Puffy Soundy

• PhD
• Head of Department at Tshwane University of Technology

Intercropping and Regulated deficit irrigation as agricultural smart techniques to ameliorate water scarcity and conserve soil fertility

Rapid leaching of soluble nitrogen (N) sources in soil poses a significant challenge in agricultural practices. Therefore, gaining a comprehensive understanding of crop responses to slow-release N application rates has become crucial to contributing valuable insights to optimize N management strategies in agriculture. A field study was conducted to...

The combined effects of slope gradient, rainfall intensity, and nitrogen fertilizer source on infiltration, runoff, soil loss, and nitrogen (N) leaching in agricultural areas are not thoroughly understood, despite their critical importance in sustainable agriculture. Previous studies have focused on these factors individually, leaving a significant...

Onion (Allium cepa) is one of the world’s most consumed, nutrient-dense foods, low in calories and containing a rich amount of major bioactive compounds, vitamins, and minerals. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of different nitrogen (N) fertilizer sources on the nutritional and phytochemical qualities of short-day onions. A...

Effective nitrogen (N) management in agriculture is vital to optimize crop growth and yield while minimizing environmental impact. Conventional nitrogen (N) sources, such as urea, have limitations in promoting growth and reducing N leaching. A two-year field experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of calcium cyanamide (CaCN2) as a slo...

Water scarcity coupled with an increasing demand for water in agriculture has forced farmers to amend their irrigation practices and water management strategies. The proposed study was aimed at evaluating physiological and growth traits [pho-tosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance (g S), chlorophyll content, leaf area, and fresh weight] under three...

Limited information is available on the influence of preharvest N application rates on postharvest quality of different lettuce genotypes. Two green leafy lettuce (Multigreen 1 and Multigreen 3) and red leafy lettuce (Multired 4) were grown in gravel film technique and fertigated with five different N application rates: 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 mg...

The aim of the poster entails results observed on the response of baby spinach growth to interactive effects of deficit irrigation scheduling and soil texture. Significant responses on spinach growth parameters were observed based on different irrigation levels and different soil texture types.

Utilization of nitrogen (N) element is a common practice used to reach profitable yields in horticultural crops and N supply can be used as a tool to manipulate the enhancement of phytochemicals and minerals in vegetable crops to address consumer-oriented quality production. Hence the study was aimed to investigate the effect of N application on le...

The influence of five nitrogen (N) application rates (60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 kg N/ha) were evaluated using limestone ammonium nitrate on the curd fresh and dry mass, size, chromaticity coordinates, L*, a*, b* and ascorbic acid content in cauliflower varieties (Largardo, Eskimo and CF-744) during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Commercial standard 120...

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris), commonly known as table beet, is used as a staple in the diet of many people through the consumption of the entire plant, leaf, and the root. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of nitrogen (N) application and leaf harvest percentage on the yield and quality of roots and leaves of beetroot. The treatment...

Manipulation of microenvironments by means of photoselective nettings is widely used to improve the productivity and quality of high-value vegetables. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of photoselective nettings on growth, productivity, and postharvest quality attributes of baby spinach. Baby spinach cv. Ohio was grown from seeds,...

Growing vegetables under shade nets is currently becoming popular in summer to provide protection from high intensities of light. High temperatures and light quality affect postharvest quality and storage life of vegetables. Photo-selective shade netting technology is an emerging agro-technological concept which aims at the improvement of crop qual...

Influence of thyme oil vapour on the incidence of brown rot (Monilinia laxa) was investigated in the yellow-flesh peach cultivars consisting of red skin ‘Jim Dandy’, ‘Novadonna’, ‘Scarlet Rich’ and ‘Transvalia’, and yellow skin ‘Earli Gold’, ‘Kakamas’, ‘Kesie’ and ‘Summer Sun’. Fruit were exposed to thyme oil (96 μL L⁻¹) vapour for 24 h, subsequent...

The study was undertaken to develop an effective bio-sanitation treatment using essential oils for the highly perishable leafy vegetable lettuce. The combination of thyme oil and tea tree oil mixed together had a significantly higher total phenolic content as well as higher antioxidant scavenging activity than other single oils or oil mixtures. Let...

Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) is a popular salad vegetable and consumption of lettuce has many health benefits. The objective of this study was to select lettuce varieties grown in a closed hydroponic system based on their morphological parameters, phytochemical and mineral content for mixed fresh cut salads or as whole product. Principal component...

