Engineering Commons^™

U.S. Billion-Ton Update: Biomass Supply For A Bioenergy And Bioproducts Industry, Robert D. Perlack, Laurence M. Eaton, Anthony F. Turhollow Jr., Matt H. Langholtz, Craig C. Brandt, Mark E. Downing, Robin L. Graham, Lynn L. Wright, Jacob M. Kavkewitz, Anna M. Shamey, Richard G. Nelson, Bryce J. Stokes, William L. Rooney, David J. Muth Jr., J. Richard Hess, Jared M. Abodeely, Chad Hellwinckel, Danial De La Torre Ugarte, Daniel C. Yoder, James P. Lyon, Timothy G. Rials, Timothy A. Volk, Thomas S. Buchholz, Lawrence P. Abrahamson, Robert P. Anex, Thomas B. Voigt, William Berguson, Don E. Riemenschneider, Douglas Karlen, Jane M. F. Johnson, Robert B. Mitchell, Kenneth P. Vogel, Edward P. Richard Jr., John Tatarko, Larry E. Wagner, Kenneth E. Skog, Patricia K. Lebow, Dennis P. Dykstra, Marilyn A. Buford, Patrick D. Miles, D. Andrew Scott, James H. Perdue, Robert B. Rummer, Jamie Barbour, John A. Stanturf, David B. Mckeever, Ronald S. Zalesny Jr., Edmund A. Gee, P. Daniel Cassidy, David Lightle

Douglas L Karlen

The Report, Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply (generally referred to as the Billion-Ton Study or 2005 BTS), was an estimate of “potential” biomass within the contiguous United States based on numerous assumptions about current and future inventory and production capacity, availability, and technology. In the 2005 BTS, a strategic analysis was undertaken to determine if U.S. agriculture and forest resources have the capability to potentially produce at least one billion dry tons of biomass annually, in a sustainable manner—enough to displace approximately 30% of the country’s present petroleum …

Simulating Management Effects On Crop Production, Tile Drainage, And Water Quality Using Rzwqm–Dssat, S. A. Saseendran, Liwang Ma, Robert W. Malone, Philip Heilman, Lajpat R. Ahuja, Ramesh S. Kanwar, Douglas L. Karlen, G. Hoogenboom

Douglas L Karlen

The objective of this study was to explore if more crop-specific plant growth modules can improve simulations of crop yields, and N in tile flow under different management practices compared with a generic plant growth module. We calibrated and evaluated the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) with the Decision Support for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT v3.5) plant growth modules (RZWQM–DSSAT) for simulating tillage (NT — no till, RT — ridge till, CP — chisel plow, and MP — moldboard plow), crop rotation {CC — continuous corn, and CS — corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]}, and nitrogen (N) …

Evaluating And Predicting Agricultural Management Effects Under Tile Drainage Using Modified Apsim, Robert W. Malone, N. Huth, P. S. Carberry, Liwang Ma, Thomas C. Kaspar, Douglas L. Karlen, T. Meade, Ramesh S. Kanwar, Philip Heilman

Douglas L Karlen

An accurate and management sensitive simulation model for tile-drained Midwestern soils is needed to optimize the use of agricultural management practices (e.g., winter cover crops) to reduce nitrate leaching without adversely affecting corn yield. Our objectives were to enhance the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) for tile drainage, test the modified model for several management scenarios, and then predict nitrate leaching with and without winter wheat cover crop. Twelve years of data (1990–2001) from northeast Iowa were used for model testing. Management scenarios included continuous corn and corn–soybean rotations with single or split N applications. For 38 of 44 observations, …

Effects Of Liquid Swine Manure Applications On No3–N Leaching Losses To Subsurface Drainage Water From Loamy Soils In Iowa, Allah Bakhsh, Ramesh S. Kanwar, Douglas Karlen

