Fuel Consumption Models For Tractors With Partial Drawbar Loads,
2015
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Fuel Consumption Models For Tractors With Partial Drawbar Loads, Bryan Jeffrey Smith
Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Three models for predicting fuel consumption for agricultural tractors with partial drawbar loads were compared. Data were collected from eight John Deere tractors, JD 7230R (e23), 7250R (e23), 7270R (e23), 7290R (e23), 7290R (IVT), 8320R (16 speed), 8345RT (IVT), 8370R (IVT). The tractors were tested with 7 load levels per speed at four different travel speeds as close as possible to 4, 7.5, 10, and 13 km·h-1. The IVT tractors were operated in Auto mode and the geared tractors were shifted up three gears and throttled back to the same travel speeds as the IVT tractors. The 7 …
Evaluation Of Conservation Practices Through Simulation Modeling And Tool Development,
2015
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Evaluation Of Conservation Practices Through Simulation Modeling And Tool Development, Gurdeep Singh
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
For the first objective, predicted impacts of selected Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI) conservation practices (CPs) on sediment and nutrient loss were assessed. The study area was L’Anguille River Watershed (LRW), a priority focus watershed of the MRBI program and the simulated CPs were filter strip, critical area planting, grade stabilization structure, irrigation land leveling, irrigation pipeline, irrigation water management, and nutrient management. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was calibrated (1998 – 2005) and validated (2006 – 2012) for flow, sediment, total phosphorus (TP), and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) at the Colt site (503 sq. km. drainage area) and …
The Future Of Farming In Capable And Small Hands: The Young Farmer’S Movement In Waterloo Region 1907-1924,
2015
Wilfrid Laurier University
The Future Of Farming In Capable And Small Hands: The Young Farmer’S Movement In Waterloo Region 1907-1924, Morgan Williams
Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts
No abstract provided.
Potential Irrigation Reductions From Increasing
Precipitation Utilization With Variable Rate Irrigation,
2015
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Potential Irrigation Reductions From Increasing Precipitation Utilization With Variable Rate Irrigation, Tsz Him Lo, Derek M. Heeren, Luciano Mateos, Joe D. Luck, Derrel L. Martin, Dean E. Eisenhauer
Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications
Much of the previous research quantifying the potential benefits of variable rate irrigation (VRI) consists of case studies with simulations using data from small numbers of intensely sampled fields. In this study, an indicator of the amount of root zone available water capacity that is unutilized by uniform rate irrigation was calculated for 49,224 center pivot irrigated fields in Nebraska using publicly available data exclusively. Based on the values of this indicator, potential seasonal irrigation reductions from increasing precipitation utilization with VRI were estimated to be high for a small fraction of analyzed center pivots but low on a regional …
Evaluation Of A Hybrid Remote Sensing
Evapotranspiration Model For Variable Rate Irrigation
Management,
2015
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Evaluation Of A Hybrid Remote Sensing Evapotranspiration Model For Variable Rate Irrigation Management, J. Burdette Barker, Christopher M. U. Neale, Derek M. Heeren
Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications
Accurate generation of spatial irrigation prescriptions is essential for implementation and evaluation of variable rate irrigation (VRI) technology. A hybrid remote sensing evapotranspiration (ET) model was evaluated for use in developing irrigation prescriptions for a VRI center pivot. The model is a combination of a two-source energy balance model and a reflectance based crop coefficient water balance model. Spatial ET and soil water depletion were modeled for a 10 km2 area consisting of rainfed and irrigated maize fields in eastern Nebraska for 2013. Multispectral images from Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager and Thermal Infrared Sensor were used as model …
Review Of Robotic Technology For Strawberry Production,
2015
University of Central Florida
Review Of Robotic Technology For Strawberry Production, S. G. Defterli, Yeyin Shi, Yunjun Xu
Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications
