Fertiliser value of human manure from pilot urine-diversion toilets

Ecological sanitation is a system that, unlike the traditional waterborne sewerage and pit toilet systems, regards human excreta as a resource to be recycled rather than as a waste. There is, however, little or no information on the fertiliser value of human excreta in South Africa. This study, therefore, evaluated the effectiveness of human manure as a source of nutrients using cabbage as a test crop at Ntselamanzi location, Alice, South Africa as part of a project intended to generate knowledge and good practice in ecological sanitation. Treatments were arranged in a randomised complete block design with 4 replications and consisted of a control, 100 kg N·ha-1 as goat manure, and 4 non-zero rates of human manure and NPK fertiliser applied to supply the equivalent of 50, 100, 200, and 400 kg N·ha-1. Human manure resulted in higher cabbage yields than goat manure but was out-yielded by inorganic fertiliser. The greater effectiveness of human manure when compared with goat manure was attributed to the fact that it was a better source of K and P for plants as it maintained higher levels of these nutrients in soil than goat manure. For greater agronomic effectiveness, the human manure should be co-applied with some inorganic N fertiliser as it proved to be a poor source of nitrogen. The human manure increased soil pH and therefore has potential for improving crop growth in acidic soils through its liming effects as well. The dry human manure was evaluated as comparable to Type B sludge in South Africa with respect to microbial content and could therefore be used to fertilise some crops/plants provided stipulated restrictions to minimise human exposure are adhered to

Effects of sheep kraal manure on growth, dry matter yield and leaf nutrient composition of a local amaranthus accession in the central region of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa#

Indigenous vegetables that supply abundant amounts of protein, vitamins, calories and minerals could alleviate problems of malnutrition, in developing countries. Amaranthus is one such vegetable that could be domesticated and cultivated but information on its fertility requirements is scanty. A dry-land field experiment was therefore conducted to study the effects of sheep kraal manure application rates on growth, fresh and dry matter yields, nutrient uptake and grain yield of one of the Amaranthus accessions that grow in the wild in the Eastern Cape. The treatments were sheep kraal manure rates rangingfrom 0 to 10 t/ha and an NPK {2:3:4(30) + 0.5% Zn} fertiliser as a positive control at 150 kg/ha. Low manure rates (.2.5 t/ha) resulted in plant heights and fresh matter yields which were comparable to those in the unfertilised control, whereas higher rates (5 and 10 t/ha) and NPK fertiliser gave greater plant heights and higher yields at both 30 and 60 days after transplant (DAT) (

Nutritional quality of vegetable and seed from different accessions of Amaranthus in South Africa

Amaranthus vegetable and seed are highly nutritious, but in many parts of South Africa they are hardly utilised as food. Assessment of five accessions of Amaranthus available in South Africa was carried out to select the best accession for vegetable and seed. Seeds were planted in pots in a glass house and leaves and seed were harvested. Leaves were analysed for ascorbic acid, crude protein, nitrate and minerals. Seeds were analysed for protein, fat and minerals.Ascorbic acid content in the leaves varied between 630 and 496 mg/100g. V2 contained significantly higher amount of nitrates (1 474 mg/100g) while VOP and AMA17 had the lowest (729 mg/100g). AMA 17 leaves had the highest concentrations for all the minerals that were determined in leaves. The seeds of AMA17 contained significantly higher amounts of manganese, calcium and zinc than the seeds from all other accessions and it is therefore most recommended, especially in view of the more favourable health aspects thereof. VOP seed would probably be more acceptable to the local population as food because of the cream colour compared to the black colour of the other accessions.Keywords: Amaranthus accessions, nitrates, nutrient content, manganese, calcium, zin

