This empirical study examines the extent to which risk aversion and entrepreneurial ability influence an individual's decision to enter into entrepreneurship. Precisely, it delineates the gender gap in self-employment, nascent and high growth entrepreneurship. In doing so, it utilises the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor South Africa databases containing 19,469 usable cases sampled between 2009 and 2014. The study adopts a quantitative approach and it applies an estimator in the form of a probit model and a non-linear decomposition technique to test established hypotheses.The results indicate that lower levels of knowledge and skills among women explain a substantial part of the gender gap. Thus, the gender gap in nascent and high growth entrepreneurship would be reduced if women had similar characteristics as men. Also, their entry rates into self-employment would be high and there would be no gender difference. This shifts the emphasis from the significance of risk aversion for local entrepreneurship to accentuate the importance of entrepreneurial-specific skills required to successfully engage in entrepreneurship.

Previous research has demonstrated stimulation of purple and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus and C. esculentus) with chloropicrin when applied at rates ranging from 100 to 150 lbs/acre (112 to 168 kg·ha–1) under low or high density polyethylene film mulch. This stimulatory effect has been exploited in research by developing a program of metam application 5 days after application of chloropicrin, thus placing metam in the soil once the tubers have begun to sprout and are most vulnerable. This project was expanded in 2004–05 to include the commercial emulsifiable concentrate formulation of 65% 1,3-dichloropropene and 35% chloropicrin (1,3-D + Pic) and virtually impermeable film mulch as well as high density polyethylene film. The test site was a commercial tomato farm in west central Florida with a heavy infestation of purple nutsedge. Chloropicrin was applied into raised beds through three gas knives, while 1,3-D + Pic and metam potassium were applied in 1 acre inch of water through 2 drip irrigation tubes spaced 10 inches apart and 5 inches from the bed center. Metam was applied 5 days after application of chloropicrin and 1,3-D + Pic. Treatments were applied under both standard high density polyethylene film (Hilex and Bromostop) VIF. Stimulation of nutsedge sprouting and emergence was about the same with either chloropicrin alone or combined with 1,3-D; however, there was some enhancement when applied under VIF. There was a slight improvement in efficacy of metam potassium when applied alone under VIF, contrary to previous results. Application of metam 5 days after application of chloropicrin or 1,3-D + Pic greatly improved nutsedge control over that observed without the subsequent application of metam and VIF improved results to some degree. Producers of drip irrigated crops in Florida can achieve acceptable to excellent nutsedge control using this sequential application technique combined with VIF; however, the addition of a second drip tube on the bed top increases expense by about $125/acre and is not compatible with crops grown with more than a single row on the bed.

TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractSince the late 1990's, operators have drilled a number of coalbed methane (CBM) core and exploration wells to define the gas resource potential of the vast and relatively unexplored Jurassic Walloon Subgroup (SG) in the Surat Basin. Unfortunately, early pilots used completion techniques that failed to fully assess the true potential of this reservoir. Firstly, openhole completions were trialed but had limited success because of fines influx and well collapse. Next, cased and cemented wellbores incorporating hydraulic fracturing stimulation treatments were attempted to improve wellbore stability, reduce fines influx and increase gas production; these wells were ineffective and many experienced problematic casing failures. Finally, an isolated, openhole, under-reamed completion technique was trialed and achieved commercial flow rates representative of the drill-stem testing data indicated from earlier exploratory drilling. This paper describes the process, experiences and results leading to the present completion strategy. We note production, permeability and skin factors associated with early completions, as well as results obtained from large-scale implementation of this more effective completion method. As a result of this change, the resource potential of the Walloon SG has grown significantly and the operator has proven 3,712 Bcf of reserves from a previously undeveloped resource area.

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