SA farming's dust pollution problem
Farmer's Weekly|December 11, 2020
Frank Eckardt, associate professor of Environmental and Geographic Science at the University of Cape Town, writes that new research has shown persistent emission of dust from the western Free State. Unlike natural dust emission, these dust clouds, which are the result of soil loss, could influence air quality and threaten future food security. One solution would be to consider land-use changes to suppress dust.
Frank Eckardt
SA farming's dust pollution problem

Satellites have been sentinels in space since the 1960s, examining Earth to detect changing weather patterns, land use, deforestation, melting ice caps and fire patterns.

They have also been used to identify atmospheric dust emissions. Global inventories of the world’s major dust sources point to dry lake basins, many of which are in Africa. Etosha and the Makgadikgadi, for example, are large natural dust emitters in Southern Africa. Fine sediment from these basins can travel to the oceans, where it acts as a nutrient for primary marine organisms. Saharan dust from North African basins is even known to reach the Amazon and Caribbean, where it has a fertilising impact on the rain forest but is detrimental to coral.

Closer to the source, the dust can also affect flora, fauna and soil, especially if the dust is salty. The finest dust particles can be inhaled and may even enter the lungs and bloodstream.

UNNATURAL DUST EMISSIONS

This story is from the December 11, 2020 edition of Farmer's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 11, 2020 edition of Farmer's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FARMER'S WEEKLYView All
Protests in Poland turn violent
Farmer's Weekly

Protests in Poland turn violent

The farmers’ protest in Poland is fast becoming known as the most violent agricultural protest in Europe, according to national media.

time-read
1 min  |
29 March 2024
Banana Hall of Fame celebrates banana industry
Farmer's Weekly

Banana Hall of Fame celebrates banana industry

In celebration of its 125th Bananaversary, Dole Food in the US recently established a National Banana Hall of Fame to honour culinary and cultural institutions that have helped to establish bananas as one of the world’s most popular and most purchased fruit.

time-read
1 min  |
29 March 2024
Underutilised crops come into their own
Farmer's Weekly

Underutilised crops come into their own

Diverse food systems are the focus of collaborative efforts at UKZN, writes Jyothi Laldas.

time-read
2 mins  |
29 March 2024
Why cybersecurity is needed in farming
Farmer's Weekly

Why cybersecurity is needed in farming

The agriculture sector could be the most susceptible to cyberattacks.

time-read
3 mins  |
29 March 2024
Minister launches third National Status of Biological Invasions in SA programme
Farmer's Weekly

Minister launches third National Status of Biological Invasions in SA programme

Biological invasions need to be treated as an urgent matter as they pose a risk to water security as well as biodiversity, writes Jyothi Laldas.

time-read
3 mins  |
29 March 2024
Two brothers who left their mark on SA
Farmer's Weekly

Two brothers who left their mark on SA

Born in Germany, Alfred and Otto Beit came to the Transvaal's diamond fields in the late 1800s, helping to found mining companies and build crucial infrastructure, writes Graham Jooste.

time-read
5 mins  |
29 March 2024
Driving impressions: Honda Elevate 1,5
Farmer's Weekly

Driving impressions: Honda Elevate 1,5

Honda SA is back to its best in terms of packaging, build quality, value-for-money and efficiency with a new entry to the hotly contested compact SUV market. Ian McLaren for CAR tested the vehicle at its launch.

time-read
3 mins  |
29 March 2024
Starting a small-farm vegetable project: Part 2
Farmer's Weekly

Starting a small-farm vegetable project: Part 2

The process of developing a small vegetable farm is gradual and the full benefits will only be realised later, writes Bill Kerr.

time-read
2 mins  |
29 March 2024
Basic vaccination and health protocols for pigs
Farmer's Weekly

Basic vaccination and health protocols for pigs

Pigs are usually produced in intensive environments such as purpose-built piggeries, sties, or even enclosed sheds.

time-read
3 mins  |
29 March 2024
Saving Nigeria's forest elephants
Farmer's Weekly

Saving Nigeria's forest elephants

Nigeria risks losing all its forest elephants. This is what Rosemary Iriowen Egonmwan, professor of environmental physiology of animals at the University of Lagos, and Bola Oboh, professor of genetics at the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics at the University of Lagos, found when they went looking for them.

time-read
4 mins  |
29 March 2024