Engineering Commons^™

Accuracy Of Irrigation Efficiency Estimates, A. J. Clemmens, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Evaluation of actual irrigation system performance should rely on an accurate hydrologic water balance over the area considered. In a companion paper, water uses are categorized as consumptive or nonconsumptive, and beneficial or nonbeneficial. Real performance is based on water uses over a specified period of time, rather than observation of a single irrigation event (with associate potential, but not yet actual, consumptive and/or beneficial uses). Once the components in the water balance have been determined, it is shown that the accuracy of irrigation performance parameters can be determined from the accuracy of the components in the water balance, using …

Irrigation Performance Measures: Efficiency And Uniformity, Charles M. Burt, Albert J. Clemmens, Theodor S. Strelkoff, Kenneth H. Solomon, Ronald D. Bliesner, Leland A. Hardy, Terry A. Howell, Dean E. Eisenhauer

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

It is essential to standardize the definitions and approaches to quantifying various irrigation performance measures. The ASCE Task Committee on Defining Irrigation Efficiency and Uniformity provides a comprehensive examination of various performance indices such as irrigation efficiency, application efficiency, irrigation sagacity, distribution uniformity, and others. Consistency is provided among different irrigation methods and different scales. Clarification of common points of confusion is provided, and methods are proposed whereby the accuracy of numerical values of the performance indicators can be assessed. This issue has two companion papers that provide more detailed information on statistical distribution uniformity and the accuracy of irrigation …

Effect Of Bmp Implementation On Storm Flow Quality Of Two Northwestern Arkansas Streams, Dwayne R. Edwards, Tommy C. Daniel, H. Don Scott, Phillip A. Moore Jr., John F. Murdoch, Paul F. Vendrell

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The effectiveness of management practices in improving quality of runoff from agricultural land areas has been reported based primarily on results from plot- and field-scale studies. There is limited information available on watershed scales, particularly when the dominant agricultural land use is pasture. The objective of this study was to determine whether a program of Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation in the Lincoln Lake watershed of northwestern Arkansas was effective in reducing storm stream flow concentrations and mass transport of nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N), ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ortho-phosphorus (PO₄-P), total phosphorus …

Using Geotextiles For Feeding And Traffic Surfaces, Larry W. Turner

Agricultural Engineering Extension Publications

Mud robs Kentucky beef and dairy producers of performance from their cattle herds in winter and spring. To help avoid the problems associated with mud and reduced performance, producers should consider using concrete pads or lower-cost all-weather surfaces wherever animals congregate (e.g., feeding areas, animal traffic areas, and loafing areas). Although concrete is probably the most desirable surface for durability and low maintenance, an all-weather surface can be constructed of geotextile fabric, rock, and fine surface cover for less than one-third of the cost of concrete. Rock over bare soil in Kentucky requires approximately 12 inches of depth for stability, …

Drip Irrigation Technology: A Resource Management Tool For Farmers, John C. Roberts, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Dynamic Stability Of Two Tractor Front-End Loader Systems, Michael J. Bader, Linus R. Walton, Larry G. Wells

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A one-quarter scale model tractor and loader were designed, fabricated, and used in an experiment to evaluate two tractor-loader configurations relative to stability using roll angle as the means of assessment. The nonconventional loader system consisted of a conventional loader attached to a steerable carrier which in turn was attached to the tractor by the front axle and drawbar of the tractor. The stabilizing axle for the non-conventional loader system was the front axle as opposed to the conventional system in which the stabilizing axle was the rear axle. The experiment showed that the non-conventional loader had an inherent advantage …

Fertigation Chemicals, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

When deciding what chemicals to inject, there are numerous considerations to be made. This paper addresses some of the more common factors which should be considered, but which are often overlooked. Because nitrogen fertilizer is injected more widely than any other nutrient, special attention is given to it

Use Of Ultimate Load Theories For Design Of Drilled Shaft Sound Wall Foundations, Matthew J. Helmers

Matthew J. Helmers

A study was performed to investigate the factors that affect the accuracy of the procedures used by the Virginia Department of Transportation for design of drilled shaft sound wall foundations. Field load tests were performed on eight inch and nine inch diameter drilled shafts, and the results were compared to theoretical solutions for ultimate lateral load capacity. Standard Penetration Tests were run in the field and laboratory strength tests were performed on the soils from the test sites. It was found that published correlations between blow count and friction angle for sands and gravels can be used to estimate friction …

Relevant Design Experiences For Agricultural And Biosystems Engineers: Team Focus Through Competition, D. Raj Raman, Ronald E. Yoder

