The allelopathic potential of Arctotis Arctotoides (L.f.) O. Hoffm on some vegetables
- Authors: Badmus, Abimbola Adesile
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Allelopathy , Allelopathic agents , Vegetables -- Microbiology , Enzyme inhibitors
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Botany)
- Identifier: vital:11306 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/454 , Allelopathy , Allelopathic agents , Vegetables -- Microbiology , Enzyme inhibitors
- Description: Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the allelopathic effects of the extracts and residue Arctotis arctotoides (L.f.) O. Hoffm on selected vegetable crops. The study aimed to address the following specific objectives to (i) examine the ultra structures of the leaf of A. arctotoides using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), (ii) carry out comprehensive qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of the root and shoot materials of the plant, (iii) investigate the allelopathic activities of the root and shoot aqueous extracts of A. arctotoides at concentrations of 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 mg/ml on germination, radicle and plumule growth of cabbage, carrot, tomato and spinach, (iv) evaluate the inhibitory effects of the dried shoot residue of the plant at 10, 20 and 40 g kg-3 of soil (treatments B, C and D) and the control (treatment A) on the morphology, growth and chlorophyll pigment content of tomato and cabbage transplants at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after transplanting and (v) assess the effects of the dried shoot residue of A. arctotoides on the yield, nutrient uptake by the leaves of tomato and cabbage at 4 and 12 weeks after transplanting. Finally, to analyze the residual mineral content of the soils with tomato and cabbage transplants at 12 weeks after transplanting. The the SEM revealed that anisocytic stomata and glandular trichomes (GTs) were numerous on the abaxial than the adaxial surfaces of A. arctotoides. The non glandular trichomes (NGTs) were also present on both surfaces but lesser on the abaxial. Morphologically, the GTs were peltate, uniseriate and globular head while the NGTs were cylindrical and filamentous with variable number of cells at the basal portion. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of some crystals showed that Na+ Mg2+ and Ca2+ were the major constituents of the crystal deposit found around the GTs and stomata. The results of the phytochemical composition of the root and shoot extracts of A. arctotoides confirmed the occurrence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, saponnins, tannins and triterpenes as the common constituents. In addition, cardiac glycosides and steroids were also detected in the shoot of the A. arctotoides. Quantitative estimation of the chemical constituents of the crude extracts further revealed that the alkaloid content in the root higher (0.97 percent) than the shoot (0.64 percent). The quantity of flavonoids detected in the shoot (1.02 percent) was more than that observed in the root (0.35 percent). Others (phenolics and tannins) were marginal in the two plant parts. The results of the inhibitory effects of the root and shoot aqueous extract at the varying concentrations showed that root extract at 10 mg/ml considerably reduced the germination of cabbage, carrot, tomato and spinach seeds by 84.0, 83.2, 72.8 and 37.4 percent respectively. Incubation of the shoot extract at the same concentration resulted in 100 percent inhibition of cabbage and carrot seed germination whereas those of tomato and spinach were suppressed by 91.5 and 61.2 percent respectively. The two extracts at the varying concentrations also had a significant reduction on the radicle and plumule growth of the four vegetables. Addition of the shoot residue to the soil showed massive chlorosis, necrotic lesions and wilting of tomato and cabbage leaves under treatments C and D at 2 weeks after transplanting. The number of leaves, leaf area, dry shoot and root weight of the two vegetables grown in the amended soils were also drastically reduced. The inhibition percentages due to the addition of the three concentrations of A. arctotoides dried shoot residue on the dry shoot weight at 4 weeks after transplanting were 38.6, 45.5 and 70.3. for tomato and 57.5, 73.3 and 87.5 percent for cabbage. Similarly, the declines in the dry root weight of 61.3, 82.9.4 and 83.4 percent for tomato as well as 53.1, 54.7 and 67.2 percent for cabbages were recorded for the two vegetables under treatment B, C and D during the period. The results further showed that the dry fruit yield and shoot weight of tomato under the treatments B, C and D decreased with increase in shoot residue concentrations of A. arctotoides. Relative to treatment A, no significant differences were recorded in the dry head weight of cabbage under the residue treated groups. The reductions in the fruit yield and fresh head weight caused by treatments C and D were 37.2 and 84.8 percent for tomato and 30.9 and 72.4 percent for cabbage. The findings on the mineral contents in the leaves of the two vegetables revealed significant differences in the uptake of N, Mg, Na, Cu and Fe by tomato leaves. The concentrations of N, K, Na and Zn in cabbage leaves also differed. However, the P content was relatively constant in the leaves of the two vegetables at 4 and 12 weeks after transplanting. At 12 weeks after transplanting, the Fe content in soils with tomato and cabbage treatments C and D was greatly enhanced in comparison with the other nutrients. The residual N, P and Zn detected in soils planted to cabbage were similarly equal among all the groups including the control. Thus, under the greenhouse experiment, Arctotis arctotoides (L.f) O. Hoffm has been shown to contain some phytotoxic chemical compounds in its root and shoot materials. The compounds either singly or collectively have demonstrated some inhibitory potentials on the germination, growth and yields of cabbage, carrot, tomato and spinach evaluated in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Sedimentary, geochemical and geophysical study of the Ecca group, Karoo supergroup and its hydrocarbon potential in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Christopher
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Sediments (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sedimentology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4881 , vital:28658
- Description: The Ecca Group of Karoo Supergroup is a sedimentary rock sequence that deposited between the Late Carboniferous (Dwyka Group) and the Late Permian-Middle Triassic (Beaufort Group). The Ecca Group investigated in this study is situated in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and it comprises mainly of shales, mudstones, siltstones and sandstones. The Ecca Group sequence contains considerable carbon content and suitable thickness to make it an ideal target for shale gas exploration. Previous studies put more emphasis on the geology and stratigraphy of the Ecca Group, this study revised the stratigraphy, and put new insight on the petrography, depositional processes, sedimentary facies, provenance, paleoweathering, tectonic setting, subsidence rates and history, electrical resistivity, source rock characteristics and diagenesis of the potentially feasible sandstone and mudrock reservoir rocks of the Ecca Group. Based on the lithological features, sedimentary structures and facies characteristics, the stratigraphy of the Prince Albert, Whitehill, Collingham and Fort Brown Formations of the Ecca Group is now subdivided into two informal members each, i.e. Lower Member and Upper Member. Furthermore, the Ripon Formation is now subdivided into three informal members. Each member has been asigned a lithological name. The