Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Research Papers (original) (raw)

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- Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Higher Education, Web search
- by Hisham Elkadi
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- Agricultural and Environmental Engineering

This study presents the development and preliminary performance evaluation of an improved electronic pest repeller with automatic frequency variation. The study is aimed at developing a device that is capable of emitting ultrasonic energy of varied frequencies. These frequencies do affect the auditory senses of pests such as rodents, avian and nocturnal insects by making them uncomfortable in their abode. However these frequencies do not affect the hearing ability of man. An Astable Multi-vibrator (AMV), timer NE555 was used to generate the required ultrasonic frequency and automatically varied in five steps by a pulse generating IC (CA3130) and a counter (CD4017). A D-type flip-flop IC (CD4013) was used to obtain a symmetrical output signal which was amplified in push-pull mode by 2-NPN Transistors (BD-139) and 2-PNP transistors (BD140). Five variable resistors (each 100KΩ) were used to control the different frequencies selection. Two transducers (tweeters) were employed to produce an efficient sound generated. The unit was tested with three groups of white foot mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and a female house mouse Mus musculus which all responded positively from a distance of up to fifteen (15) meters from the source. The average designed efficiency was found to be 86.5%. The device can be utilized by both small and large scale farmers for the purpose of repelling pests. The performance of the device could be greatly improved with little modifications, for instance, using microcontrollers and ultrasonic sensors to transmit the ultrasonic sound in a special band of frequency.

- by Meshack Simeon and +1
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- Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Agriculture, Agricultural and Environmental Engineering
- by Eze Ubajekwe
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- Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Civil War, Environmental Sustainability

There is the most important downside in agricultural countries from domestic birds as a result of they're a significant threat within the field of agriculture inflicting injury to economic field crops, storage homes and additionally change of state human life areas. The foremost common persecutor birds in Bharat are House crows, Common starling, Jungle starling, Brahminy oscine, White cheeked Luscinia megarhynchos, etc. so as to distract these birds away, several ancient strategies like simulacrum models, Hawk kites, colored lights, Lasers, Flashes, Chemicals etc. are used that today don't appear terribly effective. an efficient bird deterrent technique i.e., star powered hearable Bird bird-scarer has been developed. totally {different completely, different} sounds because of that different species of birds get frightened were additionally noticed and studied. The testing of the bird-scarer was performed for regarding one month in August 2015. All major species of birds were tested however the most focus was on Crows as they're the most important injury inflicting bird species in Bharat. There are twenty-two ordinarily legendary predator sounds from birds like Eagle, Owl, Falcon etc. were tested and it had been discovered that the sound from Falcon was the foremost effective to intimidate Crows yet as alternative species. One most significant observation was that the success of the bird-scarer chiefly depends on the predator sound kind, its volume, quality, frequency and its repetitive nature.

In concern with sanitary state of water bodies used for drinking water supply, recreational activities and harvesting seafood due to a potential contamination by pathogenic bacteria, microbial pollution in aquatic environments is one of the crucial issues. Rapid development and urbanization may contribute the microbial pollution in the Selangor River, Malaysia. This study focused on the evaluation of microorganism pollution in the Selangor River watershed. Water samples were collected along the Selangor River and its tributary and determined total coliform and Escherichia coli (E.coli). According to the findings of this study, the highest of E.coli was found in the urban area (Rawang sub basin) followed by industry, residential and agricultural area respectively. The results of the present investigation revealed that, the Selangor river water at Rawang sub basin was greatly affected by microorganism due to point and non-point sources of pollution. Therefore, holistic countermeasure ...

- by Faridah Othman
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- Agricultural and Environmental Engineering

A field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria. to determine the comparative effects of manure and organic fertilizer on growth and yield of sweet corn. The experiment consisted of four treatments 0 kg ha1, 120 kg ha-1 manure, 120 kg ha-1 inorganic fertilizer and 60 kg ha-1 manure + 60 kg ha-1 inorganic fertilizer. The treatments were laid in a complete randomized block design (RCBD) with three replicates. At 6 and 8 WAS a combination of 60 kg ha-1 manure 60 kg ha-1 inorganic fertilizer produced significantly taller plants than 120 kg ha-1 manure and 120 kg ha-1 inorganic fertilizer. At 10 WAS 120 kg ha-1 inorganic fertilizer produced significantly taller plants than 120 kg ha-1 manure and 0 kg ha-1. Combination of 60 kg ha-1 manure + 60 kg ha-1 inorganic fertilizer recorded highest grain yield than control 0 kg ha-1 single manure 120 kg ha-1 and 120 kg ha-1 inorganic fertilizer.

