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22 February 2018 Photo Johan Roux
KovsieACT music festival lives up to the hype
Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

Description: Kovsie Act concert Tags: Kovsie Act concert

Shekhinah embraces students at the festival.
Photo: Monk Manyeloyi

A weekend that promised great excitement kicked off on Friday 16 February 2018 with the Kovsie ACT Eco-vehicle race. This event saw students teaming up in their respective colleges in high hopes of earning what was assured to be a gratifying reward. The overall winners of the race were North College who also won for team spirit, the slalom race, and the Formula-e lookalike.

Students at the race rumbled with excitement as they witnessed the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Free State Prof Francis Petersen get his hands dirty when he decided to test-drive one of the Eco-vehicles himself. “It was honestly an electrifying moment that proves that co-curricular activities have the power to indeed help shift education into the right direction,” said Dean of Student Affairs, Pura Mgolombane, who was seen alongside Prof Petersen.

The first official Kovsie ACT music festival was billed to rock Bloemfontein, and it did exactly that! With the gates opening at 4pm on 17 February 2018, the event saw people pouring in shortly afterwards. The community and student-centred celebration saw a turnout nothing short of amazing.

The evening included a laser show display that is always a crowd pleaser, with OFM radio-show host Shandor Potgieter as the official MC for the event. Festivalgoers were entertained by various musical acts that included Sam Ludidi and local DJ duo, C’jo-&-Cider.

The crowd rushed to the main arena as Jack Parow prepared to kick off with his piece, which undoubtedly revved them up. Shekhinah, of course, followed through with a thrilling performance that held fans at her mercy, with many shouting “Shekhinah!”, as she left the stage. 

Prince Kaybee’s electrifying set ended off the night on a high note. The audience wanted more but the celebrations for the evening had to come to an end. “The festival was too lit, and the artists brought the heat, exactly what I needed before classes start on Monday,” said #KovsieCyberSta and student Thuli Molebalwa.

Kovsie ACT music festival

News Archive

Plant eco-physiologist finds effective solutions for crop optimisation
2016-07-24

Description: Orange trees Tags: Orange trees

The bio-stimulant was tested on
this citrus. This is the first time
that the product has been tested
on a crop.

In a time characterised by society facing increasing population growth, food crises, and extreme climatic conditions such as drought, it is essential for farmers to integrate science with their work practices in order to optimise crops.

Role of photosynthesis and plant sap data

By knowing how to use photosynthesis and plant sap data for determining plant health, fast and effective solutions could be established for the optimisation of crops. This technique, which could help farmers utilise every bit of usable land effectively, is the focus of Marguerite Westcott’s PhD study. She is a junior lecturer and plant eco-physiologist in die Department of Plant Sciences at the University of the Free State.

Westcott uses this technique in her studies to prove that a newly-developed bio-stimulant stimulates plants in order to metabolise water and other nutrients better, yielding increased crops as a result.

Agricultural and mining sectors benefit from research

The greatest part of these projects focuses on the agricultural sector. Westcott and a colleague, Dr Gert Marais, are researching the physiology of pecan and citrus trees in order to optimise the growth of these crops, thus minimising disease through biological methods. Field trials are being conducted in actively-producing orchards in the Hartswater and Patensie areas in conjunction with the South African Pecan Nut Producers Association (SAPPA) amongst others.
 
The principles that Westcott applies in her research are also used in combination with the bio-stimulant in other studies on disturbed soil, such as mine-dump material, for establishing plants in areas where they would not grow normally. This is an economical way for both the agricultural and mining sectors to improve nutrient absorption, stimulate growth, and contribute to the sustainable utilisation of the soil.

Description: Pecan nut orchards Tags: Pecan nut orchards

The bio-stimulant contributes to the immunity of the plants.
It was tested in these pecan nut orchards (Hartswater).

Soil rehabilitation key aspect in research projects

“One of two things is happening in my research projects. Either the soil is rehabilitated to bring about the optimal growth of a plant, or the plants are used to rehabilitate the soil,” says Westcott.

Data surveys for her PhD studies began in 2015. “This will be a long-term project in which seasonal data will be collected continuously. The first set of complete field data, together with pot trial data, will be completed after the current crop harvest,” says Westcott.

 

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