grain size parameters show that most of the Ecca Group sandstones are very fine to fine grained, poorly to moderately well sorted, mostly near-symmetrical and mesokurtic in grain-size distribution. The linear discriminant function analysis is dominantly indicative of turbidity current deposits under deep marine environment for Prince Albert, Whitehill and Collingham Formations, shallow marine environment for Ripon Formation, while the Fort Brown Formation is lacustrine-deltaic deposits. Modal composition analysis and petrography studies revealed that the detrital components of the sandstones are dominated by monocrystalline quartz, feldspar and lithic fragments. The sandstones are compositionally and texturally immature and can be classified as feldspathic wacke and lithic wacke. The provenance analysis revealed plutonic and metamorphic terrains as the main source rocks with minor debris derived from recycled sedimentary rocks. The detrital modal compositions of these sandstones are related to back arc to island and continental margin of tectonic setting. Based on the detailed sedimentological analyses of outcrop and borehole data, fourteen lithofacies were identified and seven facies associations (FAs) were recognised. The facies associations are: FA 1: Shale and mudstones intercalated with siltstones, FA 2: Carbonaceous shale, mudstone with subordinate chert and sandstone, FA 3: Mudstones rhythmite with thin bedded mudstone and lenticular siltstone, FA 4: Greyish medium bedded sandstone intercalated with laminated mudstone, FA 5: Dark-grey medium to thick bedded mudstone and siltstone, FA 6: Thin to medium bedded sandstone alternated with thin bedded carbonaceous mudstone, and FA 7: Varved mudstone rhythmite intercalated with siltstone and minor sandstone. Sedimentological characteristics of the identified facies associations indicate four deposition environments, namely, deep marine basin, turbidite, shallow marine and lacustrine environments, which constitute a gradually regression sequence as a result of sea-level dropping and shallowing of the basin during the developmental processes. Geochemical analysis of the Ecca mudrocks and sandstones revealed that the rocks are of quartzose sedimentary provenance, suggesting that they were derived from a cratonic interior or recycled orogen. The petrography and geochemistry of the sandstones indicated that the source areas are composed of plutonic and metamorphic rocks with a minor component from sedimentary rocks. The geochemical diagrams and indices of weathering suggested that the granitic source rocks underwent moderate to high degree of chemical weathering. The tectonic setting discrimination diagrams support passive continental margin setting of the provenance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Geological and geophysical investigation of the South Eastern Karoo Basin, South Africa
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Christopher
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geology)
- Identifier: vital:11532 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021280
- Description: Geological and geophysical methods were used to investigate the southeastern Karoo Basin of South Africa in an area extending from longitudes 24 o E to 29o E and latitudes 32o S to 35o S. This was undertaken in order to reveal geologic structures, isochore thicknesses of the geologic sequence and their variations across the study area, proffer the possible provenance of the sediments and assess the potential of oil and gas accumulation. The methodology used includes field investigation, rock sampling, preparation of thin sections, petrographic studies, X-ray diffraction analysis, density measurements, porosity calculations, extraction of elevation data from Google Earth, 2½ D gravity profile modelling, generating of isochore (true vertical) thicknesses and depositional surfaces maps from the models, PetroMod 1D modelling and qualitative interpretation of magnetic, gravity and radiometric maps.Petrographic study was carried out on twenty six thin sections of rocks from the eleven geologic formations that cover the study area. Petrographic studies on the diamictite of the Dwyka Group shows abundance of monocrystalline quartz, granite and quartzite components in the breccias which possibly indicate the existence of granitic and metamorphic rocks in the source areas. The sandstones of the Ecca and Beaufort Groups are immature, greywacke and the heavy mineral assemblages signify that the minerals are of granitic, volcanic and metamorphic origin. The magnetic maps show two main magnetic anomalies, a major one trending in a northeast to southwest direction which is part of the Beattie magnetic anomaly and another that is a “bean-shaped” anomaly. The radially averaged power spectrum shows two depths to magnetic sources. The first depth is about 0.6 km which is the average depth to the top of the shallow sources, while the average depth to the top of the deep sources is about 15 km. The shallow sources are connected to magnetic minerals within the Beaufort Group while deep magnetic sources were inferred to be in the basement. The gamma ray spectrometric map shows areas with relatively high gamma radiation count. The high radiation count is possibly due to the uranium and thorium in the detrital materials, as well as the enrichment of radioelements in the feldspars (k-feldspar), calcite, quartz, zircon and clay minerals in the fluvial channel sandstones of the Beaufort Group. A total of two hundred and fifty-eight (258) rock samples were collected in the field and densities (dry, wet and grain densities) and porosities were determined in the laboratory. The Karoo Supergroup density values range from 2.526 – 2.828 g/cm3. The average porosities range from 0. 49 – 3.31 %. The dry densities and porosities of all the formations are inversely correlated with correlation coefficient values (R) that range from 0.9491 - 0.9982. The density of the dolerite intrusions (mostly sill) ranges from 2.700 – 2.837 g/cm3 whilst the porosity range from 0.1118 – 0.3868 %. The Bouguer anomaly map shows an increase in gravity values from -140.7 mGal in inland to about 60.1 mGal in coastal areas. This dominant gravity variation is inferred to be due to a deeper basement and/or Moho that get shallower from inland towards the coast. The Moho is at about 45 km depth inland and shallows to about 42 km at the coast. The 2½ D gravity modelling was done for fourteen (14) profiles with each profile having three (3) models corresponding to minimum, average and maximum densities to obtain the thicknesses of the geologic sequence. The current isochore thicknesses extracted from the gravity models show that the Beaufort Group is the thickest of all the groups that make up the Karoo Supergroup with maximum vertical thickness of up to 634 m, followed by the Ecca and Dwyka Groups with maximum vertical thicknesses of about 3207 m and 727 m, respectively. The maximum elevation for the Dwyka, Ecca and Beaufort sediments are about 500 m, 400 m and 285 m, respectively, whilst the maximum depth below sea level are around 8500 m, 7000 m and 5500 m, respectively. The PetroMod1D model result yield average vitrinite reflectance and temperature values of about 6 % and 500 ℃ respectively for the lower Ecca Group which belong to the dry gas window based on classification by several authors. Thus the rocks of the lower Ecca Group are thermally matured for hydrocarbon (shale gas) generation that can merit gas exploration in the Karoo Basin.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Access to credit and the effect of credit constraints on household welfare in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd-James Segun
