African Journals Online
UNISWA Research Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology

VOLUME 4, NUMBER 2, DECEMBER, 2000
Abstracts of papers

Assessment of Iodine Deficiency in Pregnant Women in Swaziland

S.M. Lwenje¹, V.S.B. Mtetwa¹ and Sebenzile Ginindza<sup>2

1</sup>Chemistry Department, University of Swaziland, P/Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Swaziland, 
²Mbabane Public health Unit, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, P O Box 1119, Mbabane, Swaziland.


ABSTRACT

One hundred and sixty five pregnant women aged between 14 years and 42 years from the four physiographic regions of Swaziland were palpated for goitre, gave urine samples for urinary iodine determination and gave information on the quantity of salt consumed per month. It is estimated that iodine intake from salt is between 113 to 225 mg per day assuming salt iodization levels of 20 to 40 mg iodine per gram of salt. The median urinary iodine concentration in each of the four physiographic regions was found to be: Lubombo 429 mg/L, Lowveld 274 mg/L, Middleveld 316 mg/L and Highveld 265 mg/L. In all the regions the percentage of samples with urinary iodine below 100 mg/L was less than 20% and the percentage with urinary iodine below 50 mg/L was less than 10% indicating that the women in this study from all the regions are not at risk of iodine deficiency disorders. The total goitre rate in the Highveld and Middleveld was unusually high at 30%. This high value has been attributed to a residual effect from the time before the introduction of universal salt iodization.




Superconductors-A Review of Their Properties and Applications

A. J. Varkey<sup>1

1</sup>Department of Physics and Electronic Engineering, University of Swaziland, P/Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Swaziland

ABSTRACT

Superconductors are a special class of materials which exhibit a number of remarkable properties distinct from normal materials. These materials have found varied industrial and technological applications since the phenomenon of superconductivity was first discovered in 1911. A great deal of efforts are being made world wide today to synthesize and characterize newer superconducting materials. This paper highlights the important properties of superconductors. A brief discussion of the major application of these materials is also presented.

Evaluation of the Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources in Usutu River Basin, Swaziland

Jonathan I. Matondo¹ and Kenneth M. Msibi<sup>2

1</sup>Geography Department, University of Swaziland, P/Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Swaziland, (Member IWRA, IET, IAHS), ²Water Resources Branch, P O Box 6201, Mbabane, Swaziland

ABSTRACT

The greenhouse effect is expected to cause high temperature increase globally and this will lead to an increase in precipitation in some regions while other regions will experience reduced precipitation. Therefore, countries are engaged in the exercise of evaluating the impact of expected climate change on water resources using General Circulation Models (GCM) and hydrologic models. The WatBall model has been found appropriate for the evaluation of the impact of climate on water resources. The Usutu catchment was selected for the evaluation of the impact of climate change on water resources because it covers two thirds of the country and traverses the four physiographic regions. The results of GCM models (precipitation, temperature and thus potential evapotranspiration) have been used as input to the calibrated WatBall model to forecast stream flow for Usutu catchment for the wet, dry and average year for year 2075. A comparison between observed and simulated stream flow without taking into consideration of population increase and expanded agricultural activities reveals that all the GCM models are simulating low flows from June to September for the wet years and from May to September for the dry and normal years. What can be concluded here is that, stream flows will be low during the winter months. Therefore, optimal water resources management will be crucial. Adaptation options have been suggested and range from modification of the existing infrastructure to water demand management.



Digital Implementation of a Duobinary Signalled MSK Demodulator

V. O. Nkambule<sup>1

1</sup>Department of Physics and Electronic Engineering, University of Swaziland, P/Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Swaziland

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a digital implementation of a demodulator for duobinary signalled Minimum Shift Keying (MSK). A duobinary signalled MSK signal was used because of the desirable spectral properties of MSK as well as the attractive bandwidth efficiency of duobinary signalling. The demodulator was subjected to various simulation tests to affirm its robustness under practical conditions. It was observed to display good tolerance to phase perturbations and frequency deviations. Its frequency tracking ability was good and comparable to its analog counterpart. Thus it will be of advantage to employ this demodulator as opposed to its analog counterpart. It is cheaper and easier to implement.



