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 control. Lloyd Phillips reports in part 1 of two parts.
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 and can be solved.