With an increasing world population in need of food and a limited amount of land for cultivation, higher efficiency in agricultural production, especially fruits and vegetables, is increasingly required. The success of agricultural production in the marketplace depends on its quality and cost. The cost of labor for crop production, harvesting, and post-harvesting operations is a major portion of the overall production cost, especially for specialty crops such as strawberry. As a result, a multitude of automation technologies involving semi-autonomous and autonomous robots have been utilized, with an aim of minimizing labor costs and operation time to achieve a considerable …
Reconstructing The Natural Hydrology Of The San Francisco Bay - Delta Watershed,
2015
Independant Consulting Engineer
Reconstructing The Natural Hydrology Of The San Francisco Bay - Delta Watershed, P. Fox, P.H. Hutton, D.J. Howes, A.J. Draper, L. Sears
BioResource and Agricultural Engineering
We evaluated the impact of landscape changes on the amount of delta outflow reaching San Francisco Bay. The natural landscape was reconstructed and water balances were used to estimate the long-term annual average delta outflow that would have occurred under natural landscape conditions if the climate from 1922 to 2009 were to repeat itself. These outflows are referred to as natural delta outflows and are the first published estimate of natural delta outflow. These natural delta outflows were then compared with current delta outflows for the same climate and existing landscape, including its re-engineered system of reservoirs, canals, aqueducts, and …
Modified Atmosphere Packaging: A Progressive Technology For Shelf-Life Extension Of Fruits And Vegetables,
2015
Department of Mechanics of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
Modified Atmosphere Packaging: A Progressive Technology For Shelf-Life Extension Of Fruits And Vegetables, Mahmoud Soltani, Reza Alimardani, Hossein Mobli, Seyed Saeid Mohtasebi
Journal of Applied Packaging Research
Packaging and storage are the final phases in the food industry. Quality preservation, improving safety and reduction of postharvest losses waste are some objectives of the packaging engineering. One of techniques that widely used in packaging of fruits and vegetables are modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). In MAP for fresh fruits and vegetable the air of packaging headspace replaces with a predetermined atmospheric gases different in proportion from that of air. Oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen are the main gases used in MAP for injection to the headspace of pack. The choice and ratio of gases are very dependent upon the …
Performance Limiting Factors Of Cu2znsn(Sxse1-X)4 Solar Cells Prepared By Thermal Evaporation,
2015
Kennesaw State University
Performance Limiting Factors Of Cu2znsn(Sxse1-X)4 Solar Cells Prepared By Thermal Evaporation, Sandip Das, Raghu N. Bhattacharya, Krishna C. Mandal
Faculty Articles
Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1−x)4 (CZTSSe) thin film solar cells have been prepared by vacuum-based thermal evaporation of metal and binary sulfide precursors followed by annealing in a mixed chalcogen vapor at 550 °C for one hour. The Zn/Sn ratio in the precursor was varied from 0.75 to 1.50 keeping the Cu/(Zn+Sn) ratio constant at 0.7. The best performing solar cell was obtained with a final film composition of Cu/(Zn+Sn)=0.77 and Zn/Sn=1.13 corresponding to a Zn/Sn ratio of 0.9 in the precursor. The champion cell exhibited an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 506 mV, short-circuit current density (J …
Long-Term Tillage System Impacts On Soil Erodibility,
2015
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Long-Term Tillage System Impacts On Soil Erodibility, Julianne R. Chechanover, Dennis C. Flanagan
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Conservation tillage practices, such as no-till agriculture, have the potential of reducing the erodibility of a soil compared to conventional agricultural practices. This research sought to determine whether long-term agricultural practices affect the baseline erodibility properties of a soil. Two soils from Throckmorton-Purdue Agricultural Center in Tippecanoe County, Indiana were used during this experiment. One soil was treated with a long-term conventional tillage (fall chisel, spring disk) system and the other soil was treated with a long-term no-till system. The soils’ interrill erodibility, and rill erodibility and critical hydraulic shear stress were measured under a rainfall simulator using soil boxes …
A Novel Synthetic Yeast For Enzymatic Biodigester Pretreatment,
2015
Purdue University
A Novel Synthetic Yeast For Enzymatic Biodigester Pretreatment, Tianyu Tan, Mark S. Aronson, Arren Liu, Jill H. Osterhus, Melissa Robins, Suraj Mohan, Erich Leazer, Bowman Clark, Alexa Petrucciani, Katherine Lowery, James Welch, Casey Martin, Helena Lysandrou, Michael E. Scharf, Jenna Rickus
