Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Techno-Economic Feasibility Of Electrifying Food Markets In Nigeria With Biogas Hybrid Mini-Grids, Demi Temitope Ogunwo

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This thesis explored the feasibility of electrifying a food market in an urban city in Nigeria with a hybrid biogas-powered mini-grid. Under the Energizing Economies Initiative of the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria, nine markets in the country currently receive constant access to electricity via hybrid mini-grid systems. As a majority of these systems are diesel-solar-battery systems, this thesis explored the use of biogas generators as a substitute for diesel generators in hybrid mini-grids for food markets. A fruit and vegetable market in Ketu, Lagos was used as a case study for the research. The research for this thesis was …

Nondestructive Detection Of Codling Moth Infestation In Apples Using Pixel-Based Nir Hyperspectral Imaging With Machine Learning And Feature Selection, Nader Ekramirad, Alfadhl Y. Khaled, Lauren E. Doyle, Julia R. Loeb, Kevin D. Donohue, Raul T. Villanueva, Akinbode A. Adedeji

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Codling moth (CM) (Cydia pomonella L.), a devastating pest, creates a serious issue for apple production and marketing in apple-producing countries. Therefore, effective nondestructive early detection of external and internal defects in CM-infested apples could remarkably prevent postharvest losses and improve the quality of the final product. In this study, near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral reflectance imaging in the wavelength range of 900–1700 nm was applied to detect CM infestation at the pixel level for three organic apple cultivars, namely Gala, Fuji and Granny Smith. An effective region of interest (ROI) acquisition procedure along with different machine learning and data processing …

A Literature Review Of Wetland Treatment Systems Used To Treat Runoff Mixtures Containing Antibiotics And Pesticides From Urban And Agricultural Landscapes, Emily R. Nottingham, Tiffany L. Messer

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Wetland treatment systems are used extensively across the world to mitigate surface runoff. While wetland treatment for nitrogen mitigation has been comprehensively reviewed, the implications of common-use pesticides and antibiotics on nitrogen reduction remain relatively unreviewed. Therefore, this review seeks to comprehensively assess the removal of commonly used pesticides and antibiotics and their implications for nitrogen removal in wetland treatment systems receiving non-point source runoff from urban and agricultural landscapes. A total of 181 primary studies were identified spanning 37 countries. Most of the reviewed publications studied pesticides (n = 153) entering wetlands systems, while antibiotics (n = 29) had …

Low-Level Groundwater Atrazine In High Atrazine Usage Nebraska Counties: Likely Effects Of Excessive Groundwater Abstraction, Moses New-Aaron, Olufemi P. Abimbola, Raheleh Mohammadi, Oluwaseun Famojuro, Zaeema Naveed, Azar M Abadi, Jesse E. Bell, Shannon Bartelt-Hunt, Eleanor G. Rogan

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Recent studies observed a correlation between estrogen-related cancers and groundwater atrazine in eastern Nebraska counties. However, the mechanisms of human exposure to atrazine are unclear because low groundwater atrazine concentration was observed in counties with high cancer incidence despite having the highest atrazine usage. We studied groundwater atrazine fate in high atrazine usage Nebraska counties. Data were collected from Quality Assessed Agrichemical Contaminant Nebraska Groundwater, Parameter–Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM), and water use databases. Descriptive statistics and cluster analysis were performed. Domestic wells (59%) were the predominant well type. Groundwater atrazine was affected by well depth. Clusters consisting …

Pertumbuhan Dan Hasil Dua Kultivar Bayam Pada Sistem Budidaya Hidroponik Untuk Lahan Sempit, Syariful Mubarok, Asyifa Mardatillah, Anne Nuraini

Jurnal Kultivasi

Hidroponik merupakan salah satu teknik sistem budidaya yang biasa digunakan di lahan sempit seperti di perkotaan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menentukan sistem budidaya bayam yang paling baik untuk diterapkan pada sistem urban farming pada lahan sempit, misalnya di kawasan pemukiman padat penduduk di bagian timur Jakarta. Rancangan Acak Kelompok Lengkap yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini terdiri dari dua kultivar bayam dan tiga sistem budidaya yaitu budidaya konvensional, sistem hidroponik Wick dan NFT. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sistem NFT menghasilkan pertumbuhan dan hasil terbaik yang ditunjukkan oleh jumlah daun, diameter batang, luas daun, panjang akar, volume akar dan berat …

Gis-Based Volunteer Cotton Habitat Prediction And Plant-Level Detection With Uav Remote Sensing, Tianyi Wang, Xiaohan Mei, J. Alex Thomasson, Chenghai Yang, Xiongzhe Han, Pappu Kumar Yadav, Yeyin Shi