D. Raj Raman

The multitude of specializations within biosystems engineering makes traditional capstone design courses, which typically focus on a single topic, less relevant. In our department, our year-long capstone design experience involves machine component design. While this experience is useful to students in all concentrations, ideally, students concentrating on biological-, food-, and soil and water-engineering will have a capstone design experience that integrates their unique technical capabilities. New capstone courses should also enhance the broader skills of undergraduate engineers, including teamwork, time and resource management, oral and written communication, and integrated computer skills. However, a variety of issues militate against simply adding …

The Evolution Of An Introductory Biological Engineering Course: Design Is The Endpoint!, D. Raj Raman

D. Raj Raman

Four the past four years, I have taught the sophomore level course, Agricultural Engineering 243 Material and Energy Flows in Biological Systems each spring semester. During the first offering, I used the lecture method to transmit information, and homework assignments and exams to reinforce skills and test comprehension. The greatest weakness of this technique seemed the lack of hands-on experience which I gave my students, and their subsequent lack of physical intuition. Enhancing their physical intuition drove the first curricular revision—using in-class demonstrations and simulations of key physical and biological processes. This technique did not work as well as expected, …

The Design And Implementation Of A Field-Scale Monitoring System To Evaluate Spatial Variability Within Production Cotton Fields, Michael Spencer Palmer

Masters Theses

Much interest has been focused on site-specific crop production since the introduction of grain yield monitoring systems. Considerable research has been conducted in the area of site-specific grain production. Lack of a cotton yield monitor has slowed implementation of site-specific practices in cotton production. However, due to the intense level of management corrunonly associated with in cotton production. it may prove to be an ideal crop for site-specific practices.

Preliminary testing was conducted in the fall of 1995 to verify that a batch weighing system used in conjunction with Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment was a satisfactory method of monitoring …

Indicator Bacteria Concentrations Of Two Northwest Arkansas Streams In Relation To Flow And Season, Dwayne R. Edwards, Mark S. Coyne, Tommy C. Daniel, P. F. Vendrell, J. F. Murdoch, P. A. Moore Jr.

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Concentrations of indicator bacteria such as fecal coliform (FC) and fecal streptococcus (FS) are often used to assess the suitability of waters for their intended use(s) and to allocate resources for water quality improvement measures. There is evidence, however, that concentrations of FC and FS can be influenced by variables such as season and flow rate during sampling, which could lead to biased results. The objective of this study was to assess the impacts of season and flow rate on concentrations of FC and FS. Fecal indicator bacteria concentrations were measured for approximately three years at five sites on two …

Vegetative Filter Strip Removal Of Metals In Runoff From Poultry Litter-Amended Fescuegrass Plots, Dwayne R. Edwards, P. A. Moore Jr., Tommy C. Daniel, Puneet Srivastava, D. J. Nichols

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Runoff from land areas amended with poultry (Gallus gallus domesticus) manure can contain elevated concentrations of metals such as Cu, Fe, and Zn. Vegetative filter strips (VFS) can reduce runoff concentrations of animal manure components, but reported studies have typically focused on nutrients and solids rather than metals. This experiment assessed the impact of VFS length (0 to 12 m) on concentrations and mass losses of Cu, Fe, K, Na, Ni, and Zn in runoff from fescuegrass (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plots (1.5 m wide × 6 and 12 m long) treated with poultry litter. The runoff was produced from simulated …

Moveable Curing Frames, George A. Duncan, Larry D. Swetnam, Linus R. Walton

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

Low cost, low labor, moveable, sturdy, dependable and easily covered -- is this an ideal curing structure? Can it be done? Seeking such a design is the aim of ongoing studies using the cantilever-beam concept for supporting two rails of stick tobacco on a central beam.

A Field Curing Structure And Mechanized Housing System For Burley Tobacco, Linus R. Walton, Larry D. Swetnam, George A. Duncan

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

Two deterrents to expansion of production of burley tobacco are a lack of barn room located conveniently to the tobacco fields and a lack of hired labor for harvesting and housing, In working toward a solution to these problems, engineers from the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department have designed and fabricated a field curing structure with a mechanized housing system. The field curing structure has three rows of posts set in the ground to provide columnar strength for the structure. Cross members are set on top of the columns to support the tobacco when it is placed into the structure. …

Sensors For Site-Specific Management, Stuart J. Birrell, J. W. Hummel, K. A. Sudduth

Stuart J. Birrell

Site-specific management (SSM, also known as precision farming, precision agriculture, prescription farming, etc.) is a management strategy that seeks to address within-field variability and to optimize inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers on a point-by-point basis within a field. By reducing over-application and under-application of nutrients and pesticides, this strategy has the potential to improve profitability for the producer and also to reduce the threat of groundwater or surface water contamination from agrichemicals. SSM is being adopted by innovative producers across the country. Agricultural equipment manufacturers, farm input suppliers, and a host of other businesses are working along with publicsector …

