<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="static/style.xsl"?><OAI-PMH xmlns="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/ http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/OAI-PMH.xsd"><responseDate>2026-09-24T16:52:40Z</responseDate><request verb="GetRecord" identifier="oai:univendspace.univen.ac.za:11602/615" metadataPrefix="dim">https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/server/oai/request</request><GetRecord><record><header><identifier>oai:univendspace.univen.ac.za:11602/615</identifier><datestamp>2025-09-04T07:33:41Z</datestamp><setSpec>com_11602_1919</setSpec><setSpec>com_11602_1913</setSpec><setSpec>com_11602_1897</setSpec><setSpec>com_11602_737</setSpec><setSpec>col_11602_2208</setSpec><setSpec>col_11602_738</setSpec></header><metadata><dim:dim xmlns:dim="http://www.dspace.org/xmlns/dspace/dim" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:doc="http://www.lyncode.com/xoai" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.dspace.org/xmlns/dspace/dim http://www.dspace.org/schema/dim.xsd">
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="contributor" qualifier="advisor">Mzezewa, J.</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="contributor" qualifier="advisor">Odhiambo, J. J. O.</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="contributor" qualifier="author">Mokgolo, Matome Josphinos</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="date" qualifier="accessioned">2016-05-31T14:22:19Z</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="date" qualifier="available">2016-05-31T14:22:19Z</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="date" qualifier="issued">2016</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="identifier" qualifier="citation" lang="en_ZA">Mokgolo, M.J. 2016. Organic manure effects on selected soil properties, water use efficiency and grain yield of sunflower. . . http://hdl.handle.net/11602/615</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="identifier" qualifier="uri">http://hdl.handle.net/11602/615</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="identifier" qualifier="vancouvercitation" lang="en_ZA">Mokgolo MJ. Organic manure effects on selected soil properties, water use efficiency and grain yield of sunflower. []. , 2016 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11602/615</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="identifier" qualifier="apacitation" lang="en_ZA">Mokgolo, M. J. (2016). &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Organic manure effects on selected soil properties, water use efficiency and grain yield of sunflower&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;. (). . Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11602/615</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="identifier" qualifier="chicagocitation" lang="en_ZA">Mokgolo, Matome Josphinos. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;&amp;quot;Organic manure effects on selected soil properties, water use efficiency and grain yield of sunflower.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; ., , 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11602/615</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="identifier" qualifier="ris" lang="en_ZA">
TY  - Dissertation
AU  - Mokgolo, Matome Josphinos
AB  - The application of organic manures as alternatives to reduce the use of mineral fertilizers is 
considered a good agricultural practice for smallholder farmers. However, the effect of organic 
manure on soil properties and crop yield depends upon its application rate and chemical 
composition. Climatic seasonal variability within the study area could adversely affect crop 
production. The amount of rainfall and temperature are among the most important factors that 
determines crop production. This field experiment was carried out during the 2013/2014 and 
2014/2015 cropping seasons at the University of Venda experimental farm which is located 
about 2 km west of Thohoyandou town in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. 
The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of three types of organic manure 
(cattle, poultry and their combination (1:1)) on yield and water use efficiency of sunflower 
(Helianthus annuus L.) and selected soil physical and chemical properties under rainfed 
conditions. The experiment was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four 
treatments and four replications (control (C0), cattle manure (CM), poultry manure (PM) and 
their combination (CM + PM)). All organic manures were applied 21 days before planting at a 
rate equivalent to 20 t ha-1. The manures were incorporated in the soil using a hoe to an 
approximate depth of 10 cm. 
Crop water use (WU) and water use efficiency (WUE) were determined using the water balance 
equation. Rainfall was measured using three standard rain gauges installed on the experimental 
site. Change in soil moisture storage was determined by monitoring soil moisture content 
weekly using a neutron water meter (NWM), calibrated on the experimental site.  
Data on sunflower dry matter and leaf area index (LAI) was collected at flower bud stage, 
flowering stage and at grain maturity stage. Plant height and stem girth were also determined at 
the same developmental stages. Grain yield was measured at physiological maturity. 
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out using SPSS software. Due to seasonal variability 
encountered during the two cropping seasons, particularly in terms of rainfall, further analysis of 
two factors (viz. cropping season and organic manure) and their interaction were performed. 
