Engineering Commons^™

California Agricultural Water Electrical Energy Requirements, Charles M. Burt, Daniel J. Howes, Gary Wilson

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The Irrigation Training and Research Center, working under agreement with the California Energy Commission as part of its Public Interest Energy Research Program, conducted an analysis of the energy used to supply water to California's agriculture and examined potential future trends in the agriculture water community to predict future energy requirements.

Water Level Sensor Testing, Stuart Styles, Sarah Herman, Marcus Yasutake, Chuck Keezer

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The findings presented here are the continuation of a series of studies begun in 1998 by the Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo, California, on behalf of the Mid-Pacific Region of the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to test water level sensors under a variety of hydraulic conditions. This report is intended as a supplement to the original 1999 report, entitled “Water Level Sensor and Datalogger Testing and Demonstration” (ITRC Report No. R-01010), which describes the testing processes in detail and presents detailed results for the first 17 sensors …

Assessing The Benefits Of Misting-Cooling Systems For Growing-Finishing Swine In Kentucky As Affected By Environment And Pig Placement Date, Thomas C. Bridges, R. S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, Larry W. Turner

Agricultural Engineering Extension Publications

The growth performance of animals is often affected by extreme environmental conditions. In the case of swine, generally a cold environment will increase feed intake as the pig strives to maintain body temperature, while warmer environments may reduce growth, increase body maintenance demands, and subject the animal to environmental stress. Confinement houses are widely used as a primary means of modifying the environment to improve conditions for the growth of swine. Environment in these structures is usually controlled by natural or mechanical ventilation and by insulation for cold climates and limited use of evaporative cooling for summertime conditions.

Canal Velocity Indexing At Colorado River Indian Tribes (Crit) Irrigation Project In Parker, Arizona Using The Sontek Argonaut Sl, Stuart W. Styles, Mark Niblack, Beau J. Freeman

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

An index velocity rating was developed for a SonTek/YSI Argonaut Side-Looking (SL) ultrasonic Doppler flow meter installed in the Main Canal of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Irrigation Project in Parker, Arizona. Velocity data collected concurrently with the ultrasonic flow meter and conventional current meter were compared using linear regression techniques. The rating equation for this installation provides a reasonably accurate means of computing discharge. This project was completed by the Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC), California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, working under a technical assistance contract for the Water Conservation Office, United States Bureau of …

Soil Salinity Accumulation In Orchards With Drip And Micro-Spray Irrigation In Arid Areas Of California, Charles M. Burt, Brett Isbell

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

A soil salinity accumulation study was conducted by ITRC during the summer of 2002 to examine the long-term impact of drip and micro irrigation on salinity build-up in orchards, focusing on the salinity concentration pattern across a soil profile. This study assessed the current level of salinity accumulation in orchards irrigated with drip/micro systems and provided information to support recommendations on the most effective and efficient leaching techniques.

There is a concern that soil salinity accumulation in orchards, which comprise large acreages in the Central Valley of California, will eventually require reclamation leaching. Not only would this consume large quantities …

Reclamation Leaching For Salinity Buildup Under Drip/Micro Irrigation Of Trees, Charles M. Burt, Brett Isbell

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

ITRC conducted a reclamation leaching experiment in a pistachio orchard in order to quantify the leaching water required to remove salts from the effective root zone of trees. This experiment tested a new reclamation leaching technique - multiple lines of low-flow drip tape were used to apply water to the area of salinity accumulation along a tree row.

Salinity Patterns: On Row Crops Under Subsurface Drip Irrigation (Sdi) On The Westside Of The San Joaquin Valley Of California, Charles M. Burt, Othman Al-Amoudi, Alejandro Paolini

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The objectives of this study were to identify if there was detrimental salinity buildup in the upper layers of soil caused by the usage of SDI on row crops, identify the extent of any detrimental salinity buildup, and identify successful and/or essential practices used by farmers who use SDI.

