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Effects of application phytostim biostimulant on growth, yield postharvest quality, and metabolites of two amaranth species
Get PDFThesis (M. Agricultural Management (Plant Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Amaranthus species are indigenous crops in South Africa, commonly consumed as leafy
vegetables. It has been consumed for many decades by the rural community population
for its nutritional and nutraceutical properties. However, the crop is still not
commercialized due to limited productivity in the country. There is scant information on
the cultivation of Amaranthus species and its improvement as compared to the exotic
crops such as spinach and lettuce. Thus, it is pertinent to find ways of improving the crop
in terms of yield, and postharvest quality attributes. This study was aimed at establishing
the information on the effect of different concentrations of Phytostim® biostimulant on
growth, yield, and postharvest quality of Amaranthus cruentus and Amaranthus caudatus.
The objectives of this study was to (1) investigate the effects of different concentrations
of Phytostim® biostimulant on growth and yield attributes, (2) to investigate the interactive
effect of Phytostim® biostimulant concentrations and storage period on postharvest shelf life quality attributes, nutritional components, and secondary metabolites of the two
Amaranthus species. The different concentrations of Phytostim® biostimulant used in this
study were 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 3, 4.5, and 6% while untreated plants (0%) were used as
control in all the objectives.
To achieve objective one: four-week-old seedlings of Amaranthus species were grown in
a greenhouse condition following a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) for a
period of eight weeks (60 days). Different concentrations of Phytostim® biostimulant were
foliar-applied after every 14-day until harvest. Growth and yield attributes (stem diameter,
plant height, number of branches, number of leaves per plant, fresh and dried leaf mass
per plant) data were collected at harvest. It was observed that Phytostim® biostimulant
significantly affected (p<0.05) growth and yield attributes of amaranth. On the growth
attributes, Phytostim® biostimulant increased the plant height by 97 cm and 110 cm at
1.5 % concentrations in both Amaranth species. While on the stem diameter increased
by 13 mm and 17 mm. On the number of branches, it increased by 30 and 44. On yield
parameter, highest biomass obtained was 74.23 g and 85.93 g per plant.
On the second objective: the harvested leafy vegetables of amaranth were separated into
uniform bundles of 100 g weight in a well-ventilated punnet and stored at ambient
temperature for 0, 3, and 6 days for assessment of weight loss, color, and visual quality.
During these storage period, a total of 5 g per replicate was sampled at three days
intervals and oven dried at 40 ºC for 72 h for analysis of nutrient components and
secondary metabolites such as mineral elements, amino acids, protein, and phenolic
compounds. It was observed that Phytostim® biostimulant and storage days significantly
affected (p<0.05) some of postharvest quality and nutritional components of amaranth.
Weight loss in 2.5% biostimulant was 20.85%, and 30.89% at day 6 in A. cruentus and
A.caudatus. These in terms of color, the leaves that maintained a good color quality was
at 0.5 % (h° = 148.21 and a*= -12.29) for A. cruentus. At the end of storage period (6d)
the leaves maintained a good color quality was at 2.5% (h° = 124.14 and a* = -10.66) in
A. caudatus. The obtained results revealed that weight loss%, color, and visual quality of
amaranth were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by different concentrations of Phytostim®
biostimulant and storage time. All the above-mentioned postharvest attributes were
improved at 2.5% concentrations of Phytostim® biostimulant in comparison to control.
Moreover, the study further revealed that different concentrations of Phytostim®
biostimulant significantly (p<0.05) influenced the mineral elements (Mg, Ca, Fe, K, Zn, N,
Cu, Se, and Mn), amino acids (His, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, Val, Ala, Arg, Asp, Glu, Gly,
Pro and Ser) and protein content of the studied leaves. The nutrients components were
enhanced at 2.5% concentrations of Phytostim® biostimulant as compared to the control
and other concentrations of Phytostim® biostimulant. Thus, it can be concluded that
Phytostim® biostimulant can be recommended to be used effectively by farmers at 2.5%
for up to 6 days or less in preserving the high-quality characteristics of Amaranth species
during ambient temperature.