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Investments -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Finance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Credit -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11153 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1000977 , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Investments -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Finance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Credit -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: In recent years, concern about food safety linked to health issues has seen a rise in private food safety standards in addition to the regulations set by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). These have presented challenges to producers and exporters of agricultural food products especially the producers of fresh fruits and vegetables. In spite of the food safety-linked challenges from the demand side, the vast range of business-environment forces pose equally formidable challenges that negatively impact on the exporting industries’ ability to maintain or improve their market shares and their ability to compete in world markets. The objective of this study was therefore to establish the competitiveness of the South African citrus industry in the international markets within this prevailing scenario. Due to the diversity of the definitions of competitiveness as a concept, this study formulated the following working definition: “the ability to create, deliver and maintain value and constant market share through strategic management of the industrial environment or competitiveness drivers”. This was based on the understanding that the international market shares of an industry are a function of forces in the business environment which range from intra-industry, external and national as well as the international elements. The unit of analysis were the citrus producers engaged in export of their products and the study made use of 151 responses by producers. The study adopted a five-step approach to the analysis of the performance of the South African citrus industry in the global markets, starting with the analysis of the Constant Market Share (CMS) of the South African citrus industry in various world markets, establishing the impact of the business environmental factors upon competitiveness, establishing the costs of compliance with private food safety standards, determining the non-price benefits of compliance with the standards, as well as highlighting the strategies for enhancing long-term competitiveness of the industry in the international markets. South Africa is one of the top three countries dominating the citrus fruit export market. Since its entry into the citrus fruit exports market in the 1900s, the industry has sustained its activity in the international market. The Constant Market Share Analysis shows that, amidst the challenges on the international market side, and the changes in the business environment, over much of which the industry has limited control and influence, the industry has maintained its competitive advantage in several markets. The CMS shows that South Africa’s lemons are competitive in America. Despite a negative trend, the South African grapefruit has been competitive in France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Oranges have been competitive in the Greece, Italy, Portugal, UK, Asian and Northern Europe markets. Competitiveness in these markets has been due to the inherent competitiveness of the industry. Competitiveness in such markets as the Middle East has been attributed to the relatively rapid growth of these markets. The South African citrus industry has similarly undergone many major processes of transformation. The business environmental factors influencing its performance have ranged reform to the challenges beyond the country’s borders. These factors directly and indirectly affect the performance of the industry in the export market. They have influenced the flow of fruits into different international destinations. Of major concern are the food safety and private standards. Challenges in traditional markets as well as opportunities presented by demand from newly emerging citrus consuming nations have seen a diversification in the marketing of the South African citrus. The intensity of competition in the global market is reflected by the fluctuations in the market shares in different markets as well as the increase and fluctuations of fruit rejection rates in some lucrative markets such as America. A combination of challenging national environmental forces and stringent demand conditions negatively impact on revenues especially from markets characterised by price competitiveness. This study identified cost of production, foreign market support systems, adaptability, worker skills, challenges of management in an international environment and government policies such as labour and trade policies as some of the most influential obstacles to competitiveness. Some of the most competiveness-enhancing factors were market availability, market size, market information, market growth and the availability of research institutions. However, compliance with private standards still poses a challenge to the exporters. The different performance levels of the industry in various markets prove the dissimilarity of the demand conditions in the global market. These are supported by the negative influence associated with the foreign market support regimes as well as the challenges associated with compliance with private food safety standards. While market availability, market growth, market information and size were identified as enhancing competitiveness, the fluctuations and inconsistencies in the competitiveness of the industry in different foreign markets require more than finding markets. Resource allocation by both the government and the industry may need to take into account the off-setting of the national challenges and support of farmers faced with distorted and unfair international playing fields. Otherwise, market availability is not a challenge for the industry save meeting the specifications therewith as well as price competitiveness which is unattainable for the South African citrus producers faced with high production costs. For the purposes of further study, it is recommended that account should be taken of all the products marketed by the industry (including processed products such as fruit juices) in order to have a whole picture of the competitiveness of the industry in the international market. This study also proffers a new theoretical framework for the analysis of the business environment for the citrus industry and other agro-businesses. This framework takes into account the indispensability of the food safety standards and measures as well as the diversity of the global consumer and the non-negotiability of food trade for the sustenance of the growing population.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Sedimentology, reservoir properties and hydrocarbon potential of the southern Bredasdorp Basin, offshore of the Western Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Temitope Love
- Date: 2021-05
- Subjects: Sediments (Geology) , Hydrocarbon reservoirs
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20753 , vital:46546
