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    PublicationMasters Theses
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    The challenges of water scarcity to small-scale farmers at uMfolozi catchment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    2024
    Water scarcity has a significant detrimental influence on agriculture, particularly agricultural irrigation. People who make a living by producing crops to feed their family suffer greatly when there is a lack of water, since their crops perish and their poverty level rises drastically. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges that communities face locally and internationally. Climate change has disrupted the supply of water resources. Drought has a detrimental influence on water scarcity as well. Plants require sufficient water to properly irrigate and develop but when water is limited, they are unable to thrive. Water is very important for agriculture. When smallscale farmers utilise water for irrigation, they must use irrigation systems to guarantee that the water is not wasted and does not spoil. This study examined the challenges of water scarcity to small scale farmers at uMfolozi catchment area, South Africa. The study focused on challenges faced by small scale farmers in irrigation crops; the impacts of climate change to small scale farmer’s crops; water saving methods that small-scale farmers can use on their irrigation process; government strategies employed to address climate change, and irrigation; and challenges of water scarcity to small scale farmers. The study used the mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative methods. Questionnaires were administered in a form of a survey to collect the quantitative data and in-depth interviews for qualitative data. The study employed post-positivist epistemology, close-ended questions and open-ended questions, to examine the challenges of water scarcity to small-scale farmers at uMfolozi catchment. This study analysed four rural communities under uMfolozi catchment, namely KwaSokhulu, KwaMthethwa, KwaMbonambi, and Mabhuyeni. Small-scale farmers under these areas were selected because they are more focused on agricultural crop production and they are the ones who are more affected by the challenges of water scarcity. Government departments, such as the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Water and Sanitation, participated in the study.
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    PublicationJournal Article
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    Irrigation return flow induced mineral weathering and ion exchange reactions in the aquifer, Luvuvhu catchment, South Africa
    2019
     | Elsevier
    Impact of irrigation return flow induced mineral weathering and ion exchange reactions in the groundwater was studied in Limpopo region, South Africa. Based on EC (>500) and HCO3 (>150mg/l), groundwater samples are classified into two groups due to its heterogeneous nature. Water types in group 1 and 2 wells are Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 and Ca-Mg-HCO3, respectively. Gibbs plots, bivariate plots and ionic ratios (Mg/Na vs Ca/Na; HCO3/Na vs Ca/Na; mCa + Mg vs mHCO3; mNa + K vs mHCO3; Ca + Mg-HCO3-SO4 vs Na + K-Cl; mCa + Mg/HCO3 vs Cl; Ca + Mg/SO4 +HCO3 >1; Na/Cl ratio; Cl + SO4 vs HCO3), chloro alkaline indices (CAI, CA2) and Pearson correlation analysis imply that groundwater chemistry is influenced by mineral weathering (carbonate > silicate minerals), reverse ion exchange and irrigation return flow. In group 1 wells, Cl + SO4 and HCO3 have strong positive correlation and both increases together, suggesting induced mineral weathering caused by nitrification and wastewater infiltration from the surface. Group 2 wells are generally deep with low groundwater level fluctuation and high concentration of major ions. Overall, water chemistry in the group 1 wells is highly affected by the contamination sources than group 2 wells.
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