Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Engineering Design Of A Prototype Ammonia Absorption Tower, Andrew Warren Calogero

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Mapping Spatially Interpolated Precipitation, Reference Evapotranspiration, Actual Crop Evapotranspiration, And Net Irrigation Requirements In Nebraska: Part I. Precipitation And Reference Evapotranspiration, Vivek Sharma, Suat Irmak

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Precipitation and reference evapotranspiration are two important variables in hydrologic analyses, agricultural crop production, determining actual crop evapotranspiration and irrigation water requirements, and irrigation management. Both variables vary in space and time, and the weather networks that measure or quantify and report both variables are too sparse for practical applications by water resources planners, managers, and irrigators. Long-term (1986- 2009) average annual (January to December), seasonal (growing season, May to September), and monthly (May, June, July, August, and September) precipitation and Penman-Monteith-estimated alfalfa-reference evapotranspiration (ET_ref) were spatially interpolated and mapped for all 93 counties in Nebraska using the …

Nutrient Losses In Runoff From Feedlot Surfaces As Affected By Unconsolidated Surface Materials, John E. Gilley, Jason R. Vogel, Roger A. Eigenberg, David B. Marx, Brian L. Woodbury

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Beef cattle feedlots contain unconsolidated surface materials (loose manure pack) that accumulate during a feeding cycle. The effects of varying amounts of unconsolidated surface materials on runoff nutrient losses are not well understood. The objectives of this study were to (1) compare runoff nutrient losses from feedlot surfaces containing varying amounts of unconsolidated surface materials, (2) determine if differences in runoff nutrient losses exist among rainfall simulation runs, (3) relate runoff nutrient losses to selected feedlot soil characteristics, and (4) identify the effects of varying runoff rate on nutrient loss rates from feedlot surfaces. This study was conducted on 0.75 …

Wine Grape Irrigation Management, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This report addresses difficulties in calculating correct ET values for wine grapes, and includes tips for wine grape irrigation scheduling, regulated deficit irrigation, and soil moisture measurement, and crop canopy cover estimates.

The Use Of High-Solids Loadings In Biomass Pretreatment – A Review, Alicia A. Modenbach, Sue E. Nokes

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The use of high‐solids loadings (≥ 15% solids, w/w) in the unit operations of lignocellulose conversion processes potentially offers many advantages over lower‐solids loadings, including increased sugar and ethanol concentrations and decreased production and capital costs. Since the term lignocellulosic materials refers to a wide range of feedstocks (agricultural and forestry residues, distillery by‐products, and dedicated energy crops like grasses), the term “solids loading” here is defined by the amount of dry material that enters the process divided by the total mass of material and water added to the material. The goal of this study is to provide a consolidated …

Effects Of Manure Handling And Application Method On Odor And Gas Emission Potential Of Swine Manure, Rick R. Stowell

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Manure composition and emissions potential of swine manure were investigated in opposing contexts of desired and undesired methane generation. In the main study, the full-scale treatment effects of anaerobic digestion on the air emissions potential of swine manure were investigated. Manure slurry and digester effluent samples were collected from a pork production facility in eastern Nebraska that utilizes a complete-mix anaerobic digester to treat the manure and produce biogas for use in generating electricity. Samples were collected from three sites in the manure stream (below-barn pit, digester outlet, and holding pond) from 9/22/08 through 12/2/09 in order to observe changes …

Evaluation Of The Bank Stability And Toe Erosion Model (Bstem) For Predicting Lateral Retreat On Composite Streambanks, Taber L. Midgley, Garey A. Fox, Derek M. Heeren

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Streambank erosion is known to be a major source of sediment in streams and rivers. The Bank Stability and Toe Erosion Model (BSTEM) was developed in order to predict streambank retreat due to both fluvial erosion and geotechnical failure. However, few, if any, model evaluations using long-term streambank retreat data have been performed. The objectives of this research were to (1) monitor long-term composite streambank retreat during a hydraulically active period on a rapidly migrating stream, (2) evaluate BSTEM’s ability to predict the measured streambank retreat, and (3) assess the importance of accurate geotechnical, fluvial erosion, and near-bank pore-water pressure …

Chemical Modification Of Polysaccharides Using Reactive Extrusion, Pratik Bhandari

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

The objective of this dissertation was to study the use of reactive extrusion for the chemical modifications of starch and cellulose. A carboxymethyl derivative of starch and carboxymethyl and acetate derivatives of cellulose were prepared using reactive extrusion.

