Faculty of AgriSciences ANNUAL REPORT 2 014 ii CONTENTS 1 Preface 3 Student Statistics 4 Agronomy 12 Conservation Ecology and Entomology 19 Forest and Wood Science 28 Genetics & Institute for Plant Biotechnology 35 Soil Science 41 Horticultural Science 49 Agricultural Economics 55 Plant Pathology 63 Animal Science 68 Food Science 75 Viticulture and Oenology & Institute for Wine Biotechnology & Institute for Grape and Wine Sciences 86 The Standard Bank Centre for Agribusiness Leadership and Mentorship Development 90 Scientific Publications Faculty of AgriSciences | ANNUAL REPORT 2014 1 PREFACE to ensure improved financial During 2014, the Faculty viability of all programmes and built on its success of previous departments within the Faculty. years and maintained or The Faculty continues to work improved in areas key to its on systems aimed at improving financial viability. The emphasis the working environment of in the Faculty remains on quality the staff to ensure that they teaching and applied research are able to perform at the high in agricultural sciences and levels expected of Stellenbosch fundamental scientific domains. University in delivering In order to maintain the quality excellence in teaching and of teaching and research, the research. Although the Faculty Faculty adhered strongly to first- has a low turnover of staff, year student intake numbers as vacant positions continue to requested by the Department of attract quality applicants, which Higher Education and Training. further enhances our quality The Faculty also attempted teaching and research. to diversify the acceptance of students into the different The Faculty has very strong programmes by capping relations with key industry student numbers in certain stakeholders and funding programmes. This decision was organisations. These organisations taken to maintain teaching provide significant funding of student bursaries and research these relationships to ensure of Science and Technology, Trade quality throughout the Faculty, long-term viability and improved and Industry, and Agriculture, build student numbers to enter funding to address key research questions within the various delivery. We continue to maintain Forestry and Fisheries, as well as postgraduate studies within productive relations with the public with the Agricultural Research the various disciplines and sectors. During 2014, the Faculty identified the need to enhance sector, including the Departments Council and several other bodies, Faculty of AgriSciences | ANNUAL REPORT 2014 2 and worked hard to formalise wine biotechnology – have made at the institution. The Faculty exceeded its agreed targets of these relationships through progress in delivering on their therefore is able to enhance the first-year black students. This was agreements designed to improve mandates and deliver excellent College’s academic quality through achieved through the hard work of interaction and higher delivery of research within the context of their various forms of academic and the Faculty to bring black students human resource outputs through fields. These research chairs are professional exchanges without to the Faculty by various means the training of Master’s and important generators of research affecting the autonomy of the and to change the perception of doctoral students. The Faculty’s outputs and new knowledge, Elsenburg Agricultural College. agriculture in this group of school ability to generate third-stream which is required to support the AgriSciences is committed to the learners. Postgraduate students income from our industry and agricultural sector. The Faculty development challenges of our from other African countries have public sector partners continues will improve the utilisation of time and pays much attention to become a significant component of to grow. Many of the departments these opportunities in the future community interaction initiatives. our student body and also serve to within the faculty have responded to enhance our research outputs These relate to poverty alleviation, extend our African footprint. to the need to improve research and deliver research needs to the food security, biodiversity, During 2014 the Faculty embarked efficiencies, which can be seen agricultural sector. sustainability, the rural economy, on numerous campaigns to in the growth in publication postharvest technology, pests and The Faculty continued to make interact with its student body, outputs and a record graduation of diseases, water management, food important contributions to prospective students, industry doctoral students from the Faculty, processing, rural development and the HOPE Project through the partners and staff. The Faculty whilst maintaining the level of the agribusiness complex. Several Stellenbosch University Food values each of these diverse groups Master’s student graduations. The national and international meetings Security Initiative and the Standard and endeavours to link each of number of postgraduate students and conferences have been hosted Bank Centre for Agribusiness them to the overall objectives of registering for study in the Faculty on our campus and supported by Leadership and Mentorship the Faculty, which are to provide remains at high levels, ensuring the staff in the various agricultural Development, and the contract quality, relevant teaching and long-term sustainability of these disciplines. with the latter was renewed for research to support the future research outputs. a further term. The Faculty’s The Faculty student profile success of the entire agricultural The four government-funded strategic association with the continues to show gradual sector and the people it serves. research chairs, which form part Elsenburg Agricultural College improvement. Black students of the South African Research continues to grow, and Faculty account for more than 20% of Chair Initiative (SARChI) – in representatives on the Elsenburg undergraduate numbers and postharvest technology, plant Council make valuable input more than 30% of postgraduate biotechnology, meat science and into the teaching excellence students. During 2014, the Faculty Dean: Faculty of AgriSciences Faculty of AgriSciences | ANNUAL REPORT 2014 3 STUDENT STATISTICS Degrees awarded 2014* BAgric 66 MAgricFor 1 BAgricAdmin 5 MSc 12 BSc Conservation Ecology 28 MSc in Conservation Ecology 10 BSc in Forest and Wood Science 12 MSc in Forest and Wood Science 6 BSc in Food Science 26 MSc in Food Science 15 BScAgric 118 MScAgric 44 BAgricAdminHons 6 PhD 20 BScHons 14 Postgraduate Diploma 5 * 2014 statistics based on the degrees awarded at the December 2014 and April 2015 graduation ceremonies TOTAL 388 Faculty of AgriSciences | ANNUAL REPORT 2014 4 Department of AGRONOMY ... INTRODUCTION 5 be attained without a negative through teaching, presentations Introduction effect on the environment. and publications at the scientific If predictions on the growth of Agronomists therefore face the and semi-scientific levels. The the world population are correct, formidable challenge of increasing structuring of the Department global food production will have the production of most food into various disciplines facilitates to be doubled within the next 40 and fibre crops consumed and research, teaching and community years. Like most other countries on utilised by people and livestock service. the African continent, South Africa in the face of obstacles such as is already importing large volumes climate change, dwindling water Overview A Hege 140 plot harvester was donated to of important food crops, such as the Department of Agronomy by the BASF supplies and pesticide resistance. The Department’s research is agrochemical company for carrying out research wheat, as well as plant oils for on field crops The mission of the Department of focused on soil-less production human consumption. In order for Research Foundation (PRF), the Agronomy therefore is to focus on systems; climate management in South Africa to meet its increasing Winter Cereal Trust (WCT) and the development of technologies greenhouses used for vegetable, food requirements, a sharp Potatoes South Africa. Other for sustainable increases in food herb and flower production; increase in the production of these contributors include Yara Fertilizer, production through relevant sustainable production systems crops will be needed. However, the which sponsored chemical research projects, and the for winter cereals, oilseed increase in food production must fertilisers for greenhouse research transfer of these technologies crops and pasture crops; and projects, Sakata and Hygrotech, the management of herbicide which sponsored vegetable resistance in field crops. With seeds, and Agri-Organics, which the emphasis on sustainability, sponsored various organic pest and all research projects strive to disease management products. minimise inputs such as water Monsanto is funding an ongoing (greenhouse production), nutrients project investigating the effect (greenhouse and field production) of soil characteristics on the and pesticides (greenhouse and efficacy of glyphosate. Ties with field production), while aiming to the agrochemical company BASF increase productivity. The main were strengthened by the generous contributors to research projects donation of a Hege 140 plot through funding are the Protein An Agronomy postgraduate student inspects vegetable plants growing in an aquaponics system on harvester to the Department. This Welgevallen experimental farm Faculty of AgriSciences | ANNUAL