Monitoring water use efficiency of irrigated sugarcane production in Mpumalanga, South Africa, using SEBAL

Water Use Efficiency of Irrigated Sugarcane as Affected by Row Spacing and Variety

To meet the challenge of a limited and costly water supply, South African sugarcane growers will have to find ways of increasing the efficiency of irrigation to maintain high cane and sucrose yields. The term ‘water use efficiency’ (WUE) is generally used as a measure of the overall effectiveness of water (either rainfall or irrigation, or both) for crop production. WUE can be defined as cane y...

Sugarcane Nutrition and Fertilizer Use in South Africa

In South Africa during the past four decades considerable research has taken place on the nutrient requirements of sugarcane. Consequently marked changes have occurred in patterns of fertilizer use. The value of N, P and K fertil~zers for cane production is reviewed using field experimental data. Correlations established between soil and leaf analysis and crop responses to various nutrients are...

Occurrence of Emerging Micropollutants in Water Systems in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and North West Provinces, South Africa

The ubiquitous occurrence of emerging micropollutants (EMPs) in water is an issue of growing environmental-health concern worldwide. However, there remains a paucity of data regarding their levels and occurrence in water. This study determined the occurrence of EMPs namely: carbamazepine (CBZ), galaxolide (HHCB), caffeine (CAF), tonalide (AHTN), 4-nonylphenol (NP), and bisphenol A (BPA) in wate...

Maize and Pigeonpea Intercropping Systems in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Household fuel use and child respiratory ill health in two towns in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

BACKGROUND This cross-sectional study examined respiratory health outcomes and associated risk factors in children living in a part of South Africa characterised by high levels of air pollution. METHODS A questionnaire was used to collect self-reported respiratory health and risk factor data from the parents/guardians of children between the ages of 9 and 11 years attending primary schools in...