SOIL: THE PRODUCER’S MOST IMPORTANT ASSET Part 12: Ground water (iv)
Soil is the most fundamental resource for the farmer, without which food and natural fibre cannot be produced. This article forms part of a series to highlight this resource and will take a closer...
SOIL: THE PRODUCER’S MOST IMPORTANT ASSET Part 13: Air in soil
Soil is the most fundamental resource for the farmer, without which food and natural fibre cannot be produced. Because plant roots respire, the quantity of air in the soil is extremely important. Informed management...
Control of weeds in maize and wheat – Part 1: Spiny Emex
Scientific name: Emex australis
Afrikaans name: Kaapse dubbeltjie
English name: Spiny Emex, Three-cornered Jack, Devil’s thorn
Short description
Decumbent to semi-erect annual plants, up to 60 cm high when growing densely. Leaves and stems appear vivid green from seedling stage....
Control of weeds in maize and wheat – Part 3: Avena fatua (Common wild...
Scientific name: Avena fatua
Afrikaans name: Wildehawer
English name: Wild oats
Short description
Wild oats is an annual (annual = goes through whole life cycle within a year) grass, which can grow between 60 - 90 cm tall. The stems...
Control of weeds in maize and wheat – Part 4: Devil’s thorn
Scientific name: Tribulus terrestris
Afrikaans names: Dubbeltjie, platdubbeltjie, volstruisdoring
English name: Devil’s thorn, common dubbeltjie, burnut
Short description
Devil’s thorn is a pesky, annual endemic, creeping, prostrate weed that can spread up to 1 m in diameter.
The weed is multi-branched,...
Control of weeds in maize and wheat – Part 5: Amaranthus hybridus (Common pigweed,...
Spikelets and seed.
Scientific name: Amaranthus hybridus
Afrikaans name: Gewone misbredie
English name: Common pigweed
Short description
Common pigweed is an erect, multi-branched, hairless, annual herbaceous plant. It can grow up to 90 cm long, but much higher in suptropical...
Control of weeds in maize and wheat – Part 6: Herringbone grass
Scientific name: Urochloa panicoides
Afrikaans name: Beesgras
English name: Herringbone grass, Garden urochloa
Description
An annual tufted grass that can grow up to 90 cm high in favourable conditions. Culms are often decumbent with roots at the lower nodes, spreads...
Control of weeds in maize and wheat – Part 7: White goosefoot
Scientific name: Chenopodium album
Afrikaans name: Withondebossie, bloubossie, hondepisbossie, seepbossie of varkbossie
English name: White goosefoot, fat hen, wild spinach
Short description
White goosefoot is an annual, multi-branched, erect herb that can grow as tall as 1,5 m. This weed...
Control of weeds in maize and wheat – Part 8: Goose grass
Scientific name: Eleusine corocana
Afrikaans name: Jongosgras, osgras
English name: Goose grass, rapoko grass
Short description
Goose grass is an annual tufted grass, growing up to 60 cm high. The grass has a strong and well developed root system. A...
Control of weeds in maize and wheat – Part 9: Benghal wandering Jew
Scientific name: Commelina benghalensis
Afrikaans names: Bengaalse wandelende Jood, Bengaalse-Commelina,wandelende Jood, blouselblommetjie
English name: Benghal wandering Jew, Benghal Commelina, Wandering Jew
Short description
Benghal wandering Jew is a multi-branched, rather erect annual soft herb. It has thin roots and white...