Carboxymethyl starch with rapid swelling properties in water was prepared using reactive extrusion. This was achieved by controlling the gelatinization and through the use of NaOH by controlling the water/ethanol ratio. The effects of NaOH, H₂O, temperature, ethanol, sodium mono chloro acetate, sodium tripolyphosphate, citric acid, epichlorohydrin and extruder screw configuration on the degree of substitution of carboxymethyl starch were …

Design And Construction Of A Solar Operated Gate, Jacob Gardener

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the design and construction of a solar operated gate. A solar panel is used to charge a battery, and then an inverter is used to run a garage door opener off the battery. The garage door opener operates a short lever arm which is connected to a longer lever arm which is connected to the gate. Each component and mounting mechanisms were designed and built to effectively provide the gate opening function. The finished product operates well, the gate opens in about 8 seconds after the button is pressed on the remote controller or wall mount …

Design, Acnd Construction Of A Portable Artificial Insemination Chute, Chris Herrera

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project report discusses the design, construction, and evaluation of a portable artificial insemination chute for the use of the Cal Poly Beef Department. The design was based on the suggested modifications from operators of several other chutes currently in use.

The main areas considered for the design were; Ergonomics, cattle safety, factors effecting maximum breeding conception rates, and Portability.

The breeding chute proved superior over traditional chutes in a variety of ways. Improvement occurred in the areas of consideration as follows, user operation was simplified, animal stress was decreased, and maximum breeding efficiency was obtained.

On-Farm Irrigation Tracking Software For The Imperial Valley, Taylor Andrew Brady

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

In order to improve on farm irrigation, a water scheduling program specific to the needs of Imperial Valley farmers will be created. The program will help keep track of daily water schedules, as well as stay connected with the farm personnel to reduce error and save time. The program will help with on farm operations and productivity by allowing the famer, irrigation foremen, and secretary to view the same schedule simultaneously. The information that is inputted into the program will be editable by all the chosen personnel, to keep everyone on the same page. Weekly, monthly, or yearly usage reports …

Expansion Of A Dust Removal System For The Brae Department Plasma Table, Derek Hansen

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the expansion of a dust removal system for welding and cutting fumes. A Donaldson Torit Powercore TG8 dust collector is used to collect and process the fumes created during welding and cutting operations that take place in the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering department at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Expansion of the system allows for greatly increased utilization of the TG8 and a cleaner working environment in Lab #6. Testing shows that the system fluently changes between the plasma table and the three hoods in the shop. Each hood is only capable of collecting a smoke …

Wheat Strip Effects On Nutrient Loads Following Variable Manure Applications, Chance Thayer, John E. Gilley, Lisa M. Durso, David B. Marx

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Vegetative filters have been found to significantly reduce nutrient loads in runoff. This study was conducted to: (1) evaluate the effects of a narrow wheat strip, varying manure application rates, and different overland flow rates on runoff nutrient loads following application of beef cattle manure; (2) determine the upper capacity of a narrow wheat strip to reduce nutrient loads by applying excessive amounts of manure; and (3) compare the effectiveness of narrow wheat strips and grass hedges in reducing runoff nutrient loads. A 1.4 m wide strip of actively growing winter wheat was located at the bottom of selected 0.75 …

Identification And Characterization Of Mtoa: A Decaheme C-Type Cytochrome Of The Neutrophilic Fe(Ii)-Oxidizing Bacterium Sideroxydans Lithotrophicus Es-1, Juan Liu, Zheming Wang, Sara M. Belchik, Marcus J. Edwards, Chongxuan Liu, David W. Kennedy, Eric D. Merkley, Mary S. Lipton, Julea N. Butt, David J. Richardson, John M. Zachara, James K. Fredrickson, Kevin M. Rosso, Liang Shi

United States Department of Energy: Publications

The Gram-negative bacterium Sideroxydans lithotrophicus ES-1(ES-1) grows on FeCO₃ or FeS at oxic–anoxic interfaces at circumneutral pH, and the ES-1-mediated Fe(II) oxidation occurs extracellularly. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ES-1’s ability to oxidize Fe(II) remain unknown. Survey of the ES-1 genome for candidate genes formicrobial extracellular Fe(II) oxidation revealed that it contained a three-genecluster encoding homologs of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1(MR-1) MtrA, MtrB, and CymA that are involved in extracellular Fe(III) reduction. Homologs of MtrA and MtrB were also previously shown to be involved in extracellular Fe(II) oxidation by Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1. To distinguish them from those found in MR-1, …