Assessing Perceptions and Channels of HIV/AIDS Messages in sub-Saharan Africa: The Malawi Case

Abdi Edriss¹ and Candida Kaunda<sup>1

1</sup>Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi, P. O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi

ABSTRACT

In view of disseminating HIV/AIDS information to the general public, we have examined the channels of HIV/AIDS messages, and the perceptions of the general public, especially the youth in Malawi. Various issues and views on HIV/AIDS information such sex discussions, current and preferred sources of information, age likely to get HIV/AIDS, as well as, perceptions on people likely to get the disease, modes of transmission, methods of prevention and community views were examined thoroughly. This was done by using multi-stage sampling method and interviewing 1220 persons across the country. It was found that radio followed by newspapers, magazine and books were the most preferred sources of information on HIV/AIDS, however, it is disheartening to learn that only 20% of the youth obtained information from their parents. But, generally a good number of the general public are aware of the existence of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the basic facts about it in Malawi. In terms of perceptions about HIV/AIDS, most youth believed in the possibility of behavoural change; and the most common form of behavoural change among the youth surveyed was abstinence. Nonetheless, although an overwhelming majority of youth (about 95% boys and 92% girls) knew what a condom was and could specify its use, only one in every five boys have ever used one. It was also found that 94.7% of the people surveyed (of all ages) indicated that people with multiple sexual partners are most likely to contract HIV/AIDS, followed by 79.3% indicating that bar girls/prostitutes are at the highest risk. On the other hand, 19.3% of the people think that school children are at risk of getting HIV/AIDS and 10.7% indicated babies. This is an indication that there is still a feeling that HIV/AIDS, is a selective disease having a particular group of people as vulnerable and isolating others. This feeling could arise because of the emphasis laid in the messages in terms of vulnerability of prostitutes and people with multiple sexual partners only.



Differential Impact of In-Kind Agricultural Assistance and Per Capita Net Crop Income in Subsistence Economy: the Malawi Case

Abdi K. Edriss<sup>1

1</sup>Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi, P. O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi

ABSTRACT

The overall objective of this research was to investigate whether in-kind government agricultural assistance improves the production of maize (staple), increase input use especially fertilizer and thereby identify the main determinant of per capita net crop income among the small holder farmers in Malawi. The research was conducted in the five district of Malawi. The stratification was done purposely along the districts of Dedza, Dowa, Nkotakota, Rumphi and Mangochi because of the concentration of agricultural lending institutions, whereby most of cash loans for agricultural activities take place in these areas. The study addresses the differential impact of agricultural productivity due to in-kind and cash loans for agricultural activities through the provision of input packages to the small holders and examined the share of land allocation for the production of the staple food. The results on income and expenditure showed that in-kind packages had raised production and mean gross margins were found to be higher for in-kind inputs than the cash loan inputs. Households with strictly with in-kind input assistance realized higher per capital net crop income than households in cash loan assistance. On the other hand, farmers with the usage of cash loans for agricultural activities incurred heavy expenditure on inputs or non-farm activities and thereby reducing their gross margins. It was also found that the in-kind assistance raised the net per capita income by K380 as opposed to K116 increment obtained from cash loan farm activities. On production of maize, land holding size, extension, level of education and age of the household were found to have a greater effect while dependency burden had negatively affected the per capita net crop income. The study has also shown a significant effect of land holding size, household size and the share of maize grown on the uptake of fertilizers. Apart from the share of land allocation for maize production, the results confirmed the hypothesis that the in-kind packages has increased net crop per capita income. However, the possibility of cash loan deviation to other activities and the delays in loan processing negatively affected the crop income and hence less increment of per capital net crop income.