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Lignin, a complex organic polymer, is a major roadblock to the efficiency of biofuel conversion as it both physically blocks carbohydrate substrates and poisons biomass degrading enzymes, even if broken down to monomer units. A pretreatment process is often applied to separate the lignin from biomass prior to biofuel conversion. However, contemporary methods of pretreatment require large amounts of energy, which may be economically uncompelling or unfeasible. Taking inspiration from several genes that have been isolated from termites and fungi which translate to enzymes that degrade lignin, we want to establish a novel “enzymatic pretreatment” system where microbes secrete these …
Processing Methods And Storage Conditions On Chocolate And Coffee Powder Flow Properties,
2015
Purdue University
Processing Methods And Storage Conditions On Chocolate And Coffee Powder Flow Properties, Sunland L. Gong, Andrea Della Bella, Teresa M. Carvajal
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Powders are widely used in a countless number of industries, and are crucial to the quality control of products in areas such as pharmaceuticals and food. Particle physicochemical properties (morphology, solid state – crystalline, amorphous or both) are important factors for powder flow, which in turn can have significant impact on the stability, performance, and presentation of powders. Different processing methods as well as storage conditions such as relative humidity (RH) can drastically affect powder flow. Due to the widespread use of chocolate and coffee powder around the world, and their importance to the food industry, this work investigates two …
Design Of Transgenic S. Cerevisiae For Enzymatic Pretreatment,
2015
Purdue University
Design Of Transgenic S. Cerevisiae For Enzymatic Pretreatment, Mark Aronson, Leyla Yamin, Soo Jung Ha, Jenna Rickus, Michael E. Scharf
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Biofuels, combustible fuel produced from fermentation of agricultural biomass by microorganisms, represent one of the best possible paths forward for sustainable energy production. However, inefficiencies in biofuel production create barriers that stand in the way of their widespread adoption. One such barrier is the breakdown of lignin, a biopolymer that exists on the edge of plant cell walls which protects the sugars that are used in fermentation. Currently, lignin is broken down in energy-intensive thermal pretreatment processes. A viable alternative is the expression of lignin-degrading enzymes by synthetic microorganisms that work at standard temperatures, eliminating the need for the high-energy …
Development Of A Novel Enzymatic Pre-Treatment For Lignocellulosic Biomass,
2015
Purdue University
Development Of A Novel Enzymatic Pre-Treatment For Lignocellulosic Biomass, Melissa Robins, Jenna Rickus
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Biofuels, fuels derived directly from living matter, present a renewable and environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum based fuels. Bioethanol produced from low input energy crops or agricultural waste is a promising fuel source because it does not interfere with the human food supply chain and the ethanol produced can be blended with gasoline. These potential sources of bioethanol are not yet commercially viable due to a polymer called lignin present in the plant’s cell wall which impedes the conversion of cellulose to glucose and the eventual fermentation of glucose to ethanol. Developing new methods for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass …
Experimental Characterization And Modelling Of Energy Efficient Fluid Supply Systems,
2015
Purdue University
Experimental Characterization And Modelling Of Energy Efficient Fluid Supply Systems, Karina M. Bjorklund, Andrea Vacca, Timothy J Opperwall
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
In applications such as in agriculture, construction, and aerospace applications, high pressure hydraulics is the preferred technology to transmit mechanical power. As a consequence, the energy efficiency of the hydraulic system used to perform the mechanical actuations is of primary concern to reduce the energy consumptions in the abovementioned applications. In an hydraulic system, the primary component determining the energy efficiency is the hydraulic pump. This work focuses on the study of a particular pump design, also referred as external gear pump, particularly used in applications in which the cost of the hydraulic system has to be minimized. The large …
Dietary Strategies For Mitigation Of Methane Production By Growing And Finishing Cattle,
