Assessment of variable application rates of biological amendment substances on establishment and growth characteristics of maize plants

Good plant establishment and excellent vigour constitute essential  pre-requisites for successful grain production. The sowing of good viable seeds could contribute to increased productivity and ultimately lead to minimal seed cost and high return on investment. These are however dependent on such factors as the possible effects of pre- and post-seed sowing soil amendments. Hence, a greenhouse experiment was  conducted in 2008 to assess the effects of variable rates (50, 75 and 100% of the recommended rates) of industrial manufactured biological amendment substances (IMBAS) (Biozone, Crop care, Gromor, Growmax, K-humate, Lanbac, Molcast, Montys and Promis) on the establishment and growth characteristics of maize seedlings. Inorganic NPK fertilizer and unamended control treatments were included as standards. Results obtained revealed a significant IMBAS as well as IMBAS x rates interaction effects on plant height, number of leaves, total biomass and leaf area. The percent plant emergence in K-humate, Montys and Promis treatments at 50% recommended rate were significantly decreased relative to the standard treatments. Application of most of the IMBAS at 100% of the recommended rate generally decreased plant establishment and phenological characteristics of maize. The study underpins the relevance of in-depth and accurate agronomic evaluation of industrially manufactured growth enhancement materials prior to recommendation for use by farmers.Keywords: Industrial manufactured biological amendment substances, maize phenology, plant vigour, seedling emergence, soil amendment

Maternal and neonatal outcomes after caesarean delivery in the African Surgical Outcomes Study: a 7-day prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Maternal and neonatal mortality is high in Africa, but few large, prospective studies have been done to investigate the risk factors associated with these poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: A 7-day, international, prospective, observational cohort study was done in patients having caesarean delivery in 183 hospitals across 22 countries in Africa. The inclusion criteria were all consecutive patients (aged ≥18 years) admitted to participating centres having elective and non-elective caesarean delivery during the 7-day study cohort period. To ensure a representative sample, each hospital had to provide data for 90% of the eligible patients during the recruitment week. The primary outcome was in-hospital maternal mortality and complications, which were assessed by local investigators. The study was registered on the South African National Health Research Database, number KZ_2015RP7_22, and on ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03044899. FINDINGS: Between February, 2016, and May, 2016, 3792 patients were recruited from hospitals across Africa. 3685 were included in the postoperative complications analysis (107 missing data) and 3684 were included in the maternal mortality analysis (108 missing data). These hospitals had a combined number of specialist surgeons, obstetricians, and anaesthetists totalling 0·7 per 100 000 population (IQR 0·2-2·0). Maternal mortality was 20 (0·5%) of 3684 patients (95% CI 0·3-0·8). Complications occurred in 633 (17·4%) of 3636 mothers (16·2-18·6), which were predominantly severe intraoperative and postoperative bleeding (136 [3·8%] of 3612 mothers). Maternal mortality was independently associated with a preoperative presentation of placenta praevia, placental abruption, ruptured uterus, antepartum haemorrhage (odds ratio 4·47 [95% CI 1·46-13·65]), and perioperative severe obstetric haemorrhage (5·87 [1·99-17·34]) or anaesthesia complications (11·47 (1·20-109·20]). Neonatal mortality was 153 (4·4%) of 3506 infants (95% CI 3·7-5·0). INTERPRETATION: Maternal mortality after caesarean delivery in Africa is 50 times higher than that of high-income countries and is driven by peripartum haemorrhage and anaesthesia complications. Neonatal mortality is double the global average. Early identification and appropriate management of mothers at risk of peripartum haemorrhage might improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in Africa. FUNDING: Medical Research Council of South Africa.Medical Research Council of South Africa