Douglas L Karlen

Long-term applications of organic or inorganic sources of N to croplands can increase the leaching potential of nitrate–nitrogen (NO₃–N) for soils underlain by subsurface drainage “tile” network. A field study was conducted for 6 years (1993–1998) to determine the effects of liquid swine manure and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution fertilizer applications on NO₃–N concentrations and NO₃–N losses with subsurface drainage water under continuous corn (Zea maize L.) and corn after soybean (Glycine max. L.) production systems. The field data collected at Iowa State University's northeastern research center near Nashua, Iowa, under …

Development Of Sustainable Corn Stover Harvest Strategies For Cellulosic Ethanol Production, Stuart J. Birrell, Douglas L. Karlen, Adam Wirt

Douglas L Karlen

To prepare for a 2014 launch of commercial scale cellulosic ethanol production from corn/maize (Zea mays L.) stover, POET-DSM near Emmetsburg, IA has been working with farmers, researchers, and equipment dealers through “Project Liberty” on harvest, transportation, and storage logistics of corn stover for the past several years. Our objective was to evaluate seven stover harvest strategies within a 50-ha (125 acres) site on very deep, moderately well to poorly drained Mollisols, developed in calcareous glacial till. The treatments included the following: conventional grain harvest (no stover harvest), grain plus a second-pass rake and bale stover harvest, and single-pass …

Empirical Analysis And Prediction Of Nitrate Loading And Crop Yield For Corn–Soybean Rotations, Robert W. Malone, Liwang Ma, Douglas L. Karlen, T. Meade, D. Meek, Ramesh S. Kanwar, Jerry L. Hatfield

Douglas L Karlen

Nitrate nitrogen losses through subsurface drainage and crop yield are determined by multiple climatic and management variables. The combined and interactive effects of these variables, however, are poorly understood. Our objective is to predict crop yield, nitrate concentration, drainage volume, and nitrate loss in subsurface drainage from a corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation as a function of rainfall amount, soybean yield for the year before the corn–soybean sequence being evaluated, N source, N rate, and timing of N application in northeastern Iowa, U.S.A. Ten years of data (1994–2003) from a long-term study …

Ridge, Moldboard, Chisel, And No-Till Effects On Tile Water Quality Beneath Two Cropping Systems, Ramesh S. Kanwar, Thomas S. Colvin, Douglas L. Karlen

Douglas L Karlen

Soil conservation tillage systems, including ridge-tillage, often reduce surface water contamination by pesticides because soil erosion and surface runoff are reduced. However, the effects on losses through subsurface drainage tile are somewhat uncertain. Our field study quantified the effects of four tillage practices in continuous corn (Zea mays L.) and corn-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] rotations on herbicide and nitrate N losses in tile drainage water. Fertilizer and pesticide application methods were uniform for ridge, moldboard, chisel, and no-till systems. Pesticide and nitrate N leaching losses were significantly affected by crop rotation. Tillage practice had little influence on …

Corn-Soybean And Alternative Cropping Systems Effects On No 3 -N Leaching Losses In Subsurface Drainage Water, Rameshwar S. Kanwar, Richard M. Cruse, Mohammadreza Ghaffarzadeh, Allah Bakhsh, Douglas Karlen, Theodore B. Bailey

Douglas L Karlen

Alternative cropping systems can improve resource use efficiency, increase corn grain yield, and help in reducing negative impacts on the environment. A 6-yr (1993 to 1998) field study was conducted at the Iowa State University’s Northeastern Research Center near Nashua, Iowa, to evaluate the effects of non-traditional cropping systems [strip inter cropping (STR)-corn (Zea mays L.)/soybean (Glycine max L.)/oats (Avina sativa L.)]; alfalfa rotation (ROT)-3-yr (1993 to 1995) alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) followed by corn in 1996, soybean in 1997, and oats in 1998), and traditional cropping system (corn after soybean (CS) and soybean after corn (SC) on the flow …