2015
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dietary Strategies For Mitigation Of Methane Production By Growing And Finishing Cattle, Anna C. Pesta
Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Interest in reducing methane (CH4) emissions by cattle has increased recently. Loss of feed energy as CH4 represents both an environmental concern and an energetic loss to the animal. Manipulation of dietary composition has proven to be an effective mitigation strategy. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of several dietary characteristics on CH4 production in growing and finishing cattle, and to develop a novel, non-invasive method for quantifying emissions from animals in a production setting. Short-term gaseous emissions of CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2) were measured and the CH4:CO2 …
Quantification Of Variable Rate Irrigation Benefits And Spatial Variability In Root Zone Water Holding Capacity,
2015
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Quantification Of Variable Rate Irrigation Benefits And Spatial Variability In Root Zone Water Holding Capacity, Tsz Him Lo
Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Variable rate irrigation (VRI) investment decisions require field-specific knowledge of benefits. The objective of this research was to help producers and consultants consider and quantify potential benefits of VRI. First, a conceptual model was developed for evaluating the public and/or private gain from adopting VRI where irrigation water supply is non-restrictive. Potential benefits were classified into three categories and were attributed to ten reasons. In the Central Plains at current prices, a small improvement in corn (maize) yield would make a large contribution to VRI profitability. Second, the potential irrigation withdrawal reduction from adapting VRI to spatial heterogeneity of root …
Conservation Of Energy Using Variable Frequency Drive For Center Pivot Irrigation Systems In Nebraska,
2015
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Conservation Of Energy Using Variable Frequency Drive For Center Pivot Irrigation Systems In Nebraska, Dilshad Brar
Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
The study introduces a novel approach to lower the operating pivot point pressure by varying the motor speed with the help of variable frequency drive (VFD) in contrast to the commonly used fixed speed approach. By varying the speed of motor, the required minimum pivot point pressure can be provided at any required flow rate. This was investigated through a GIS-assisted simulation on 100 randomly selected pivots located in 10 Nebraska counties using high resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) datasets. Center pivot irrigation systems are usually equipped with corner watering attachments like end guns and corner extensions to irrigate additional …
Accuracy Of Round Meter Gates For On-Farm Deliveries,
2015
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Accuracy Of Round Meter Gates For On-Farm Deliveries, Daniel J. Howes, Charles M. Burt
BioResource and Agricultural Engineering
Recent California legislation requires irrigation water agencies larger than 25,000 acres to measure volumetric water deliveries within specified levels of relative uncertainty. Although the meter gate is one of the most widely used flow measurement devices in California, little investigation has been conducted into the accuracy, limitations, and uncertainties of the rating tables developed over 60 years ago. A meter gate testing facility was constructed at the Cal Poly Irrigation Training and Research Center’s Water Resources Facility capable of testing gates up to 0.76 m (30 in.). The facility was constructed with gates oriented perpendicular to the supply channel flow …
Rating Rectangular Farm Delivery Meter Gates For Flow Measurement,
2015
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Rating Rectangular Farm Delivery Meter Gates For Flow Measurement, Daniel J. Howes, Charles M. Burt
BioResource and Agricultural Engineering
Traditional meter gates for farm delivery flow measurement from an open channel conveyance have traditionally incorporated round canal gates (Armco type) for control. In recent years, some irrigation water agencies (i.e., irrigation districts) have replaced deteriorating round gates with lower-cost rectangular gates that cover round holes. Similar to the situation described in a companion paper, where round gates were examined, there have been no investigations into flow measurement uncertainty using the existing rating tables for these gates. In this study, two commonly used rectangular gate sizes, 0.46 m (18-in.) and 0.61 m (24-in.), were tested under scenarios of various gate …
