Lourens Thabo Tshabalala

• Conducted efficient soil surveying and description services:

- Land Suitability Assessments and Land Use Planning.

- Water Rights Applications

- Cultivation of Virgin Land Applications (CARA Act No 43 of 1983)

- Subdivision of Agricultural Land (SALA Act No 70 of 1970) and

- Advisory Services on Soil Fertility Management

• Actively listened to farmers, handled concerns quickly and escalated major issues to supervisor.
• LandCare specialist functions on national and international level with conservation agriculture (CA) as a key focus area.
• Planned and arranged training sessions on soil survey and fertility management for government officials and extension officers at provincial level.
• Generation of scientific articles, publications and databases for different subject matters.
• .Monitored and evaluated progress of LandCare projects and provided scientific recommendations.
• Conducted Land Use Suitability and Capability Assessment
• Provided scientific support to Conservation Agriculture (CA) farmers in different agro-ecological zones.
• Developed and implemented guidelines for sustainable soil management (SSM)
• Participated in the International Network on Salt-Affected Soils (INSAS) - Soils and Water Working Group (FAO): Methodologies, policies, systems and procedures
• Carried out day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
• Completed paperwork, recognizing discrepancies and promptly addressing for resolution.
• Created spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel for daily, weekly and monthly reporting.
• Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
• Cross-trained existing employees and farmers on no-till planter calibration to maximize team agility and performance

• Capture datasets from analysis of research results into computer
  database for storage
• Conducted analytical tests on in-coming raw materials prior to use in process.
• Operate and calibrate equipment such as centrifuges and microscopes
• Provide technical support in the field with regard to:

- Weeding, Planting and Harvesting.

- Herbicides administering in the research fields.

• Supported laboratory staff with advanced troubleshooting, resolving complex problems and helping with special projects.
• Tracked collected specimens by initialing, dating and noting times of collection.
• Operated basic laboratory equipment such as balances, pH meter, colorimeter, spectrophotometer, autoclave and evaporator.
• Performed testing and quality control using approved laboratory procedures and instrumentation.
• Prepared and assured accuracy of standards and reagents needed for analyses.
• Registered and prepared samples for general analytical testing through data entry, weighing and physical homogenization.
• Operate and calibrate equipment such as centrifuges and microscopes.
• Calibrated and maintained instruments to keep equipment fully operational.
• Cleaned and sterilized tools and equipment to maximize purity of specimens.

• Develop, update, implement and report valuable sporting information to the student community.
• Used coordination and planning skills to achieve results according to schedule.
• Strategic writing with intent to building internal audience and external audience.
• Worked flexible hours across night, weekend and holiday shifts.
• Proposal to companies for potential partnerships with IRAWA
  newspaper.
• Editing articles for newsletters.
• Photographs and articles for website.