Research articles

Binding E􀂨cacy of Clay Binders in Optimized Ash- Based Vitamin-Mineral Block Licks for Cattle

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Binding E􀂨cacy of Clay Binders in Optimized Ash- Based Vitamin-Mineral Block Licks for Cattle Mutore, Rachel; Mpofu, Irvin D.T; Bangira, Courage; Madzimure, James An experiment was done to fabricate summer and winter optimized ash-based vitamin-mineral block lick specimens using cement, bentonite, kaolinite and a combination of these as binders in a ratio of 1:1(w/w) at 15% and 20% inclusion levels, respectively. Treatments were: cement, bentonite, kaolinite, bentonite + cement, bentonite + kaolinite and cement + kaolinite. Bentonite, kaolinite and ash (prime ingredient) were analyzed for mineral pro􀂦le prior to fabrication. Resulting block specimens were analyzed for compressive strength and water absorption as a measure of the binding e􀂨cacy. There was no signi􀂦cant difference (P>0.001) in compressive strength (525± 11.43kPa) for cement and bentonite + cement summer blocks. Compressive strength was signi􀂦cantly higher (P<0.001) in winter block specimens made from the combination of cement and bentonite (47.33± 1.37 kPa). Clays as sole binder could not agglutinate winter blocks. Summer block specimens comprising of cement had the signi􀂦cantly least (P<0.001) water absorption value (1.40 ± 0.923%). Therefore, cement can be combined with bentonitic clay at a ratio of 1:1 summer block licks (500kPa) and winter block licks (39 ± 1 .37kPa) of desirable strength that animals can lick slowly.

Characterisation and water resource assessment of Shashani sand river, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Characterisation and water resource assessment of Shashani sand river, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe Shumba, Tinashe; Chinyama, Annatoria; Bangira, Courage; Rwakatiwana, Peter; Svubure, Oniward Sand rivers are a common water source throughout the dry regions of the world. However, there is limited literature with regards to their storage capacity and potential water supply. The objective of this study was to characterise the Shashani sand river and assess its potential for water supply, by. estimating aquifer volume and recharge. Sand depth was determined by mechanical probing, and surface area of the river by remote sensing, enabling calculation of aquifer volume. Storage capacity was estimated by multiplying the volume by the porosity, and climatic data used to determine potential recharge into the Shashani sand river, for typical dry, wet and normal years. The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) curve number method was used to determine runoff into Shashani River. The volume of the aquifer was estimated at 23 900 000 m3. The potential recharge from Shashani sand river before abstraction and water losses was 843 831 880 m3 for a wet year, 227 662 070 m3 for a dry year and 550 450 900 m3 for a normal year. The study showed that Shashani sand river has a very high water storage capacity and has the potential to supply water to farmers for domestic use and irrigation of community gardens throughout the year. Findings from this study are useful to water authorities for water budgeting and agricultural planning. Further studies are required to investigate the sustainable abstraction rate. This study will inform the procedures used in the characterisation of sand rivers for agricultural usage; the approach used is lower in cost than others used in the characterisation of resources

The impacts of agricultural technology use on productivity and food security among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe: The case of Makonde district

Fri, 01 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The impacts of agricultural technology use on productivity and food security among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe: The case of Makonde district Muzari, Washington; Kupika, Olga; Danha, Concilia; Mapingure, Charity Zimbabwe’s semi-arid regions are characterized by high incidence of poverty, low rural incomes, low agricultural productivity, and food insecurity. These all lead to difficulties in sustaining rural livelihoods. Relatively little is known about the impacts of agricultural technologies on agricultural productivity and food security in the drier pockets of land located within the wetter regions of the country. This study explored the relationships between agricultural technology use (water harvesting, conservation agriculture, fertilizer/ manure application, and irrigation) and agricultural productivity and food security among households in Ward 15 of Makonde District in Mashonaland West Province. The methodology employed involved questionnaire interviews of 55 households selected using the stratified random sampling technique. Data analysis involved the use of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Hypothesis testing was done using the independent samples t-test and oneway between groups analysis of variance. Use of conservation agriculture resulted in significantly higher maize yields among smallholders. The t-test to measure the impact of using irrigation technology on crop yields indicated that there was a significant difference between mean yields of those practicing irrigation (Mean = 2.70 ton; SD = 2.30) and those not practicing it (Mean = 0.76 ton; SD = 1.19); t = 3.35 at the 0.2% level of significance. Therefore, development resources in semi-arid areas like Makonde District should be channeled towards agricultural technologies such as irrigation and conservation agriculture.

Unlocking the Innovative and Commercialization Potential of the Undergraduate Final Year ‘Design and Make’ Research Projects

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Unlocking the Innovative and Commercialization Potential of the Undergraduate Final Year ‘Design and Make’ Research Projects Svubure, Oniward; Pedzisai, Constantino Innovation and commercialization are viewed as key drivers of any country’s economy. Individuals normally start commercial enterprises with an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset. Universities worldwide are regarded as centers of knowledge creation and are expected to play a key role in the industrialization of a country’s economy. For undergraduate engineering students, the capstone ‘design and make’ research module is best placed to unlock their innovative and commercialization potential. Capstone modules are typically about applying what the student has learned during the entire course of studies, thereby presenting a rich setting for innovation and entrepreneurial skills learning. In Zimbabwean universities, the final year capstone project is offered where the student fabricates a product as a possible solution to a problem in industry. However, very few of the ideas from the module have found their way into the real world as goods or services. The study’s main question was to establish the extent of the impact of the projects module on agricultural engineering undergraduate students’ innovative and commercial-mindedness. Using the case study research design, data were collected on implementing the capstone module at the Chinhoyi University of Technology’s Department of Agricultural Engineering. Data were collected on the parameters potentially impacting the student’s innovativeness and commercial mindedness. The study findings showed that in its present form, the research project module improves the students’ design and innovative skills. All the same, equipping the same scholars with entrepreneurial skills is inadequate.