This study aimed (1) to determine the effect of temperature on and (2) to determine the fermentation time and the effect of bromelin enzyme of coffee beans aroma on). The process of fermentation of coffee beans using the ohmic technology with the addition of pineapple extract. The treatment used in the fermentation with Ohmic technology was the temperatures of 35°C dan 45°C; and fermentation times were 6, 12, and 18 hours. The observation parameters included pH, caffeine content, and organoleptics. The research results indicated that in the fermentation of the coffee beans using Ohmic technology at the temperature of 35°C and the time fermentation of 12 hours, the caffeine content (1.6%) became 0.047%, and the temperature of 35°C and the time of fermentation was 12 hours had produced pH of 4.81, and the temperature of 45°C with the time fermentation of 6 hours, high caffeine value of 0.147%, and at 45°C with the time fermentation of 18 hours had produces pH value of 5.83. The organoleptic description of the flavor attributed with temperature of 35°C, the temperature flavor attributed and the time fermentation of 12 hours, the average body score was 4.94, while the bitterness was 3.7, and at the temperature of 45°C and the time fermentation of 12 hours produced the body weight scores of 3.49, while the bitterness of 3.45. The fermented coffee beans with the clinical technology was very effective to use in.ohmci technology because it could provide a relatively uniform and evenly distributed heating system.

One of the most difficult practical problems to overcome when testing agricultural machines (tractors) at the dyno is measuring the fuel consumption and assessing the engine's global efficiency. Indeed, diesel engines have two fuel-lines: a delivery line (from the tank to the cylinders), and a return line, to convey back in the tank the fuel not injected as a consequence of the accelerator position and pump settings. In principle, to measure the consumption, known the delivery flowrate (proportional to the engine speed), a single flowmeter could be used in the return line only (having a variable flow); unluckily, the real suction flowrate is generally unknown, varying with the model and vehicle age (i.e., with the pump components' wear), so two flowmeters are always needed. But there is another metrological problem to consider: a flowmeter inserted in series in a fuel-supply line could significantly alter the flowrate. Finally, another further problem can arise, when the experimenters are asked to characterize machines not owned by them: modifications to the vehicle under test should be avoided or, at least, limited, e.g., not to void the guarantee. Unfortunately, solutions like the clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters (placed outside the pipes) are not so suitable for fluids with few particles in suspension, e.g., the fuel processed by the pump. Therefore, it was decided to act upstream of the entire supply line, providing an external tank placed on a precision scale near the tractor, to be used instead of the vehicle's tank. The only, absolutely reversible, needed operation is to connect to the fuel pump two flexible pipes drawing from the external tank. The device gives the net fuel consumption by means of a data logger that acquires the tank mass at periodic intervals. It has been successfully tested on a New Holland 4020V tractor at the dyno, allowing to calculate the instant/hourly/specific consumptions and the engine's global efficiency at six engine speeds (from 800 to 2200 rpm) and full throttle.

- by Marco Bietresato
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- Agricultural Engineering, Consumption, Energy Consumption, Alternative Fuels

This research evaluates the effect of both organic and ammonia loading rates and the presence of plants on the removal of chemical oxygen demand and ammonia nitrogen in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands, 2 years after the start-up. Two sets of experiments were carried out in two mesocosms at different organic and ammonia loading rates (the loads were doubled); one without plants (control bed), the other colonized with Phragmites australis. Regardless of the organic loading rate, the organic mass removal rate was improved in the presence of plants (93.4 % higher for the lower loading rate, and 56 % higher for the higher loading rate). Similar results were observed for the ammonia mass removal rate (117 % higher for the lower loading rate, and 61.3 % higher for the higher loading rate). A significant linear relationship was observed between the organic loading rate and the respective removal rates in both beds for loads between 10 and 13 g m−2 day−1. The presence of plants markedly increase removal of organic matter and ammonia, as a result of the role of roots and rhizomes in providing oxygen for aerobic removal pathways, a higher surface area for the adhesion and development of biofilm and nitrogen uptake by roots.

