Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Fertigation Techniques For Different Irrigation Methods, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

- The irrigation method influences whether or not chemicals must be injected at a constant rate.
- The irrigation method influences the optimum duration of chemical injection.
- Chemical injection rates may inadvertently vary during an irrigation set for many reasons: improper mixing, system flow rate fluctuations, and system pressure fluctuations
- Drip systems must account for the disposal of filter flush water.

Irrigation Water Conservation - Benefits And Tradeoffs, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Water conservation must be examined within the context of a water balance for a zone of specified boundaries. On-farm conservation may not result in basin conservation, and may actually damage water supplies within the basin, especially if groundwater supplies dwindle. Conservation must also take place with recognition of water rights, and therefore concepts such as Irrigation Efficiency and Irrigation Sagacity must be well understood. Because of the diversity of hydrology, there is no single menu of water management improvements which are applicable in all cases. In the future, more emphasis will be placed upon improving crop yields with a given …

Essential Water Delivery Policies For Modern On-Farm Irrigation Management, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Successful on‐farm irrigation scheduling requires that water delivery projects adopt a service concept, and that water deliveries be made with a high degree of reliability. An arranged delivery schedule and seasonal volumetric allocations are additional requirements. Until these conditions are met, attempts to implement modem on‐farm irrigation scheduling techniques to maximize water use efficiency and yields will be only partially successful.

Guidelines For Establishing Irrigation Scheduling Policies, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Successful on-farm irrigation scheduling requires that water delivery projects adopt a service concept, and that water deliveries be made with a high degree of reliability. An arranged delivery schedule and seasonal volumetric allocations are additional requirements. Until these conditions are met, attempts to implement modern on-farm irrigation scheduling techniques to maximize water use efficiency, and to maximize yields will be only partially successful.

Identification And Quantification Of Efficiency And Uniformity Components, Charles M. Burt, Albert J. Clemmens, Kenneth H. Solomon

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Proper usage of irrigation performance indicators such as uniformity and efficiency require standardized definitions and equations, specification of vertical and horizontal boundaries, inclusion of all pertinent components, and accurate measurement and estimation of those components. The quantification of some critical components is a challenge, and errors always exist.

Fertigation - The Next Frontier, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Just as irrigation dealers presently should specify pressure relief valves and air vents on all pipelined irrigation systems, future irrigation designs will incorporate a new generation of FERTIGATION (fertilization through the irrigation system) hardware. And farmers will use sophisticated techniques to monitor plant nutrient status and to determine the proper level of nutrients to spoon feed through fertigation.

Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District: Variable Frequency Drive Study, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This report was conducted to study the pump station operation at Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District (DEID) after the installation of a variable frequency drive (VFD) control. The district is currently involved with the California Energy Commission's low-interest loan program for the installation of VFD units on their pump stations near Delano, California. Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District is a special water district organized under Division 11 of the California Water Code and encompasses 56,500 acres in Southern Tulare County and Northern Kern County. DEID has 18 individual pumping stations. DEID installed VFDs on key pumps at three different plants (D-3, D-12, and D-14).

Response Of Ideally Controlled Canals To Downstream Withdrawals, Charles M. Burt, T. S. Strelkoff, J. L. Deltour

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Models For Association Of Metal Ions With Heterogeneous Envimnmeatal Sorbents. 1 . Complexation Of Co(Ll) By Leonardiie Humic Acid As A Function Of Ph And Nac104 Concentration, John Westall, John Jones, Gary Turner, John M. Zachara

United States Department of Energy: Publications

A discrete log K spectrum model has been developed to represent the binding of protons and Co(II) to leonardite humic acid (LHA) over a wide variation of solution composition: pH 4.5-9.5, [NaC1O₄] 0.01 - 0.1 M, T_Co 200 nM-500 µM. The model is internally selfconsistent over the range indicated without an explicit electrostatic term. The LHA was represented by four acid sites (HL_i = H⁺ + L_i^-) with a fixed pK_a spectrum: pK_a = 4, 6, 8, and 10. From the acid base titration data, total concentrations of these sites …

Solid Waste Disposal Site Characterization Using Non-Intrusive Electromagnetic Survey Techniques And Geostatistics, Gary N. Kuhn, Wayne E. Woldt, David D. Jones, Dennis D. Schulte

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Prior to the research reported in this paper, a site-specific hydrogeologic investigation was developed for a closed solid waste facility in Eastern Nebraska using phased subsurface characterizations. Based on the findings of this prior investigation, a surface based geoelectric survey using electromagnetic induction to measure subsurface conductivity was implemented to delineate the vertical and horizontal extent of buffed waste and subsurface contamination. This technique proved to be a key non-intrusive, cost-effective element in the refinement of the second phase of the hydrogeologic investigation.