Rzwqm Simulation Of Long-Term Crop Production, Water And Nitrogen Balances In Northeast Iowa, L. Ma, Robert W. Malone, Philip Heilman, Douglas L. Karlen, Ramesh S. Kanwar, Cynthia A. Cambardella, S. A. Saseendran, Lajpat R. Ahuja

Douglas L Karlen

Agricultural system models are tools to represent and understand major processes and their interactions in agricultural systems. We used the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) with 26 years of data from a study near Nashua, IA to evaluate year to year crop yield, water, and N balances. The model was calibrated using data from one 0.4 ha plot and evaluated by comparing simulated values with data from 29 of the 36 plots at the same research site (six were excluded). The dataset contains measured tile flow that varied considerably from plot to plot so we calibrated total tile flow …

Simulated N Management Effects On Corn Yield And Tile-Drainage Nitrate Loss, Robert W. Malone, Liwang Ma, Philip Heilman, Douglas L. Karlen, Ramesh S. Kanwar, Jerry L. Hatfield

Douglas L Karlen

Thoroughly tested simulation models are needed to help quantify the long-term effects of agriculture. We evaluated the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) response to different N management strategies and then used the tested model with observed weather data from 1961–2003 to quantify long-term effects on corn (Zea mays L.) yield and flow weighted nitrate-N concentration in subsurface “tile” drainage water (Nconc). Fourteen years (1990–2003) of field data from 30, 0.4 ha plots in northeast Iowa were available for model testing. Annual crop yield, nitrate-N loss to subsurface “tile” drainage water (Nloss), Nconc, and subsurface “tile” drainage amount (drain) …

Cropping System Effects On No3-N Loss With Subsurface Drainage Water, Allah Bakhsh, Rameshwar S. Kanwar, Theodore B. Bailey, Cynthia A. Cambardella, Douglas Karlen, Thomas S. Colvin

Douglas L Karlen

An appropriate combination of tillage and nitrogen management practices will be necessary to develop sustainable farming practices. A six–year (1993–1998) field study was conducted on subsurface–drained Clyde–Kenyon–Floyd soils to quantify the impact of two tillage systems (chisel plow vs. no tillage) and two N fertilizer management practices (preplant single application vs. late–spring soil test based application) on nitrate–nitrogen (NO3–N) leaching loss with subsurface drain discharge from corn (Zea mays L.) soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation plots. Preplant injected urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) fertilizer was applied at the rate of 110 kg ha–1 to chisel plow and no–till corn plots, …

Estimation Of The Effects Of Climate Variability On Crop Yield In The Midwest Usa, Ruoyu Wang

Ruoyu Wang

Bringing Football Back To Los Angeles, Gabriel Leiner

Gabriel Leiner

Identifying a suitable parcel for a large scale professional football stadium in the greater Los Angeles, CA area, which does not conflict with current uses, environmental protection codes, or airspace rights, and also has adequate transportation access and nearby populated neighborhoods.

Dis And Distributed Watershed Models I, Jurgen Garbrecht, Fred L. Ogden, Paul A. Debarry, David R. Maidment

Fred L. Ogden

The increasing proliferation of spatial data, geographic information systems (GIS), and models for hydrologic applications provide many new investigation opportunities but also present a number of challenges for the uninitiated water resources practitioner. This two-part paper is intended for the practicing engineer who wants to expand into the arena of spatial data and distributed watershed modeling. It provides an integrated overview of the multiple facets of data-GIS-modeling issues and a source of background information for selection and application of GIS in watershed modeling. This first paper addresses selected spatial data issues, data structures and projections, data sources, and information on …

The General Public’S Weather Information-Seeking And Decision-Making Behavior During Tornado Outbreaks In The Oklahoma City Metroplex In May 2013, Chen Ling, Michelle Madison, Jessica Adams, Kevin Warren, Michael Mudd, Kim Graves Wolfinbarger, Lans Rothfusz