- by Antonio Albuquerque and +2
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- Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering

Two media bed (gravel and Filtralite NR) were tested in a mesocosm to evaluate the removal of organic matter (as chemical oxygen demand (COD)), ammonia (NH4-N), nitrite, nitrate and solid matter (as total suspended solids (TSS)) for a synthetic wastewater (acetate-based) and a domestic wastewater. The use of Filtralite allowed average removal rates (6–16.8 g COD/(m2·day), 0.8–1.1 g NH4 -N/(m2·day) and 3.1 g TSS/(m2·day)) and removal efficiencies (65%–93%, 57%–85% and 78% for COD, NH4-N and TSS, respectively), higher than that observed in the experiments with gravel. The applied loads of COD, ammonia, nitrate and TSS seem to influence the respective removal rates but only for the treatment of domestic wastewater with higher correlation coefficients for Filtralite. Regardless the type of media bed and the type of wastewater, nitrate was completely removed for nitrogen loading rates up to
1.3 g NO3-N/(m2·day). There was no evidence of the influence of nitrate loads on the removal of organic matter.

- by Leonor Amaral and +2
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- Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering

Mountainous watersheds are constantly under pressure of huge amount of soil loss due to soil erosion. Pare watershed is situated in the eastern Himalayan ranges of Arunachal Pradesh, India, which is subjected to such soil losses and its sub-watersheds are being degraded in many places. Watershed management programs are required in the area in which prioritization of sub-watersheds is one of the first steps. A study has been carried out to address this issue in the area to prioritize 26 sub-watersheds of Pare through morphometric analysis. The study used digital elevation model (DEM) to determine several morphometric parameters of the watershed. The analysis revealed that Pare river is of the 7th order comprising of 6127 stream segments running over the watersheds for about 2448 km. Based on the results obtained, the study area is an elongated well dissected watersheds with high relief and great presence of streams all over the watershed indicating faster runoff peak attainment which is synonymous to rapid transportation of sediment load. The analysis also revealed that SW25 required the top priority in dealing with soil, land and water management measures while least priority could be given to SW7 among all the sub-watersheds in the Pare basin. We suggest various stakeholders who are involved in watershed development programs in the region to take cues from the results obtained in this paper. The results of this study are quite satisfactory in understanding the various morphological aspects of the watershed. Nonetheless, efforts to improve the results can always be made through incorporation of land-use and soil information to enhance the prioritization process so that purpose utilization of the watershed may be reflected in the results.

- by Kyle Whyte and +1
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- Philosophy, Environmental Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Environmental Ethics
- by Christopher Delgado
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- Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Food Safety, International Trade

Morchella Esculenta is one of the expensive mushrooms throughout the globe due to its high nutritional and medicinal value. Naturally it grown in different locations of Pakistan i.e. Swat, Miandam, Kalam, MalamJabba, Parona, Kokaria, Jambile and Madian etc.Traditionally Morchella esculentais used as medicines in different countries like Japan, China and Malaysia for healing of different diseases and is famous due to its unique flavor and taste.

- by khurram ziaf
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- Mushroom, Agricultural and Environmental Engineering

Increasing rates of rice and cowpea production has helped in food sufficiency and sustainability in Nigeria. Handling and processing of these grain crops remain major problems in agricultural production chain and require urgent attention from stakeholders. Hence, this research focused on the determination of some grain properties that could enhance the design of crop processing machines. The outcome of the dimensional analysis showed that for optimum performance of the threshing machine the screen diameter must not be more than 3.66 mm and 6.44 mm for rice and cowpea respectively. For the two grain crops the rubber material recorded the highest coefficient of friction followed by wood while galvanize iron and mild steel had the least coefficient of friction to the grains. The terminal velocities of 6.54 m/s and 13.95 m/s were recorded for rice and cowpea grain respectively. This is due to the values of the projected area of the grains which are 5.23 and 43.70 mm 2 for rice and cowpea respectively, which directly affected the drag coefficient drag the grains. For rice, the mean rupture force for the major and intermediate axis was 35.404 N and 88.756 N respectively. The mean deflection for the major and the intermediate axis was determined to be 0.363 mm and 0.118 mm respectively. The mean rupture energy for the major and the intermediate was determined to be 0.010 Nm and 0.005 Nm respectively. Similarly, for cowpea, the mean rupture force for the major and intermediate axis was 60.634 N and 59.576 N respectively. The mean deflection for the major and the intermediate axis was determined to be 0.708 mm and 0.702 mm respectively. The mean rupture energy for the major and the intermediate was determined to be 0.024 Nm and 0.022 Nm respectively.

