http://ojs.uneswa.ac.sz/index.php/urejast en-US Southern African Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences (SAJNAS) http://ojs.uneswa.ac.sz/index.php/urejast/article/view/248 Copyright (c) 2014-11-01 2014-11-01 http://ojs.uneswa.ac.sz/index.php/urejast/article/view/249 Copyright (c) 2014-11-01 2014-11-01 http://ojs.uneswa.ac.sz/index.php/urejast/article/view/250 Clean water for drinking and other domestic purposes is becoming a scarce resource the world over. The presence of pathogens such as Escherichia coli [E. coli] in contaminated water often leads to health complications and at times death, particularly when they originate from human or animal waste, and may give rise to gastro-intestinal diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera. Simple and affordable water purification devices are therefore essential in rural and peri-urban areas without municipal water supply. Two locally built solar stills, sometimes called solar distillers, were designed and constructed at the workshop of the Physics Department of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Swaziland. They were installed at two locations in Swaziland with different climatic conditions, one at Dvokolwako in the Lowveld and the other, at Etimpisini in the Middleveld. Data on monthly variation of the amount of distilled water collected at each of the two locations were recorded over a period of one year. The effect of the ambient temperature on the water collection efficiency was also evaluated. The amount of distilled water collected at each of the two locations was found to increase with ambient temperature. The collection efficiency was found to be higher in the Middleveld in spring and summer [September to February], whereas it was lowest in winter [June and July]. The percentage increase in the amount of water collected in the Middleveld between July and September was approximately 75%. In the Lowveld, however, the variation in the collection efficiency was only about 19%. On average, a still can produce about 2.75 litres of water per day in the Middleveld, compared to 2.6 litres in the Lowveld, using a still with a base area of 1 m2. The raw and distilled water were tested at the Swaziland Water Services Corporation [SWSC], Mbabane for the presence of E. coli and total coliform, as well as the levels of pH and total hardness. Tests on cations and anions were carried out by the Department of Geological Survey and Mines, Mbabane. Results of the water quality tests showed that the solar stills had the capacity to eliminate E. coli and total coliform completely from the raw water and reduce the levels of pH, total hardness, anions and cations significantly. The anions were reduced by 22 % to 100 % and there was a 53% to 100% reduction in cations. All the parameters were found to be within the South African [SA] and SWSC standards for water quality. Improvements for future work have also been highlighted. A.J. Varkey M.D Dlamini Copyright (c) 2014-11-01 2014-11-01 http://ojs.uneswa.ac.sz/index.php/urejast/article/view/251 Common Swazi leafy vegetables that are consumed by a significant number of the Swazi population include Corchorius olitorus [ligusha], Momordica involucrata [inkhakha], Amaranthus spinosus [imbuya], Bidens pilosa [chuchuza] and Solanum nigrum [umsobo]. Although they are part of the Swazi diet, no studies have been published so far on their nutritional composition. The objective of the project was to determine the levels of vitamin A, iron, calcium and zinc in these vegetables. The samples were collected from various areas throughout Swaziland. Vitamin A values were determined using reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] after saponification with potassium hydroxide, extraction with petroleum ether and dissolution in propan-2-ol. Iron, calcium and zinc values were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry [AAS]. Findings indicate that these vegetables are a good source of vitamin A with mean values for Corchorius olitorus, Momordica involucrata, Amaranthus spinosus, Bidens pilosa and Solanum nigrum being 959, 1194, 216, 1114 and 27 micrograms vitamin A per 100 g [All-trans retinal] respectively. All the samples analysed were good sources of iron, with Amaranthus spinosus having the highest concentration [41 mg/100 g] followed by Corchorius olitorus with 29 mg/100 while Momordica involucrata, Bidens pilosa and Solanum nigrum had the lowest content of iron [19 mg/100g]. The majority of the vegetables are good sources of calcium. The highest concentration of calcium [2683 mg/100 g] was found in Amaranthus spinosus while Corchorius olitorus and Bidens pilosa generally gave low calcium content [50 - 70 mg/100 g]. The highest zinc content [11.6 mg/100 g] was obtained from Amaranthus spinosus and the lowest [6.2 mg/100 g] from Momordica involucrata. The results obtained for common foodstuffs Vigna unguiculata, Vigna subterranea, Cucurbitea moschata, Phaseolus vulgaris and Persea americana agree with those of West [1987]. In general, micronutrient levels obtained from the five Swazi leafy vegetables are significantly higher than those from commonly consumed foodstuffs such as Phaseolus vulgaris. It is recommended that these leafy vegetables be eaten as a cheaper alternative to the expensive exotic foodstuffs consumed as sources of vitamin A, iron, calcium and zinc. G.C. Bwembya J.M. Thwala D.A. Otieno Copyright (c) 2014-11-01 2014-11-01 http://ojs.uneswa.ac.sz/index.php/urejast/article/view/252 Estimates show that about 10% of the world’s arable land is affected by salinity. Since water is increasingly becoming a very limited resource in many parts of the world, there is need to explore the potential of using saline water in irrigated agriculture. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to determine the highest level of salinity, which chrysanthemum plants can tolerate in order to reduce use of fresh water in agriculture. The objective of the experiment was to determine the effects of different levels of sodium chloride [NaCl] on the vegetative growth of chrysanthemums. There were five treatments which consisted of irrigation water containing 0 [control], 2, 4, 8, and 16 dS/m NaCl. The treatments were laid out in a randomised complete block design [RCBD]. Results showed that the highest plant height [54.2 cm] was obtained from chrysanthemums irrigated with water containing 2 dS/m NaCl. The lowest plant height [35.6 cm], root length [21.2 cm], shoot fresh mass [203.5 g], shoot dry mass [48.0 g], and root dry mass [2.0 g] at 8 weeks after transplanting [WAT], were obtained from chrysanthemums irrigated with water at 16 dS/m NaCl. An increase in salt concentration above 4 dS/m resulted in a corresponding reduction in all parameters determined. There was more than four-fold reduction in root fresh mass between the control and plants irrigated with 16 dS/m NaCl. There was an almost 15 fold reduction in root dry mass between the control and plants irrigated using 16 dS/m solution. Irrigation water at 16 dS/m was highly detrimental to growth and development of chrysanthemums. Farmers interested in the production of chrysanthemums should use irrigation water at 4 dS/m or less to prevent reduction in plant growth and development. N.P. Shongwe P.K. Wahome Copyright (c) 2014-11-01 2014-11-01 http://ojs.uneswa.ac.sz/index.php/urejast/article/view/253 Street food vending is a growing phenomenon in many countries and contributes to the livelihoods of many people. However, the safety of the foods is often a cause for concern because the environment in which they operate is usually unhygienic, leading to contamination. The objectives of this study were to assess the socio-economic contribution of street foods in Maseru and to assess the hygienic practices of the vendors in the city. A cross-sectional study was done by interviewing the street food vendors using a semi-structured questionnaire focusing on the contribution of food vending to the economy, and the hygienic practices of the food vendors. One hundred street vendors were interviewed at the Maseru Market, Manonyane bus stop, Mafafa market, Metro taxi rank, Sefika taxi rank as well as outside the Ministry of Health Government Office Complex. The majority of the vendors [77%] were women. Fifty three per cent of the vendors were in age range of 25-30 years and street food vending was the main source of income. About 51% reported profits above 100 Maloti [@US$13] per day. The main types of food items sold were papa [thick maize meal porridge], boiled vegetables [moroho], roasted chicken, pork or beef, and beef stew. The vendors operated from makeshift structures and had no running water. All the street vendors used buckets for washing hands after visiting the toilet and before handling food. Fifty two percent of the vendors operated the street food vending business on individual basis. It was concluded that while street food vending in Maseru can be viable, the hygienic practices need to be improved. It is recommended the government and local authorities should assist vendors with appropriate shelters, running water, and electricity to improve the quality of food. T. H. Gadaga M. M. Ntsike V. Ntuli Copyright (c) 2014-11-01 2014-11-01