Department of Agronomy
Collections in this community
Recent Submissions
-
Manure and biochar effects on soil properties, in addition to crop growth and yield characteristics, with sweet sorghum as a test crop
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Manure use in smallholder farming is common in managing soil and crop productivity but consists of drawbacks like high greenhouse gas emissions and rapid mineralisation. Biochar is currently identified ... -
Controlled release fertiliser as a management tool for productivity of tunnel-grown tomatoes
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: To be able to grow crops such as tomatoes on a commercial scale under stringent controlled conditions in what is termed controlled environment agriculture (CEA), requires a great amount of expertise and ... -
The influence of zinc content on wheat seed quality and vigour
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is the objective of every farmer to obtain high yields and therefore the use of good quality seeds is of importance. Most soils that support wheat cultivation are zinc (Zn) deficient. Biofortification ... -
Genetic evidence for plural introduction pathways of the invasive weed Paterson’s curse (Echium plantagineum L.) to southern Australia
(Public Library of Science, 2019-09-19)Paterson’s curse (Echium plantagineum L. (Boraginaceae)), is an herbaceous annual native to Western Europe and northwest Africa. It has been recorded in Australia since the 1800’s and is now a major weed in pastures and ... -
Opportunities and challenges for seasonal climate forecasts to more effectively assist smallholder farming decisions
(ASSAf, 2020-01-29)The ability of smallholder farmers to utilise seasonal climate forecast (SCF) information in farm planning to reflect anticipated climate is a precursor to improved farm management. However, the integration of SCF by ... -
Seed-drill opener type and crop residue load affect canola establishment, but only residue load affects yield
(American Society of Agronomy, 2019)Core Ideas Canola establishment can be affected by the residues of the previous crop. Different planting tools may handle crop residue differently. Tine and disc furrow openers at different residue loads were tested. Canola ... -
Canola is injured by in‐row nitrogen placement associated with disc openers, but not by tine openers
(Crop Science Society of America, 2020)Seed drills are used in no‐tillage systems to place seed directly in soil. Various furrow openers exist, each with unique seed and fertilizer placement characteristics, particularly positioning of fertilizer in relation ... -
A prospectus for sustainability of rainfed maize production systems in South Africa
(Crop Science Society of America, 2020)The rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) production systems of South Africa require an integrated approach to use the limited soil available water more efficiently, and to increase system productivity and sustainability. The soils ... -
A comparison of experimental designs for cultivar evaluations
(Taylor and Francis, 2020)Spatial heterogeneity and the lack of clear or significant treatment responses in agricultural field experiments complicates recommending the most suitable cultivar(s) to producers for a specific area. Increased attention ... -
Use of biostimulants to assess the production of the underutilised legume, Bambara groundnut
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Underutilised crops are an important part of local diets but have not been fully adopted in modern agriculture. Often, they are cultivated in marginal lands with low, if any, nutrients. The need for ... -
Seed viability versus seed vigour of canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars in South Africa and the impact on establishment
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Laboratory, greenhouse and field trials were conducted in 2020 to compare the effectiveness of general seed quality parameters and certain seed vigour parameters to the actual field establishment success ... -
Crop response in the Western Cape of South Africa to liming soil under no-tillage and following once-off tillage in a no-tillage regime
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Soil acidity, and the stratification thereof, was found throughout the Western Cape Province. Soil acidity is especially prevalent in the Swartland, where 19.3% of soils in this region have been found to ... -
Wheat response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi application in the Western Cape
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the main cereal crop being planted in the Western Cape of South Africa and is also accounts for over 40% of the world’s cereal. Wheat can be grown under a variety of environmental ... -
Physical and allelopathic effects of crop residue on wheat, barley and canola production
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch UniversityStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Retention of crop residue has many benefits such as moisture conservation, improvement of soil health and reduction in soil erosion. Residue retention together with no-tillage and crop diversification ... -
Liming strategies for barley and canola production under no-tillage.
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The slow movement of lime in soil combined with no-tillage practices that restricts the incorporation of surface broadcast lime deeper into the soil has led to an increase in soil acid stratification ... -
Extent of soil acidity in no-tillage systems in the Western Cape Province of South Africa
(MDPI, 2020)Roughly 90% of farmers in the Western Cape Province of South Africa have converted to no-tillage systems to improve the efficiency of crop production. Implementation of no-tillage restricts the mixing of soil amendments, ... -
Benefits are limited with high nitrogen fertiliser rates in kikuyu-ryegrass pasture systems
(MDPI, 2020)Nitrogen (N) fertiliser is applied to pastures in dairy farming systems to ensure productivity, but it is an expensive input that could be damaging to the environment if used excessively. In the southern Cape region of ... -
Developing management strategies to support sustainable production of lucerne in long-rotation cropping systems
(Stellenbosch -- Stellenbosch University, 2020-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) forms part of long-rotation cropping systems integrated with livestock in the southern Cape of South Africa. The lucerne phase is five to seven years long, followed by five ... -
Factors that have an influence on splitting of malting spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the second most produced small grain crop, where most of the barley is used by the beer-brewery industry for malting purposes. The Southern Cape (dryland) ... -
New perspectives on plant population and row spacing of rainfed maize
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Recent maize grain yield increases are attributed to genetic advances and changes in soil and crop management practices, including no-tillage (NT) and additional conservation agriculture (CA) practices. ...
RSS 1.0