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilization rate on growth and quality of leafy lettuce grown during the winter season in non-circulating hydroponic system. Plants were subjected to seven nitrogen (N) concentrations, i.e. 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 mg L−1 N using ammonium nitrate. Nitrogen treatments did n...

The influence of spectral light on leaf quality and phytochemical contents and composition of aroma compounds in coriander leaves grown for fresh use under photo-selective nets; pearl net [40% shading; and 3.88 blue/red ratio; 0.21 red/far red ratio; photosynthetic radiation (PAR) 233.24 (μmol m− 2 s− 1)] and red net [40% shading and 0.57 blue/red...

A field study was conducted to evaluate the nitrogen status and yield of spinach grown in soils amended with prunings of Leucaena leucocephala, (applied at a rate of 3, 5, 7 or 11 t ha−1). A ‘no fertilizer’ 0 nitrogen (N) and 150 kg N ha−1 (recommended) were the control treatments. SPAD readings were recorded for the top six leaves. Nitrogen suffic...

Context Pelargonium sidoides DC (Geraniaceae) is an important medicinal plant indigenous to South Africa and Lesotho. Previous studies have shown that root extracts are rich in polyphenolic compounds with antibacterial, antiviral and immunomodulatory activities. Little is known regarding the anticancer properties of Pelargonium sidoides extracts. O...

Wheat straw has generally been used as the main substrate for cultivating oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus); however, in South Africa it is becoming expensive for small-scale farmers to utilise. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to investigate the use of alternative, but suitable substrates for planting oyster mushrooms. Wheat str...

Extracts prepared from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides (DC) are commercially available for the treatment of respiratory related conditions. Recently, a commercial radix mother tincture of this plant was shown to have both antioxidant and anticancer effects especially related to the G 0/G 1 block in the Jurkat E6.1 cell line (unpublished results)....

In this study, influence of 3 types of photo-selective nets (pearl, red and yellow) and a standard black net on marketable yield, fruit quality and bioactive compounds after postharvest storage was investigated. Percentage marketable fruits were higher in green sweet peppers produced under the pearl nets. Fruits produced under the pearl nets showed...

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a member of the Amaranthaceae family. Baby spinach leaves have a very high respiration rate, thus postharvest quality is affected mostly by tissue decay and the development of off-odors. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the influence of storage temperature and time on the postharvest quality of baby spina...

A pomegranate cultivar (Wonderful) from all three localities in Western Cape province of South Africa during the 2013 season was evaluated for chemical properties. Fruits were analyzed for total soluble solids (TSS) or °Brix, titratable acidity (TA) and juice pH. Chemical properties evaluated were; total phenols, anthocyanin, antioxidant, organic s...

responses of red and yellow sweet peppers grown under photo-selective nets, Food Chemistry (2014), doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem. 2014.10.034 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will underg...

Photo-selective coloured netting is referred to as a 'new agro-technological' concept adopted to manipulate light quality changes that can induce favourable responses in plants. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) cultivars AlvaV, Irit and SCX 248 grown under the black net (commercial net, 25% shading) showed higher weight loss, loss of firmness, ascor...

The pomegranate fruit is one of the high valued crops, but there is insufficient information regarding the fruit properties in South Africa. The aim of the study was to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of cultivar ʻWonderfulʼ on three locations of the Western Cape. This study was conducted on mature pomegranate fruits harvested in the 2012...

Mango cultivars T ommy A tkins, Z ill, P each, S abre, R osa and P hiva were analyzed for their quality parameters (fruit weight, flesh color chroma, L , h ⁰ , total soluble solid [ TSS ]/titratable acidity [ TA ], firmness), bioactive compounds (total phenols, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity) and polyphenol oxidase ( PPO ) activit...

Pelargonium sidoides is a South African indigenous medicinal plant. The roots of the plant are used as a traditional herbal medicine by local people and it is also exported overseas where it is used to make medicine for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. There is no commercial cultivation of the plant and this has placed the natur...

Pelargonium sidoides (family Geraniaceae) is one of several geophytic species of the genus that are important traditional medicines (anti-microbial, anti-viral and immune boosting actions) in South Africa. Although domesticated, vegetative propagation of the species is not documented. Therefore, the study was conducted to investigate the influence...

Background: Postharvest application of prochloraz fungicide is commercially practiced to control anthracnose, a postharvest disease in avocado. Increasing consumer concern regarding food safety and demand for organically produced fruits make it necessary to search for natural environmentally friendly alternative products and processes for the frui...