On the last stage of this study, the untargeted phenolic compounds were determined
using the Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (UPLC-MS). A total of 12 phenolic
compounds were detected in the studied leaves. Phenolic compounds of the treated
plants were significantly higher in comparison to the phenolic compound of the untreated
plants. Principle Component Analysis and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares-Discriminant
Analysis showed that Phytostim® biostimulant is the main factor responsible for the
variation in the studied crop. The major identified phenolic metabolites were members of
the coumarin glucoside, glucuronic acid, and flavonoid-3-glycosides. Predominant
phenolic compound quantified was rutin in both species. This objective spotted
Phytostim® biostimulant concentrations at 3% to be the best for enhancing secondary
metabolites. Therefore, overall recommendation these objectives suggest that
Phytostim® biostimulant concentrations starting from 1.5% up to 3% could be used to
improve the yield, nutrients, and secondary metabolites
Nurses' perspectives in the implementation of stategies to avoid litigations at public hospitals in Thaba Chweu Local Municipality Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
Get PDFThesis (M. Nursing) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Background: The public continues to lodge complaints or even file charges of medical malpractice on services rendered by nurses, resulting in litigation. The study aimed to determine the perspectives of nurses in the implementation of strategies to avoid litigation in public hospitals in Thaba Chweu Local Municipality Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The objectives were to explore and describe the perspectives of nurses in the implementation of strategies to avoid litigation and to explore the challenges faced by nurses in the implementation of strategies to avoid litigation.
Methodology: Qualitative descriptive and explorative research designs were used to describe the perspectives of nurses in the implementation of strategies to avoid litigation in the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality of Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Purposive sampling was used to sample 10 professional nurses who knew strategies to avoid litigation. Data were collected using a predetermined set of questions and analysed using the reflexive thematic analysis method with the assistance of an independent coder.
Results: The study findings revealed the perspectives of nurses in the implementation of strategies to avoid litigation in public hospitals. The results were found to be the following: Nurses’ perspectives on the implementation of strategies to avoid litigation, the challenges nurses face when implementing strategies to avoid litigation, nurses' coping strategies when implementing strategies to avoid litigation, and suggestions to improve the implementation of strategies to avoid litigation.
Conclusions: In conclusion, Nurses implement various strategies to avoid litigation which include policies and guidelines, the use of triage to prioritise patients, working according to scope of practice, and record keeping. Nurses’ perspectives promote the principle of beneficence and non-maleficence to avoid litigatio
Records management practices in institutions of higher learning in South Africa- : a case of University of Venda
Get PDFThesis (M. (Information Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024This qualitative study aimed to explore the records management practices at the University of Venda in South Africa. An interpretivist philosophy guided the study to understand subjective experiences of records management staff. Case study approach was used to gain in-depth insights into the University’s records management. The study used qualitative semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Ten purposively selected records management personnel participated. Primary data were collected through in-depth, face-to-face interviews. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed using NVivo software. Key findings were that records management practices are inconsistent across the University due to gaps in oversight; a continued dependence on paper records was also found, though digital growth is acknowledged; perspectives on the benefits of records management varied among staff; inadequate infrastructure and systems pose major challenges; legal compliance ambiguities persist across departments; and poor record accessibility and retrieval hamper operations. Recommendations made were to develop a comprehensive records management strategy and electronic records system; provide extensive training programmes to build expertise; establish centralised governance to coordinate practices; conduct regular audits for monitoring and compliance; and formulate policies for consistency in records management. In summary, the study revealed substantial deficiencies in records management practices compared to standards and provides evidence-based recommendations focused on strategy, technology, training, governance and auditing to modernise and strengthen records management across the University
Perceptions on safety related challenges in selected secondary schools of Mogalakwena Education District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Get PDFThesis (M. (Criminology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024This study was conducted to explore the perceptions of safety related challenges in selected secondary schools of Mogalakwena Education District, Limpopo province namely: Langalibalele, Seritarita, and Ebenezer secondary schools following a qualitative research approach and exploratory research design.
The non-probability sampling: Purposive sampling was adopted to sample 18 participants and 6 participants were selected from each school. In this study, data was gathered using one-on-one semi-structured face-to-face interviews and analysis was done using thematic content analysis.
Social disorganisation theory was the adopted theoretical framework in the study that concluded that location matters in terms of what crime occurs in certain communities. The theory stated that school violence is likely to occur in crime-oriented communities and that family and neighbourhood play a significant in how learners view crime and how they carry themselves. The study identified causes of school violence, research on the topic and data collected from the chosen participants, the Department of Education (DBE) legislative frameworks are thought to be effective in some schools and not all.
