A5030085610- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Forest ecology and management
- Irrigation Practices and Water Management
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies
- Water resources management and optimization
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Forest Management and Policy
- Water-Energy-Food Nexus Studies
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Flood Risk Assessment and Management
- Biodiesel Production and Applications
- Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Urban Stormwater Management Solutions
- Leaf Properties and Growth Measurement
- Urban Green Space and Health
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
- Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Royal Horticultural Society
2019-2024
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
2009-2020
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2002-2018
Stellenbosch University
2014-2017
Abstract. Plant transpiration links physiological responses of vegetation to water supply and demand with hydrological, energy, carbon budgets at the land–atmosphere interface. However, despite being main land evaporative flux global scale, its response environmental drivers are currently not well constrained by observations. Here we introduce first compilation whole-plant data from sap flow measurements (SAPFLUXNET, https://sapfluxnet.creaf.cat/, last access: 8 June 2021). We harmonized...
The adverse impacts of alien plant invasions on water flows have been a prime motivation for South Africa’s Working Water Programme. approach used in this study builds previous national assessment 1998 by incorporating factors that limit water-use, information from recent research and improved flow reduction models. total is estimated to be 1 444 million m3·yr−1 or 2.9% the naturalised mean annual runoff (MAR), less than half 3 300 1998. Two main account difference: (a) decrease unit-area...
Forests and trees are key to solving water availability problems in the face of climate change achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. A recent global assessment forest science posed question: How do forests matter for water? Here we synthesize from that assessment, which shows an integrated system. We assert forests, tops their canopies base soils rooted, must be considered a component complex temporal spatial dimensions hydrologic cycle. While it is clear influence both...
Synopsis The Department of Water Mfairs and Forestry has, for some time, needed a comprehensive tool to incorporate the impacts commercial afforestation on water resources into use authorisation allocation processes. Simulation modelling national scale, using ACRU model, was identified as one possible solution. However, in order establish confidence simulation results, it necessary first verify model output against reliable observed data from process studies long-term catchment experiments....
Abstract. Plant transpiration links physiological responses of vegetation to water supply and demand with hydrological, energy carbon budgets at the land-atmosphere interface. However, despite being main land evaporative flux global scale, its response environmental drivers are currently not well constrained by observations. Here we introduce first compilation whole-plant data from sap flow measurements (SAPFLUXNET, https://sapfluxnet.creaf.cat/). We harmonised quality-controlled individual...
The biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems affect each other through complex interactions processes. These dynamic give their distinct identities provide ecosystem services critical to human survival (e.g. water, energy nutrients). However, activities commercial forestry, agriculture) have placed increasing demands on specific services. effect these processes has been the focus numerous Water Research Commission (WRC) studies. Some determined man's impact plant-water use, biomass...
Access to water for irrigating amenity landscape and public gardens is under intense pressure due the rising competition between different sectors, exacerbated by increased drought risk climate change. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has potential reduce economic impacts of restrictions on irrigation abstraction in dry years build resilience future shortages. This study investigated hydrological viability RWH garden sector based an analysis five Royal Horticultural Society gardens. A model was...
In response to the proposed introduction of potential bio-diesel species Jatropha curcas (Linnaeus) South Africa, field experiments were conducted investigate its likely water-use impacts relative other forms vegetative land use. As no existing data could be found for this worldwide, sap flow in trees was measured continuously a 17-month period at two sites eastern Africa. These consisted young (4-year-old) relatively wet site and mature (12-year-old) dry site. The heat-ratio method...
Gardens are unique ecosystems with the potential to deliver an array of important environmental and health benefits, particularly for urban populations. A large body research has established that contact nature activities within green spaces (including gardening) beneficial our physical, mental social health. An adjacent explored whether how pro-environmental behaviours also linked positive outcomes human wellbeing. But published not yet behaviour in context gardening ("sustainable...
Urban hedgerows can act as barriers to roadside particulate air pollution, but details on methodologies quantify pollutant capture, most efficient species use, and practical planning advice are still evolving. We aimed compare three widely used approaches accumulation deposition, ascertain the cost-effective robust approach for rapid screening of various types hedges. Secondly, using methodology, we screened summertime deposition particulates hedges in Reading (UK), not just with differing...
South Africa has limited indigenous timber-producin g forests. Recognition early in the 20 th century that demand for timber had exceeded su pply available from forests forced to accelerat e expansion of its own exotic plantation forest industry. This then resulted c oncerns about impacts on water resources, and led regulation N umerous local international studies have subsequently proven plantat ions do consume more than grasslands or scrublands they typically replace, an d hence reduce...
Natural forests are an important source of livelihood for various communities. Yet economically fruit tree species endemic to sub Saharan Africa e.g. Sclerocaryea birrea (Marula) critically endangered due over-exploitation and climate change. Effective conservation, management utilization native trees require accurate quantitative information on how the interact with their environment. In this study we investigated water use patterns yield dynamics S. birrea, another widely used Strychnos...