The Challenges of Clinical Practice as Experienced by First Year Nursing Student

Sifiso I. Sithole<sup>1

1</sup>Department of Community Health Nursing Science, University of Swaziland, P. O. Box 369, Mbabane, Swaziland

ABSTRACT

Nursing students internalise the art of nursing through clinical practice. The study was exploratory-descriptive and sought to answer the question, "what are the clinical practice experiences and coping strategies of first year general nursing students" ?. The objectives of the study were to: identify the students' conceptualisation of their clinical role; explore their clinical experiences; determine issues affecting clinical teaching and identify the coping strategies used. A pilot study preceded the main study . data were collected through audio-taped face-to-face individual and focus group interviews which were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Two research assistants were utilised. The sample was purposive, with 22 nursing students of both sexes. Informed consent was obtained verbally. The data were analysed utilising the method of Giorgi, Fischer and Murray (1975). Research rigour was achieved through trustworthiness The findings indicated that nursing students conceptualised themselves as learners; had challenging clinical experiences as manifested by among others, unconducive ward environment, negative inter/intrapersonal relationships, inadequately structured clinical activities, and shortage of human and material resources. Maladaptive mental mechanisms were mostly utilised to cope. Furthermore, the findings suggested that clinical practice was predominantly 'patient-centred' and not 'learner-centred'. These findings have implications for nursing education, practice, administration and research.



Reasons for Poor Visibility of Women in Science and Science-Related Careers in Swaziland

M.M. Keregero¹ and K. Simelane<sup>1

1</sup>Faculty of Agriculture, University of Swaziland, Luyengo Campus, Swaziland

ABSTRACT

A study sought to examine the visibility of women in science and science-related careers in Swaziland. The specific objectives were to describe the cultural and traditional barriers to participation of women in science and science-related careers; and to identify factors associated with the occupation of high profile positions by women. The study utilized the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) involving 16 purposively selected University student, distributed equally by sex. It also utilized a mailed questionnaire involving a purposively selected sample of 67 female and 22 male professionals in agriculture. The questionnaire was checked for validity and reliability and found to be suitable. The findings revealed that the visibility of women in science and science-related careers is poor and can be attributed to traditional and cultural barriers, which relate, directly or indirectly, to symbolic and verbal acts that women are differentially exposed to in the process of socialization. There was unanimous agreement among respondents with regard to factors associated with attitudes of male colleagues, and overwhelming agreement regarding factors associated with employment policies, which influenced the visibility of agricultural professionals. There was agreement regarding the majority of the items pertaining to factors associated with educational opportunities and family and society. However, opinion was more or less divided with regard to factors associated with female professionals. The need for a gender and women's policy to address imbalances arising from the male-female dichotomy in employment was recommended.



Potential of Azolla as a Nitrogenous Biofertiliser for Irrigated Rice at the Lower Moshi Irrigation Project, Tanzania

N.E. Mvukiye¹ and G.P. Msumali<sup>2

1</sup>The Kilimanjaro Agricultural Training Centre, P. O. Box 1241, Moshi, Tanzania.²Department of Soil scince, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3008, Morogoro, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

A field experiment was conducted at the Lower Moshi Irrigation Project, Tanzania, to quantify the green-manurial potential of Azolla grown as a dual crop with irrigated rice. Azolla alone and in combination with 40 and 80 kg N ha-1 as urea (45%N) was compared with untreated control or, 160 Kg N ha-1 as urea. These treatments were tested on Wahiwahi (indigenous) and IR54 (improved) rice varieties in a split-plot design with 3 replications, in 18 m2 plots each of which received a basal phosphate dose of 20 Kg P ha-1 as Tripe super phospate (TSP). Rice plant height, tiller number, panicles per m2, grains per panicle, grain mass and the ultimate grain yield were the parameters of interest that were used to quantify the potential. Azolla was broadcast in plots flooded with shallow water, left to multiply between rice hills and then manually incorporated into the soil as two successive crops, the second being a regrowth of the first, before the rice canopy prevented further incorporation. At an inoculation rate of 3.0 t ha-1, 19.63 t ha-1 of fresh Azolla was obtained in 15 days. The N yield of Azolla was slightly higher under the indigenous rice variety but, on the overall, one crop of Azolla yielded 26 kg N ha-1. Azolla alone significantly (P=0.05) improved most of the parameters cited above, the improvement being comparable to that obtained with 160 kg N ha-1 as urea or with Azolla supplemented with lower dose of urea. Azolla therefore, demonstrated considerable potential (albeit its diminution by rice canopy) in promoting rice performance under conditions of the Lower Moshi Irrigation Project. Given the low amounts of N accumulated by Azolla, further studies are suggested to identify other possible rice growth-promoting factors in Azolla, and to quantify its full potential under different ecological and cultural conditions.