Effects of sheep kraal manure on growth, dry matter yield and leaf nutrient composition of a local Amaranthus accession in the central region of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Indigenous vegetables that supply abundant amounts of protein, vitamins, calories and minerals could alleviate problems of malnutrition, in developing countries. Amaranthus is one such vegetable that could be domesticated and cultivated but information on its fertility requirements is scanty. A dry-land field experiment was therefore conducted to study the effects of sheep kraal manure application rates on growth, fresh and dry matter yields, nutrient uptake and grain yield of one of the Amaranthus accessions that grow in the wild in the Eastern Cape. The treatments were sheep kraal manure rates ranging from 0 to 10 t/ha and an NPK {2:3:4(30) + 0.5% Zn} fertiliser as a positive control at 150 kg/ha. Low manure rates (≤2.5 t/ha) resulted in plant heights and fresh matter yields which were comparable to those in the unfertilised control, whereas higher rates (5 and 10 t/ha) and NPK fertiliser gave greater plant heights and higher yields at both 30 and 60 days after transplant (DAT) (p<0.05). At 30 DAT, manure application rates of ≥2.5 t/ha and the NPK fertiliser treatment, produced greater shoot dry-matter yields (≥29.35 g/plant) than the unfertilised control (17.11 g/plant). Uptake of N and P in the leaves increased with increase in manure application rate with N uptake reaching a maximum of 308 mg N /plant at a manure rate of 2.5 t/ha which corresponded with the maximum dry matter yield of 45.97 g/plant. There was no effect of manure rate or fertiliser on residual soil N and Ca, whereas P, K, Mg and Zn were increased (p<0.005). The findings suggested that ≥2.5 t/ha sheep kraal manure could result in growth, nutrient uptake and yield comparable to 150 kg/ha NPK fertiliser for the Amaranthus accession used in this work.Keywords: Amaranthus accession, sheep manure, dry matter yield, nutrient composition, residual nutrient

Effectiveness of combined thermophilic composting and vermicomposting on biodegradation and sanitization of mixtures of dairy manure and waste paper

Thermophilic composting is commonly used for the treatment of organic wastes or for production of organic/natural fertilizers. Vermicomposting (V) is also increasingly becoming popular. These two techniques have their inherent advantages and disadvantages. In this study, vermicomposting and a combination of thermophilic composting and vermicomposting were compared as ways of sanitizing and biodegrading dairy manure and waste paper mixtures with C:N ratios of 30 and 45. Wastes with a C:N ratio of 30 proved more suitable for both vermicomposting and combined thermophilic composting and vermicomposting as their composts were more stabilized and with higher nutrient contents than composts made from wastes with a C:N ratio of 45. Both vermicomposting and combined compostingand vermicomposting were effective methods for the biodegradation of dairy manure and paper waste mixtures with C:N ratio of 30 but the latter was more effective in the biodegradation of waste mixtures with a C:N ratio of 45. Combining therrmophilic composting and vermicomposting eliminated the indicator pathogen Escherichia coli 0157 from the final composts whereas vermicomposting only managed to reduce the pathogen population

Reduced dosages of atrazine and narrow rows can provide adequate weed control in smallholder irrigated maize (Zea mays L.) production in South Africa

An on-farm experiment was conducted in Zanyokwe irrigation scheme to investigate the effects of row spacing (45 and 90 cm) and atrazine dosage (33, 67 and 100% of the label recommended dosage) on weed density and biomass and on maize yield. Overall percent kill of weeds increased with increase in atrazine dosage and with reduction in row spacing. Percent kill varied according to weed species with a 100% kill of broad leaf weeds such as Amaranthus hybridus, Nicandra physaloides and Bidens pilosa regardless of herbicide dosage while Digitaria sanguinalis, Cyperus esculentus, Cynodon dactylon and Oxalis latifolia could not be controlled even at the LRD. Weed density at maize physiological maturity decreased by 11% when row spacing was decreased from 90 to 45 cm. Atrazine dosage and row spacing did not have significant interactive effects and their main effects did not significantly affect weight of green cobs, cob length or grain yield. The study demonstrated the possibility of incorporation of reduced herbicide dosages and narrow rows to achieve adequate weed control and optimise on yields in smallholder farming systems.Key words: Row spacing, reduced atrazine dosages, weed density, weed biomass, maize yield

Smallholder irrigation schemes in South Africa: A review of knowledge generated by the Water Research Commission