An Insect-Based Detector Of Bovine Manure Odors, D. Raj Raman, Reid R. Gerhardt

D. Raj Raman

We designed, constructed, and tested a single-stream insect odormeter for the measurement of bovine manure odors. The biosensing element in the odormeter is a group of six gravid face flies (Musca autumnalis DeGeer) in a 360 mL chamber. A microphone, mounted above the chamber, senses sounds made by the flies’ activity. The microphone signal is processed by an analog root-mean-square power-measuring circuit connected to a computer data acquisition system. The apparatus allows electronic measurement of insect activity. Initial experiments demonstrate the feasibility of this system for odor detection (yes/no). Kinetic experiments show that a dose-response curve can be produced by …

Runoff Quality Responses To Cattle-Gazing Strategy And Grassed Buffer Zone Length, Dwayne R. Edwards, Brian T. Larsen, Teng T. Lim

KWRRI Research Reports

Grazed pastures represent a source of potential nonpoint pollution. In comparison to other nonpoint sources (e.g., row-cropped lands), relatively little information exists regarding possible magnitudes of pollution from grazed pasture; how that pollution is affected by weather, soil, management and other variables; and how the pollution can be minimized. The objective of this study was to assess how the quality of runoff from simulated grazed pasture is influenced by grazing duration (4-12 weeks), grazing strategy (no grazing, conventional grazing and rotational grazing), and by the use of grassed buffer strips (ranging in length from O to 18.3 m) installed down-slope …

Synthesis Of A Low-Carbonate High-Charge Hydrotalcite-Like Compound At Ambient Pressure And Atmosphere, Ravi K. Kukkadapu, Marc S. Witkowski, James E. Amonette

US Department of Energy Publications

Hydrotalcite (HT), a clay mineral, is constructed of brucite-like layers [Mg(OH)₂] in which substitution of Al³⁺ for Mg²⁺ at a mole ratio of 1:3 yields a net positive charge. This layer charge is compensated by exchangeable CO₃ 2- anions located (along with adsorbed water molecules) in the interlayer region. Numerous analogues of HT [i.e., “hydrotalcite-like” compounds (HTLCs)] have been synthesized with a variety of M²⁺/M³⁺ combinations,M²⁺/M³⁺ ratios, and interlayer anions.1-10 The compositions of these HTLCs are usually expressed using a generalized form of the formula for a substituted brucite, …

Byproduct Formation During The Reduction Of Tce By Zero-Valence Iron And Palladized Iron, Liyuan Liang, Nic Korte, J. D. Goodlaxson, Jay Clausen, Quintus Fernando, Rosy Muftikian

US Department of Energy Publications

Trichlorothene (TCE) was reduced with zero-valence iron and palladized iron in zero-head-space extractors. Progress of the reaction in these batch studies was monitered with purge-and-trap gas chromatography and a flame ionization detector. When a 5 ppm initial concentration of TCE reacts with zero-valence iron, approximately 140 ppb of vinyl chloride persists for as long as 73 days. The concentration of vinyl chloride (approximately 10 ppb) remaining with palladized iron is approximately and order of magnitude less than when zero-valence iron is the reductant. These data suggest that volatile byproducts may be under-represented in other published data regarding reduction in zero-valence …

A Lagrangian Dispersion Model For Predicting Co2 Sources, Sinks, And Fluxes In A Uniform Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda L.) Stand, Gabriel Katul, Ram Oren, David Ellsworth, Cheng-I Hsieh, Nathan Phillips, Keith Lewin

US Department of Energy Publications

A canopy Lagrangian turbulent scalar transport model for predicting scalar fluxes, sources, and sinks within a forested canopy was tested using CO₂ concentration and flux measurements. The model formulation is based on the localized near-field theory (LNF) proposed by Raupach [1989a, b]. Using the measured mean CO₂ concentration profile, the vertical velocity variance profile, and the Lagrangian integral timescale profile within and above a forested canopy, the proposed model predicted the CO₂ flux and source (or sink) profiles. The model testing was carried out using eddy correlation measurements at 9 m in a uniform 13 m tall …

Runoff, Erosion, And Soil Quality Characteristics Of A Former Conservation Reserve Program Site, John E. Gilley, John W. Doran, Douglas Karlen, T. C. Kaspar

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

No-till and moldboard plow tillage systems were established on a former Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) site in southwest Iowa. Runoff rates from simulated rainfall events were significantly greater on sites returned to crop production than from adjoining, undisturbed CRP areas. Substantial soil loss was measured from the moldboard plow treatments, but no significant differences in erosion rates were found between the undisturbed CRP and no-till management systems. No-till management maintained levels of soil quality similar to those of CRP by preserving soil structural integrity and reducing losses of soil organic matter (SOM) associated with tillage. Conservation tillage systems which maintain …