Effect of Ratooning on the Yield of Hybrid and Open-Pollinated Cabbage Cultivars

E. Mwashayenyi<sup>1

1</sup>Horticultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 97, Chiredzi, Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT

An experiment was done at Chiredzi Research Station, Zimbabwe, to establish the possibility of producing ratoon crops from four cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var capitata) cultivars: Sugarloaf (open-pollinated), Drumhead (open-pollinated), Goldern Acre (open-pollinated) and Exotic (F1 hybrid). There were significant differences in yield and head size between the cultivars in both the mother and ratoon crops. Exotic gave the highest yield in the mother crop (92.91 t/ha) while Drumhead produced the highest yield in the ratoon crop (35.94 t/ha). There were also differences in cultivar response to ratooning with relative head sizes for Drumhead, Golden Acre, Sugarloaf and Exotic being 79%, 74%, 46%, and 42% of the mother crop respectively.



Response of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (l.) Verdc.) to Phosphorus Fertilisation in Botswana 

G. M. Ramolemana¹, G. S. Maphanyane², W. G. Keltjens³, and T. Mpuisang<sup>1

1</sup>Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana.²Department of Agricultural Research, ministry of agriculture, Private bag 0033, Gaborone, Botswana.³Sub-department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, University and research centre, Dreijenplein 10, 6700 EC Wageningen, The Netherlands.

ABSTRACT

Soils in Botswana are known to be poor in phosphorus. Information is lacking on the P requirements of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) in Botswana soils and soil moisture can also limit P uptake. Elsewhere the response of bambara groundnut to P fertilization is contradictory. The effects of phosphorus (P) fertilization on growth and yield of bambara groundnut were studied in a pot and a field experiments using a low P loamy sand (P-Bray 6.2 mg P kg-1) at Sebele Botswana. In the pot experiment, the response to two bambara groundnut landraces ('Diphiri Cream' and 'Zimbabwe Red') to P fertilization (0-480 mg P pot-1) was investigated. In the field experiment, the response of 'Diphiri Cream' to P fertilization (0-80 kg P ha-1) was investigated under two different soil moisture regimes (unsupplemented rainfall and supplementary irrigation) with samples taken at 28, 49,78, 99, days after sowing (DAS) and the final harvest at 126 DAS. In the pot experiment, terminated at 51 DAS, there was a positive response of shoot dry matter (DM) to P fertilization while the two landraces did not differ significantly. Root DM, nodule fresh weight and shoot P and nitrogen (N) concentrations were not affected by P fertilization. In the field, P fertilization had no effect, while supplementary irrigation increased all plant growth parameters except root DM. Total seed yield was 2.8 t and 4.2 t ha-1 for unsupplemented rainfall and supplementary irrigation treatments, respectively. Shoot P and N concentrations were not affected by soil moisture level. The positive effect of P in the pot and not in the field experiment may be an indication of low P supply of plants in pots due to a small rooted soil volume. The response in the pot experiment may indicate a 'starter P effect', whereas lack of response in the field may indicate unavailability of applied P to bambara groundnut. These aspects are discussed in this paper.