The status and characteristics of the 302 smallholder irrigation schemes found in South Africa are discussed and knowledge on South African smallholder irrigation schemes generated by the Water Research Commission (WRC) over a period of nearly 20 years is reviewed. Themes covered include planning, design and technology; plot-holders and their livelihoods; institutions and organisations; support services; agronomic practices; and revitalisation. The availability of guidelines on most of these aspects is highlighted. Gaps in the knowledge of social, human and economic aspects of smallholder irrigation schemes are pointed out.Keywords: smallholder, irrigation scheme, plot size, technology, livelihoods, farmer support, institutions, organisations, revitalisation, managemen

Inoculation effects of two South African cyanobacteria strains on aggregate stability of a silt loam soil

Two South African cyanobacteria strains (coded 3g and 7e) of the genus Nostoc were evaluated for  improvement of the aggregate stability of a silty loam soil with low organic C content and compared with  Nostoc strain 9v isolated from a Tanzanian soil. The soil was either cropped with maize or non-cropped and  inoculated with the three strains in a glasshouse. After 42 days, the aggregate stability based on mean weight  diameter (MWD) and fragment size distribution were determined by fast wetting, wet stirring and slow  wetting methods. Inoculation of the soil with strains 3g and 7e improved the soil’s MWD and increased its  proportion of large aggregates, particularly in the cropped soil. The opposite was the case for aggregates in soils inoculated with the reference strain 9v. Strain 3g resulted in greater improvement of MWD estimated by fast wetting, while strains 7e and 9v improved aggregate stability estimated by wet stirring. Improvement of aggregate stability was more related to exocellular polysaccharide (EPS) content than organic C. The results suggest that indigenous strains with high potential for EPS production could improve the soil structural  stability of degraded soils in South Africa.Key words: Aggregate stability, exocellular polysaccharides, indigenous cyanobacteria, mean weight diameter

Effects of transgenic maize expressing the Cry1Ab protein (event MON810) on locally adapted earthworms in a sandy loam soil in the Central Eastern Cape, South Africa

This field study investigated effects of growing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize (MON810) on local earthworms in the Central Eastern Cape, South Africa. Two Bt maize cultivars (DKC61-25B and PAN6Q-321B) and their near-isolines (DKC61-24 and PAN6777) were grown in the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 summer seasons. Earthworms were sampled after six, nine and eighteen weeks in 2009/2010 and after six, twelve and twenty-one weeks in the 2010/2011 season. The four maize treatments had similar earthworm counts, irrespective of sampling time, in both seasons. Sampling time had no effect in the 2009/2010 season, whereas the earthworm counts at 21 weeks after planting (WAP) were lower than the other two sampling times during the 2010/2011 season. The findings suggested that, at least in the short-term, growing Bt maize does not have negative effects on the numbers of the earthworms in the Central Eastern Cape, South Africa.Key words: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize, Cry1Ab protein, earthworm counts

El comportamiento de los lectores en tiempos de crisis: el caso de las bibliotecas públicas de la ciudad de Barcelona

The purpose of this article is to study the influence of the economic crisis on readers’ information behavior in Barcelona’s public libraries. A questionnaire was administered to 619 readers over 16 years of age. The results obtained allow for a description of the readers’ behavior in five different situations related to library use as a result of the economic crisis: the need to be more informed, the increase in library visits, the influence of the economic situation on contents selection, proactivity for transforming vocational and employment status, and the interest in the socioeconomic situation.<br><br>El artículo estudia la influencia de la crisis económica en el comportamiento informativo de los lectores en las bibliotecas públicas de la ciudad de Barcelona. Se ha desarrollado un cuestionario específico que han respondido 619 lectores mayores de 16 años. Los resultados obtenidos permiten describir su comportamiento en cinco situaciones distintas relacionadas con el uso de la biblioteca a raíz de la crisis: necesidad de estar más informados, visitar más la biblioteca, seleccionar contenidos por la influencia de la situación económica, proactividad para transformar la situación profesional y laboral e interés por la coyuntura socioeconómica