Digital Knowledge Collection:

Water requirement of blueberry cultivated in different growth media

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Water requirement of blueberry cultivated in different growth media Authors: Mfeka, Nonkululeko; Tanga, M.; Mulidzi, Azwimbavhi Reckson; Lewu, Francis Bayo Abstract: Water scarcity is of great concern because this natural resource is critical in primary agriculture worldwide. The anticipated rise in temperature due to climate change will increase the water demand of plants, thereby reducing water availability. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of irrigation requirements on blueberry plants cultivated in different growing media. A pot experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design that was replicated five times. The following growing media were used: coir, mushroom compost, peat moss, and zeolite. The growing medium significantly (P<0.05) affected the irrigation water of blueberry plants. The treatment with 100% coir required the most irrigation replenishment compared with the other treatments. The treatment with 80% coir and 20% zeolite required the least water replenishment. Generally, the vegetative parameters were improved with 60% coir and 40% peat moss. The composition of the growing media can potentially reduce the water requirements of plants

The 8th U6+ international conference proceedings: innovation for sustainable development and transformation in Africa

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: The 8th U6+ international conference proceedings: innovation for sustainable development and transformation in Africa Authors: Okoro, Hussein K.; Nchu, Felix; Kambizi, Learnmore; Kioko, Joseph; Toefy, Rashieda Abstract: The U6 Plus consortium is a collaboration of African Universities established in 2012 to foster academic linkages and educational collaboration among member Universities. The Consortium hosts annual joint international conferences on a rotational basis. The 2024 Conference was hosted by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

Student difficulties in vectors: foothold ideas

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Student difficulties in vectors: foothold ideas Authors: John, Ignatius Abstract: This investigation was conducted with the aim of developing a research based teaching strategy in vectors for non-major physics students. The study reports the explanations used by 132 first year university students to answer five questions without context in two dimensions. The two angled analysis of the methods and explanations used for answering the five questions show lack of understanding of basic vector concepts and inappropriateness in the methods used to solve the problems. The findings indicate that the majority of students used one method and reasoning in all questions irrespective of its suitability and thus answered a few questions correctly and others incorrectly. This paper describes the methods used by students and the productive foothold ideas identified. Description: Conference Proceeding

Bio-delipidation of dissolved air flotation pre-treated poultry slaughterhouse wastewater

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Bio-delipidation of dissolved air flotation pre-treated poultry slaughterhouse wastewater Authors: Mbulawa, Siyasanga; Ntwampe, Seteno Karabo Obed; Basitere, Moses; Mpentshu, YP; Dlangamandla, C; Chidi, Boredi Silas Abstract: Delipidation is a method of defatting that is generally associated with the removal of residual lipids or lipid groups from matrices in which they are present in minute quantities. The bio-delipidation of protein-rich poultry slaughterhouse wastewater (PSW) pre-treated with a dissolved air flotation (DAF) system was developed using microbial lipases from bacterial strains isolated from the PSW. The efficacy of the bio-delipidation system was quantitatively characterised by comparing the quality parameters i.e. fats, oil and grease (FOGs), turbidity, total suspended solutes (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and protein concentration of the DAF pre-treated PSW and bio-lipidized samples. As hypothesised, the bio-delipidation system was able to effectively reduce the levels of these quality parameters when crude lipases of Bacillus cereus AB1 (BF3) and Bacillus cereus CC-1 (B30) strains were used. Strain-dependent quality characteristics were also observed in bio-delipidized samples. The study successfully managed to complement physical reduction techniques (DAF) with biological strategies (bio-delipidation) for improved PSW quality, with potential industrial applications.