in die verlede. Die versteurings gee egter steeds daartoe aanleiding dat boere soms besluite neem wat nie ekonomies of sosiaal optimaal is nie. Dit volg dus dat die onsekere toekoms van die koringbedryf, veral in die Wes-Kaap, asook die vinnig veranderende besigheidsomgewing produsente noop om vinnig by die veranderende omstandighede aan te pas indien hulle in besigheid wil bly. Die uitdaging is dus vir boere en hul ondersteuningmeganismes om oplossings vir voorgenoemde probleme te vind. Een moontlike oplossing kan gevind word deur die potensiaal van produkdifferensiasie en mark identifikasie aan die vraagkant van die vergelyking te ondersoek. Met ander woorde, die identifikasie van nis-produkte met In spesifieke karakter wat hoer pryse behaal. Ten einde sodanige produkte te identifiseer is dit nodig om die verbruiker daarvan te analiseer. In die plaaslike mark is daar In relatiewe klein maar vinnig groeiende mark vir hoewaarde nis-produkte. Dit moet egter toegegee word dat die grootste gedeelte van plaaslike verbruikers meer ge'interesseerd is in goedkoop kommoditepe produkte. In die meeste gevalle is Suid-Afrika marginaal kompeterend in hierdie produkte en moet altematiewe markte dus ondersoek word. Hierteenoor is verbruikers in sekere gedeeltes van die uitvoermark meer gesofistikeerd en spesifiek in die aard van die produkte wat verlang word. Die fokus is veral op kwaliteit en naspoorbaarheid en sodanige verbruikers is gewoonlik bereid om In premie te betaal vir produkte wat hierdie behoeftes bevredig. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om te bepaal of organiesgeproduseerde koring In mededingende voordeel sou he indien dit aan die eienskappe van kwaliteit en naspoorbaarheid sou voldoen. In hierdie studie word die relatiewe mededingendheid van die bestaande stelsel, sogenaamde konvensionele koringproduksie, geevalueer met spesifieke verwysing na die beleidsomgewing waarbinne produksie plaasvind. Hierdie beleidsomgewing sal natuurlik ook In invloed uitoefen op die organiese produksie van koring',f 'n BeleidS}nalise ¥atriks word gebruik om verskillende indikatore van mededingende voordeel te bereken en om sodoende die invloed van die beleidsmaatreels op die koringbedryf te analiseer. Vir konvensionele produksie is bestaande data uit tien verskillende boerderygebiede gebruik. Alhoewel geen voorbeelde gevind kon word van bestaande gesertifiseerde organiese koringproduksie in die Wes-Kaap nie, is die ekspert-groep tegniek met behulp van die verwysingsmetode gebruik om die nodige data te genereer. Aangesien die studie 'n vergelyking tussen twee stelsels is, is gevind dat waar die konvensionele produksie van koring geen mededingende voordele in sekere gebiede van die Wes-Kaap geniet nie, dit weI mededingende voordele tydens organiese verbouing in hierdie gebiede geniet. Alhoewel die onderliggende redes hiervoor kompleks is, kan dit herlei word na die hoe vlakke van beleidslersteurde insette wat tydens die konvensionele produksie van koring gebruik word. Hierteenoor steun organiese produksie meer op plaasgeproduseerde insette wat die distorsies dus verminder. Die netto effek is egter dat die beleidsomgewing 'n " negatiewe impak op produsente, ingeslote potensiele organiese produsente, inhou. Gevolglik word dit aanbeveel dat produsente hul opsies moet oorweeg deur veral te fokus op stelsels, soos organiese verbouing, wat minder beleidversteurde insette gebruik en waar die winsmoontlikhede dus hoer is.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Protein and oilseed production in the winter rainfall region of South Africa (primarily the Southern and Western Cape) is well below the potential for the area. One possible method of increasing production is to convince producers that the inclusion of protein and oilseed rotational crops will enhance the sustainability of wheat production systems. A project to investigate, quantify and elucidate the effect of canola (Brassica napus), lupins (Lupinus angustifolius) and medics (Medicago spp.) on subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum) production as well as their influence on soil fertility in respect to nitrogen was initiated in 1999. The long- term