Postharvest Biology and Technology j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / p o s t h a r v b i o Essential oil vapours suppress the development of anthracnose and enhance defence related and antioxidant enzyme activities in avocado fruit a b s t r a c t Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is...

a b s t r a c t Tomato fruit quality for fresh consumption is determined by size, colour, firmness, flavour, aroma and nutritional properties. Choice of tomato cultivar is important in terms of fruit quality and bioactive com-pounds. The aim of this study is to verify the influence of photo-selective nettings on fruit quality and nutritional proper...

The antifungal activity of three essential oils thyme: ( T hymus vulgaris L ), peppermint, ( M entha piperita L ) and citronella ( C ymbopogen nardus ); against two avocado postharvest fungal pathogens: C olletotrichum gloeosporioides (anthracnose), L asiodiplodia theobromae (stem‐end rot); and three peach pathogens: M onilinia fructicola (brown ro...

AGRONOMIC AND FRESH QUALITY TRAITS OF LETTUCE GROWN UNDER COLORED SHADE NETS L. Ntsoane, T.A. Shittu, *D. Sivakumar, P. Soundy Postharvest Research Group, Department of Crop Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, 0001 E-mail: SivakumarD@tut.ac.za INTRODUCTION Nets are used to regulate environmental factors affecting crop growth. It m...

Herbal plants are grown in diverse regions of varying climates with growth and productivity being influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors. Cultural practices have a significant influence on growth and productivity of these plants. In order to maximize yield and quality of tea as an herbal plant, cultural practices such as fertilization and pl...

A field study was conducted to investigate the interactive effects of pre-inoculation of G. mosseae and soil amendment with biochar on AMF root colonisation, plant growth, fruit yield and nutrient uptake of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). A 2 × 2 factorial experiment arranged in a randomised complete block design included two G. mosseae treatment...

The effect of irrigation frequency on leaf physiomorphological processes of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium capitatum×P. radens cv. Rose) was investigated in a glasshouse study at the Hatfield Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, from November 2005 to October 2006. Daily, and every 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th day i...

Allium sativum (garlic) is considered as a vegetable and as an herbal crop throughout the world, including South Africa. Yield and quality can be improved through nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) nutrition. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of ammonium sulphate and calcium nitrate fertilization on the bioactivity of A. sativum p...

A field experiment was conducted on rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium sp.) in Pretoria, South Africa, to evaluate plant response to liming on acidic soils. Treatments were dolomitic limestone at 0 (control), 2, 4 and 6 t/ha, laid out as a randomized complete block design. Soil pH was not influenced by liming for any of the treatments at the first...

Recent trends in soil microbiology suggest that certain soil microbes have a positive effect on seedling growth and development. A study was conducted to investigate the interactive effect of the plant-growth promoting fungi Trichoderma harzianum and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in growth and development of tomato (Solanun lycopersicum) s...

The effect of nursery inoculation of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) with Trichoderma harzianum and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Glomus mosseae on fungal root colonization, plant growth, yield and quality of field-grown tomato was investigated. The four treatments included T. harzianum, AMF, T. harzianum+AMF, and uninoculated control. At mid...

Effective irrigation management in arid and semi-arid regions, like South Africa, could increase crop yield and thereby improve productivity of scarce fresh water resources. Experiments were conducted at the Hatfield Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, South Africa, from 2004 to 2006, to investigate the effect of soil water depletion r...

The objective of this study was to determine the seasonal variation on the total antioxidant contents of wild bush tea leaves. At harvest, leaves were freeze dried and ground for total antioxidants using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The results of this study demonstrated that the total antioxidants contents were lowest during...

Response of plant growth and essential oil yield of rose‐scented geranium (Pelargonium capitatum × P. radens ’Rose') to withholding irrigation at different times of regrowth cycles was investigated at Hatfield Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, South Africa, from 2004 to 2007. No‐stress (control), and 1‐month withholding irrigation pe...

Cutting position, rooting medium and rooting hormone are critical factors that affect rooting development of stem cuttings. In this study, the objectives were to determine the best cutting position, ideal propagation medium and the effect of hormone on rooting of fever tea (Lippia javanica L.) stem cuttings. Results of this study demonstrated that...

Abstract. Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of irrigation frequency and withholding irrigation during the week before harvesting on rose-scented geranium herbage yield and essential oil yield and composition. A factorial experiment with three irrigation frequencies (twice a day, once a day, and every second day) and two grow...

Three trials were conducted over four seasons (summer, autumn, winter and spring) to determine the nutritional requirements of bush tea regarding nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) and the influence of these nutrients on tannin content of cultivated bush tea leaves. Treatments consisted of 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 kg ha−1 N, P or K...

