Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Manipulation Of High Spatial Resolution Aircraft Remote Sensing Data For Use In Site-Specific Farming, Gabriel B. Senay, Andrew D. Ward, John G. Lyon, Norman R. Fausey, Sue E. Nokes

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Three spatial data sets consisting of high spatial resolution (1 m) remote sensing images acquired in 12 spectral bands, an on-the-go yield map, and a Digital Elevation Model were co-registered and evaluated for spatial variability studies in a Geographic Information Systems environment. Separate on-the-go yield maps were developed for 3, 5, and 12 statistically significant mean yield classes. For each yield class, the corresponding mean spectral and elevation data were extracted. The relationship between mean spectral and yield data was strongly linear (r = 0.99). Also, a strong linear relationship between mean yield and elevation data (r = 0.92) was …

Evaluation Of The Crop Growth Component Of The Root Zone Water Quality Model For Corn In Ohio, Sue E. Nokes, Feliks M. Landa, Jon D. Hanson

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) is a computer model developed to simulate water, chemical, and biological processes in the root zone of agricultural management systems. As of this writing RZWQM is in the beta-testing phase of development. This article reports on a parameterization and evaluation study performed in Ohio on field corn for the crop growth component of RZWQM. The generic crop growth model in RZWQM had not previously been parameterized or tested on field corn. This article reports the results of such a study. One year of data was used to calibrate RZWQM, and two additional years …

Curling Burley Tobacco From An Automated Harvesting System, Linus R. Walton, Larry G. Wells, James H. Casada

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

If burley tobacco can be successfully cured at high density under waterproof covers in the field, a producer can expand production without the necessity of building new curing barns and can thereby more easily justify investment in the automated burley tobacco harvesting system (Wells et al., 1990a, b). Curing under waterproof covers in the field and curing on frames in the barn were evaluated over three curing seasons using two varieties (KY 14 and TN 86), two plant densities (32 and 43 plants/m², 3 and 4 plants/ft²), position of tobacco on the frame (four levels ranging …

Elliptical Combing Motion For Harvesting Bell Peppers, J. H. Wilhoit, George A. Duncan, Larry G. Wells

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A new concept for mechanically harvesting bell peppers, intended specifically for multiple-pass harvesting, utilized spaced horizontal fingers combing vertically upward through plant foliage in an elliptical path alternating from both sides of the row. An apparatus based on this concept was designed and built, and harvest tests were conducted to determine the effect of two main machine operating parameters, vertical picking speed and disk angle. Harvesting performance was evaluated in terms of harvest efficiency, fruit damage, and plant damage as it related to multiple-pass harvesting. Fruit removal, both harvestable size and immature, increased significantly as vertical picking speed increased. Branch …

Automated Harvesting Of Burley Tobacco Ii. Evaluation Of System Performance, Larry G. Wells, George B. Day V, Timothy D. Smith

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A prototype system for fully automated harvesting of burley tobacco has been developed and tested. Three years of field testing has shown that mechanical losses associated with the system were only slightly higher than via conventional methods. The system performed reliably at a sustained harvesting rate of approximately 1.4 ha/day (3.4 acre/day), while indicating that a rate of 2 ha/day (5 acre/day) should be easily achievable. The system is operated by two workers and reduces conventional labor requirement by approximately 80-85%.

Automated Harvesting Of Burley Tobacco I. System Development, Larry G. Wells, George B. Day V, Timothy D. Smith

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A fully automated system for harvesting and handling mature buriey tobacco has been developed. This article identifies the operations essential to this harvesting concept and describes the development of the mechanisms by which they were accomplished. The system detaches, inverts and places mature plants into portable holders for air curing under waterproof covering without requiring any manual handling of the crop. Manual labor currently required to harvest buriey tobacco would be reduced by 80-85% and the system would eliminate the drudgery associated with manual handling. The harvesting system has an approximate capacity of 1.4 to 2.0 ha/day (3.5 to 5.0 …

Automated Sorting Of Oriented Tobacco Leaves, Larry G. Wells, M. J. Bader

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A mechanism has been developed which removes cured burley tobacco leaves from plants so that midribs are oriented parallel. A photosensor was utilized to count leaves as they were removed and a microprocessor determined the number of leaves allocated to each of three grades. Experiments indicated that 84% of leaves removed could be correctly sorted with a 2.4% material loss at an effective rate of approximately 2.4 times that of conventional methods.