Three-dimensional ordinary kriging was used to estimate conductivity values at unsampled locations. These estimates were utilized to …

Effectiveness Of Vegetative Filter Strips In Controlling Losses Of Surface-Applied Poultry Litter Constituents, Indrajeet Chaubey, Dwayne R. Edwards, Tommy C. Daniel, Philip A. Moore Jr., D. Jeff Nichols

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Vegetative filter strips (VFS) have been shown to have high potential for reducing nonpoint source pollution from cultivated agricultural source areas, but information from uncultivated source areas amended with poultry litter is limited. Simulated rainfall was used in analyzing effects of VFS length (0, 3.1, 6.1, 9.2, 15.2, and 21.4 m) on quality of runoff from fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plots (1.5 x 24.4 m) amended with poultry litter (5 Mg/ha). The VFS reduced mass transport of ammonia-nitrogen (NH₃-N), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ortho-phosphorus (PO₄-P), total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended …

Atrazine And Alachlor Dissipation Rates From Field Experiments, Stephen R. Workman, Andrew D. Ward, Norman R. Fausey, Sue E. Nokes

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Chemical transport is being monitored in the root zone of three agricultural management systems at the Ohio Management Systems Evaluation Area (OMSEA). Atrazine and alachlor concentration data from soil cores taken to a depth of 0.9 m and partitioned into the increments of 0.0 to 0.15, 0.15 to 0.3, 0.45 to 0.6, and 0.75 to 0.9 m show the herbicides remained in the top 0.15 m of the profile during the 1991 and 1992 growing seasons. The slow movement of herbicides was partly due to below normal rainfall during the period. Since the herbicides have not been transported out of …

Flood Gates For Agricultural Fences, Larry W. Turner

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

Flood gates are needed wherever fences cross ditches, gullies, and streams. They prevent livestock from swimming or crawling under the fence, and prevent debris from forming a dam that might wash out the fence or back up water to flood fields or other property.

Safe Movement Of Farm Equipment On Public Roads, Larry R. Piercy

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

The increasing size of farming operations brings with it an increased movement of equipment on the road. As road travel increases so does the potential for serious highway accidents. The most frequent accidents are collisions with other motor vehicles and loss of control which often leads to tractor over-turns. As an operator of farm equipment, your use of the proper safety equipment and good driving practices will greatly reduce the risk of an accident.

Program Guide: Fire Extinguishers: Protection For The Home And Farm, Larry R. Piercy

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

The right kind of fire extinguisher conveniently located and properly used can greatly reduce the potential losses from a fire. However, the user must have a knowledge of the common types of extinguishers, the types of fires for which they are safe and effective and the proper operating procedures.

Program Guide: Smoke Detectors Can Save Your Life, Larry R. Piercy

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

Smoke detectors have the potential of greatly reducing the number of deaths resulting from home fires and at a very reasonable cost to the consumer. Yet some homes still do not have smoke detectors installed or do not have a sufficient number to provide a minimum level of protection.

Program Guide: A Home Fire Escape Plan, Larry R. Piercy

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

A home fire escape plan and regular practice with fire exit drills are essential for protecting a family from the potential disaster of a home fire. When a fire occurs, it is critical that everybody knows what to do, and through practice they have the know-how and confidence to do it.

The Influence Of Uranyl Hydrolysis And Multiple Site-Binding Reactions On Adsorption Of U(Vi) To Montmorillonite, James P. Mckinley, John M. Zachara, Steven C. Smith, Gary D. Turner

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Adsorption of uranyl to SWy- 1 montmorillonite was evaluated experimentally and results were modeled to identify likely surface complexation reactions responsible for removal ofuranyl from solution. Uranyl was contacted with SWy- 1 montmorillonite in a NaC104 electrolyte solution at three ionic strengths (I = 0.001, 0.01, 0.1), at pH 4 to 8.5, in a N_2(g) atmosphere. At low ionic strength, adsorption decreased from 95% at pH 4 to 75% at pH 6.8. At higher ionic strength, adsorption increased with pH from initial values less than 75%; adsorption edges for all ionic strengths coalesced above a pH of 7. A …

Kemod: A Mixed Chemical Kinetic And Equilibrium Model Of Aqueous And Solid Phase Geochemical Reactions, G. T. Yeh, G. A. Iskra, J. E. Szecsody, John M. Zachara, G. P. Streile

United States Department of Energy: Publications

This report presents the development of a mixed chemical Kinetic and Equilibrium MODel (KEMOD), in which every chemical species can be treated either as a equilibrium-controlled or as a kinetically controlled reaction. The reaction processes include aqueous complexation, adsorption/ desorption, ion exchange, precipitation/dissolution, oxidation/reduction, and acid/base reactions. Further development and modification of KEMOD can be made in: (1) inclusion of species switching solution algorithms, (2) incorporation of the effect of temperature and pressure on equilibrium and rate constants, and (3) extension to high ionic strength.