Bush tea, Athrixia phyliciodes L. (Asteraceae family) is a popular plant in South Africa used predominantly as an herbal tea and for medicinal purposes, including the cleansing or purifying blood and the treating of boils (carbuncles) and coughs. In some parts of South Africa, bush tea is used as an aphrodisiac. In this study, bush tea was grown un...

The objective of this investigation was to study the effect of cutting position, rooting medium and hormone on the rooting of bush tea stem cuttings. The experiment was carried out in four consecutive seasons from 2002 to 2003 at the Hatfield Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. The parameters recorded were cutti...

Bush tea (Athrixia phylicoides L.) contains high concentrations of polyphenols that are the primary indicator of antioxidant potential in herbal teas. The objective of this study was to determine the seasonal effect of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) nutrition on total polyphenol content in bush tea leaves. Treatments consisted of 0...

Two field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of two gel‐polymer formulations (pure and fertiliser‐fused) and moisture stress on yield and quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum). The experiments were carried out at the Hatfield Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Six gel‐polymer rates, consisting of pure...

The objective of this investigation was to determine the effects of simultaneous applications of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) nutrition on growth and chemical analysis of bush tea (Athrixia, phylicoides). Four consecutive trials were conducted at Morgenzon (Louis Trichardt, Limpopo Province, South Africa), a commercial nursery, o...

The high concentrations of polyphenols present in leaves of bush tea (Athrixia phylicoides L.), a popular herbal beverage with medicinal properties, were examined in wild and cultivated populations to determine their magnitude of variation with season and application of nitrogenous fertilizers. Concentrations of total polyphenols in leaves of wild...

Athrixia phylicoides (bush tea), belonging to the Asteraceae family, is a popular beverage used as a herbal tea and for medicinal purposes. The processed leaves of bush tea contain 5-hydroxy-6,7,8,3′,4′,5′-hexamethoxyflavon-3-ol as major flavonoid.

Athrixia phylicoides is one of many plants from the Asteraceae family used as a traditional herbal medicine. Pharmacological evaluation of leaf extracts confirmed that the plant has anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, narcotic and analgesic properties. The medicinal properties of plants are often linked to the production of essential oil. It is hy...

A field experiment was conducted on rose-scented geranium in Pretoria, South Africa, to evaluate the response of plants to amount and source of N. Treatments consisted of two sources of N, comprising conventional or organic fertiliser sources at 100, 200 and 300 kg/ha N/year and a control (zero kg/ha N/year). The experiment was laid out in a random...

A field experiment was conducted during 2005/2006 at the Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, South Africa to investigate the changes in herbage yield, oil yield and the variation in the concentration of the major components of rose-scented geranium. The essential oil was isolated by steam-distillation and the composition was determined...

Bush tea (Athrixia phylicoides) belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a popular beverage used as an herbal tea and as medicine for cleansing or purifying the blood, treating boils, headaches, infested wounds, and cuts, and the solutions may also be used as a foam bath. In some parts of South Africa, people drink bush tea for aphrodisiac reasons....

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) 'South Bay' transplant growth and development were evaluated at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 mg·L-1 N fertigated at frequencies of every 1, 2, 3, or 4 days in a floatation production system to produce plants with optimum roots and shoots which easily pull from trays. Greenhouse experiments (four) were conducted to evaluate roo...

Several levels of P were supplied via floatation irrigation to 'South Bay' lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) transplants to determine the optimum P concentration necessary. Plants were propagated by floating flats (ebb and flow system) in a nutrient solution containing P at either 0, 15, 30, 45, or 60 mg·L-1 in summer and fall experiments, and either 0,...

Nutrient regimes for transplant production sometimes differ greatly among the various crops grown and the type of irrigation employed. Other variables such as environmental conditions due to location of the transplant facility and seasonality dictate continued research for optimizing fertility and irrigation procedures for containerized vegetable t...

Modern fertilization recommendations must optimize crop yield and quality and minimize chances of negative environmental effects due to overfertilization. Data from fertilizer studies can be fitted to several mathematical models to help determine optimum fertilizer rates, but resulting recommendations can vary depending on the model chosen. In this...

The article provides a report on a survey conducted in selected villages of Thohoyandou and Nzhelele in Venda, Limpopo Province of South Africa by means of personal inter-views. The aim of the survey was to gather indigenous knowledge and to validate the uses of bush tea as claimed by the local people. The interviews were conducted with three types...