The differences between treatment means were separated using the least significant differences 
(LSD) procedure. 
The results showed that organic manure application had no significant effect on soil physical 
properties. Poultry manure application resulted in lowest bulk density (BD) with a decrease of 
32% in the top layer (0 – 20 cm) compared to control. Cattle manure + PM and CM application 
decreased BD in the top layer by 14% and 9% compared to control, respectively.  Poultry 
manure and CM recorded almost the highest similar stable aggregate fractions at all soil depths. 
Poultry manure recorded the highest final infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration followed by 
CM and CM + PM. The control treatment retained the highest mean water content compared to 
other treatments at both field capacity (FC) and wilting point (WP). Cattle manure + PM and PM 
recorded the least mean water content among others at FC and WP respectively. This could be 
as a result of increased micropores by organic manure application on a clayey soil which 
allowed an ease movement of water that control treatment which had no manure application. 
Total N, Ca, and Zn were significantly different between treatments in the first cropping season 
while K, Na, CEC and Zn were significantly different in second cropping season. pH recorded no 
significant difference in all treatments in both cropping seasons. CM + PM recorded the highest 
OC at top layer (0 – 20 cm) in both cropping seasons compared to other treatments. 
Dry matter yield and LAI at flower bud, flowering and maturity stages increased with the 
application of different manures compared to the C0. Organic manure application showed a 
significant (p&amp;lt;0.05) effect on dry matter at all growth stages in the second cropping season. 
Organic manure had a significant effect on LAI only at flower bud stage of the first cropping 
season, with PM and CM + PM recording the highest similar value of 1.31. The manure 
application also showed a significant (P&amp;lt;0.05) effect on plant height and stem girth at all 
growing stages in the second cropping season, whereas in the first cropping season the 
significant effect was only in the flower bud stage for both parameters.  
Grain yield was significantly affected by the manure application in the second cropping season. 
Manure application in the second cropping season resulted in an increase in the grain yield 
compared to the first cropping season, except for PM where the grain yield decreased 
significantly by 167.92% from the first cropping season. Then high grain yield in the second 
cropping season could be as a result of high WUE reported. 
The manure application had a significant effect (p&amp;lt;0.05) on water use efficiency (WUE) in the 
second cropping season. The WUE recorded the highest values under CM and CM + PM 
treatments in second cropping season than in first cropping season, while PM recorded the 
highest WUE value in the first cropping season. Generally, organic manures used obtained 
higher grain yield and WUE compared to control.  
Keywords: Organic manure, smallholder farmers, sunflower and water use efficiency
DA  - 2016
DB  - ResearchSpace
DP  - Univen
KW  - Organic manure
KW  - small holder farmers
KW  - sunflower
KW  - water use efficiency
LK  - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za
PY  - 2016
T1  - Organic manure effects on selected soil properties, water use efficiency and grain yield of sunflower
TI  - Organic manure effects on selected soil properties, water use efficiency and grain yield of sunflower
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/11602/615
ER  - 
</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="description">MSCAGR (Soil Science)</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="description">Department of Soil Science</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="description" qualifier="abstract" lang="en_US">The application of organic manures as alternatives to reduce the use of mineral fertilizers is 
considered a good agricultural practice for smallholder farmers. However, the effect of organic 
manure on soil properties and crop yield depends upon its application rate and chemical 
composition. Climatic seasonal variability within the study area could adversely affect crop 
production. The amount of rainfall and temperature are among the most important factors that 
determines crop production. This field experiment was carried out during the 2013/2014 and 
2014/2015 cropping seasons at the University of Venda experimental farm which is located 
about 2 km west of Thohoyandou town in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. 
The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of three types of organic manure 
(cattle, poultry and their combination (1:1)) on yield and water use efficiency of sunflower 
(Helianthus annuus L.) and selected soil physical and chemical properties under rainfed 
conditions. The experiment was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four 
treatments and four replications (control (C0), cattle manure (CM), poultry manure (PM) and 
their combination (CM + PM)). All organic manures were applied 21 days before planting at a 
rate equivalent to 20 t ha-1. The manures were incorporated in the soil using a hoe to an 
approximate depth of 10 cm. 