Alternative Approaches To On-Farm Research And Technology Exchange, Charles A. Francis, Victoria Mundy, Rhonda Janke, James King

CARI Extension and Education Materials for Sustainable Agriculture

Decision Case Studies are Ideal for On-Farm Research by R. Kent Crookston (University of Minnesota)

Use of On-Farm Research by Farmers for Technology Development and Transfer by Stewart Wuest, Baird Miller, Stephen Guy, Russ Karow, Rojer Veseth, and Donald Wysocki (Washington State University, University of Idaho, and Oregon State University)

Best Information for Choosing Crop Varieties by Dale Hicks and Robert Stucker (University of Minnesota)

Adaptability Analysis for Diverse Environments by Peter Hildebrand and John Russell (University of Florida and Washington State University)

Complementary Abilities and Objectives in On-Farm Research by Derrick Exner (Iowa State University)

Credibility of On-Farm Research …

Regional Variation In Temperature Humidity Index For Poultry Housing, Richard S. Gates, Hanzhong Zhang, Donald G. Colliver, Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A building thermal model was used to compute hourly values of temperature humidity index (THI) for a broiler house with and without an evaporative misting system. Hourly summer time weather data for 238 U.S.A. locations covering 30 years were used to develop extreme occurrences of THI. Results were incorporated into a Geographical Information System (GIS) database to create isolines of THI and percentage of hours exceeding a heat stress threshold. Regional variations in misting as a suitable cooling technique are presented in terms of hours reduction in annual heat stress. The technique may be used for assisting in management decisions …

Study Of The Time Efficiency And Volume Of Wood Used For Three Types Of Stove In The Salitrón Community Of San Juan Ermita, Department Of Chiquimula, Fredy Samuel Coronado López

Theses and Dissertations

In developing countries such as Guatemala, firewood is increasingly being used for cooking in most rural areas. Consequently, there is a shortage of firewood in these areas beca use trees do not grow at the same rate as they are consumed. Some authors report that 90% of the heat from firewood is lost during combustion. Several alternatives to open pit fires exist to reduce the amount of firewood used. However, these alternatives need to be evaluated to determine their efficiency. This project compared the time efficiency and volume of firewood used in the Finlandia style improved stoves, Josefina stoves, and …

Mn-Catalyzed Oxidation Of Multiple-Ringed Aromatics, G. Whelan, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

The role of manganese (Mn) oxides in catalyzing the abiotic oxidation of polynuclear aromatic compounds (PNAs) has been investigated by monitoring the oxidation of dihydrodiol and dione PNAs and corresponding reduction of Mn in an aqueous environment. 1,4-, 1,3-, and 2,3-naphthalenediol, 1,4-naphthoquinone, and l,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthracenedione (Quinizarin) were oxidized in an oxic, aqueous environment, where each of these organic compounds is soluble in water, except Quinizarin. A mathematical model is presented, which describes the redox reactions, and suggests that electron transfer/organic release from the oxide surface is rate limiting with the reaction apparently proceeding through a free-radical formation. Results indicate significant oxidation …

Treatment Of Pentachlorophenol With Manganese Oxide Addition To Biotic And Abiotic Sediments, R. Petrie, J. E. Mclean, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Laboratory microcosms containing subsamples of a complex environmental sediment were used to evaluate the addition of oxidized manganese as the primary electron acceptor in the presence of pentachlorophenol (PCP) as the primary electron donor. Manganese oxide (MnO₂) particles were added to poisoned abiotic and non-poisoned biotic microcosms and incubated at 11°C in the presence of sediment samples that were shown capable of mineralizing PCP with indigenous microorganisms. Reduction in PCP concentration and production of reduced manganese was measured for both abiotic and biotic systems.

PCP was observed to be transformed most rapidly and to the greatest extent in …

Evaluation Of Biological Treatability Of Soil Contaminated With Manufactured Gas Plant Waste, J. S. Ginn, Ronald C. Sims, I. P. Murarka

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

The biological treatability of subsurface soil contaminated with manufactured gas plant (MGP) waste was evaluated. Mineralization assays incorporating ¹⁴C-phenanthrene were used to evaluate the biotransformation potential of indigenous microorganisms at the site. Multi-phase laboratory microcosms were used to evaluate the interphase transfer potential and chemical mass distribution of phenanthrene. The Microtox™ bioassay was used to evaluate detoxification trends at the site. Mineralization results indicated that indigenous microorganisms at the site were capable of transforming phenanthrene, a component of coal-tar creosote. Results also indicated that spiked ¹⁴C-phenanthrene mineralization was influenced by nutrient addition and by the amount of contamination. …

Mn-Catalyzed Oxidation Of Naphthalenediol, G. Whelan, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

This study investigates the effects that manganese(IV) dioxide particles have on 2,3-naphthalenediol at varying pH levels (i.e., initial pH of 4.58, 5.85, and 8.75) and under different organic concentration conditions (4×¹⁰⁻³, 4×¹⁰⁻⁴, and 4×¹⁰⁻⁵ M), and assesses the importance of Mn oxides on abiotic catalysis of the multiple-ringed aromatic compound. Proton concentration affected the rates of reductive dissolution; as the pH values increased, the rate of reductive dissolution decreased, as predicted by theory. Also, as the concentration of naphthalenediol increased, the rate of reductive dissolution increased, although not proportionally; thus indicating that a majority of …