Crop systems for sustainable agriculture in the North-Western Free State, South Africa
| dc.contributor.advisor | van Niekerk, J. A. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | de Bruyn, Melanie Anne | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-01-03T12:27:16Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-01-03T12:27:16Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | en_ZA |
| dc.description | Thesis (Ph.D.(Sustainable Agriculture))--University of the Free State, 2024 | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The North-Western Free State is a main contributor of South Africaโs maize production which has recently been put under enormous pressure by climate change, pests, diseases, economic factors and population growth. Crop diversification, by means of crop rotation, has potential to alleviate some of the challenges faced by the farmers and communities in the area. However, the effects of crop rotation are known to be site-specific. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the views and perspectives of local farmers on crop diversification as well as to determine the sustainability (in terms of soil health, nutrition, production and profitability) of different rotational systems specifically in the North-Western Free State. ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฑ๐: An interdisciplinary approach of social and natural science was taken to achieve the aim of this study. A unique questionnaire was designed, distributed and analysed to determine the views and perspectives of the local farmers on crop diversification. A field trial comparing different crop rotational systems was established on the farm Christinasrus and monitored for three consecutive seasons (2020/2021, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023). Soil, nutritional and yield data obtained from the trial were further analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐๐น๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: North-Western Free State farmers had a positive perception towards crop diversification, with 87% of them rotating crops, showing movement from crop specialisation towards crop diversification. Rotational systems in the field trial maintained soil health, provided nutritional benefits and improved crop production and productivity. Seasonal variation (mainly rainfall) played a role on soil health, nutrition and crop production, with most aspects being negatively affected by above normal rainfall conditions. ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: This study provided insight into the effect of crop rotation specific to the North-Western Free State. The rotational systems investigated were viable, with potential for agricultural sustainability. The study recommends that maize rotational systems incorporating soybean and cover crop be implemented in the area to ensure sufficient and nutritious food, while conserving and improving the soil and environment. | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11660/12910 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of the Free State | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | University of the Free State | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Crop rotation | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Maize production | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | North-Western Free State | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Soybean production | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Sustainable agriculture | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Crop systems for sustainable agriculture in the North-Western Free State, South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis |