Soil water relations and plant water use is studied in order to improve water use efficiency. Crop growth models are developed or modified to mechanistically quantify the components of the soil water balance. These models are used for real time management and long term scenario studies. Causes and remediation of soil erosion, crusting, salinity and physical soil deterioration are researched. Heavy metal pollution from fertilizer sources, and the effect of irrigation with polluted mine waters on crop, soil and groundwater resources are studied. Rehabilitation of open-cost mine lands receive special attention.

Annandale JG, Jovanovic NZ, Pretorius JJB, Lorentz SL, Rethman NFG, Tanner PD: 2001. Gypsiferous mine water use in irrigation on rehabilitated open-cast mine land: Crop Production, soil water and salt balance. Ecological Engineering, 17(2 & 3), pp 153-164.

Jovanovic NZ, Annandale JG, Claassens AS, Lorentz SL, Tanner PD: 2001. Modeling irrigation with gypsiferous Mine Water: A case study in Botswana. Mine Water and the Environment, 20, pp 65-72.