2012 Nebraska Groundwater Quality Monitoring Report

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality: Reports

The 2001 Nebraska Legislature passed LB329 (Neb. Rev. Stat. §46-1304) which, in part, directed the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) to report on groundwater quality monitoring in Nebraska. Reports have been issued annually since December 2001. The text of the statute applicable to this report follows: “The Department of Environmental Quality shall prepare a report outlining the extent of ground water quality monitoring conducted by natural resources districts during the preceding calendar year. The department shall analyze the data collected for the purpose of determining whether or not ground water quality is degrading or improving and shall present the …

Antiferromagnetic Order In The Quasicrystal Approximant Cd6tb Studied By X-Ray Resonant Magnetic Scattering, M. G. Kim, G. Beutier, A. Kreyssig, T. Hiroto, T. Yamada, J. W. Kim, M. De Boissieu, R. Tamura, A. I. Goldman

United States Department of Energy: Publications

We have used x-ray resonant magnetic scattering at the Tb L₂ edge to elucidate the nature of magnetic ordering in Cd₆Tb, a 1/1 approximant closely related to the Cd-Mg-R (R = rare earth) icosahedral alloys. Below T_N ≈ 24 K, the ordered moments associated with the icosahedral clusters at the corners and body center of the pseudocubic unit cell are antiferromagnetically correlated, and long-range magnetic order is realized.

Pump Performance With Sand Wear, Charles M. Burt, Kyle Fesit

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

In many installations, pump performance declines over time due to sand wear. In order to pinpoint the type and rate of wear caused by pumping water with higher-than-average sand concentrations and its direct effect on various pump impeller materials, vertical pump impeller/bowl assemblies of approximately 900 GPM were each pumped for up to 2500 hours with high concentrations of sand in the water. Two different impeller materials were used for a total of five configurations. Well pump operation was simulated by maintaining a constant discharge pressure. The degrading performance, in terms of changing flow rate and kilowatt load, was recorded …

Spatial Variability In Evapotranspiration Related To Irrigation System Distribution Uniformity, Daniel J. Howes, Lucas Hoffmann, Franklin Gaudi

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Understanding the causes of variable ET in a field is critical for maximizing yield on a per-acre basis as well as for proper irrigation scheduling and regional water management. Since 2004, the ITRC has provided technical irrigation support and management for over 2,000 acres of center pivot irrigated forage crops being supplied by reclaimed water near Palmdale, California. Irrigation scheduling is conducted using a daily soil water balance dual crop coefficient approach. Detailed records on planting and harvest dates, daily water applications, pivot run speeds, and annual distribution uniformity evaluations are maintained along with daily reference evapotranspiration data from a …

Dielectric Function Spectra And Critical-Point Energies Of Cu2znsnse4 From 0.5 To 9.0 Ev, S. . G. Choi, H. . Y. Zhao, C. Persson, C. L. Perkins, A Donohue, B To, A. G. Norman, J Li, I. L. Repins

United States Department of Energy: Publications

We present dielectric function e=e₁+ie₂spectra and critical-point energies of Cu₂ZnSnSe₄ determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry from 0.5 to 9.0 eV. We reduce artifacts from surface overlayers to the maximum extent possible by performing chemical-mechanical polishing and wet-chemical etching of the surface of a Cu₂ZnSnSe₄ thin film. Ellipsometric data are analyzed by the multilayer model and the e spectra are extracted. The data exhibit numerous spectral features associated with critical points, whose energies are obtained by fitting standard lineshapes to second energy derivatives of the data. The experimental results are in good …

The Sintering Behavior Of Close-Packed Spheres, R. Bjørk, V. Tikare, H. L. Frandsen, N. Pryds

United States Department of Energy: Publications

The sintering behavior and microstructural evolution of a powder compact is influenced strongly by initial properties, such as the relative density, the particle and pore size distribution, and the powder packing. While the influence of the former parameters on the microstructural evolution has been investigated in some detail, the impact of the initial packing of the powder has been mostly overlooked. However, research has shown that the sintering behavior of a powder can be significantly improved if the powder is regularly packed.

This has been shown for monodisperse spherical TiO2 particles [1], which sintered 10 times faster and exhibited almost …