An Aeration Duct Design Model For Flat Grain Storage, Thomas C. Bridges, Douglas G. Overhults, Samuel G. Mcneill, G. M. White

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Traditionally most grain is stored in circular type bins which provide a convenient means for handling and management. With the excess grain production and government loan programs of the past few years, some producers have used rectangular structures and covered piles to complement their round storages. The recommended management practices used with round bins are still required in those alternative storages and may be more critical in obtaining a quality end product.

One such recommended practice used with round bins is aeration. This practice is used to maintain a uniform temperature in the grain mass, preventing condensation and "hot" spots …

Production Of Aflatoxin On Damaged Corn Under Controlled Environmental Conditions, D. M. Wieman, G. M. White, Joseph L. Taraba, I. J. Ross, Clair L. Hicks, Bruce E. Langlois

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Aflatoxin B₁ production by Aspergillus flavus (NRRL 6432) was determined on physically damaged corn stored at 35,25 and 20°C and at relative humidities of 97 and 92%. Production at lower relative humidities of 80 and 85% were also tested at 25°C. Production lag times were significantly different for all test conditions. Lag times ranged from 46 h at 97% relative humidity and 35°C to 173. 8 h at 20°C and 92% relative humidity. Aflatoxin B, concentration doubled every 6 to 10 hours after a level of 10 ppb had been reached. Production rate constants were not significantly different between …

Storage Of Burley Tobacco In Bales And Bundles, Linus R. Walton, M. E. Casada, Joseph L. Taraba, James H. Casada, W. H. Henson Jr., Larry D. Swetnam

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Bales and bundles of burley tobacco were stored for seven months from spring to fall. Leaves darkened during storage at all moisture levels and stalk positions with the exception of the bottom stalk position, which darkened only slightly. There was no difference in color change and dry weight loss between burley tobacco in bales and bundles. Normal and high moisture bales and bundles were often graded as unsound because of a deviant odor caused by bacterial activity. A bale weight loss of about 8% occurred at normal moisture with the loss being divided evenly between moisture and dry weight losse.

Equilibrium Moisture Properties Of Corn Cobs, G. M. White, Thomas C. Bridges, Samuel G. Mcneill, Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Equilibrium moisture content-equilibrium relative humidity data for broken corn cobs have been determined for both desorption and adsorption conditions for three temperature levels and five moisture levels. The Modified Henderson and Chung equilibrium moisture equations have been fitted to these data by using non-linear regression procedures to estimate equation parameters. Both equations adequately represented the experimental data. A test of varietal differences indicated no significant difference in cob desorption ERH values for three selected corn varieties.

Temperature And Humidity Prediction In A Burley Curing Facility, Thomas C. Bridges, Linus R. Walton, Larry G. Wells, I. J. Ross

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Simulation Of Burley Tobacco Harvesting-Housing Systems, Ronald L. Bingner, Larry G. Wells, Thomas C. Bridges, George A. Duncan

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A computer model has been developed using systems analysis techniques to simulate the labor and equipment aspects of harvesting burley tobacco. By varying the parameters of the model the user can determine a harvesting and housing strategy based on labor and equipment availability.

Bulletin 3929 - Irrigation In Western Australia, K S. Cole

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

Irrigation is essential in many parts of the world to produce essential food and profitable cash crops. Generally, those areas of land with less than 360 mm of rain spread over a distinct wet season of several months cannot grow crops for food or cash on rainfall alone. Then irrigation becomes necessary unless some peculiarity such as an oasis exists.

Analysis And Testing Of Powered Tillage Blades, Larry G. Wells, E. M. Smith, D. E. Hammett

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Fundamental design considerations for powered rotary tillage blades are presented and discussed. The relationship between blade angular velocity and the geometric dimensions of cutting edges is specified for tillage blades rotating counter to the direction of travel and assuming a typical forward speed for tillage.

Analyses showed that a powered blade rotated opposite to the direction of travel can be operated at relatively lower angular velocities than can one rotated in the direction of travel to achieve equivalent blade velocity and acceleration relative to the soil. Furthermore, a blade rotated opposite to the direction of travel requires relatively lower power …

Wind Drag On Burley Tobacco Plants, James H. Casada, Linus R. Walton, Larry G. Wells

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Drag coefficient and center of resistance to wind forces were determined for four varieties of burley tobacco at three stages of growth and using wind velocities ranging from about 3 to 17 m/s. Drag coefficients determined ranged from about 0.024 at the highest velocity to about 0.081 at the lowest velocity. Stage of growth and wind velocity had significant effects on drag coefficient. Variety did not have a significant effect on drag coefficient. Mean center of resistance varied from 42.3 percent of the distance from bottom leaf to top leaf at the early stage of growth to 71.2 percent at …

The Influence Of Harvesting Strategies And Economic Constraints On The Feasibility Of Farm Grain Drying And Storage Facilities, Otto J. Loewer Jr., Thomas C. Bridges, G. M. White, Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The economic return to on-the-farm grain drying and storage facilities is influenced by many factors including harvesting strategies, facility management, market conditions, energy considerations, and facility design. This study evaluates the influence of these factors on expected net return.