- by IRE Journals and +1
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- Agricultural and Environmental Engineering
- by Sena De Silva
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- Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Fish Oil, Food Industry

Gmalina arborea, Zebrawood and Plywood were utilized in the design, fabrication, replacement of component parts and testing of fan. Plywood, Gmalina arborea and Zebrawood were used for the construction of the blades, fan's root plate cover, stand and base respectively. The four blade sizes of diameters, 240 mm, 242.5 mm, 247.5 mm, and 282.5 mm were each coupled to the fan Hub and then mounted on the rotating shaft and tested. The various fabricated parts of the fan were coupled. The fan was tested for velocity, airflow and efficiency. Digital Anemometer was used in taking readings. Correlation and regression analysis were carried out on the data. Results showed that blades with the diameters of 240 mm, 242.5 mm, 247.5 mm, and 282.5 mm produced an average airflow of 3.65 cms, 3.24 cms, 3.94 cms and 4.41 cms respectively. Comparing the wooden fan blade of 282.5 mm diameter with conventional plastic/metal fan blade of same size showed that the velocities were 4.30 m/s and 4.64 m/s respectively, with airflow of 4.41 cms and 4.77 cms respectively, with efficiencies of 89% and 90% respectively. Fan velocity and airflow had positive correlation with blade area and negative correlation with density of blade. Velocity and airflow of 0.748 and 0.815 respectively resulted when the density was 0.560. While velocity and airflow of-0.710 and-0.750 respectively were realized when the density was-0.372. Regression equation with coefficient of linearity, R 2 of 0.999 was obtained, showing effectiveness of wood as engineering material in fans production.

Biodegradability enhancement and detoxification of cork boiling wastewater (CBW) are required for the successful implementation of biological treatment options. We studied the possibility of achieving these goals through ozonation pre-treatment by experimenting on the effect of ozone dose and pH. The CBW used had a pH of 5.81, a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 1,865 mg L1, a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) of 498 mg L1 and total phenol (TP) and tannin compounds concentrations of 523 and 399 mg L1, respectively. The ozone doses ranged from 0.27 to 2.63 for the O3(applied)/COD0 ratios with samples at natural pH and set to 3.33 and 9.96. Ozonation allowed the BOD20/COD ratio (biodegradability index) to increase from 0.37 to 0.63 and a toxicity reduction from 3.08 to 1.24 TU (Microtox). The corresponding removals obtained were 15.2–62.0%, 38.4–83.2% and 56.7–92.1% for COD, TP and colour, respectively. The best outcome of ozonation pre-treatment requires O3(applied)/COD0 ratios over 1.5 and an acid pH. The increase of TP removals with ozone dose at acid pH led to biodegradability enhancement and CBW detoxification. However, for similar conditions the highest COD removals were obtained at alkaline pH due to the hydroxyl radicals’ high oxidation ability but lack of selectivity.

- by A. Gomes and +2
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- Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science
- by Adeeb Sidani
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- Urban Planning, Developing Countries, Water Supply, Infrastructure
- by Jan Jacob Boersema
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- Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Systems Theory, Worldview

Raising silkworms by using artificial feed is not affected by the seasons and can realize the industrialization of silkworm breeding. The study has been conducted the research for using acetic acid as the material of organic acid in fresh mulberry and KUMGANG medicine stone in which various mineral salts are many contained as the material of inorganic salts in artificial feed. When acetic acid esterfied is added to artificial diet as rate of 3.3%, the setae dispersion within 48h was above 98% and the incentive was 100%. Antiseptic effect on artificial feed has been maintained for 90h since falling the feed. Acetic acid has raised the feeding habit on the 3rd instar larvae as the rate of 118.5% to128.4% and the body weight as the rate of 104.5%. KUMGANG medicine stone of the rate of 1% on artificial feed has promoted the growth and development of young silkworm. In the autumn with bad condition on rearing, KUMGANG medicine stone has been decreased the disease occurrence in larvae and raised the quality and yield of cocoon.