Soil Salinity Accumalation In Orchards With Drip And Micro-Spray Irrigation In Arid Areas Of California, Charles M. Burt, Brett Isbell

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

A soil salinity accumulation study was conducted to examine the long-term impact of drip and micro irrigation on salinity build-up in orchards, focusing on the salinity concentration pattern across a soil profile. The study assessed the current level of salinity accumulation in orchards irrigated with drip/micro systems and provided information to support recommendations on the most effective and efficient leaching techniques.

Long-Term Salinity Buildup On Drip/Micro Irrigated Trees In California, Charles M. Burt, Brett Isbell, Lisa Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) of Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, hypothesized that there is salinity accumulation in the root zone of tree crops that have been irrigated with drip or micro-spray irrigation systems, located in arid and semi-arid regions. Therefore, a study was conducted by ITRC during the summer of 2002 to examine the long-term impact of drip and micro irrigation on salinity accumulation in orchards, focusing on the salinity concentration pattern across a soil profile. The project also provided information to support recommendations on the most effective and efficient leaching techniques.

During the …

Evaluation Of Foam Fractionation Column Scale-Up For Recovering Bovine Serum Albumin, Czarena L. Crofcheck, Kelly Gillette

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Foam fractionation is an adsorptive-bubble separation method that, according to researchers, is a feasible technique for the separation and/or concentration of proteins. The foam fractionation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in laboratory-scale foam fractionation columns (750 and 1250 mL) and the relationship between the two laboratory-scale columns and a pilot-scale column (5000 mL) were investigated. Recovery, enrichment, and performance factor values were experimentally determined with three different column volumes with varying pore sizes, gas superficial velocities, and, in the case of the 750 mL column, foam column height. As the pore size decreased, the amount of protein recovered from the …

Temperature Control Of A Solid Substrate Cultivation Deep - Bed Reactor Using An Internal Heat Exchanger, Mari S. Chinn, Sue E. Nokes

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The solid substrate cultivation (SSC) process is often limited by rapid increases in temperature as a result of metabolic activity and poor heat transfer properties of the solid substrate. High temperatures can adversely affect microbial growth and product formation. Reduction of substrate temperatures is important for improved productivity, yet effective and efficient control of heat transfer in a deep-bed SSC reactor has proven difficult. An internal cooling water coil was incorporated into a deep-bed reactor system and evaluated for its ability to reduce substrate temperature. Three operating treatments were investigated: cooling water circulation whenever the center bed temperature was above …

Estimations Of Ammonia And Hydrogen Sulfide Fluxes From Cattle Feedlot Surfaces In Texas High Plains, Bok-Haeng Baek, Jacek A. Koziel, Jarett P. Spinhirne, David B. Parker, Nolan A. Cole

Jacek A. Koziel

A dynamic flow-through chamber system and continuous analyzers were used for on-site measurements of ammonia-nitrogen (NH 3 -N) and hydrogen sulfide-sulfur (H 2 S-S) fluxes from commercial feedlot surfaces in northwestern Texas during two week period in the summer of 2002. Ambient air and air inside chamber temperatures, and manure pack temperature were measured continuously. Manure pack moisture content, pH, and TKN were measured daily to characterize its correlation with NH 3 -N fluxes. The preliminary average NH 3 -N flux from the feedlot surface for the entire measurement period was 1,669 ± 1,212 NH 3 -N µ g/m 2 …

Generation And Calibration Of Standard Gas Mixtures For Volatile Fatty Acids Using Permeation Tubes And Solid Phase Microextraction, Jacek A. Koziel, Jarett P. Spinhirne

Jacek A. Koziel

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are major components of odors associated with agricultural operations and livestock housing, solid waste processing and disposal, and industrial and municipal wastewater collection and treatment systems. Emissions estimation and assessment of odor control methods depend on reliable air sampling and analysis methods for VFAs. The objective of this research was to develop and test a method for continuous and reliable generation of standard gas mixtures for VFAs based on permeation tubes. Standard gas mixtures for acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, valeric, and hexanoic acids were generated with permeation tubes and monitored for a 100-day period. The …

Ammonia Concentrations In Poultry Broiler Production Units Treated With Liquid Alum, K. A. Armstrong, Robert T. Burns, F. R. Walker, L. R. Wilhelm, D. Raj Raman

D. Raj Raman

High ammonia concentrations in commercial broiler production houses can result in poor bird performance, lower feed conversion ratios, and higher mortalities. Growers have traditionally controlled in-house ammonia levels by increasing ventilation. During cold weather, increased ventilation rates result in higher heating energy requirements. Granular alum (aluminum sulfate, Al2(SO4)3 · 14H2O) has been successfully used as a litter amendment to reduce ammonia volatilization from litter inside broiler production houses. In this study, liquid aluminum sulfate was investigated as a litter amendment for ammonia suppression in four commercial poultry-broiler units. This project investigates four treatment levels of liquid alum in four adjacent …

Underground Pipe Locating Demonstration At Arvin-Edison Water Storage District, Stuart Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

A presentation/demonstration of some of the latest underground pipe locating equipment was conducted on August 13, 2003 at the Arvin-Edison Water Storage District. All the techniques shown were non-destructive pipe locating procedures that provide approximations to the depth and location of underground-buried pipe.

3 types of technology were shown at the demonstration:

1. Acoustic pipe locators
2. Leak detectors
3. Ground penetrating radar

Each form of technology has its own merits and advantages. Acoustic technology is effective in locating single, small diameter pipes with pressurized flow located within about 500-ft of the sound (sonde) units. Leak detection technology is more accurate in locating …

Simulation Of Fixed– And Variable–Rate Application Of Granular Materials, John Patrick Fulton, Scott A. Shearer, Timothy S. Stombaugh, Michael E. Anderson, Thomas F. Burks, Stephen F. Higgins

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Research has shown that application errors exist with variable–rate technology (VRT) systems. Consequently, using prescription maps for economic and agronomic analyses can generate misleading results. The intent of this article was to develop and validate a spatial data model for generating “as–applied” maps to support the advancement of precision agriculture practices. Previous research modified ASAE Standard S341.2 to include a 2–D matrix of collection pans to assess fixed–rate and variable–rate (VR) deposition of granular fertilizers and agricultural lime from a spinner disc spreader. The “as–applied” spatial data model uses GIS functionality to generate “as–applied” surfaces by merging distribution patterns and …

Release And Transport Of Bacteria And Nutrients From Livestock Manure Applied To Pastureland, Michelle L. Soupir

Michelle L. Soupir

Transport of fecal bacteria and nutrients from point and nonpoint sources to surface water bodies is of significant concern in Virginia and the United States. In Virginia, 4,320 river miles are impaired for one or more beneficial use and 72% of the streams are impaired due to pathogen indicators (VDEQ, 2002). Land applications of manure from confined animal systems and by direct deposit by grazing animals are both major sources of fecal bacteria and nutrients in runoff. Therefore, an understanding of the overland transport mechanisms for fecal bacteria and nutrients is very important for the development of best management practices …

Properties Of Corn Masa Processing Byproducts, Kurt A. Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

The production of corn masa-based products in the U.S. has been increasing over the last several years, and as a result, so has the quantity of waste materials generated from this industry. These byproduct materials may have potential for value-added processing and utilization, which are options that hold the promise of economic benefits for masa processors and decreased potential pollution for the environment. Fundamental to any byproduct development, however, is a full characterization of the processing residue, because physical and nutritional properties are necessary for the proper design of processing operations and applications. Vital physical properties include moisture content, water …

Using Efficient Software Architecture For Computer-Based Training Programs To Promote International Development, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Kari Pape Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Many international agencies offer volunteer services to improve agricultural knowledge and infrastructure in developing countries. Although effective, these efforts are severely constrained by limited funding and personnel, and can only address a fraction of current global educational needs. Computer-based training programs, either in the form of CD-ROM-based or Internet-based incarnations, hold the promise of removing many of the obstacles that currently confront international volunteer efforts. The art of web programming has drastically accelerated in recent years, both in terms of capacity as well as complexity. One reason for this is that advanced software has been developed to simplify and speed …