rotational crop system experiment on Langgewens experimental farm near Malmesbury, provided the infrastructure for the project. During the 1999 and 2000 wheat-growing seasons, 50m2 plots were demarcated in wheat fields where wheat, lupins, canola or medics were produced in 1998 and 1999 respectively. Each plot was cleared of all vegetation and received no fertilizer N. In these fallow plots, soil samples were collected at three to four week intervals and the available nitrate-N and ammonium-N content of the topsoil (0-15cm depth) and the subsoil (15-30cm depth) were determined. Additional soil samples were also taken from the topsoil on 09/03/2000 after a summer fallow period. These samples were taken on plots that were subjected to a wheat crop in 1999, but were preceded by either wheat, canola, lupins or medics in 1998. The soil samples were then subjected to a 60-day incubation period at 15°C while being maintained at 75% of their water holding capacity. Mineral N was determined after 0, 3, 7, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of incubation. Large variation in the nitrogen contents observed made it difficult to always obtain significant differences. The results of the soil investigations however indicate that the inclusion of lupins and medics in wheat cropping systems in the Swartland could help to limit the decline of mineral N in the soil profile, experienced within a growing season. This will therefore enable farmers to reduce fertilizer inputs without facing soil mineral N depletion. Plant samples were also collected from wheat plots during the 1999 growing season on three occasions (23/06/99 (growth stage 5), 5/08/99 (growth stage 15), 14/09/99 (growth stage 23)). Plots were selected to represent the same treatments as in the soil sampling procedure during the growing season of 1999 as described above. Plant and tiller numbers of a 0.25m2 sub sample from each plot were counted and leaf area was determined, whereafter the dry material was weighed. The percentage nitrogen content in the leaves and stems were subsequently determined using Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy. In terms of vegetative growth, little difference was observed. A significant increase in nitrogen content of wheat plants growing in plots where wheat and canala were grown in 1998 was observed in the second plant sampling (growth stage 15) and this was attributed to higher nitrogen topdressing. However, on the third sampling date on 14/9/1999 (growth stage 23), the difference was no longer evident. The most important conclusion to make from this study, is that farmers can probably save on fertilizer inputs when including lupins and medics in their wheat production systems, without risking poorer wheat growth. At growth stage 28, a 0.25m2 sub sample of wheat plants was removed at a randomly chosen point in each of the plots described above. Ears and grains were subsequently counted. The wheat remaining on the plots were then harvested at the end of October 1999 using a plot combine. Subsequently the yield, hectolitre mass, thousand grain mass and % crude protein was determined from samples of harvested grain from each plot. The % flour and % bran extraction were then determined whereafter the % flour protein was determined. Micro bread loafs were baked to estimate the loaf volume. Flour and dough properties were also tested using the Falling Number System, mixograph and alveograph. Wheat in cropping systems consisting of legume phases such as lupins and medics, required less nitrogen fertilizer application to achieve statistically the same yield, flour and dough properties. These crop rotations can therefore be considered as more ecologically sustainable and economically viable for the Swartland. This study was aimed at determining the effect of different crop rotations on soil fertility, and because clear soil fertility trends take time to form, this study was probably too short to obtain fully significant differences. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Proteïen- en oliesaad produksie in die winter reënval streek van Suid Afrika (hoofsaaklik die Suid- en Weskaap) is ver benede die potensiaal vir die streek. Een moontlike manier om die produksie hiervan te verhoog is om produsente in hierdie streek te oortuig dat die insluiting van proteten en oliesaad gewasse die volhoubaarheid van koring verbouingstelsels sal verhoog. Na aanleiding hiervan, is In projek in 1999 van stapel gestuur om die effek van canola (Brassica napus), lupiene (Lupinus angustifolius) en medies (Medicago spp.) op daaropvolgende koring (Triticum aestivum) produksie, asook die invloed daarvan op grondvrugbaarheid in terme van stikstofinhoud, te ondersoek. Die langtermyn wisselbouproef op Langgewens proefplaas naby Malmesbury, het as infrastruktuur vir die ondersoek gedien. Gedurende die 1999 en 2000 koring groeiseisoene is 50m2 plotte in koringkampe gekies waarop koring, canola, lupiene en medies geproduseer is in onderskeidelik 1998 en 1999. Hierdie plotte is skoon gehou van plantegroei en het ook geen stikstof in kunsmisvorm gekry nie. Met drie tot vier week intervalle is grondmonsters op hierdie plotte versamel in die bogrond (0-15cm diep) en ondergrond (15-30cm diep), waarna die beskikbare nitraat-N en ammonium-N konsentrasie bepaal is. Adissionele grondmonsters van die bogrond is ook geneem op 9/03/2000 na In somer braak periode. Hierdie monsters was geneem op persele wat blootgestel was aan In koringproduksie in 1999, maar voorafgegaan is deur koring, canola, lupiene en medies in 1998. Hierdie monsters is dan vir 60 dae geïnkubeer teen 15°C en 75% van die grond se water houvermoeë. Minerale N inhoud bepalings is gedoen na 0, 3, 7, 15, 30, 45 en 60 dae van inkubasie. Groot variasie in die minerale stikstof inhoud, het die verkryging van herkenbare tendense en konstante statistiese verskille belemmer. Die resultate wat verkry is dui egter dat die insluiting van lupiene en medies in koring produksie stelsels in die Swartland, hoër minerale N vlakke in die grond handhaaf en dit kan boere gevolglik in staat stelom kunsmis insette te besnoei sonder dat grondvrugbaarheid verswak. Op 23/06/99 (groeistadium 5), 5/08/99 (groeistadium 15) en 14/09/99 (groeistadium 23) is plantmonsters versamel van koringpersele. Hierdie persele is gekies om die behandelings van die grondmonsterontledings soos hierbo beskryf, te verteenwoordig. Plante en halms van 'n 0.25m2 area uit die persele is getel en die blaaroppervlaktes is bepaal, waarna die droëmateriaal massa van die area bepaal is. Die persentasie stikstofinhoud van die blare en stingels was daarna bepaal. In terme van vegetatiewe groei was daar nie groot verskille te bespeur nie. Betekenisvolle hoër stikstof inhoud van koringblare in plotte waar daar in die vorige jaar canola en koring verbou was, is in die tweede planttrekking (groeistadium 15) gevind en dit is toegeskryf aan die hoër stikstof kopbemesting wat daardie behandelings ontvang het. Teen die derde monsterneming op 14/09l99 (groeistadium 23), was hierdie verskille nie meer in die ontledingsdata te sien nie. Die afleiding wat van hierdie studie gemaak is, is dat boere moontlik stikstofbemesting kan verminder as hulle lupiene en medies in hulle koring produksiestelsels inbring, sonder om die risiko van swakker groei te verhoog. Op 20/10/99 (groeistadium 28) is 0.25m2 plante van elke koringperseel verwyder waarna die are en die korrels getel is. Die koring wat nog op die persele was is teen die einde van Oktober 1999 met 'n perseelstropertjie geoes. Opbrengs, hektoliter massa, duidendkorrel massa en % ru-proteïene is daarna bepaal. Volgende is die % meel en % semel ekstraksie bepaal waarna die % meelproteïene bepaal is. Mikro broodjies is ook gebak om die broodvolume te bepaal. Meel en deeg eienskappe is ook getoets met die Falling Number System, mixogram en alveogram. Koring in produksiestelsels met peulplant fases (lupien en medies in hierdie geval), het minder N toediening nodig gehad om statisties dieselfde opbrengs, meel- en deeg eienskappe te verkry. Lupien en medic gebaseerde wisselbou praktyke in die Swartland kan gevolglik as meer ekologies volhoubaar en ekonomies haalbaar bestempelword. Hierdie studie het gepoog om die invloed van wisselbou op grondvrugbaarheid te ondersoek. Sodanige veranderings neem egter tyd en daarom is dit waarskynlik nog te gou om werklike grondvrugbaarheids verskille waar te neem.