- Description: The Bredasdorp Basin has become the focus for exploration activity (i.e., seismic exploration and drilling) since the discovery of gas-condensate and oil reservoirs in the early 1980s. The basin has proven hydrocarbon reserves and potential for future discoveries. However, uncertainty about the sedimentological and petrographic characteristics, reservoir qualities, thermal maturity and hydrocarbon potential of the source/reservoir rocks has hindered further exploration, particularly in the southern part of the basin. To date, this part of the basin remains unexplored and partially understood with respect to petroleum systems evolution when compared to the central and northern parts of the basin. To fill the research gaps, exploration wells E-AH1, E-AJ1, E-BA1, E-BB1 and E-D3 were investigated so as to unravel the petrographic characteristics, depositional processes and paleoenvironment, tectonic provenance, paleoweathering, hydrocarbon potential, thermal maturity, diagenetic characterisitcs and reservoir qualities of the southern Bredasdorp Basin. The grain size textural parameters revealed that the southern Bredasdorp Basin sandstones are unimodal, predominantly fine-grained, moderately well sorted, mesokurtic and near-symmetrical. The bivariate plots of grain size textural parameters indicate that the depositional environments had been influenced mainly by river/beach/coastal dune conditions. The linear discriminate functions (LDF) diagrams show that the sediments are turbidity current deposits in a shallow marine environment. The Passega diagram revealed that the studied sandstones were mainly deposited by traction currents and beach process. In addition, the grain size log-probability curves and Passega diagram show the predominance of saltation and suspension modes of sediment transportation. Based on the inter-relationship of the various statistical parameters, it is deduced that the southern Bredasdorp Basin are mainly shallow marine deposits with signature of beach and coastal river processes. Based on the lithofacies analysis of the southern Bredasdorp Basin borehole cores, thirteen lithofacies were identified and grouped into six facies associations (FAs). The facies associations are: matrix supported conglomerate and massive sandstone (FA 1), ripple cross laminated, trough cross bedded and bioturbated sandstone (FA 2), massive sandstone with mudstone and shale interbeds (FA 3), alternating laminated to interbedded sandstone/siltstone and mudstone (FA 4), massive mudstone with minor interlamination of clay-rich sandstones and siltstone (FA 5), and carbonaceous laminated shale and mudstone with occasional siltstone laminae (FA 6). Facies associations FA1, FA2, FA3, FA4, FA5 and FA6 are interpreted as submarine channel-fills, submarine channel-levee, submarine sheet lobe, submarine lobe fring/overflow, basin plain deposits and deep sea floor/basin plain deposits, respectively. Sedimentological evidences from lithofacies interpretation revealed shallow marine environment as the main depositional environment, with minor contribution from the deep marine environment. Petrographic studies show that the southern Bredasdorp Basin sandstones chiefly consist of quartz (52.2–68.0percent), feldspar (10.0–18.0percent), and lithic fragments (5.0–10.2percent). The modal composition analysis revealed that the sandstones could be classified as subarkosic arenite and lithic arkose. The provenance ternary diagrams revealed that the rocks are mainly of continental block provenances (stable shields and basement uplifted areas) and complemented by recycled sands from an associated platform. The tectonic provenance studies show that the sandstones are typically rift-derived arenites and have undergone long-distance transport from the source area along the rift. In the regional context of the evolution of the Bredasdorp Basin, the results suggested that the basin developed on a passive rift setting (trailing edge) of the stable continental margins. The provenance discrimination diagrams based on major oxide geochemistry revealed that the sandstones are mainly of quartzose sedimentary provenance, while the mudrocks are of quartzose sedimentary and intermediate igneous provenances. The discrimination diagrams indicate that the southern Bredasdorp Basin sediments were mostly derived from a cratonic interior or recycled orogen. The bivariate plots of TiO2 versus Ni, TiO2 against Zr and La/Th versus Hf as well as the ternary diagrams of V–Ni–Th×10 suggest that the mudrocks and sandstones were derived from felsic igneous rocks. The tectonic setting discrimination diagrams support passive-active continental margin setting of the provenance. Chemical index of alteration (CIA) indices observed in the sandstones suggest that their source area underwent low to moderate degree of chemical weathering. However, the mudrocks have high CIA indices suggesting that the source area underwent more intense chemical weathering, possibly due to climatic and/or tectonic variations. The organic geochemistry results show that these rocks have total organic carbon, TOC contents ranging from 0.14 to 7.03 wt.percent. The hydrogen index (HI), oxygen index (OI), and hydrocarbon index (S2/S3) values vary between 24–263 mg HC/g TOC, 4–78 mg CO2/g TOC, and 0.01–18 mgHC/mgCO2 TOC, respectively, indicating predominantly Type III and IV kerogen with a minor amount of mixed Type II/III kerogen. The mean vitrinite reflectance values vary from 0.60–1.20percent, indicating that the samples are in the oil-generation window. The Tmax and PI values are consistent with the mean vitrinite reflectance values, indicating that the southern Bredasdorp Basin source rocks have entered the oil window and are considered as effective source rocks in the southern Bredasdorp Basin. The hydrocarbon genetic potential (SP), normalized oil content (NOC) and production index (PI) values all indicate poor to fair hydrocarbon generative potential. The main diagenetic processes that have affected the reservoir quality of the southern Bredasdorp Basin rocks are cementation by authigenic clay, carbonate and silica, growth of authigenic glauconite, dissolution of minerals and load compaction. These aforementioned diagenetic processes act differently in each borehole and at different depths. The influence of cementation and compaction is complex with no particular pattern with increasing depth, suggesting that diagenesis is the main challenge to reservoir characterization in the southern Bredasdorp Basin. The clays in the sandstones act as pore choking cement, which reduces porosity and permeability of the reservoir rocks. Reservoir quality of the sandstones has been improved to various extents due to the development of secondary porosity as a result of partial to complete dissolution of early calcite cement and some detrital grains (feldspars) and also affected by grain fracturing. The scattered plots of porosity and permeability versus cement+clays show good inverse correlations, suggesting that the reservoir quality is mainly controlled by cementation and authigenic clays. Based on the diagenetic study, it can be inferred that the potential reservoir quality of the southern Bredasdorp Basin sandstones is poor-moderate. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-05
Feeding behaviour of Xhosa lop-eared, Nguni and Nguni x Boer goat genotypes kept on rangelands of the false thornveld
- Authors: Bakare, Archibold Garikayi
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Goats -- Feeding and feeds , Goats -- South Africa , Rangelands -- South Africa , Grazing -- South Africa , Veld
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11811 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/396 , Goats -- Feeding and feeds , Goats -- South Africa , Rangelands -- South Africa , Grazing -- South Africa , Veld