This study recommends that the DBE work with therapists and psychologists to support victimized educators and non-violent. To inform parents about the school violence, have awareness programs to acknowledge learners of how bad crime is. The study also suggests that parents and other stakeholders play a significant role in enhancing school security, work on improving the current security measures to guarantee safety of in the schools
The implications of lack of land tenure on the principle of spatial justice : a case of Kgapane Township ward 3, Limpopo Province
Get PDFThesis (M. Dev. (Planning and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024The purpose of this study was to investigate the implications of the lack of land tenure on the principle of spatial justice at Kgapane Township, Ward 3 in Limpopo Province. South Africa’s history records majority of white South Africans having an opportunity to live within the city centres whereas townships became home to Black, Indian, and colored populations as a result of discriminatory land use planning practices during the colonial period. The geographical pattern of land usage in South African cities today shows that many Black and Colored people still do not have land tenure to the land they now inhabit. The lack of land tenure has exacerbated a number of of issues in urban areas, including land-grabbing, informal settlements, urban sprawl, disputes over land, and a rise in land sales.
The study adopted a mixed research method (quantitative and quantitative) to describe and articulate the extent at which land tenure scarcity impairs the progression of the principle of spatial justice. The researcher used a questionnaire, interviews and observation methods to collect primary data. The researcher used a questionnaire to solicit data from 108 individuals, who were selected using simple random sampling and purposive sampling. In addition, qualitative data were collected through one-on-one interviews, observation and literature review. Interviews were conducted with three stakeholders, namely; a municipal official, a community representative and a traditional leader. Theory of right to the city and land rights were adopted as epistolomological approaches to inform the study.
Findings of the study indicate that population growth, inadequate spatial planning, corruption and power battles resulted in squatter camps and informal settlements, which make it more difficult for spatial planners to bring new spatial developments. The principle of spatial justice, which is brought forward by the SPLUMA Act 12 of 2013 was designed to foster efficient and effective land administration and management. Through the principle of spatial justice, township people can attain their land rights by having access
to registered land parcels and title deeds.
The study comes to the conclusion that there is still more work to be done by the South African government to address the spatial inefficiencies caused by apartheid spatial planning that are ingrained in the topography of the nation
Comparative analysis of tree-based intrusion detection modelling and machine learning classification models using cyber-security dataset
Get PDFThesis (M.Sc. (Computer Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Cybersecurity has become an ever-pressing concern in the modern digital landscape, demanding robust and efficient intrusion detection systems. In this research, we conducted a comparative analysis of tree-based intrusion detection modelling and several popular machine learning classification models, using the widely used KDD99 dataset. To enhance the efficiency of the proposed model, we employ a hybrid feature selection method that combines the Gini index and information gain and incorporates them using the concepts of a decision tree (DT). Models under evaluation include DT, Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN), and Logistic Regression (LR).
We present a comprehensive evaluation of these models based on various performance metrics, including accuracy, F1 score, confusion matrix, precision, recall, and execution time. The dataset is meticulously pre-processed to eliminate noise and address any biases that may affect the results. The findings of this research reveal important insights into the strengths and weaknesses of different intrusion detection models. Our analysis sheds light on the performance variation between the tree-based model and SVM, KNN, and LR. In addition, we discuss the factors that contribute to the observed effectiveness of the model.
The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the hybrid feature selection approach in enhancing the performance of tree-based models. In addition, we identify the most suitable models for specific performance criteria, guiding practitioners in selecting the appropriate model for their specific intrusion detection requirements.
The results of this study contribute significantly to the advancement of intrusion detection techniques and provide valuable guidance to cybersecurity practitioners and researchers. The research highlights potential areas for further investigation and improvement, paving the way for more efficient and accurate intrusion detection systems in the future
Assessing the effects of the Fetsa Tlala food initiative programme on small-scale farmers' households at a selected village in Polokwane Local Municipality, South Africa
Get PDFThesis (M. Dev. (Development and Planning)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024The Fetša Tlala Food Initiative Programme was established by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2013. It is an integrated government framework which aims to increase food security by addressing the causes of food insecurity in rural communities. The objectives of this research were to explore factors that influenced the programme’s outputs and its overall effectiveness. This study purposefully selected 23 households of small-scale farmer participants and applied a qualitative, semi-structured interview data collection method followed by a thematic content analysis. The research findings indicate that the programme did facilitate increased access to resources which improved some of the beneficiaries’ livelihood opportunities and household food security. However, there were a myriad of challenges that influenced the effectiveness of the programme. Despite these challenges, the beneficiaries were able to build localised resilience to some of the obstacles they encountered. The study recommends increased, regular and consistent support from the programme organisers
Statistical modelling and analysis of business ownership in South Africa
Get PDFThesis (M.Sc. (Statistics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Business owners play a vital role in the social and economic development of
South Africa by providing employment and services to the country’s citizens.
