ARC-IAE
Mechanisation/Meganisasie
	Agricultural Engineers investigate erosion in apple orchards Erosion is one of the main problems in the cultivation of any crop today. The problem especially occurs in high rainfall areas, such as the southern region of the Free State Province. Here, apple orchards are planted north-south to allow optimal utilisation of sunlight. Trees are therefore sometimes planted along the slope, which leads to problems such as erosion. The ARC-ILI has compiled a publication to discuss possible solutions and preventive measures for erosion in apple orchards, especially in this region. The most important points are highlighted in the article below.
	Agricultural Engineers investigate the maintenance of grass waterways Directives are essential for the establishment and maintenance of grass waterways for the prevention of damage such as soil erosion. By ensuring that waterways are correctly prepared, established and maintained, many problems can be prevented. The correct species of grass in the correct relation and established at the correct time, as well as the stand of the grass in the waterways, must be secured before they are filled with water. Contours must be curved correctly into the waterways and openings must always be kept clear. The waterways must be regularly fertilised and cut and vehicles must be kept out.
	Ultra-lae volume bespuiting van aartappels Chemiese middels wat geregistreer is vir die beheer van na-oessiektes op aartappels word tans hoofsaaklik as 'n doopbehandeling toegedien. Die chemiese middels wat gebruik word om die behandeling te doen, is baie duur, veral aangesien groot volumes gifstof met die onderdompelingsproses voorberei moet word. Hierdie praktyk is bevorderlik vir bakteriese siektes soos Erwinia spp. en skep ook die moontlikheid dat siektes soos bakteriese verwelk maklik van een knol na 'n ander kan versprei. Prochloras wat geregistreer is as 'n stuifpoeier vir die beheer van silwerskurf en antraknose skep tans probleme vir produsente as dit kom by toediening en is ook nie omgewingsvriendelik vir die werkers nie.
	LNR-IAE ondersoek minimumbewerking Minimumbewerking behels alle bewerkingspraktyke wat die steuring van grond beperk.
	Kalibrasie van balkspuite Vir die suksesvolle beheer van plae soos onkruide, siekte en insekte met behulp van bespuiting met chemiese middels, moet die spuittoerusting nie net alleen aangepas wees vir die doel waarvoor dit gebruik gaan word nie, maar alle dele moet in goeie werkende toestand, reg ingestel en gekalibreer wees vir die teiken wat beheer wil word. In hierdie artikel word daar stap-vir-stap gekyk na 'n praktiese metode om 'n balkspuit korrek te kalibreer.
	Boorgate: Nuwe meter van LNR-ILI skep gemoedsrus by boere Boorgatdieptemeters word aangewend vir kontrole-doeleindes, wanneer daar van privaat boorkontrakteurs gebruik gemaak word. Daar is tans geen bewyse om te verseker dat die inligting wat vanaf kontrakteurs verkry word, korrek is nie. Kommer is dus uitgespreek omdat daar nie werklik vasgestel kon word waarvoor die boer betaal nie
	ARC-ILI builds an ultra-low volume sprayer for potatoes Chemical compounds that are registered for the control of post-harvest diseases in potatoes are currently applied mainly as a dip treatment. These chemical compounds are very expensive, especially given the fact that large volumes of poison need to be prepared for the submersion process. This practice is favourable for bacterial diseases such as Erwinia spp. and also creates the possibility that diseases such as bacterial withering can easily spread from one tuber to another. Procloras, which is registered as a dusting powder for the control of silver scurf and anthracnosis, currently creates problems for producers when it comes to application, and is also not environmentally friendly for the workers.
	Technology from Zambia adapted for South African conditions Acceptability and suitability of animal drawn ripper-planters for South African conditions are currently investigated. Ripper-planter units were distributed to 35 animal traction farmers in five Provinces, namely Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Northern and North-western Province, during the 1997 planting season. The process was successfully repeated over the past two years.
	Tractor lab at ARC-ILI helps farmers The performance of freestanding and tractor-mounted diesel engines is determined according to international standards in a modern dynamometer laboratory.
	Publication on implements for animal traction For many years, animal traction users have received very little, if any official support from governments in South Africa. It really is only since the formation of the South African Network of Animal Traction in 1992, that the use of animal traction has been admitted back into the spotlight.