- Description: Feeding behaviour of Xhosa lop-eared, Nguni and Nguni × Boer goat genotypes kept on rangelands of the False Thornveld By Archibold Garikayi Bakare The study was conducted at the University of Fort Hare farm to assess the feeding behaviour of three goat genotypes: Xhosa lop-eared (XLE), Nguni (NGN) and Nguni × Boer crossbred (NBC) genotypes. The time spent on different activities (grazing, browsing and other activities) on rangelands was recorded using stop watches. The micro-histological faecal analysis technique was used to identify and quantify the plant species that were consumed by the goats across the four seasons. Time spent browsing was high in post-rainy season for XLE (55.94 %) compared to NGN (52.97 %) and crossbred NBC (45.95 %) goats. The high browsing activity was also noted for XLE in hot-wet and cool-dry season (P < 0.05). The NBC goats on the other hand; devoted most of their time grazing compared to XLE and NGN goats across seasons (P < 0.05). Generally, time of day had no effect (P > 0.05) on foraging activities among the goat breeds. Grewia occidentalis, Panicum maximum and Diospyros lycioides were the most preferred plant species by all genotypes across seasons in the paddock. It was concluded that crossbreds spent more time grazing as compared to XLE, which are more of browsers. It could, therefore, be recommended that XLE complement with grazers (cattle and sheep) for efficient management of feed resources in rangelands.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions about the Value of Teaching Practice Assessment as a Catalyst to the Improvement of Quality Model
- Authors: Bako, Yellow
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Teaching -- Evaluation Effective teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17921 , vital:41978
- Description: Teaching Practice assessment is criticized for not promoting critical reflection and problem-solving thinking in pre-service teachers as expected. Pre-service teachers lack praxis: translating theoretical knowledge into authentic practice. Teaching Practice assessment is too traditional to offer authentic evaluation for life-long learning. Globally, Teaching Practice is the greatest academic process in training preservice teachers. However, there are concerns raised regarding what is regarded as inadequate teacher preparation, inconsistencies and subjectivity in Teaching Practice assessment, and misalignment between instructional theory and classroom practice have resulted in high demand for quality improvement of the Teaching Practice assessment framework. The research has adopted the post-positivism research paradigm, mixed methods research approach, and the QUAN-QUAL sequential explanatory research design. The population was all Post Graduate students at one university and all Diploma in Education students at on Teachers College in Zimbabwe. Data collection instruments used were: observations schedule, interviews, questionnaires, and documentary analysis. Results have shown that Teaching Practice assessment was of great value for academic, pedagogical, and teacher professional development. Subject content knowledge posed greater challenge to preservice teachers than pedagogical content knowledge during Teaching Practice assessment. School environment, accommodation, lack of material and financial resources, heavy workload, indiscipline, unexpected assessment visits, and contradictions by assessors were major factors that affected Teaching Practice assessment. Pre-service teachers preferred to be assessed by college-based to university-based assessors because they give them feedback for learning, they motivate, and they understand their plight, and they appear more professional in their conduct than university-based assessors. The study therefore suggests a framework for improving the quality of Teaching Practice that includes a balanced curriculum, intensified training on content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge; a proper collaboration between college and university assessors; training in ICT, and more focused Teaching Practice workload, and the practice of reflective, authentic, and emancipatory assessment practices for sustainable development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Between"culture" and "Cruelty"narratives of widows on land dispossession in Gqadu administrative area, Mbashe Municipality , Eastern Cape
- Authors: Baleka, Zola
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Widows -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Right of property -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5083 , vital:29057
- Description: This study highlights the cultural underpinnings of specific indulgences pertaining to land ownership with reference to widowhood in the rural Eastern Cape. The study does this by examining the narratives of widows about their experiences of land dispossession in Nqadu Administrative Area. Nqadu Administrative Area is a rural community in Mbhashe Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study focuses on widows’ experiences relating to the cultural practices of the community regarding land ownership. A qualitative, case study design was adopted. To uncover the widows’ narratives, the study utilised in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, with a sample of 50 widows. Further empirical data were obtained from four members of the municipal Land Committees, two Ward Councillors, four Traditional Leaders and two officials from the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, using in-depth and key informant interviews. The study found that widows were vulnerable to land ownership violations and dispossessions, and that these violations were perpetrated by community members, particularly relatives of deceased husbands. Low levels of education and fear of antagonising clan relatives played a vital role in preventing widows from fighting for their legal rights. The failure of widows to fight for their rights increased their chances of being heavily exposed to dispossession of their land rights. Cultural practices within the communities catalysed abusive practices against widows, particularly against those whose marriage was not ‘recognised’ due to various stated reasons. The study also revealed that widows who had married as second wives and those who did not bear children experienced egregious abuses. Another finding was that men from Nqadu Administrative Area were given priority during the allocation of land, based on cultural and traditional practices, and were given land of their own choice depending on availability. The study thus highlights the impact of cultural practices and the ways in which these became instruments of gender abuse, despite the existence of laws designed to prevent specific social cruelties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The community as part of a multi-stakeholder approach towards development opportunities for youth in Indwe, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Baleni , Khangelwa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Youth development Community development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSW
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17518 , vital:41083
- Description: This dissertation discusses the involvement of a community in creating development opportunities for youth in Indwe, under Emalahleni Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape. Establishing a position where community members put themselves concerning youth development is what inspired the study. The study is further motivated by trying to gain perspectives from the youth because most discourses on youth rarely feature their voices. Additionally, it seeks to gain perspectives on the stakeholder’s insights on the involvement of the community in youth development. The literature consulted was broken up into; the situation of youth in South Africa, which looked at youth unemployment and youth development policies; youth development, which looked at risk and protective factors that affect youth development. The literature further uncovered the role currently played by communities in youth development, and lastly the multi-stakeholder processes for youth development. The Quintuple Helix model was a framework used to shape this study. This framework emphasises that the natural environment and in this case, the community be added to other stakeholders to ensure a sustainable youth development. What is crucial