scholarly journals Biogeography of Platberg, Eastern Free State, South Africa: Links with Afromontane Regions and South African Biomes

Author(s):  
Robert F. ◽  
L.R. Brown ◽  
P.J. du

Bothalia ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. F. O. Marasas ◽  
Ingrid H. Schumann

Descriptions are given of South African isolates of  Pithomyces sacchari (Speg.) M. B. Ellis, Pithomyces chartarum (Berk. Curt.) M. B. Ellis and  Pithomyces karoo  Marasas Schumann, sp. nov.  P. sacchari and P. chartarum were isolated from Medicago sativa L. seed.  P. chartarum was also isolated from dead leaves of Lolium perenne L. and  Sporobolus capensis (Willd.) Kunth. plants from artificial pastures in the eastern Cape Province.  P. karoo was isolated from stems of Gnidia polycephala (C.A. Mey.) Gilg and  Rhigozum trichotomum Burch, from the Karoo, Cape Province and from Avena sativa L. stubble collected in the Orange Free State.



2006 ◽  
Vol 190 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 213-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip M. Marren ◽  
Terence S. McCarthy ◽  
Stephen Tooth ◽  
Dion Brandt ◽  
Glenn G. Stacey ◽  
...  


Author(s):  
Andisiwe Diko ◽  
Wang Jun

Aims: Maize is of great significance in the national food security of South Africa. Maize production levels in South Africa continue to decline, further deteriorating the situation of increased food insecurity, unemployment and increased poverty levels in the face of increasing population. This paper investigated fundamental variables influencing maize yield in the South African major maize producing regions. Study Design: A multi-stage stratified sampling method was employed to select maize producing farmers in the major maize producing provinces, namely Mpumalanga, Free State and North West provinces of South Africa. Furthermore, three districts were selected from which maize farmers were then selected. Methodology: Using linear multiple regression for a sample of 202 maize farmers, maize yield as a dependent variable was regressed against land size, fertilizer usage, labour, herbicides and seeds as independent variables. The paper employed the Cobb-Douglas production function to estimate parameters. The data obtained from the field were subjected to analysis using inferential statistics using SPSS v20. Results: The study showed that fertilizer, labour, and herbicides used in the production of maize in the study area were positively and statistically significant at a 5% confidence interval (P<0.05) with elasticity coefficients of 0.55, 0.47 and 0.198 respectively. The independent variables computed in the model had positive elasticity coefficients indicating a direct positive relationship between the input variables and maize output. The study also revealed that farmers in the study area were applying fewer amounts of fertilizer than the recommended rates per hectare. Conclusion: The study recommends that the South African government should supply inputs to maize farmers at subsidized rates to promote correct application rates and attain higher yields.  The promotion of good quality extension services to foster good agricultural practices in the production of maize is also recommended.



Afrika Focus ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christa Beyers ◽  
Hanli Joubert

Introduction: The future of the South African workforce looks bleak given the challenges posed, not only by health factors, including HIV and AIDS, but also the success and throughput rate of rst year university students. Methodology: The research in this study was conducted in 2013 using a post-positivist approach and applying an interpretive stance using a mixed method approach, which included a quantita- tive non-experimental predictive multivariate design as well as focus group interviews to triangu- late the ndings. Results: We present ndings that psychosocial background factors, physical health and emotion- al health in uence success and non-completion rates among rst year students at the University of the Free State, South Africa. Conclusion: We argue that early identi cation of poor psychosocial background, including health factors, can assist in empowering youths helping them to make healthy decisions and deal with stressful situations in a way that will not compromise their academic success. 



PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Sciscio ◽  
Emese M. Bordy ◽  
Mhairi Reid ◽  
Miengah Abrahams

Footprint morphology (e.g., outline shape, depth of impression) is one of the key diagnostic features used in the interpretation of ancient vertebrate tracks. Over 80 tridactyl tracks, confined to the same bedding surface in the Lower Jurassic Elliot Formation at Mafube (eastern Free State, South Africa), show large shape variability over the length of the study site. These morphological differences are considered here to be mainly due to variations in the substrate rheology as opposed to differences in the trackmaker’s foot anatomy, foot kinematics or recent weathering of the bedding surface. The sedimentary structures (e.g., desiccation cracks, ripple marks) preserved in association with and within some of the Mafube tracks suggest that the imprints were produced essentially contemporaneous and are true dinosaur tracks rather than undertracks or erosional remnants. They are therefore valuable not only for the interpretation of the ancient environment (i.e., seasonally dry river channels) but also for taxonomic assessments as some of them closely resemble the original anatomy of the trackmaker’s foot. The tracks are grouped, based on size, into two morphotypes that can be identified asEubrontes-like andGrallator-like ichnogenera. The Mafube morphotypes are tentatively attributable to large and small tridactyl theropod trackmakers, possibly toDracovenatorandCoelophysisbased on the following criteria: (a) lack of manus impressions indicative of obligate bipeds; (b) long, slender-digits that are asymmetrical and taper; (c) often end in a claw impression or point; and (d) the tracks that are longer than broad. To enable high-resolution preservation, curation and subsequent remote studying of the morphological variations of and the secondary features in the tracks, low viscosity silicone rubber was used to generate casts of the Mafube tracks.



2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. H. Fick

The correspondence of J.J. Venter with H.A.L. Hamelberg: an analysis of a view of mission The controversy regarding the view of missionary work has recurred in South African church history from time to time. This was also the case in the Reformed Church in the Orange Free State during the nineteenth century. It becomes apparent from the 1879 to 1881 correspondence of J.J. Venter with H.A.L. Hamelberg, the then Consul-General of the Free State in the Netherlands. Venter wrote to Hamelberg about his dis- appointment with the reverend Dirk Postma, the first minister of the Reformed Church in South Africa. According to Venter they had been misled: they had asked for a preacher and got a missionary instead. Venter’s view of mission is based on a peculiar view of the doctrine of predestination: he approved of missionary work only if the fruit of election becomes apparent in the lives of the objects of the missionary work. Venter wrote particularly to Hamelberg, a “fellow-tribesman” more than a religious think-alike. This fact, as well as the correspondence reveals Venter’s actual view on the doctrine of predestination and it is clearly shown in this article. Although Venter’s own writings speak of a Pietistic “Busskampf”, his view of mission is rather in line with orthodoxy’s insistence on a structural link between church and state. Cross-cultural mission was therefore unthinkable, unless there is proof of a change in the other culture.



Zootaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3608 (5) ◽  
pp. 345-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHANN VAN AS ◽  
ANGELA J. DAVIES ◽  
NICO J. SMIT

Two new haemogregarine species, Hepatozoon langii n. sp. and Hepatozoon vacuolatus n. sp., are described from the pe-ripheral blood of the high altitude crag lizard, Pseudocordylus langi, collected between October 2006 and April 2009 from the North Eastern Drakensberg, Eastern Free State. Hepatozoon langii n. sp. has maturing and mature gamonts that appear encapsulated and have narrow, curved tails. Their cytoplasm stains pinkish-purple with Giemsa, while their nuclei are pur-ple stained with stranded chromatin. Mature gamonts measure 19.1 ± 1.0 (15.4–28.1) μm long by 6.2 ± 1.1 (3.5–7.9) μm wide. Hepatozoon vacuolatus n. sp. gamonts are mostly broader at one pole than the other, have bluish-pink cytoplasm characterised by distinctive rounded and oval vacuoles, and demonstrate pink granules with Giemsa staining. Nuclei stain purple and are mainly coarsely granular. Mature gamonts measure 16.5 ± 1.0 (14.7 - 17.6) μm long by 5.9 ± 1.2 (4.0 - 7.7) μm wide. Both species parasitize erythroblasts, as well as erythrocytes and can dehaemoglobinize the cytoplasm of their host cells. Hepatozoon langii n. sp occurred in the absence of H. vacuolatus n. sp., but the latter haemogregarine always formed mixed infections with the former; no stages intermediate between the two haemogregarine types were observed.



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