Unathi Gulwa - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Unathi Gulwa

Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Nov 30, 2018

The study was conducted in Alice, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The objective of this stud... more The study was conducted in Alice, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The objective of this study was to evaluate farmers' perceptions on the impact of Vachellia karroo encroachment on livestock production and vegetation. Forty farmers (62% females and 38% males) were interviewed using semistructured questionnaires. The results showed that goats and cattle were mainly kept for cash sales and sheep for wool production. Shortage of forage and lack of water points were the main constraints to livestock production, especially during the dry season. Cattle and sheep owners perceived that V. karroo encroachment had a negative impact on grazer production, as it reduces the grazing capacity of the veld. Goat owners viewed V. karroo as an acceptable tree to goats and its abundance favours browsers as compared to grazers. Although farmers have different views concerning the impact of V. karroo encroachment. The mean of livestock composition showed that goats (11.6±1.3) are more favoured by the veld condition compared to cattle (4.9± 1.1) and sheep (2.6±0.7). This study concludes that V. karroo had a negative impact on grazers' production and sheep and cattle owners observed V. karroo encroachment as a form of land degradation. Pastoralists recommended that veld burning and bush clearing can be used to mitigate encroachment.

Agricultural sciences, 2022

Medicago sativa (lucerne) is a widely used perennial fodder crop and ranked amongst the highly nu... more Medicago sativa (lucerne) is a widely used perennial fodder crop and ranked amongst the highly nutritive fodders globally. This study assessed the nutritive value (i.e. CP % and TDN %) of four lucerne cultivars under two soil types at Bathurst Research Station. A random grid (quadrant) sampling method was used for sampling and samples were submitted to the laboratory for analysis to determine forage quality. Data collection was carried out by separating harvested biomass for each cultivar using clean packs, weighed and dried at 70˚C for 48 hours then crude protein (CP %) and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN %) were determined. The results of the study showed that soil type (site) had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on the overall quality of dry matter produced. In soil 1 (S1) the overall CP % content was 11.48% while it was 19.03% in soil 2 (S2). Cultivar 3 (KKS 9911) was the least nutritive cultivar in site 1, while the same cultivar was the most nutritive cultivar in site 2 pertaining CP content. Soil type also significantly affected (P < 0.05) the overall total digestible nutrient (TDN %) content of different lucerne cultivars. In S1, C4 (WL 525) had the highest (P < 0.05) TDN content in comparison to the rest of the cultivars while in the same soil type C1 (SA Std.) had the least TDN content. The four tested lucerne cultivars generally produced highly nutritive lucerne in S2 while they produced less nutritive lucerne in relation to both CP and TDN content in S1.

Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 2021

This study presents an integrated examination of livestock production constraints associating wit... more This study presents an integrated examination of livestock production constraints associating with communal farming in six district municipalities (DMs) of the Eastern Cape Province. We collected data on demographic and socioeconomic factors from 271 farmers randomly given questionnaires. About 26 Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) owned by communal farmers were surveyed to ascertain the condition of grazing land, meanwhile, tick species and distribution on cattle and goats found in 158 sampling sites of the study area were also recorded. From the results, a total of 34,929 adult ticks belonging to five genera and 10 species were encountered. The most abundant tick genera were Rhipicephalus of the subgenus Boophilus (68.91%), Amblyomma (20.72%), Hyalomma (8.64%), Ixodes (1.22%), and Haemaphysalis (0.51%).

Agricultural Sciences, 2022

Fire is regarded as management practice for maintaining grasslands and savannas. The vegetation o... more Fire is regarded as management practice for maintaining grasslands and savannas. The vegetation occurring in fire prone areas becomes highly adapted to fire occurrences in savannas and grasslands. However, documentation on the influence of burning on vegetation is still limited in an albany thicket biome. The aim of the study was to evaluate the short-term influence of burning on species abundance, biomass production, wood plant density and browsing unit. Six plots (2500 m 2) were demarcated; in each plot two parallel transects of 120 m 2 with 5 m distance apart were measured. Three plots were burned in spring season, while no burning was done on the other remaining plots. Forty points per plot were obtained using step-point method to determine the relative abundance at burned and unburned plots. Woody plants occurred within a transect were identified, counted and recorded to determine density and browsing unit. Three quadrats (i.e. 0.25 m 2) per plot were randomly laid within the transect; aboveground plant material within a quadrat were harvested. A total of 18 samples were harvested and oven dried at 60˚C for 48 hours to determine biomass production. The results showed that Themeda triandra (14%) and Panicum maximum (10%)

The study was conducted at Lushington communal area located at 26°82’00”S; 32°64’00”E and 846 m a... more The study was conducted at Lushington communal area located at 26°82’00”S; 32°64’00”E and 846 m altitude, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The aim of the study was to assess whether or not legume inclusion in old lands affects the quantity of dry matter yield produced, the soil nutrient levels and the quality of the companion grasses. A one hectare area, with a total of 30 plots measuring 5 m x 0.5m were planted to 14 legume species which were replicated twice in a randomised complete block design (RCBD). Prior planting seeds were mixed with the appropriate inoculant by hand. Legumes were over sown into the natural grasses using an Aitchison Mini seeder. Superphosphate (P) application was done once during planting and planting occurred in March 2007 in Lushington. All legumes were grown under rain fed conditions. Of the fourteen species that were planted initially, only four species persisted till year 2011. These species were Trifolium vesiculosum, Lespedeza cuneata, T...