Assessment Of Moisture Control And Additives For Odor Reduction From Open-Lot Feedyard Surfaces, Jocelyn D. Buchanan, David B. Parker, Marty B. Rhoades, Jacek A. Koziel, William J. Rogers

Jacek A. Koziel

Amendments for reducing odor from open-lot beef cattle feedyards were evaluated in the laboratory. Manure was placed in small Tupperware® containers. Water and amendments were added to the manure surface and the containers were attached to a vacuum pump that continually passed 2.5 L/min of carbon-filtered air over the surface. Eleven different amendments were tested, at two different concentrations, in a series of five experiments. Odor samples were collected 3 times during a 10-day period in each experiment and were analyzed by trained panelists for detection threshold (DT), intensity and hedonic tone. None of the amendments showed any overwhelming evidence …

Background Odors In Tedlar® Bags Used For Cafo Odor Sampling, David B. Parker, Marty B. Rhoades, Jacek A. Koziel, Jarett Spinhirne

Jacek A. Koziel

Tedlar® film is manufactured in a wet solvent process and continues to emit organic compounds after manufacturing. Tedlar® bags are used for odor sampling at concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Odor regulations for CAFOs vary widely, but maximum detection thresholds (DTs) of 2 to 15 have been proposed downwind of feeding operations. Results at the WTAMU Olfactometry Laboratory have shown that both commercially available Tedlar® bags and homemade Tedlar® bags have a detectable background odor (DTs of 20 to 60 typical) even following standard protocols for purging. Purging the bags before sampling was not effective in reducing DTs to acceptable …

Estimation Of Ammonia And Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions From Cattle Feedlots In Texas, Bok-Haeng Baek, Jacek A. Koziel, Jarett P. Spinhirne, David B. Parker, Nolan A. Cole

Jacek A. Koziel

A dynamic flow-through chamber system and continuous analyzers were used for on-site measurements of ammonia-nitrogen (NH 3 -N) and hydrogen sulfide-sulfur (H 2 S-S) fluxes from commercial feedlot surfaces in northwestern Texas during two week period in the summer of 2002. Manure pack moisture content, pH, and TKN were measured daily to characterize its relation with NH 3 -N fluxes. The preliminary average NH 3 -N and H 2 S-S flux from the feedlot surface were 1,669 ± 1,212 NH 3 -N µ g/m 2 /min and 1.884 ± 1.497 H 2 S-S µ g S/m 2 /min. Manure pack …

Bacteria Release And Transport From Livestock Manure Applied To Pastureland, Michelle L. Soupir, H. E. Saled Mostaghimi, Elizabeth F. Alphin

Michelle L. Soupir

A comparative field investigation was conducted on release and transport of bacteria from plots treated with cowpies, turkey litter, and liquid dairy manure. Rainfall conditions were simulated and runoff samples were collected to determine concentrations of E. coli, FC, and enterococcus present in runoff. The turkey treatment had the highest percentage of source bacteria released by rainfall, ranging from 1.3% for enterococcus to 14.5% for FC. The cowpie follows with percentages ranging from 0.3 to 0.6%. Runoff samples collected from the transport plots treated with cowpies averaged 137,000 cfu/100 ml for E. coli and over 165,000 cfu/100 ml for FC …

Soil Moisture Estimation From Remotely Sensed Hyperspectral Data, Amy L. Kaleita, Lei F. Tian, Haibo Yao

Amy L. Kaleita

A methodology for mapping surface soil moisture content across an agricultural field from optical remote sensing and ground sampling is developed. This study uses both ground-based and remotely sensed spectral measurements of soil reflectance in visible and near-infrared wavelengths and concurrent measurements of volumetric soil moisture within the top 6 cm. After determining appropriate wavelengths for soil moisture estimation from spectral reflectance, a cokriging scheme was used to generate soil moisture maps. Results indicate that combining reflectance and ground measurements can yield more detailed maps of soil moisture than ground measurement alone.

