Institutional Outputshttp://hdl.handle.net/10386/22592024-03-29T15:08:50Z2024-03-29T15:08:50ZA floristic assessment of the Turfloop Nature ReserveMashatole, Masilo Makomehttp://hdl.handle.net/10386/44732024-03-16T01:00:14Z2009-01-01T00:00:00ZA floristic assessment of the Turfloop Nature Reserve
Mashatole, Masilo Makome
The aim of the study was to generate new ecological data for the Turfloop Nature
Reserve (TNR), which would lead to practical management recommendations that
should reduce or minimise the current negative anthropogenic and ecological
impacts on the TNR. A limited ethnobotanical survey was conducted at the two villages, Badimong and Ga-kama, surrounding the TNR. Questionnaires were used to ascertain these communities’ attitude towards the reserve and their use of the reserve. Results
show that the surrounding communities have great interest in the reserve for
various socio-economic reasons. These include collecting wood for building,
firewood and grass for thatching, resulting in serious damage to the reserve.
Utilisation of the reserve is motivated by high levels of poverty, and a general
absence of environmental knowledge. A phytosociological study of the vegetation was undertaken using the Braun Blanquet method. A total of 33 plots were sampled and classified by means of TURBOVEG, TWINSPAN and MEGATAB. The study revealed that the vegetation of the TNR could be divided into five main communities, some with a number of sub-communities and variants. The TNR is composed of two different vegetation types, namely the Mamabolo Mountain Bushveld and Polokwane Plateau
Bushveld. Recommendations on viable ecological vegetation management, to minimize
current anthropogenic influences on the reserve, are provided.
Thesis (M.Sc. (Botany)) -- University of Limpopo, 2009
2009-01-01T00:00:00ZManagement of HR benefits in the public service: the case of the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs in the Limpopo ProvinceSepuru, Pharudi Paulinahhttp://hdl.handle.net/10386/44722024-03-16T01:00:12Z2013-01-01T00:00:00ZManagement of HR benefits in the public service: the case of the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs in the Limpopo Province
Sepuru, Pharudi Paulinah
The aim of this study was to examine the implementation of HR Benefits in the public sector through grey and secondary literature, semi-structured questionnaires and interviews. These methods yielded the same results in the majority of cases and corroborated much that was raised in the literature review. However, there were instances where they negated each other and some of the views of certain commentators. This is where the hands-on experience of the author became invaluable to clarify these contradictions. Amongst other key findings of the study were that employee benefits were and are still wrongly managed; the subjective assessment of employee performance for performance bonus and the scaling down of the percentages scored by employees to accommodate the wage bill had the effect of dampening employee morale. It is hoped that various government departments will draw valuable lessons from this case study and adopt good practice to perfect the management of employee benefits.
Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2013
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZInteraction effect of seaweed extract and inoculation on growth, nodulation and nutritional quality of two cowpea varieties (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)Makoro, MacDonaldhttp://hdl.handle.net/10386/44712024-03-12T01:00:13Z2015-01-01T00:00:00ZInteraction effect of seaweed extract and inoculation on growth, nodulation and nutritional quality of two cowpea varieties (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)
Makoro, MacDonald
Two studies (field and tunnel house experiments) were conducted during the 2012/2013 growing season to assess the effect of a commercial seaweed extract (Technikelp) and Bradyrhizobia inoculation on growth, nodulation, yield and nutritional quality of cowpea. The field experiment was laid out as a 3-way factorial arrangement, and fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three factors: i) Two cowpea varieties (Brown landrace and Bechua na white), ii) Two Inoculation levels (with and without Bradyrhizobium inoculation) and iii) Three seaweed extract concentrations to water (1:100, 1:500 and no seaweed extract as the control). The treatments were combined and replicated four times. Cowpea seeds were sown at an intra-row spacing of 20 cm and inter- row spacing of 60 cm with a plot size of 3 m x 3.6 m (10.8 m2) with each plot having six rows and a plant population of 96 plants per plot. Six litres (6000 ml) of each of the diluted seaweed extract levels was applied per plot as root drench at planting, 14 and 28 days after planting (DAP). The seaweed extract was applied immediately after irrigation. The tunnel house experiment was also laid out as a 3-way factorial experiment and fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three factors: i) Two cowpea varieties (Brown cowpea landrace and commercial variety; Bechuana white), ii) Two Inoculation levels (with and without Bradyrhizobium inoculation) and iii) Three seaweed extract concentrations to water (1:100, 1:500 and no seaweed extract as the control). The factors were combined and replicated four times. Nine litre (9 L) nursery bags with a dimension of 175 