Quality hybrids yield high oil content
Oilseed crops are the second-largest source of food after cereals, with a large expansion worldwide due to high demand for vegetable edible oil. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the four most important...
Machinery and implements for conventional farming systems
September 2018
JOHAN VAN BILJON and DR TINGMIN YU, ARC-Agricultural Engineering
The optimal use of the correct equipment and implements is necessary to optimise farming production and to maximise operational profit. All mechanisation actions need to...
Benefits of winter cover crops in a mixed farming system
April 2018
GERRIE TRYTSMAN, ARC-Animal Production
With a total of only 14% land suitable for arable cropping, South Africa is not well endowed with resources for dryland (rainfed) farming. Soil degradation often occurs due to monoculture...
Growing groundnuts aflatoxin-free
The groundnut or peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important food and fodder crop in the farming systems of developing countries. The seed is high in oil (close to 50% for many varieties) and...
My mielies val om: Hoekom?
September 2017
Nico Barnard, landboukundige, Pannar Saad
Teen dié tyd het die meeste produsente al klaar hul mielies gestroop. Amper elke produsent het ‘n land of twee waar die mielies omgeval het. Gewoonlik is dit net...
Benchmarking – a powerful tool
The Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) is not new to benchmarking and the effective use thereof to measure farm-level competitiveness. BFAP is part of the international agri benchmark network, where various crop-producing...
Insect rearing on artificial diets
The mass rearing of insect pests was and still continues to be an important part of agricultural research.
‘Reared insects’ refers to insects that are bred and maintained in the laboratory in contrast to those...
Management of Sclerotinia head and stem rot
February 2019
MARLESE BESTER and LISA ROTHMANN, Department of Plant Sciences: Plant Pathology Division, University of the Free State
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a hemi-biotrophic fungal plant pathogen, therefore a biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogenic lifestyle is followed. This...
Grondtipes behoort gewaskeuse te beïnvloed
Grondtipes en die invloed op gewaspotensiale of -keuses raak al hoe belangriker soos wat klimaatuiterstes gedurende die groeiseisoen druk op gewasproduksie uitoefen.
Wanneer gronde se uitruilbare suurheid nie meer wortelontwikkeling belemmer nie (by pH(KCl)>4,6), begin...
Animal diseases that can affect humans Part 5: Psittacosis or parrot fever
July 2018
DR JAN DU PREEZ, veterinary specialist, Public Health
Psittacosis is a disease that can be contracted by people who come into close contact with birds and more particularly those of the parrot family (psittacine...
