Better wood!
Decoding of the Eucalyptus tree genome unlocks new possibilities for renewable fibre, fuel and biomaterials.
Honeybees provide ‘cost-free service’
A recent study shows that honeybees play a vital role in onion hybrid seed production.
Controlling Pereskia aculeata
A biological control agent has at last been found to remove this invasive cactus from indigenous vegetation, says Dr Iain Paterson.
Using flies and maggot protein as animal feed
Insects are a promising, economically viable alternative source of high-quality protein for livestock and fish feed, reports Fidelis Zvomuya.
The way to profitable livestock production
Implementing precision farming practices in livestock farming is extremely important for ensuring long-term sustainability and profitability. In fact, it could make the difference between financial survival or ruin, SA Stud...
The farmhouse of tomorrow?
There’s more to green building than merely sun and wind. Roelof Bezuidenhout investigates the latest option for comfortable, sustainable country living.
Sheep and goat productivity – progress report
An ongoing study shows that smallstock farmers are more successful on individually owned land than on commonage.
Biological crop protection
Pathogen resistance to conventional chemicals, political and ecological pressure and alternative methods of pest control has made biocontrols increasingly sought after.
Lethal vs non-lethal control: the economic comparison
Guardian animals offer far better livestock protection than lethal methods, according to new research. They’re more effective, need less work, and are cheaper.
Cosmic probe sheds light on soil moisture
A proposed network of soil moisture probes in SA could have important consequences for food security and disaster mitigation.
Controlling the ‘famine weed’
Integrated management is needed to control parthenium, a member of the Asteraceae family and a noxious weed that threatens food security, biodiversity and human and animal health.
Digging up African treasure
Plant breeder Mohammed Mohammed, a PhD student at UKZN, is researching the Bambara groundnut, a high-protein legume.
Improving young pig performance
Dr Lia Hoving emphasises the significance of weight loss in sows during lactation. Her research shows that this can compromise a sow’s reproductive performance.
Allelopathy – test Results
In the second part of this two-part series,Dr Suzette Bezuidenhout discusses testing the allelopathic effect to control yellow nutsedge. Lloyd Phillips reports.
The allelopathic effect
Nature is truly remarkable. Plants employ strategies to reduce competition and keep other plants from growing too close. Crop scientist Dr Suzette Bezuidenhout says this has an application in weed...
Dung beetles to be used on New Zealand farms
A wave of South African dung beetles has arrived to start work on farms in New Zealand after a sojourn in Australia.
The benefits of Bt maize
Insect-resistant Bt maize is an important tool for the management of maize stem borers, according to Edson Ncube of the ARC-Grain Crops Institute (ARC-GCI) in Potchefstroom.
The fungal-bacterial ratio for soil health
Soil is a complex, integrated ecosystem. Microbiotic populations, essential to soil functioning, are indicators of soil health, says Dr Sarina Claassens.
How to stop plums from going brown
A plum can look good on the outside but be brown and inedible on the inside. Dr Mariana Jooste explains that the problem lies in the method of cold storage...
Best practice for nitrogen applications
Farmers aiming for a better crop yield often apply nitrogen at higher than recommended rates. They may want to reconsider, once the hard costs and environmental risks have been assessed....
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