The contribution of NTFPS to rural livelihoods in different agro-ecological zones of South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
pp. 101983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Worship Mugido ◽  
Charlie M. Shackleton
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

scholarly journals Modelling maize grain yield and nitrate leaching from sludge-amended soils across agro-ecological zones: A case study from South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4 October) ◽  
Author(s):  
ZM Ogbazghi ◽  
EH Tesfamariam ◽  
JG Annandale
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizer ◽  
Amended Soils ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Sludge Application ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

When applying municipal sludge according to crop N requirements, the primary aim should be optimizing sludge application rates in order to maximize crop yield and minimize environmental impacts through nitrate leaching. Nitrate leaching and subsequent groundwater contamination is potentially one of the most important factors limiting the long-term viability of sludge application to agricultural soils. This study assessed maize grain yield and potential nitrate leaching from sludge-amended soils, using the SWB-Sci model, based on crop nitrogen requirements and inorganic fertilizer. The following hypotheses were tested using the SWB­-Sci model and 20 years of measured weather data for 4 of the 6 South African agro-ecological zones. Under dryland maize cropping, grain yield and nitrate leaching from sludge-amended soils compared to inorganic fertilizer: (1) will remain the same across agro-ecological zones and sites, (2) will not vary across seasons at a specific site, and (3) will not vary across soil textures. Model simulations showed that annual maize grain yield and nitrate leaching varied significantly (P > 0.05) across the four agro-ecological zones, both for sludge-amended and inorganic fertilizer amended soils. The annual maize grain yield and nitrate leaching from sludge-amended soils were 12.6 t∙ha-1 and 32.7 kgNO3-N∙ha−1 compared to 10.2 t∙ha-1 and 43.2 kgNO3-N∙ha−1 for inorganic fertilizer in the super-humid zone. Similarly, maize grain yield and nitrate leaching varied significantly across seasons and soil textures for both sludge and inorganic fertilizer amended soils. However, nitrate losses were lower from sludge-amended soils (2.3–8.2%) compared to inorganic fertilizer (11.1–26.7%) across all zones in South Africa. Therefore, sludge applied according to crop N requirements has a lower environmental impact from nitrate leaching than commercial inorganic fertilizer. Further validation of these findings is recommended, using field studies, and monitoring potential P accumulation for soils that received sludge according to crop N requirements.

scholarly journals Learning from the grassroots: The case for the consideration of community-based agrarian and food security reforms in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 18711-18731
Author(s):  
Yiseyon Sunday Hosu ◽  
◽  
S Ndhleve ◽  
HM Kabiti ◽  
SFG Yusuf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information System ◽  
Gis Mapping ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Small Holding ◽  
Small Holders ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Farming Households ◽  
Small Holder ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

Studies of projected agro-climatic variability on the productivity of small-holding farming livelihoods have been evaluated by indirect methods using simulation models on country or regional basis but few have been done at the community level. This study explores direct observation of the impact of soil and climate factors on crop and livestock livelihood systems in the three major agro-ecological zones of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It also analyzed their influence on small farmers’ choices of agrarian livelihood activities and the lessons learned for the suitability of agro-ecologically integrated agriculture as part of agrarian and food security reforms needed among small farming households in rural communities of South Africa. The impact of soil and rainfall on the crop and livestock livelihood choices of small-holders in the three major agro-ecological zones were explored. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 223 small-holding farming households during the harvesting period of rain-fed farming season. Data on household livelihood activities were processed in monetary terms and subjected to gross margin and cost/benefit analysis. Geographic information system (GIS) mapping and statistical analysis were used to determine the association of small-holder maize revenue with agro-climatic variation. The results indicated that crop-based activities performed better in the Grassland zone, while livestock activities performed better in the Savanna zone. Small farms in the Karoo can only productively engage in livestock production. The results also showed that farming activities that combined more vegetable crops yielded greater profits than other field crops. Furthermore, the results indicate that the mixed cropping method remains one of the strategies for breaking-even and risk-bearing effort used by the small-holder farmers considering its cost-sharing benefits. Geographical information system (GIS) mapping further indicates that small-holders’ farming activity was not only affected by soil-climatic factors but by their management skills as well. We recommend agro-ecologically adapted policies and incentives for agriculture-based livelihood activities and intensified mixing of cropping systems among the small-holder farming households in the study area.

scholarly journals Production constraints of smallholder pig farms in agro-ecological zones of Mpumalanga, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscilla Munzhelele ◽  
James Oguttu ◽  
Olubunmi G. Fasanmi ◽  
Folorunso O. Fasina
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Production Constraints ◽  
Pig Farms ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

scholarly journals Climate Change, Rural Livelihoods and Ecosystem Nexus: Forest Communities in Agro-ecological zones of Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Olushola Fadairo ◽  
Samuel Olajuyigbe ◽  
Tolulope Osayomi ◽  
Olufolake Adelakun ◽  
Olanrewaju Olaniyan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Forest Communities ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

scholarly journals Towards Understanding Variability in Droughts in Response to Extreme Climate Conditions over the Different Agro-Ecological Zones of Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6910
Author(s):  
Adil Dilawar ◽  
Baozhang Chen ◽  
Arfan Arshad ◽  
Lifeng Guo ◽  
Muhammad Irfan Ehsan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Precipitation Extremes ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Climate Extreme ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

Here, we provided a comprehensive analysis of long-term drought and climate extreme patterns in the agro ecological zones (AEZs) of Pakistan during 1980–2019. Drought trends were investigated using the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) at various timescales (SPEI-1, SPEI-3, SPEI-6, and SPEI-12). The results showed that droughts (seasonal and annual) were more persistent and severe in the southern, southwestern, southeastern, and central parts of the region. Drought exacerbated with slopes of −0.02, −0.07, −0.08, −0.01, and −0.02 per year. Drought prevailed in all AEZs in the spring season. The majority of AEZs in Pakistan’s southern, middle, and southwestern regions had experienced substantial warming. The mean annual temperature minimum (Tmin) increased faster than the mean annual temperature maximum (Tmax) in all zones. Precipitation decreased in the southern, northern, central, and southwestern parts of the region. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a robust increase in temperature extremes with a variance of 76% and a decrease in precipitation extremes with a variance of 91% in the region. Temperature and precipitation extremes indices had a strong Pearson correlation with drought events. Higher temperatures resulted in extreme drought (dry conditions), while higher precipitation levels resulted in wetting conditions (no drought) in different AEZs. In most AEZs, drought occurrences were more responsive to precipitation. The current findings are helpful for climate mitigation strategies and specific zonal efforts are needed to alleviate the environmental and societal impacts of drought.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document