South African infrastructure and community services are maintained by tax
contributions collected from business owners. Furthermore, business owners
also play the central part of circulating money in the county by providing services
to the society in exchange of money. It is then evident that the success or
failure of business owners directly affect the wealth of the country. In this
study, the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) and Survey of Employer
and Survey Employers (SESE), both for 2017 from StatsSA was used, and the
Generalised Linear Models (Multinomial Logistic Regression and Log-linear
regression models) were applied to analyse and model business ownership in
South Africa. The Chi-square statistic test from the descriptive statistics results
showed that there is strong association between business ownership and
the following categorical variables; gender, population group, marital status,
age group, attended school, marital status, and province. The study utilised
Multinomial Logistic Regression to identify factors affecting business ownership
in South Africa. Gender, age group and attended school were three factors
that are highly statistical significant with all their categorical levels having
significant coefficients. Log-linear regression model was further used test if
there was a significant interaction effect between four factors (own business,
gender, population group and age group). The study found that only the 3-way
effect interaction was significant, meaning that it had the high probability of
improving the model than 4-way effect. Another objective of the study was to
ii
analyse the accessibility of finance by business owners. The study applied the
Log-linear model using 2017 SESE data and found that the black population
group dominates in terms of financial accessibility, the female gender also had
a greater chance of getting access to loans than the male counterpart. The
study recommends research on business ownership using the post COVID-19
data to investigate the effect of the Corona Virus pandemic on business ownership
in South Africa using statistical methods
A non- unionised social work profession in the Republic of South Africa: implications for policy and practice
Get PDFThesis (Ph.D. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024The primary focus of this study was on non-unionisation of the social work profession in South Africa. On a secondary level, the study examined the history of the social work profession and unionisation, the evolvement of the profession itself since its inception to the current status and its intersectionality with gender, identity, status and image both locally and globally. The study triangulates three designs, which are Grounded Theory, Multiple case studies and exploratory design. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews from social workers who were part of the defunct social work union committee and alumni in Limpopo and those of the general social work practitioners in South Africa in their respective private spaces, to acquire a broader understanding of the phenomenon. Data was analysed thematically using thematic analysis. The general consensus was that a union is a necessity however, disunity and fragmentation of the profession, is still a thorny issue. The legacy of the South African history was fingered as perpetuating the disunity and fragmentation of this profession. In addition, the colonial social work curriculum that failed to prepare students for political activism and also the critical lens towards systemic and neo-liberal realities of today that are viewed to be exacerbating the status quo. The use of post-modernism (constructivism) and grounded theory enabled the development of a model of the social work union in South Africa based on the data and scenario provided by participants. The study is envisaged to set a way forward for more inquiry into the unionisation of the social work profession in other provinces, and to create further debate on the critical and radical field of social work and prospects of forming a union based on the proposed conceptual model.University of Limpopo and
Research, Development and Administration Centr
The prevalence of syphilis infection and its associated factors among psychiatric patients at Mankweng Hospital, Limpopo Province
Get PDFThesis (M. Med. (Psychiatry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that is prevalent among the sexually active age group of 15 to 49 years. In psychiatry, neurosyphilis may cause or aggravate mental illness, however data relating to the infection prevalence is scarce in this population. As a result, the current study was aimed at determining the prevalence of and factors associated with syphilis infection in psychiatric patients. A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted where data was collected from clinical files, using data collection forms. The non-treponemal RPR, CSF-VDRL and treponemal TPHA tests were used to make the diagnosis of syphilis infection. Four hundred (400) case files were reviewed and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data where a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. An overall syphilis infection prevalence of 1.8% was found. Syphilis was more prevalent in females than males. Significant factors associated with syphilis infection included age, marital status, level of education and negative HIV status. Findings from the study support the routine screening of syphilis infection among psychiatry patients and emphasize the need to intensify prevention strategies in this population