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Volunteer cotton plants germinate and grow at unwanted locations like transport routes and can serve as hosts for a harmful cotton pests called cotton boll weevils. The main objective of this study was to develop a geographic information system (GIS) framework to efficiently locate volunteer cotton plants in the cotton production regions in southern Texas, thus reducing time and economic cost for their removal. A GIS network analysis tool was applied to estimate the most likely routes for cotton transportation, and a GIS model was created to identify and visualize potential areas of volunteer cotton growth. The GIS model indicated …

Assessment Of Residential Drinking Water Quality In Maadi, Egypt, Sally Fadel Naguib El Komos

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Effects Of The Inclusion Of Rice Hull Derived Bio-Oil On Wood Pellet Production, Tyler E. Lowe

Theses and Dissertations

Wood pellet production has become an advancing industry for the sake of reducing greenhouse emissions into the atmosphere especially, in European Union countries. Researchers and industry executives seek new methods and materials to improve the pelletization process. Rice hulls or husks has the potential to aid in wood pelletization as they possess high calorific values. This study focuses on using rice hull derived bio-oil from pyrolysis, which will also decrease ash content, as an additive to aid in the wood pelletization process. Using two groups of rice hull derived bio-oil as an additive in wood pelletization: Group 1 uses heavy …

Design Of Plastic Contaminant Eliminator In Seed Cotton, Joshua H. Tandio

Theses and Dissertations

Plastic contamination in cotton is a problem in cotton industry and researchers have worked on this problem with different approaches. This thesis documents the design of mechanical and electronic real-time systems for detecting and removing plastic contaminants. The mechanical system was designed to expose plastic embedded inside the seed cotton to the sensor and to separate plastic contaminated cotton from the process stream. The detection system consisted of an embedded computer interfaced with a USB camera and Neural Network (NN) software running in it. Two NN models were tested, a transfer learning model and a built-from-scratch original model. The original …

Development Of A Bioinspired Nugalbot For Precision Seeding Of Rice, Harsa Dhani

Theses and Dissertations

Many people around the world live in islands with mountainous lands. These people plant upland rice for their staple food. However, farming in these disadvantageous farms requires high input and gains low yield. One possible solution for improving productivity is by utilizing precision seeding. This study is focused on developing a robot for precision seeding of rice that is suitable for farming in rough terrain. A bioinspired human arm robot for picking seeds and making a hole on the ground was developed in accordance with Aalborg method for bioinspired design. Development of a mobile platform to carry the robot arm …

Evaluasi Kualitas Nutrisi Microgreen Bayam Merah Dan Hijau Menggunakan Cahaya Buatan, Aida Fadlilah Rahmani, Syariful Mubarok, Mochamad Arief Soleh, Boy Macklin Pareira Prawiranegara

Jurnal Kultivasi

Permasalahan yang muncul untuk mengusahakan pertanian perkotaan adalah semakin sulitnya menemukan lahan pertanian yang dimiliki masyarakat dan kesempatan waktu yang minim untuk budidaya tanaman. Permasalahan tersebut dapat diatasi salah satunya dengan menggunakan sistem hidroponik ditambah pencahayaan buatan untuk kebutuhan pertumbuhan tanaman. Penanaman microgreen dalam ruangan merupakan salah satu cara untuk memudahkan masyarakat dalam berbudidaya tanaman. Percobaan ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari jenis warna cahaya buatan terhadap kualitas nutrisi microgreen bayam merah dan bayam hijau. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Laboratorium Analisis Tanaman dan Pasca Panen Hortikultura, Fakultas Pertanian, Universitas Padjadjaran. Rancangan percobaan yang digunakan yaitu Rancangan Acak Kelompok dengan dua faktor perlakuan, yaitu …

Injectable Decellularized Nucleus Pulposus Tissue Exhibits Neuroinhibitory Properties, Logan M. Piening, David J. Lillyman, Fei San Lee, Alvaro Moreno Lozano, Jeremy R. Miles, Rebecca A. Wachs

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Background: Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, but treatments for LBP are limited. Degeneration of the intervertebral disc due to loss of neuroinhibitory sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs) allows nerves from dorsal root ganglia to grow into the core of the disc. Treatment with a decellularized tissue hydrogel that contains sGAGs may inhibit nerve growth and prevent discassociated LBP.

Methods: A protocol to decellularize porcine nucleus pulposus (NP) was adapted from previous methods. DNA, sGAG, α-gal antigen, and collagen content were analyzed before and after decellularization. The decellularized tissue was then enzymatically modified to be …

Global Analysis Of Differential Gene Expression Within The Porcine Conceptus Transcriptome As It Transitions Through Spherical, Ovoid, And Tubular Morphologies During The Initiation Of Elongation, Sophie C. Walsh, Jeremy R. Miles, Brittney N. Keel, Lea A. Rempel, Elane C. Wright‐Johnson, Amanda K. Lindholm‐Perry, William T. Oliver, Angela K. Pannier