in the framework is the overlap and cross-communication between the different helixes or sectors, sectors such as the university, the government, the private sector, the culture based media, and the natural environment. The study utilised a qualitative methodology with an interpretive and descriptive paradigm, which used focus groups and a qualitative questionnaire as a method of data collection. The data was analysed and presented following the following three themes; i.e., community involvement in youth development, indigenous knowledge for youth development, and opportunities for youth development. The findings of the study revealed that, if Indwe community provides youth with more spaces, and chances to participate in their development, the youth could challenge prominent discourses than treat them as unmotivated, and exclude them from decision-making processes, which directly affect them, and the society within which they live. The findings also revealed that the Indwe community should inform youth iv development programmes, as this would ensure sustainability, and give a sense of ownership to the community. The findings further indicated that the Indwe community could utilise its natural resources to create opportunities for youth development. Moreover, the private sector, the media, and the education system have all contributed in youth development; however, the government has taken full responsibility for youth development in Indwe, and this caused the participants to feel that it is the government’s responsibility to create opportunities for youth development. In conclusion, Indwe community has a challenge of youth development. The problem is fuelled by issues such as complexity in politics, nepotism, and a lack of opportunities. Stakeholders such as the private sector, the media based culture, and the government are involved in the creation of development opportunities for youth in Indwe. However, the sector that has taken the most responsibility for the development of youth is the government. Indwe community members are not involved in the creation of opportunities for youth development; they, however, understand that they have to be significant role players.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Abandoned buildings as breeding ground for criminal activities: a case study of Libode Town under Nyandeni Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Baliwe, Mthuthuzeli Christopher
- Date: 2020-02
- Subjects: Abandoned buildings http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2006005935 , Crime -- South Africa http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2009122346
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19215 , vital:43032
- Description: Buildings and houses are neglected by their owners/ government for different reasons, but money tends to be the leading reason in most instances. That then needs minds to work hand in hand; owners of the buildings must co-partner with the government to reduce the crisis by ensuring that there are no abandoned buildings in the community as these have proved to be breeding ground for criminal activities. The study was conducted in Libode town, which is under Nyandeni Local municipality in the Eastern Cape. Around Libode town there are abandoned buildings that have not been used for years. In most cases criminals use these for their criminal activities and hide outs from the law. There have been multiple cases reported about crimes committed inside and around these buildings, and still no intervention from the local government has been instituted. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of abandoned buildings on criminal activities in Libode Town. The study used a qualitative design in data collection and in describing the results. A sample of 8 key informants, 10 members from Qhankqu and 10 members from Belmond Township formed participants of the study. These were selected using the Snowball sampling method. In-depth / one on one interviews were used to collect data from key informants and focus group interviews were used to interview two groups, one from Belmond and the other from Qhankqu. Data were analysed and drafted using thematic analysis and transcription. Interviews were recorded and notes were taken to collect data. Findings indicate that indeed abandoned buildings are the source of so many criminal activities as it was explained by the researcher that youth hangs on these buildings and formulate gangs. These gangs are utilised by drug dealers to distribute their merchandise. Findings also explained that these buildings are located on places which are dangerous and it motivates wrongdoers to even carry on their doings. Findings indicated that lack of attention to these buildings by the government and the relevant owners was the main factor that led criminals to utilise abandoned buildings for their wrongdoings. Findings further showed that the government failed to ensure that these buildings are checked at least twice a month in order to keep control on these buildings, causing criminals to target the abandoned buildings. The study recommends that SAPS and Nyandeni local municipality draft Laws/ restrictions for the use of these buildings so that if anyone wants to use these buildings they must follow these laws and restrictions, which will help to restrict criminal elements from using these buildings without permission. To solve the problem of criminals taking advantage of abandoned buildings, the study recommends, the buildings should be either destroyed or fixed. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2020
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- Date Issued: 2020-02
Mathematics Method: MAT 411
- Authors: Bambiso, N P , Glover, H
- Date: 2011-06
- Language: English
- Type: Examination paper
- Identifier: vital:17607 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1009982
- Description: Mathematics Method: MAT 411, degree examination June 2011.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2011-06
Mathematics Method 3: EDM 321
- Authors: Bambiso, N P , Mthethwa, T M
- Date: 2010-01
- Language: English
- Type: Examination paper
- Identifier: vital:17590 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1009963
- Description: Mathematics Method 3: EDM 321, supplementary examination January 2010.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2010-01
Analyses of the simple harmonic oscillator and its variations
- Authors: Bambiso, Noludwe Patience
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Harmonic analysis Vibration -- Mathematical models Oscillations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8132 , vital:31530
- Description: Vibratory motion is fundamental to all natural phenomena. It occurs everywhere in nature, from fundamental particles to the complexity of the life of the smallest cell, to the properties of the cosmos. Its frequency ranges from those of gammarays down the spectrum of X-rays, microwave, optical and radio waves. These are common concepts in everyday life, but their origin and nature are seldom comprehended. In this thesis we look at the mathematical fundamentals and how to apply them. We start with fundamental concepts and extend them to more complicated systems. We consider methods of analysis and applications. In Chapter 2 we consider simple harmonic oscillators and their mathematical analyses and in Chapter 3 we look at applications. Chapter 4 discusses the general form of simple harmonic motion, i.e. damped and forced harmonic motion. We consider simple coupled systems and their analysis. In Chapter 5 we introduce the method of complex functions and its application to complicated compound systems. Chapter 6 introduces a novel application, that of how SHM can be used as a model for advanced effects, or acausality. Chapter 7 presents a summary and conclusion.