- by Maria Mesquita and +1
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- Aquatic Ecology, Biofilms, Biochemical Engineering, Bioenergy

The first few sentences in Food Ethics, a book edited by Ben Mepham in 1996, are None of us can avoid being interested in food. Our very existence depends on the supply of safe, nutritious foods. It is then hardly surprising that food... more

- by Frans Brom
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- Evolutionary Biology, Sociology, Philosophy, Ethics
- by icahri chatta
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- Agricultural and Environmental Engineering
- by Maurizio Paoletti
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- Genetics, Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Public Health
- by Lucia Silva
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- Aquatic Ecology, Bioremediation, Biological Control, Biological Engineering

Cork boiling wastewater pollutants were fractionated by sequential use of four ultrafiltration membranes and five fractions were obtained: four retentates (>100, 50–100, 20–50 and 10–20 kDa) and one permeate (<10 kDa); which were used to study the correlation of molecular size with biodegradability and toxicity before and after ozonation. The results show that molecular size is correlated with organic load and restrains biodegradability. The fraction with >100 kDa corresponds to 56% of the organic load and the one with <10 kDa only 8%. The biodegradability of fractions increased 182% with fractions molecular size reduction from >100 to < 10 kDa and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was from 3436 to 386 mg L−1. For biodegradability enhancement the best outcome of ozonation was obtained with compounds having molecular size >20 kDa and range from 5% up to 175% for applied ozone doses to COD ratios between 0.15 and 0.38.

- by Antonio Albuquerque and +1
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- Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Economics
- by Antonio Albuquerque
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- Aquatic Ecology, Bioremediation, Biological Control, Biological Engineering
- by Md. Aminur Rahman and +1
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- Business, Agricultural and Environmental Engineering
- by Anne I Myhr
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- Genetics, Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Animal Welfare

Biodegradability enhancement and detoxification of cork boiling wastewater (CBW) are required for the successful implementation of biological treatment options. We studied the possibility of achieving these goals through ozonation pre-treatment by experimenting on the effect of ozone dose and pH. The CBW used had a pH of 5.81, a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 1,865 mg L−1, a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) of 498 mg L−1 and total phenol (TP) and tannin compounds concentrations of 523 and 399 mg L−1, respectively. The ozone doses ranged from 0.27 to 2.63 for the O3(applied)/COD0 ratios with samples at natural pH and set to 3.33 and 9.96. Ozonation allowed the BOD20/COD ratio (biodegradability index) to increase from 0.37 to 0.63 and a toxicity reduction from 3.08 to 1.24 TU (Microtox). The corresponding removals obtained were 15.2–62.0%, 38.4–83.2% and 56.7–92.1% for COD, TP and colour, respectively. The best outcome of ozonation pre-treatment requires O3(applied)/COD0 ratios over ...

- by Antonio Albuquerque
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- Chemical Education, Bioremediation, Chemical, Aquaculture

- by Ranjna Jindal
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- Agricultural and Environmental Engineering

Engineering and agronomic properties of soil as influenced by vegetable cropping in Obubra, Nigeria was considered. An experimental site measuring of 336 m 2 was used. Four treatments with three replicates each were laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatments included, T = Cultivation of Tomato, O = Cultivation of Okra, F = Cultivation of Fluted Pumpkin, N = No cultivation (Control). A total of 12 sub-plots were laid on the field. Each subplot measured 4 m x 4 m with a distance of 1m inter-blocks and 1m in-between the plots and within the replication. Soil samples were collected randomly at 10 points before cultivation and on each of the 12 plots at three months after cultivation using soil cores and auger for soil analysis. The soil samples were air-dried, sieved with 2 mm mesh and were subjected to standard laboratory analysis to obtain physical and chemical properties. Data on growth of the vegetables were collected based on the following parameters-height, width, number of branches and of leaves. Treatment N with no cropping plots had the highest cone index and bulk density and lowest porosity. This is closely followed by treatments T and O respectively. Treatment F had the lowest cone index and bulk density; and highest porosity. Analysis of variance for effects of vegetable cropping on engineering and agronomic properties of soil showed that all the treatments were significant at p-value of 0.97. Farmers should ensure that they plant their vegetables also in rotation. Creeping vegetables like fluted pumpkin should be planted followed by vegetables like okra and others which does not creep on the soil. This practice will ensure proper conservation and utilization of engineering and agronomic properties for enhanced agricultural production.

The CO2 problem,Fertility problem,excess NH4 release problem can be overcome by using "Biochar". ''Biochar'' is the modern equivalent; it closer to activated carbon than "charcoal'' and its addition generally results in improved soil... more

- by Ulrich Heink
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- Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Biodiversity, Ecosystem health

... predatory insect populations, thus, it appears that stable, complex field margins seem to favournatural predator control ... If we are to manage non-crop habitats to conserve biodiversity, there is a need for Canadian re-search to... more

- by Pierre Mineau
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- Geography, Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Agriculture