- Email: [email protected]
Veld and pasture management in South Africa
408
erosion. Also, water r u n o f f rates will increase and intensify flooding problems. Soil nutrients are lost with the removal of crop residues as well as by the increased soil erosion and water runoff. To maintain crop yield, these nutrients have to be replaced at a significant dollar and energy cost. Although, as noted by the authors, biomass energy production will increase e m p l o y m e n t , biomass production and harvesting is hazardous. Harvesting wood, for example, as a biomass fuel has associated occupational hazards that are 14 times more serious than underground coal mining. Despite these deficiencies this book provides a helpful overview of the conversion of biomass into fuel and explains the potential of various organic resources that are currently available for use. Students of agriculture, forestry, and engineering will find this book a well-written source of basic information on biomass as a fuel. D. PIMENTEL
(Department of Entomology Cornell University Ithaca, N Y 14853 U.S.A.)
VELD AND PASTURE MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH A F R I C A
Veld and Pasture Management in South Africa. N.M. Tainton (Editor), Shuter and Shooter, Pietermaritzburg and University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg, 1981, 481 pp., £29.75, ISBN 0-86985-557-3. This book is a very complete description of the ecology, botanical composition and management of the veld of South Africa. It proceeds in a logical way through discussions of ecological concepts, pasture development, forage quality, and the effect of defoliation on growth leading to a consideration of animal production -- the ultimate production from pasture. Principles of grassland management are then outlined and their application is discussed in another lengthy section. Finally the application of management principles to sown pastures is discussed. The book is very detailed, but perhaps this is justified in such a text. Perhaps the one fault is, that as well as containing great detail, it also includes somewhat simplistic statements. Nevertheless, one can accept that it has been written largely by academics as a t e x t b o o k for students and assumptions cannot be made about the background knowledge of the reader. It is well indexed -- pasture plants, veld plants and subjects -- and well illustrated with diagrams, tables and maps. The value of the book, especially for people outside South Africa might have been enhanced by cross referencing to the situation prevailing in other countries. For instance, Australia is a country in which there is great development of pastures in n o t too dissimilar habitats -- in fact there are m a n y similarities - and cross referencing would have been valuable. To
409
take a particularly basic point, in Australia the need for and use of legumes is assumed and there is very limited use of nitrogen on pasture. Indeed, the likelihood of economic return from its use is always questioned. An Australian is left wondering whether the South Africans begin with the question " H o w can I establish a legume?" or whether they readily tolerate lower nitrogen status. Again, in Australia there would be much less emphasis given to discussion of plant succession and climax development and far more to breeding and selection of specialised plants and their sowing and management, even in relatively difficult (dry and/or infertile) habitats. In this context, the concept of a period of effective rainfall - - " g r o w ing season" -- as derived from precipitation and evaporation, has much less prominence than in Australia. There is no d o u b t t h a t the book is an excellent text and essential reading for South African students, and a useful comparative reference for students of pasture management and development elsewhere. Its price would preclude its inclusion on general bookshelves. DAVID F. SMITH
(Director-General of Agriculture Department of Agriculture Victoria Box 4041 G.P.O. Melbourne, Vic. 3001, Australia)
WORLD
HUNGER
World Hunger: a Guide to the E c o n o m i c and Political Dimensions. Nicole Ball, Clio Press, Oxford, 1981, xxiii + 386 pp., £27.95, ISBN 0-87436308-X.
This bibliography contains over 3000 citations to the literature of worldwide hunger. The entries are preceded by an introduction which provides a general overview of the economic and political considerations with regard to the world hunger problem. Conventional development strategies to overcome the problem of poverty and rural stagnation in developing countries have failed. Ball correctly points out that a good deal of the socio-economic and political inequity in Third World countries has its roots in domestic power structures which receive support from industrialised countries. While it is true t h a t the Green Revolution has benefited mainly the large farmers as the author states, there has been an a t t e m p t to bring greater benefits to the small farmer. While it has led to mechanisation and reduced e m p l o y m e n t in some areas, it has created more e m p l o y m e n t in others as the HYV's are more labour intensive. Norman Borlaug has pointed out t h a t the Green Revolution was n o t expected to solve hunger in the world, but to allow us to buy time to search for more permanent solutions. The book presents world hunger as a problem to be solved by political and economic means.