Overgrazing and shifting cultivation practise have severely degraded communal lands in the Easter... more Overgrazing and shifting cultivation practise have severely degraded communal lands in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Methods need to be developed to improve forage quality of grazing land, especially previously cultivated lands. The aim of the study was to investigate legume species to rehabilitate arable lands abandoned from cropping, to enhance their forage quality, productivity and ecological integrity. The study was conducted in seven communities within the Eastern Cape Province. This study showed that within the communal lands studied extensive areas have been cultivated and the majority of this land is now poorly utilised. Natural grasslands ploughed for cropping did not recover its original composition and therefore lost its primary ecological condition. New improved legume cultivars can significantly enhance forage quality on cultivated lands but individual species may not have the resilience to survive nutrient poor lands and variable winter rainfall. This study shows t...

African Journal of Agricultural Research, Jun 28, 2018

Legumes (Fabaceae) are plants with the distinct ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen; the atmosphe... more Legumes (Fabaceae) are plants with the distinct ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen; the atmospheric nitrogen fixation by legumes is known as biological nitrogen fixation. Biological nitrogen fixation is the process whereby atmospheric nitrogen is reduced to ammonia in the presence of the enzyme nitrogenase. Nitrogen fixation in legumes starts with the formation of nodules. Inside the nodules, nitrogen fixation done by the bacteria (Rhizobia), and the ammonia (NH 3) produced is absorbed by plant. The symbiotic relationship between a bacterium and a plant makes legumes special plants, which offer benefits when included in farming systems. These benefits are ecosystem, economic and environmental benefits. Inclusion of forage legumes in the form of intercropping in low-input grassland mixtures improves forage quantity, quality and soil fertility trough addition of nitrogen (N) from N 2fixation. Intercropping is a multiple cropping practice, which involves growing two or more crops in proximity. Legumes also improve the nutritive value of the low quality native pastures grown with them and are important component of farming system since they have high nutritive value and able to rehabilitate nutrient depleted soil. There are various factors affecting legume growth and development and these factors need to be taken into account when planning to grow legumes. These factors include pedoclimatic factors especially those associated with the soil acid complex. These factors are known as physical, chemical, biological and environmental factors. The improvement of forage quantity and quality through forage legume inclusion is crucial for improved animal performance, which is a goal of all livestock farmers. The inclusion of forage legumes in low-input grassland mixtures is vital to improve biomass production, forage quality and ultimately soil fertility. The improvement of forage quantity and quality is crucial for improved animal performance, which is a goal of every livestock farmer. Forage legumes have the potential to improve the diets of ruminants because they increase the crude protein (CP) concentration of the herbage mixture relative to that of grass monocultures.

Universal Journal of Agricultural Research

The Eastern Cape Province, South Africa is faced with inadequate quantity of livestock feed espec... more The Eastern Cape Province, South Africa is faced with inadequate quantity of livestock feed especially during the drier (winter) seasons. Forage legumes were over sown into natural grasses to determine their potential to improve feed quality and quantity. Four forage legumes namely: Trifolium vesiculosum (Arrowleaf clover), Lespedeza cuneata (sericea lespedeza) , Trifolium repens (white clover) and Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil) were intercropped with native grasses in the old arable land located in Lushington communal area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The treatments consisted of natural grasses growing in pure stands and native grasses intercropped with forage legumes grown under rain-fed conditions. Grasses and legumes were harvested for dry matter yield (DMY) once in spring 2013 (September-November), summer 2014 (December-February), autumn 2014 (March-May) and winter 2014 (June-August). Amongst the legumes, L. cuneata was more (P<0.05) productive than rest of the legumes. However, T. vesiculosum was the least (P<0.05) productive legume during the four seasons. Total dry matter (TDM) yield was higher (P<0.05) during summer and lower during winter seasons, respectively. Grasses harvested in autumn had the highest (P<0.05) 12% crude protein (CP) than those harvested in winter which, had the lowest 4.6% CP content. Similarly, all legume pastures harvested in spring had superior (p<0.05) 10.8% CP, while those harvested in winter had the least 3.5% CP. Likewise, forages harvested during the wet seasons (i.e. autumn and or summer) had improved (P<0.05) herbage micro nutrient content than those harvested in the drier (winter) season. Results of the study indicated that overall total dry matter yield of grass-legume mixtures was higher than that of sole natural grasses, with grasses constituting the major component of the herbage yield. Results from this study also indicated that forages produced in wetter seasons had superior biomass yield and nutritive value, respectively.