Dr. Chen Ling

Severe weather impacts the lives of many people. Today's technology allows weather information to be distributed to the general public in many ways. However, it is not clear how people obtain information regarding severe weather, and how they make decisions based on the information. This study surveyed people in the Oklahoma City metroplex about their weather information–seeking and decision-making behaviors during the May 2013 tornado outbreaks. The preliminary results based on 124 survey responses show that people used and trusted television news most to obtain the severe weather information, followed by siren, weather radio, radio, looking at the sky, and …

Crowdsourced Earthquake Early Warning, Sarah Minson, Benjamin Brooks, Craig Glennie, Jessica Murray, John Langbein, Susan Owen, Thomas Heaton, Robert Iannucci, Darren Hauser

Robert A Iannucci

Earthquake early warning (EEW) can reduce harm to people and infrastructure from earthquakes and tsunamis, but it has not been implemented in most high earthquake-risk regions because of prohibitive cost. Common consumer devices such as smartphones contain low-cost versions of the sensors used in EEW. Although less accurate than scientific-grade instruments, these sensors are globally ubiquitous. Through controlled tests of consumer devices, simulation of an Mw (moment magnitude) 7 earthquake on California’s Hayward fault, and real data from the Mw 9 Tohoku-oki earthquake, we demonstrate that EEW could be achieved via crowdsourcing.

Video Feature — Banned Books And The Stuart Rose Collection, Robert Brecha, Una Cadegan, John Inglis, Paul Morman

Robert J. Brecha

A faculty panel discussion in two sessions:

Session 1:
The Index: Una Cadegan (history) looks at the current scholarship on the Index of Forbidden Books.
Galileo: Robert Brecha (physics) highlights the banning of Galileo and observational science.

Session 2:
Thomas Aquinas: John Inglis (philosophy) speaks on the banning of Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologica, the most important book in Catholic intellectual tradition.
Descartes and the Index of Forbidden Books: Paul Morman (history, Distinguished Service Professor) highlights the book by Descartes that he was not allowed to study while a student at UD in the 1960s.

Zespół Energii Odnawialnej I Zrównoważonego Rozwoju (Eozr), Wojciech M. Budzianowski

Wojciech Budzianowski

No abstract provided.

Water Quality Effects Of Cellulosic Biofuel Crops Grown On Marginal Land, Ruoyu Wang

Ruoyu Wang

Modeled Impacts Of Cover Crops And Vegetative Barriers On Corn Stover Availability And Soil Quality, Ian J. Bonner, David J. Muth Jr., Joshua B. Koch, Douglas L. Karlen

Douglas L Karlen

Responses Of Hydrological Processes And Water Quality To Land Use/Cover (Lulc) And Climate Change In A Coastal Watershed, Ruoyu Wang

Ruoyu Wang

Wastewater Treatment And Management At Oil Shale Plants, R. E. Hicks, R. F. Probstein, I. Wei, D. S. Farrier, J. Lotwala, T. E. Phillips

Irvine W. Wei

Laboratory tests have shown that the major wastewater streams produced during oil shale retorting can in principle be treated to a quality suitable for reuse within the plant. The wastewater stream condensed from the retort gases, here called the gas condensate, contains primarily dissolved gases (NH3, CO2 and some H2S) and organics as contaminants. In batch stripping tests it was found that the organics, which may be present at concentrations of up to 5,000 mg/l measured as COD, are volatile and can be stripped along with the ammonia down to about 500 mg/l COD. Retort waters, or wastewater streams that …

Dynamics Of Breakpoint Chlorination, Irvine Wei, J. Carrell Morris

Irvine W. Wei

No abstract provided.