Crop water use (WU) and water use efficiency (WUE) were determined using the water balance 
equation. Rainfall was measured using three standard rain gauges installed on the experimental 
site. Change in soil moisture storage was determined by monitoring soil moisture content 
weekly using a neutron water meter (NWM), calibrated on the experimental site.  
Data on sunflower dry matter and leaf area index (LAI) was collected at flower bud stage, 
flowering stage and at grain maturity stage. Plant height and stem girth were also determined at 
the same developmental stages. Grain yield was measured at physiological maturity. 
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out using SPSS software. Due to seasonal variability 
encountered during the two cropping seasons, particularly in terms of rainfall, further analysis of 
two factors (viz. cropping season and organic manure) and their interaction were performed. 
The differences between treatment means were separated using the least significant differences 
(LSD) procedure. 
The results showed that organic manure application had no significant effect on soil physical 
properties. Poultry manure application resulted in lowest bulk density (BD) with a decrease of 
32% in the top layer (0 – 20 cm) compared to control. Cattle manure + PM and CM application 
decreased BD in the top layer by 14% and 9% compared to control, respectively.  Poultry 
manure and CM recorded almost the highest similar stable aggregate fractions at all soil depths. 
Poultry manure recorded the highest final infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration followed by 
CM and CM + PM. The control treatment retained the highest mean water content compared to 
other treatments at both field capacity (FC) and wilting point (WP). Cattle manure + PM and PM 
recorded the least mean water content among others at FC and WP respectively. This could be 
as a result of increased micropores by organic manure application on a clayey soil which 
allowed an ease movement of water that control treatment which had no manure application. 
Total N, Ca, and Zn were significantly different between treatments in the first cropping season 
while K, Na, CEC and Zn were significantly different in second cropping season. pH recorded no 
significant difference in all treatments in both cropping seasons. CM + PM recorded the highest 
OC at top layer (0 – 20 cm) in both cropping seasons compared to other treatments. 
Dry matter yield and LAI at flower bud, flowering and maturity stages increased with the 
application of different manures compared to the C0. Organic manure application showed a 
significant (p&amp;lt;0.05) effect on dry matter at all growth stages in the second cropping season. 
Organic manure had a significant effect on LAI only at flower bud stage of the first cropping 
season, with PM and CM + PM recording the highest similar value of 1.31. The manure 
application also showed a significant (P&amp;lt;0.05) effect on plant height and stem girth at all 
growing stages in the second cropping season, whereas in the first cropping season the 
significant effect was only in the flower bud stage for both parameters.  
Grain yield was significantly affected by the manure application in the second cropping season. 
Manure application in the second cropping season resulted in an increase in the grain yield 
compared to the first cropping season, except for PM where the grain yield decreased 
significantly by 167.92% from the first cropping season. Then high grain yield in the second 
cropping season could be as a result of high WUE reported. 
The manure application had a significant effect (p&amp;lt;0.05) on water use efficiency (WUE) in the 
second cropping season. The WUE recorded the highest values under CM and CM + PM 
treatments in second cropping season than in first cropping season, while PM recorded the 
highest WUE value in the first cropping season. Generally, organic manures used obtained 
higher grain yield and WUE compared to control.  
</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="format" qualifier="extent">1 online resource (xii, 105 leaves): color illustrations</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="language" qualifier="iso" lang="en_US">en</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="relation" qualifier="requires">PDF</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="rights">University of Venda</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" lang="en_US">Organic manure</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" lang="en_US">small holder farmers</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" lang="en_US">sunflower</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" lang="en_US">water use efficiency</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" lang="en_ZA">UCTD</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" qualifier="ddc">631.860968257</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" qualifier="lcsh">Organic fertilizers -- South Africa -- Limpopo</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" qualifier="lcsh">Organic fertilizers -- South Africa -- Limpopo</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" qualifier="lcsh">Manures -- South Africa -- Limpopo</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" qualifier="lcsh">Fertilzers -- South Africa -- Limpopo</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="subject" qualifier="lcsh">Sunflower -- South Africa -- Limpopo</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="title" lang="en_US">Organic manure effects on selected soil properties, water use efficiency and grain yield of sunflower</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="dc" element="type">Dissertation</dim:field>
   <dim:field mdschema="others" element="access-status">open.access</dim:field>
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