Soil Moisture Estimation From Remotely Sensed Hyperspectral Data, Amy L. Kaleita, Lei Tian, Haibo Yao

Amy L. Kaleita

A methodology for mapping surface soil moisture content across an agricultural field from optical remote sensing and ground sampling is developed. This study uses both ground-based and remotely sensed spectral measurements of soil reflectance in visible and near-infrared wavelengths and concurrent measurements of volumetric soil moisture within the top 6 cm. After determining appropriate wavelengths for soil moisture estimation from spectral reflectance, a cokriging scheme was used to generate soil moisture maps. Results indicate that combining reflectance and ground measurements can yield more detailed maps of soil moisture than ground measurement alone.

Modeling Of Sediment Trapping In A Vegetative Filter Accounting For Two-Dimensional Overland Flow, Matthew J. Helmers, Dean E. Eisenhauer, Thomas G. Franti, Michael G. Dosskey

Matthew J. Helmers

Vegetative filters (VF) are used to remove sediment and other pollutants from overland flow. When modeling the hydrology of VF it is often assumed that overland flow is planar but our research indicates that it can be two-dimensional with converging and diverging pathways. Our hypothesis is that flow convergence will negatively influence the sediment trapping capability of VF. The objectives were to develop a two-dimensional modeling approach for estimating sediment trapping in VF and to investigate the impact of converging overland flow on sediment trapping by VF. In this study, the performance of a VF that has field-scale flow path …

Development Of A Controller Area Network Based Handheld Data Acquisition System For Identity Preservation, Matthew J. Darr, Jason Kellam Ward, Timothy S. Stombaugh, Michael D. Montross

Matthew J. Darr

The development of a diverse, modular and portable system to accurately measure and record field operations is required to effectively bring identity preservation of crops to all farms and farmers. A demonstration system has been built based on a worldwide standard communications protocol and was evaluated for its ability to efficiently measure a variety of field operations and management practices. The CAN Bus 2.0B communication protocol was used to record GPS location data, ground speed and simulated spraying system data. This data was compiled and stored in a form that was compatible with multiple software programs for the purposes of …

Odor Characterization At Open-Lot Beef Cattle Feedyards Using Triangular Forced Choice Olfactometry, David B. Parker, Marty B. Rhoades, Brent W. Auvermann, Jacek A. Koziel

Jacek A. Koziel

Odor samples were collected two to four times per month over a one-year period in 2002-2003 at three large open-lot beef cattle feedyards in the Texas panhandle. Samples were collected in 10 L Tedlar bags using a vacuum chamber upwind of the feedyard, downwind of the pens, and downwind of the runoff storage pond. Samples were analyzed in the odor lab for detection threshold (DT) using triangular forced choice olfactometry with trained human odor panelists. Full-strength odor samples were also analyzed for intensity and hedonic tone. Weather data was collected on-site at each of the feedyards for correlation to odor …

Characterization Of Volatile Organic Compounds In Bovine Breath Using Solid-Phase Microextraction And Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Jacek A. Koziel, Jarett P. Spinhirne, Norbert K. Chirase

Jacek A. Koziel

A face mask sampling device, DVB/Carboxen/PDMS 50/30 µ m solid phase microextraction (SPME) fibers, and a gas chromatograph with a mass spectrometer detector (GC-MS) were used for sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in bovine breath. Breath of 3 morbid steers with respiratory tract infections and 3 healthy steers were sampled 7 times in 19 days for 15 min at each sampling. A total of 21 VOCs were detected, many of them for the first time in cattle breath. Preliminary statistical analyses using Chi-square Test on the frequency of detection of each VOC in each group was performed. …

Evaluation Of The Performance Of A Waste Stabilization Pond System In An Arid Region, Nadine Aly El-Aassar

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.