Features | Agricultural Engineering

Agriculture Engineering

R20m project to yield sustainability for maize farmers

By: Zandile Mavuso 9th August 2013 To assist smallholder maize farmers in Limpopo in improving productivity, which will, in turn, improve sustainability, a R20-million project has been launched by market-driven innovation and science solutions company DuPont. →

Five-year research project to study irrigation management

By: Zandile Mavuso 9th August 2013 To increase water availability and land productivity, which will cater for the increasing human population, a new project by the Water Research Commission (WRC) will record information about the irrigation management of ryegrass/kikuyu pasture under different pasture management conditions. →

RYEGRASS PASTURE PRODUCTIONThe WRC is investigating irrigated pastures to determine the water use and irrigation requirements of the most common farming practices, including those pertaining to kikuyu/ryegrass, legume/ryegrass mixtures and lucerne

Controlled water use is pertinent

By: Zandile Mavuso 9th August 2013 Hygiene and sanitation company Ecowize, which services the food sector, emphasises the importance of food producers and manufacturers introducing strict control elements for water use, as the resource impacts directly on their operations. →

Land rehabilitation society to hold its first annual conference

By: Zandile Mavuso 9th August 2013 The Land Rehabilitation Society of Southern Africa (LaRSSA) will host its first conference in October, whereby information on land rehabilitation under way in South Africa, will be made available to different stakeholders. →

Aeroponics a cost-effective solution for grazing

By: Zandile Mavuso 9th August 2013 A R13.8-million aeroponics barley sprout grass growing system is being supplied by South African manufacturer Qwik-Gro to the Sheikh of Qatar, in the Middle East and is expected to partially feed about 17 000 livestock with the initial production of 40 t of fresh barley grass sprout fodder a day. →

Mushroom industry has the option to stop depleting natural resources

By: Yolandi Booyens 10th August 2012 The University of Pretoria (UP) has developed an environment-friendly substrate, the Mabu casing, which is a suitable alternative to the peat soil used for button mushroom production. Casing soil producer Mabu Casing Soils managing member Dr Linda Meyer says the substrate has the potential to... →

Innovation needed to use water wisely

By: Yolandi Booyens 10th August 2012 An effluent treatment system that eliminates the use of harsh chemicals in water treatment by using only natural resources, has achieved significant results at a water treatment project at the Holden Manz wine farm, in Franschhoek, says stainless steel equipment manufacturer Vinquip Projects. The... →

Technology for soymilk production developed in South Africa

By: Helene Le Roux 12th May 2006 South African engineers have designed and built a soy-bean de-hulling system for one of the largest producers of soy beverages in Germany. →