x 150 x 350 mm were filled with 5 kg of sandy loam Hutton soil obtained from the University of Limpopo experimental farm. Analysis of variance revealed that the variation in genetic composition dictated the growth and yield performance of the two cowpea varieties. The current study revealed that all three factors had a significant effect of growth, nodulation, yield as well as the uptake of several mineral nutrients. The results showed that the Brown landrace took longer to reach flowering (60.45 days) and physiological maturity (142.02 days) compared to Bechuana white variety which took 57.18 days to reach 50% flower and 121.11 days to reach physiological maturity. In both the field and tunnel house experiments, the application of 1:100 v/v seaweed extract resulted in a 81-88% increase in the number of effective nodules when compared to the control. Variety, seaweed extract and inoculation had a significant (p≤ 0.05) effect on grain yield. The Bechuana white variety recorded grain yield of 1915 kg ha-1 compared to the 1021 kg ha-1 by the Brown landrace variety. The application of 1:500 v/v seaweed extract increased grain yield by 9.5% while the application of 1:100 v/v resulted in a 29.9% increase. The application of Bradyrhizobia inoculation increased grain yield by up to 40% when compared to the uninoculated treatment. In both the field and tunnel-house experiments, correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between chlorophyll content and number of effective nodules per plant. In the tunnel house experiment, correlation analysis gave an R2 value of 0.80 while an R2 value of 0.70 was recorded in the field experiment, indicating a strong relationship between chlorophyll content and nodulation. Furthermore, a positive relationship was also observed between nodulation and pod formation with an R2 value of 0.69. Correlation analysis also revealed a positive relationship between pod formation and grain yield with a R2 value of 0.62. Statistical analysis revealed a significant variety x inoculation effect on the number of days to 50% flowering, as well as the yield components and seed nutritional quality. The application of seaweed extract in the presence of inoculation improved nodulation and chlorophyll content, yield components, as well as leaf and grain nutritional quality. Response of variety to seaweed extract was observed on shelling percentage, as well as leaf K and Fe content, and seed B content. The combination of seaweed extract x inoculation x variety had a significant effect on the number of pods per plant, grain yield, shelling percentage as well as harvest index.
Economic analysis revealed that the application of both inoculation and seaweed extract are highly profitable. The application of inoculation resulted into greater profit of R32818/ha relative to uninoculated treatments while the application of 1:100 v/v seaweed extract concentration resulted into greater profitability of R32191/ha and ultimately resulted into higher returns to investment in the technology. Overall, the results from this study suggest that the adoption of application of inoculants and seaweed extract will not only improve yield and nutrition of cowpea, but has the potential to improve the livelihoods of small scale farmers due to their high marginal returns.
Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agronomy)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015
2015-01-01T00:00:00ZInvestigating the content knowledge of teachers' continuous professional development programmes for the implementation of inclusive education in Limpopo ProvinceSepadi, M. D.http://hdl.handle.net/10386/44702024-03-05T01:00:13Z2022-01-01T00:00:00ZInvestigating the content knowledge of teachers' continuous professional development programmes for the implementation of inclusive education in Limpopo Province
Sepadi, M. D.
The purpose of this study is to explore teachers‟ content knowledge within learning and continuous professional development programmes in the implementation of inclusive education. The study followed a qualitative research approach, where a case study design was adopted. Thus, about ten in-service teachers who formed part of the Short Learning Programme (SLP) offered by the University of Limpopo and sponsored by Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) formed the sample using the non-probability sampling technique, purposive sampling. Data were collected using two methods, interviews (semi-structured interviews) and document analysis. It was then analysed using a thematic content analysis model and themes were developed. Four themes emerged from the data namely: a) Teachers‟ opinions about the content knowledge in the programmes, b) teachers‟ experiences with the SLP, c) content knowledge within the programme and d) Quality of facilitators in the programme. These findings have far-reaching implications for how learning and professional development programmes should be organised to advance the inclusive education agenda in South African schools. This calls for policymakers and teacher educators to tailor make these programmes to the needs of teachers. Therefore, two teachers have a positive disposition toward SLPs, and more of this type of learning and professional development programmes should be developed.
Thesis (Ph.D. (Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022
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