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- Date Issued: 2017
Evaluation of anti-diabetic activity of selected red marine macro-algae found along South African coastal areas
- Authors: Bambo, Karabo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3721-2424
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Marine algae , Phytochemicals
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22533 , vital:52405
- Description: Marine macro-algae are a good source of potential primary and secondary metabolites. Phytochemicals of the samples were extracted using methanol and water. This study evaluated the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant activity and antidiabetic activity of selected red marine macro-algae sampled from Gqeberha, South Africa. The species collected were identified as Gelidium pristoides, Scinaia furcellata and Portieria tripinita using DNA barcoding. Results showed the presence of several phytochemicals such as saponins, phenols, flavonols, tannins, proanthocyanidins and flavonoids. Methanol was a more effective polyphenol extraction solvent than water. Gelidium pristoides (H2O) was observed to contain the highest phenol and proanthocyanidin content, which correlated to Gelidium pristoides (H2O) having the greatest FRAP and DPPH radical scavenging activity IC50 at 0.227. Portieria tripinita (MeOH) extract had the greatest flavonoid content. Flavonol content was high for Scinaia furcellata while the highest tannin content was observed in both H2O and MeOH extracts of Gelidium pristoides. All the selected marine macro-algae species showed concentration-dependent reducing power. The extract with the highest ABTS scavenging activity was Gelidium pristoides (MeOH) IC50 at 0.227. Portieria tripinita was the only species that showed Nitric oxide scavenging activity, with (H2O) extract showing the highest activity IC50 at 3.052. Only MeOH extracts of Gelidium pristoides and Scinaia furcellata showed very slight α-amylase inhibition, however, all extracts successfully inhibited the activity of α-glucosidase with the exception of the H2O extracts of Scinaia furcellata. All crude extracts of Gelidium pristoides, Scinaia furcellata and Portieria tripinita showed no significant/weak effect on glucose uptake and utilization by C3A cells following 24 hours of treatment, with the exception of the aqueous extracts of Scinaia furcellata at the highest concentration of 100 μg/ml. The in-vitro MTT cytotoxicity assay revealed that only MeOH extracts of Gelidium pristoides and Scinaia furcellata had a 15 significant toxic effect on C3A hepatocytes at concentrations of 100 μg/ml and 25μg/ml, respectively. Portieria tripinita aqueous extract showed cytotoxicity when evaluated using Hoechst 33342/Propidium iodide (PI) dual staining. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
Examining the reasons for the exclusion of pregnant learners from school through the school governing body pregnancy policy
- Authors: Bamidele, James Seidu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6641-0385
- Date: 2017-07
- Subjects: School board members , Pregnant teenagers , Human rights
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22979 , vital:53375
- Description: Discrimination is a serious violation of human rights and it is strongly condemned by various legal instruments in South Africa. The South African Constitution (1996), Promotion of Administration Justice Act (2000) and Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (2000) forbade discrimination and exclusion of pregnant learners from school. In spite of these legislative frameworks, School Governing Body (SGB) continues to exclude pregnant learners from school. SGB claimed that pregnant learners are harmful to other female learners and is becoming a significant barrier to girls’ education. Research shows that learners’ pregnancy is predominant in rural areas, apparently poses a threat to female education (Annual School Survey Report, 2010). The purpose of this dissertation is to establish that SGB lacks power to do so; however, their resistance to the law by excluding the pregnant learners from school is in conflict with the South African Constitution. This dissertation investigated an alternative instrument of legal remedy to reduce the problem of learners’ pregnancy rather than exclusion. The theoretical framework of this study is informed by Public Policy Theory (Ijeoma, 2010). Literatures and scholarly works on education law (Oosthuizen, 2015) and articles on Learners’ pregnancy shall be reviewed (Morell, Bhana & Shefer, 2012). The study followed qualitative research method which utilizes a transformative research paradigm that provides a collective voice for the participants. The data is collected through focused interview and open-ended questions, and subsequently analysed to establish that SGB lacks power to exclude a pregnant learner from school. Finally, the study reveals an alternative instrument of legal remedy to reduce the alarming number of pregnant learners rather than exclusion. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, 2017
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- Date Issued: 2017-07
Listeners’ Participation in Community Radio: A Case Study of Forte FM Radio
- Authors: Bamigboye, Foluke Bosede
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Community radio Radio in community development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Communications)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16254 , vital:40703
- Description: This dissertation investigates listeners’ participation in community radio, drawing on Forte FM radio in Nkonkobe Municipality in Alice, Eastern Cape. The aim of the study was therefore to explore how listeners are been involved in the activities of Forte FM radio station. This study adopts qualitative research approach. Convenience, and purposive non-probability samplings techniques were subsequently used to select samples for this study. In-depth interviews was conducted with the radio station manager while one focus group discussion each was held with residents of Golf Course and Ntselamanzi areas with eight participants in each focus group, making a total number of sixteen participants for the focus group discussions. The collected data were interpreted and analyzed thematically. The findings of this research showed a remarkable disparity between the listeners of the radio station and perceptions of participation on one hand, and the listeners’ opinion and perceptions of them vice versa. Also, programming is often conceptualized with little or no community involvement and interaction. Listeners interviewed in the course of carrying out the focus group discussion in the two sampled areas were of the views that they only get connected to Forte FM radio station on social grounds of greetings and “shout outs”, through public spheres and for self-representation in the variety of public spaces of Forte FM radio. Another critical finding of this study indicated that, Forte FM is doing its best towards involving listeners in its programming.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Unleashing the nexus between climate change and food security in rural South Africa: role of three community radio stations in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Bamigboye, Foluke Bosede
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Climatic changes , Food security , South Africa -- Rural conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27325 , vital:66939
- Description: This study investigates the role of Forte FM, Mdantsane FM and Rhodes Music Community Radios in disseminating the different kinds of messages on the nexus between the impacts of climate change and food security in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Therefore, the study aims to investigate how these community radio stations play their informative, educative and entertainment roles regarding climate change and food security awareness programmes to their listeners. The study employed the qualitative research approach and convenience, and non-probability samplings techniques were subsequently used to select samples for this study. In-depth interviews were conducted individually for Forte FM, Mdantsane FM and Rhodes Music community radio programme managers respectively, who serve as the key informants. One focus group discussion each was held with residents of Golf Course, Mdantsane and Grahamstown areas where these radio stations broadcast from, with eight participants in each focus group. The total number of participants for the focus group discussions was 24 participants. The collected data were coded into themes using NVivo 12 software to generate the theme nodes and case nodes as key findings, analysis and then interpreted. The findings of this study confirmed that these three community radio stations do contribute to climate change communication through their programmes that focus on climate change and food security related issues. Another vital finding from the study showed that listeners do benefit immensely from these climate change and food security related programmes of the under-study community radio stations. Hence, listeners physical, social, and cognitive well-being of their climatic environment have been greatly impacted. In the same vein, the findings of this study further revealed that the rural communities who are mostly affected by the impacts of climate change on food security have been well informed and enlightened on the suitable ways to enhance a sustainable food security and climate adaptation system through Forte FM, Mdantsane FM, and Rhodes Music community radio stations. Significantly, this study has been able to come up with two suggested models and the conceptual frameworks, which are the Local Action Adaptive Communication (LAAC) Model and the Indigenous Behavioral Change Conceptual (IBCC) Model. These models are focused on increasing listeners interests, adaptation, and behavioral change on climate change issues. The models are also aimed at ensuring better climate change and food security communication Author. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-04