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of crop rotation and soil tillage on the soil water balance and water use efficiency of wheat, canola, lupin and medics in the Swartland sub region of the Western Cape. This trail was conducted as a component study within a long-term crop rotation/tillage trial during 2012 and 2013 at the Langgewens Research Farm (33016’42.33” S; 18042’11.62” E; 191m) of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture near Moorreesburg. The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block, with a split-plot treatment design and replicated four times. Three crop rotation systems, continues wheat (WWWW), wheat/medic/wheat/medic (WMcWMc) and wheat/canola/wheat/lupin (WCWL) were allocated to main plots. . Each main plot was subdivided into four sub-plots allocated to four tillage treatments namely: zero-till (soil left undisturbed and planted with zero-till planter), no-till (soil left undisturbed until planting and then planted with a tined no-till planter), minimum-till (soil scarified March/April and then planted with a no-till planter) and conventional tillage (soil scarified late March/early April, then ploughed and planted with a no-till planter). All straw, chaff and stubble remained on the soil surface and no-grazing was allowed on all tillage treatments. Three replicates were included in this current study. Only the no-till (NT) and conventional till (CT) were included in this current study as main tillage treatments. The volumetric soil water content was monitored at weekly intervals during the active growing season (May-October) and once a month during the fallow period (November-April) using a Diviner 2000 soil moisture meter. The Diviner 2000 was used to record the soil water content at every 100 mm depth increment up to the maximum depth of the profile. At the end of the growing season the total biomass, grain yield and quality parameters were determined. The soil water balance data calculated from the 2012 season were found to be inconclusive due to too shallow installation of soil water monitoring tubes and big variations in the depth complicating any attempt in comparing data from treatments and cropping systems. Soil water monitoring tubes was installed to a depth of 900 mm in the 2013 season. Complications during planting in the 2013 season resulted in very poor emergence in the CT sites. Weed counts revealed that only 38 % of CT sites were covered by crop, 31 % with weeds and 31 % were completely bare. The NT sites had 40 % crop coverage, 50.5 % grass weed coverage and only 9.5% bare surface. As a consequences crop rotation had no effect on the soil water balance, while the tillage treatments showed a response. The effect that tillage had on the soil water balance was clearly shown in the 2013 season, in which 79 mm more rainfall occurred than the long-term average. NT retained more soil water in the profile in the drier first half of the season when only 30 % of the total rainfall in the 2013 season occurred. There was no real difference in the soil water retention in the second half of the season where 70 % of the total rainfall in the 2013 season occurred. Crop rotation did have a positive effect on grain yield. Wheat monoculture was out performed by legume based cropping systems. This trend was also observed in the biomass production. No significant difference between tillage treatments were recorded when comparing grain yield data. However wheat mono culture was again out-performed by the McWMcW, CWLW and LWCW systems producing on average significantly higher biomass. The data from both seasons suggest that in seasons where more rainfall than the long term average occurs, there is no difference in the RUE between cropping systems or tillage practices.. This study highlighted the major effect that the prevailing weather conditions have and that the expected advantages associated with NT most likely only come into play in dry conditions when plant water availability is limited. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die invloed van grondbewerking en gewasproduksiestelsels op die grondwaterbalans en doeltreffendheid van watergebruik te ondersoek in die koringproduserende gebied van Malmesbury. Hierdie eksperiment is uitgevoer as 'n komponentstudie binne 'n langtermyn grondbewerking/gewasrotasieproef gedurende 2012 en 2013 op die Langgewens Navorsingsplaas (33016'42 .33 'S; 18042'11 0,62' E, 191m) van die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Landbou naby Moorreesburg. Die eksperiment is uitgelê as 'n volledige ewekansige blok, met 'n gesplete perseel behandelingsontwerp met vier herhalings. Drie gewasproduksiestelsels naamlik, koring monokultuur (WWWW), koring/medic/koring/medic (WMcWMc) en koring/canola/ koring/lupiene (WKWL) is elk toegeken aan persele en vier keer herhaal. Elke hoofperseel is onderverdeel in vier subpersele en bewerkingsbehandelings is soos volg toegeken: Konvensionele bewerking (CT) - grond gebreek in Maart/April, en daarna geploeg en geplant met geen bewerkingsplanter. Minimum bewerking (MT) - grond gebreek in Maart/April en daarna geplant met 'n geen bewerkingsplanter. Geen bewerking (NT) - grond is heeltemal onversteur gelaat tot planttyd en daarna geplant met 'n geen bewerkingsplanter. Zero bewerking (ZT) - grond tot planttyd met rus gelaat en dan geplant met 'n sterwielplanter. Alle strooi, kaf en stoppels het op die grondoppervlak gebly en geen beweiding is toegelaat nie. Slegs drie herhalings is ingesluit in die huidige studie en slegs die geen bewerking (NT) en konvensionele bewerking (CT) is in die huidige studie as hoof bewerkingbehandelings ingesluit. Die volumetriese grondwaterinhoud is weekliks gemonitor tydens die aktiewe groeiseisoen (Mei - Oktober) en een keer 'n maand gedurende die braaktydperk (November - April) met behulp van 'n Diviner 2000 grondvogmeter. Die Diviner 2000 is gebruik om die grondwaterinhoud by elke 100 mm diepte tot die maksimum diepte van die profiel te bepaal. Aan die einde van die seisoen is die totale biomassa, graanopbrengs en kwaliteitparameters bepaal. Die data vir grondwaterbalans van die 2012-seisoen is buite rekening gelaat weens te vlak installering van moniteringsbuise en groot variasie in die dieptelesings wat enige poging om vergelykende data van rotasie en behandelings te verkry, bemoeilik het. Moniteringsbuise vir grondwater is geïnstalleer tot op 'n diepte van 900 mm in die 2013-seisoen. Komplikasies tydens die plantaksie in die 2013-seisoen het gelei tot 'n baie swak opkoms in die CT-persele. Slegs 38 % van die CT-persele was bedek deur die gewas en 31 % met onkruid, terwyl 31 % van die oppervlak onder CT-behandeling heeltemal kaal was. Die NT-persele het 40 % gewasbedekking, 50.5 % grasbedekking en slegs 9.5 % kaal oppervlak gehad. Dit het die poging, om die effek van wisselboustelsels op die grondwaterbalans, in die wiele gery. Alhoewel wisselbou skynbaar geen effek op die grondwaterbalans gehad het nie, het die tipe bewerking egter wel ‘n effek gehad. Die effek van grondbewerking op die grondwaterbalans het duidelik na vore gekom in die 2013-seisoen. In hierdie seisoen het 79 mm meer reën geval as die langtermyngemiddelde. Geen bewerking het meer grondwater in die droër eerste helfte van die seisoen in die profiel behou, toe slegs 30% van die totale reënval in die 2013 geval het. Daar was geen beduidende verskil in die grondwaterretensie in die tweede helfte van die seisoen toe 70% van die totale reënval in die 2013 geval het nie. Wisselbou het egter 'n positiewe uitwerking op die graanopbrengs gehad. Koring monokultuur is in opbrengsyfers geklop deur stelsels met peulplante as komponent. Hierdie tendens is ook waargeneem in die biomassaproduksie. Bewerkingsbehandelings het geen beduidende verskil in graanopbrengste tot gevolg gehad nie, hoewel die biomassaproduksie van koring monokultuur weer geklop is deur die McWMcW-, CWLW- en LWCW-stelsels. Die data van beide seisoene dui daarop dat in seisoene waar meer reën as die langtermyn gemiddelde voorkom, daar geen verskil in die RUE tussen verbouingstelsels of bewerkingspraktykes was nie. Hierdie studie beklemtoon die groot invloed wat die heersende klimaat speel en dat die verwagte voordele wat verband hou met NT waarskynlik slegs ‘n rol speel in droër jare.