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

This study aimed to identify transcriptome differences between distinct or transitional stage spherical, ovoid, and tubular porcine blastocysts throughout the initiation of elongation. We performed a global transcriptome analysis of differential gene expression using RNA‐Seq with high temporal resolution between spherical, ovoid, and tubular stage blastocysts at specific sequential stages of development from litters containing conceptus populations of distinct or transitional blastocysts. After RNA‐Seq analysis, significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways were identified between distinct morphologies or sequential development stages. Overall, 1898 significant DEGs were identified between distinct spherical and ovoid morphologies, with 311 total DEGs between developmental stages …

Irrigation Systems Management, Dean Eisenhauer, Derrel L. Martin, Derek M. Heeren, Glenn J. Hoffman

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Management of irrigation systems should be based on the desired objectives or outcomes consistent with economic, energy, environmental, labor, water, and resource constraints. Goals can vary from maximizing profit, producing a contracted yield, optimizing water resource use, maintaining the quality of produce, or assuring an attractive landscape. Managers cannot achieve these goals without considering the performance of the irrigation system. This chapter discusses the basic characteristics of various irrigation systems, defines terms that quantify performance, describes basic requirements all systems must provide, gives a range of attributes for systems, and discusses how water supply requirements are governed by ET and …

Irrigation Systems Management, Dean E. Eisenhauer, Derrel L. Martin, Derek M. Heeren, Glenn J. Hoffman

Open Educational Resources: Textbooks

Like most textbooks, this book grew out of our desire to have written material that matches the educational needs of both the students and the instructor of a college course, in this case a course entitled Irrigation Systems Management. The book is the culmination of course notes which have been in development and use for nearly 30 years.

The emphasis of this book is on the management of irrigation systems that are used for agricultural crop production. There are two distinct components of the book, starting with the soil-water-plant-atmosphere system and how soil water should be managed to achieve the …

The Application Of Mathematical Optimization And Flavor-Detection Technologies For Modeling Aroma Of Hops, Yutong Liu

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In recent years, proprietary hops (Citra, Simcoe, and Mosaic) become the most sought-after hops among brewers due to their excellent aroma. However, they are restricted to the owners unless other growers purchase the costly licensing agreements. Many public hops are available to the growers without any additional costs, but their aroma is difficult to match to the proprietary hops. Although proprietary and public hop varieties are unique in their aroma profiles, all hops varieties contain similar volatile compounds, merely differ in the quantity of different individual compounds. The main objective of this thesis was to investigate the feasibility of matching …

Development And Characterization Of A Decellularized Neuroinhibitory Scaffold Containing Matrix Bound Nanovesicles, Logan Piening

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability but treatments for LBP are limited. Degeneration of the intervertebral disc leads to loss of neuroinhibitory sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs) which allows nerves from dorsal root ganglia (DRG) to grow into the core of the disc, leading to pain. Current treatments for LBP involve drugs that do not target the source of the pain and lack long term efficacy or use invasive surgeries with high complication rates. Treatment with a decellularized tissue scaffold that contains neuroinhibitory components may inhibit nerve growth and prevent disc-associated LBP. Here, a decellularized nucleus pulposus …

Evaluation Of A Novel Approach For Assessing Biological Activity In Agricultural Soils, Karla Melgar

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Soil health is a key factor impacting soil resilience and fertility in crop production systems. Favorable soil physical and biological conditions facilitate plant nutrient absorption and nutrient cycling. Demonstrating to farmers the impacts and changes in soil biological activity under different soil management practices has been a challenge due to the limited availability of inexpensive tools for quantifying this component of soil health. The primary goal of this study was to present a simple and readily accessible tool for evaluating soil biological activity to promote the use of organic amendments in crop fields. Research plots were established in two studies …

High-Frequency Unmanned Aircraft Flights For Crop Canopy Imaging During Diurnal Moisture Stress, Suresh Pradhyun Kashyap

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Previous research has used unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology for calculating CWSI (Crop Water Stress Index) values in the context of irrigation scheduling. Typically, these estimations were taken at one time of day, usually near shortly after solar noon. A significant limitation with these CWSI values is that the UAV thermal imagery captured at this point in time can be affected by various factors like atmospheric air temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, relative humidity, and other micrometeorological disturbances in the air. In order to address these temporal effects, high-frequency UAV flights were conducted over different daylight hours to analyze and …

Preferential Flow In Riparian Buffers: Current Research And Future Needs., Derek M. Heeren, Lucie Guertault, Kyle Mankin

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Preferential flow in riparian buffers can substantially compromise their effectiveness in reducing contaminants from overland runoff. The objective of this article is to introduce a collection of five articles on current research into subsurface preferential flow measurement, visualization, modeling, and impacts on contaminant fate and transport at scales ranging from the subsurface pore scale to the plot scale to the watershed scale. This collection presents selected works from a broader invited session on “Preferential flow and piping in riparian buffers” at the 2020 ASABE Annual International Meeting. Major findings include: new methodologies, such as light transmission and geophysics, to characterize …