An analysis on the use of web-based ontology to support ubiquitous learning in South African secondary schools
- Authors: Bamigboye, Oluwatosin Omotoyosi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Internet in education World Wide Web Ontology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12859 , vital:39385
- Description: There is certainly a need to upgrade our educational system and this can be done through technology-enhanced learning. Technology-enhanced learning can be achieved by developing a web-based ontology e-learning platform, which allows learning to take place ubiquitously. In achieving this task, this research is focusing on analyzing the use of web-based ontology to support the design and implementation of a ubiquitous learning system in South Africa. The implemented web-based ontology e-learning system was deployed and tested. The system testing was done on two variables (Information retrieval and Scalability) of localhost and client system, with the following testing metrics: time is taken for information retrieval, request time to process the request, transfer rate, time localhost receives request, time to respond, roundtrip time for request and network usage. The metrics testing was achieved using apache benchmarking console and gnuplot application to generate the data captured and performance graph, while Wireshark was also used to test/analyze round trip time and network usage through the deployed system. The results of the findings in this study show that the relationship between student and learning content becomes explicit when using ontology technology in searching, organizing, gathering and development content. Results obtained from information retrieval show that the transfer rate of information on localhost for 100 request @ current level of 5 is 37169.89kb/s, while on the client’s system, the transfer rate was 48494.36kb/s which was due to multiple request on the client’s side. Results obtained on scalability shows the round trip time which was (time to respond-time to request). The longest roundtrip was 8 seconds as a result of network being congested with multiple packets request from various sources trying to access the localhost at the same time while the fastest was 1 seconds. The implications of this results show that web-based ontology e-learning system has a positive input to teaching and learning processes in schools for content retrieval and network usage. The system furthermore shows the relationship adopted by learners and teachers, and also the match needs that arise in between. The contribution of this study adds to the existing discoveries on the use of web-based and knowledge-based ontology.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The relationship between green behaviours and their effect on the performance of small businesses in South Africa
- Authors: Banana, Zingisa
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Small business--Management , Environmental economics
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21377 , vital:48514
- Description: Purpose: Academics and the government are placing more emphasis and importance on the role that enterprises can play in response to challenges of the environment. This study aimed to establish the relationship between green behaviours and the performance of small businesses in South Africa. Green behaviours are measured as consisting of green entrepreneurial orientation, green technology dynamism and green innovation behaviour. Conversely, performance is defined as consisting of environmental performance, objective performance and subjective performance. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the purpose of this study, the study adopted a positivist paradigm which is motivated by the quantitative approach using a descriptive research design. Self-administered questionnaires were employed with a sample of 180 participants that were randomly selected across small businesses in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Findings/results: The major findings of the study, using simple linear regression analysis, revealed that a significant positive relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation and environmental, objective and subjective performance does exist. However, the hierarchical regression analysis results revealed that green technology dynamism and green innovation behaviour do not moderate the relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation and performance as measured by environmental, objective and subjective performance dimensions. Practical implications: Based on the findings of the study, small businesses need to develop policy related to promoting green behaviours, given that green entrepreneurial orientation has been found to be related to performance. Originality/value: The results of this study could guide small business owners and managers in the implementation of environmentally-friendly practices in an effort to reduce green economy issues and environmental problems facing the present generation. , Thesis (MCom) (Business Management) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-01
Implementation of classroom action research in Zimbabwean teacher education colleges :implications for teacher education curriculum
- Authors: Banda, Wilson
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Action research in education Education -- Research Curriculum planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10604 , vital:35632
- Description: It was the purpose of this study to interrogate the implementation of classroom action research (CAR) in identified Zimbabwean teachers’ colleges to provide the basis for future policy directions and related day-to-day CAR practice. The study leaned on the progressive educationists’ stance that teaching is an intricate profession that has more to it than mere technical skills. Teaching is viewed as a lifelong profession that requires pre-service teachers to be capacitated with CAR skills and competencies to ensure that they systematically, intentionally and critically consider a myriad of learner related psychosocial factors in their tour of duty. In that way teachers are made to appreciate why they should teach the way they teach, without necessarily turning them into some kind of public intellectuals, philosophers or theorists. The study utilised the mixed methods research approach in tune with the adopted pragmatism paradigm. The research paradigm draws on the strengths of both empirical data and the theoretical sentiments drawn from the respondents. The study used the concurrent triangulation design, rooted in the post-positivist research paradigm that integrates concurrent procedures in the collection, analysis and interpretation of research data. It was guided by three theoretical frameworks, namely, the experiential learning theory, the curriculum implementation framework and the living educational theory. The theories have a strong bearing on reflective practice and they acknowledge the subjectivity of truth. The study’s purposive sample comprised of sixty-four teacher educators and seventy-six preservice teachers. Several research instruments were utilised to solicit the requisite CAR implementation quantitative and qualitative data. These were questionnaires, interview schedules, focus group discussions and documents. The Statistical Packages for Social Sciences were used to summarise the solicited data through graphical representations and related frequency tables depicting descriptive statistics such as range, mean and mode. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis through emerging themes, iv related to the sub-research questions. The study established that although the bulk of the teacher educators had the requisite professional qualifications, maturity and experiential background, more curricular and organisational reconstruction was required to improve on the status quo. For instance, solicited data demonstrated that the lecturers’ appetite for educational research was low. Furthermore, the teacher educators’ CAR skills and competencies were compromised by the research component’s inadequate contact time. In addition, it was instituted that the teachers’ colleges produced student teachers who lacked sound grasp of the CAR process. The mediocrity was attributed to a series of teacher educator and student teacher factors which were exacerbated by several other organisational and administrative impediments. Overall, the study concluded that teacher educators were incapacitated to effectively deliver CAR, owing partly to the nature of teacher educator preparation they got and the watered down professional induction. It further revealed that it was wrong to assume that all lecturers had operational capacity to effectively teach and supervise CAR projects. Furthermore, the study recommended that the teacher educators’ capacity in CAR needs enhancement. Identified CAR implementation strategies need further reconstruction and enforcement.
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- Date Issued: 2016