erosion. Also, water r u n o f f rates will increase and intensify flooding problems. Soil nutrients are lost with the removal of crop residues as well as by the increased soil erosion and water runoff. To maintain crop yield, these nutrients have to be replaced at a significant dollar and energy cost. Although, as noted by the authors, biomass energy production will increase e m p l o y m e n t , biomass production and harvesting is hazardous. Harvesting wood, for example, as a biomass fuel has associated occupational hazards that are 14 times more serious than underground coal mining. Despite these deficiencies this book provides a helpful overview of the conversion of biomass into fuel and explains the potential of various organic resources that are currently available for use. Students of agriculture, forestry, and engineering will find this book a well-written source of basic information on biomass as a fuel. D. PIMENTEL
(Department of Entomology Cornell University Ithaca, N Y 14853 U.S.A.)
VELD AND PASTURE MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH A F R I C A
Veld and Pasture Management in South Africa. N.M. Tainton (Editor), Shuter and Shooter, Pietermaritzburg and University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg, 1981, 481 pp., £29.75, ISBN 0-86985-557-3. This book is a very complete description of the ecology, botanical composition and management of the veld of South Africa. It proceeds in a logical way through discussions of ecological concepts, pasture development, forage quality, and the effect of defoliation on growth leading to a consideration of animal production -- the ultimate production from pasture. Principles of grassland management are then outlined and their application is discussed in another lengthy section. Finally the application of management principles to sown pastures is discussed. The book is very detailed, but perhaps this is justified in such a text. Perhaps the one fault is, that as well as containing great detail, it also includes somewhat simplistic statements. Nevertheless, one can accept that it has been written largely by academics as a t e x t b o o k for students and assumptions cannot be made about the background knowledge of the reader. It is well indexed -- pasture plants, veld plants and subjects -- and well illustrated with diagrams, tables and maps. The value of the book, especially for people outside South Africa might have been enhanced by cross referencing to the situation prevailing in other countries. For instance, Australia is a country in which there is great development of pastures in n o t too dissimilar habitats -- in fact there are m a n y similarities - and cross referencing would have been valuable. To
409
take a particularly basic point, in Australia the need for and use of legumes is assumed and there is very limited use of nitrogen on pasture. Indeed, the likelihood of economic return from its use is always questioned. An Australian is left wondering whether the South Africans begin with the question " H o w can I establish a legume?" or whether they readily tolerate lower nitrogen status. Again, in Australia there would be much less emphasis given to discussion of plant succession and climax development and far more to breeding and selection of specialised plants and their sowing and management, even in relatively difficult (dry and/or infertile) habitats. In this context, the concept of a period of effective rainfall - - " g r o w ing season" -- as derived from precipitation and evaporation, has much less prominence than in Australia. There is no d o u b t t h a t the book is an excellent text and essential reading for South African students, and a useful comparative reference for students of pasture management and development elsewhere. Its price would preclude its inclusion on general bookshelves. DAVID F. SMITH
(Director-General of Agriculture Department of Agriculture Victoria Box 4041 G.P.O. Melbourne, Vic. 3001, Australia)
WORLD
HUNGER
World Hunger: a Guide to the E c o n o m i c and Political Dimensions. Nicole Ball, Clio Press, Oxford, 1981, xxiii + 386 pp., £27.95, ISBN 0-87436308-X.
This bibliography contains over 3000 citations to the literature of worldwide hunger. The entries are preceded by an introduction which provides a general overview of the economic and political considerations with regard to the world hunger problem. Conventional development strategies to overcome the problem of poverty and rural stagnation in developing countries have failed. Ball correctly points out that a good deal of the socio-economic and political inequity in Third World countries has its roots in domestic power structures which receive support from industrialised countries. While it is true t h a t the Green Revolution has benefited mainly the large farmers as the author states, there has been an a t t e m p t to bring greater benefits to the small farmer. While it has led to mechanisation and reduced e m p l o y m e n t in some areas, it has created more e m p l o y m e n t in others as the HYV's are more labour intensive. Norman Borlaug has pointed out t h a t the Green Revolution was n o t expected to solve hunger in the world, but to allow us to buy time to search for more permanent solutions. The book presents world hunger as a problem to be solved by political and economic means.