Advanced Chemical Oxidation And Toxicity Reduction Of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol By Using Fenton's Reagent: Part Ii, Dechlorination Kinetics, Somnath Basu, Venkat Sreenivasan, Irvine W. Wei

Irvine W. Wei

Laboratory investigation has shown that Fenton's Reagent is a very effective oxidant for 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (TCP). The authors reported the first phase of this research, consisting of five different reactions of Fenton's Reagent on TCP, at the 1995 AIChE Summer National Meeting in Boston as Part I of this paper. The results demonstrated total removal of TCP, with almost complete release of aromatic ring bound chlorine atoms into chloride ions, significant reduction of TOC, and very importantly, significant toxicity reduction compared to the original substrate. These results suggested that Fenton's Reaction can be considered as a candidate process for treatment of …

Advanced Chemical Oxidation And Toxicity Reduction Of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol By Using Fenton's Reagent: Part Iv, Reaction Mechanism And Kinetics, Somnath Basu, Irvine W. Wei

Irvine W. Wei

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Chlorine Emission Potential At The New Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, Somnath Basu, Kenneth Shilinsky, Irvine Wei

Irvine W. Wei

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is currently constructing a 1,200 million gallon per day secondary wastewater treatment facility on Deer Island, in Boston Harbor. Chlorine, in the form of sodium hypochlorite solution, is purchased and barged to Deer Island for use in both effluent disinfection and odor scrubbing. The Process Engineering Department of Deer Island, as part of its on-going cost effectiveness program, is currently evaluating on-site generation of sodium hypochlorite. The technical analysis includes a thorough examination of the chemistry of production and storage, including potential losses to atmosphere. This paper presents an overview of that examination, defines …

Uv Disinfection Of Treated Wastewater Effluent: Influence Of Color, Reactivation And Regrowth Of Coliform Bacteria, Somnath Basu, Jack Page, Irvine Wei

Irvine W. Wei

Disinfection is a very important unit process to deactivate coliform bacteria in treated wastewater. However, regrowth potential of coliform bacteria raises human health and safety concerns associated with reuse of treated wastewater in various applications. Both post chlorination and post UV disinfection regrowth have been reported in the literature. In view of increasing use of recycled wastewater for reuse, it is necessary to address this phenomenon from both technical and regulatory standpoints. A case study of fecal coliform regrowth in a full scale operating plant is reported here. This is expected to aid in further understanding of the phenomenon and …

A Conceptual Continuous Process For The Treatment And Toxicity Reduction Of Wastewater Contaminated With 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol: Extended Abstract, Somnath Basu, Irvine W. Wei

Irvine W. Wei

Fenton's Reagent is an aqueous solution of ferrous ions and hydrogen peroxide. Through laboratory experiments Fenton's Reagent has been shown to be an excellent treatment agent for the removal of organic contaminants dissolved in water. It carries out oxidative degradation of various organic substrates using the principle of advanced chemical oxidation. This is an excellent alternate route for the removal of hazardous and toxic chemicals, which are recalcitrant to biological treatment. The authors of this paper conducted an extensive laboratory investigation to study the degradation of 2,4,6- Trichlorophenol (TCP) using Fenton's Reagent, reported elsewhere. The results indicated an optimum H₂O₂:TCP …

Computer Simulation Of Lime-Soda Water Softening Process, J. C. Y. Chen, I. W. Wei

Irvine W. Wei

No abstract provided.

Upflow Anaerobic Filter With Dual Media: A Novel Concept, K. Jain, I. Wei, A. Panchal, N. Varandani

Irvine W. Wei

To overcome two of the main problems intrinsic to upflow anaerobic filters using single media--clogging and biomass washout--a new strategy consisting of two different media is studied. The study is to evaluate the performance of Dual Media Upflow Anaerobic Filter (DM UAF), a novel wastewater treatment unit using synthetic waste as well as primary treated effluent of Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), Vatva, India, operated by The Green Environment Services Co-Operative Society Ltd. and also to compare the performance of DM UAF with Single media UAF on a laboratory scale. Biokinetics of DM UAF was also determined. A 14.45 L …