Economic Comparison Of Alternative Burley Tobacco Harvesting Practices By Computer, Thomas C. Bridges, Larry G. Wells, George A. Duncan, John N. Walker

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The computer model CATCH (Computer Analysis of Tobacco Cutting and Housing) was developed to provide the individual tobacco producer with management information concerning alternative methods of harvesting burley tobacco. CATCH utilizes specific producer in-puts to analyze 24 alternative burley production systems and presents up to four economic rankings containing costs, equipment and labor for each system. The economic rankings aid the producer in decision making with regard to his own operation.

The Influence Of Harvest Rate And Drying Time On Grain Drying And Storage Facility Selection, Thomas C. Bridges, Otto J. Loewer Jr., Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Determination Of Strategy For Harvesting Burley Tobacco, Yasuhiko Miyake, Larry G. Wells, George A. Duncan, Jimmie Rankin

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The decision-making process associated with the scheduling of burley tobacco harvesting operations was formulated as a multi-stage decision process, and solved using a procedure called dynamic programming. The solution of a stochastic dynamic programming model provides a set of optimal decision rules, that is, a strategy. When certain user-specified parameters are provided, the decision model provides information concerning the optimal date to start harvesting, the optimal number of hours to harvest on each day, the optimal date to introduce hired labor, and the optimal number of workers which should be hired.

The solution of the dynamic programming model makes it …

A Computer Model For Evaluating Corn Harvesting, Handling, Drying And Storage Systems, Thomas C. Bridges, Otto J. Loewer Jr., John N. Walker, Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Facility Costs Of Centralized Grain Storage Systems Utilizing Computer Design, Otto J. Loewer Jr., Thomas C. Bridges, Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The item considered most often when estimating the cost of a grain storage facility is capacity. Of equal or greater importance is daily harvest rate. Other important considerations include drying method, materials handling equipment, energy cost, facility arrangement, labor requirements, grain quality and management ability. Only through a comparison of facilities which offer similar capacity, capability and convenience can the purchaser obtain his best system.

Effect Of Heated Air Drying On Soybean Oil Quality, Douglas G. Overhults, G. M. White, H. E. Hamilton, I. J. Ross, J. D. Fox

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Drought Effects On Wheat Cultivars Using Trickle Irrigation, R N. Weir

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 74M32 - The trial was aimed at - 1. Looking for cultivar differences in drought tolerance: particularly involving Gamenya and Insignia. 2. Considering trickle irrigation as a means of controlled water application. Four cultivars were sown at the end of July in salmon gum soil at Merredin. Drought effects on four wheat cultivars in controlled environment Trial 74GL8 - This work was aimed at assessing the performance of the cultivars Gamenya, Gambee, Darkan and Insignia under controlled moisture stress.

Drying Soybeans With Heated Air, Douglas G. Overhults, G. M. White, H. E. Hamilton, I. J. Ross

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Agricultural Aircraft Equipment, N. Shafer

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Circulars

This bulletin gives a detailed account of the installation, operation, and performance of spray dispersal equipment as tested on the Piper PA-18A airplane. Equipment is also applicable to other types of agricultural aircraft now being used. A list of various aircraft equipment and where it can be obtained is included.

Aircraft In Agriculture, N. E. Shafer, J. D. Furrer, J. W. Lomax

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Circulars

Airplanes were first used in agriculture shortly after the close of World War I. They proved valuable for locating mosquito breeding areas, for forest fire patrol work, as an aid in locating outlaw cotton fields in the campaign against pink bollworm, and for surveying damage caused in large forested areas by the spruce budworm.

Adjusting Planters And Listers For Sorghums, L. W. Hurlbut

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Circulars

It is the purpose of this circular to present data and suggestions that will aid the farmer in attaining greater success in the planting of sorghum. It has been prepared primarily for the machine operator; and, although it is not a complete discussion of planters and listers, it contains highly practical suggestions regarding the adjustment of the corn planter and lister for sorghum seed.

The Conservation Of Soil Moisture By Means Of Subsoil Plowing, T. L. Lyon

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

Covers the conservation of soil moisture by means of subsoil plowing.