Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Finite Element Modeling Of Long-Term Phosphorus Leaching Through Macropores In The Ozark Ecoregion, Ryan P. Freiberger, Derek M. Heeren, Garey A. Fox, Chad J. Penn, Dean E. Eisenhauer

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Phosphorus (P) is a critical nutrient for plant growth in agriculture, but is also responsible for surface water enrichment that leads to toxic algal growth. While P loading to surface waters has traditionally been thought to occur from surface runoff, contributions from subsurface transport can also be significant. While P transport through many soil types is well-documented, the presence of highly conductive gravel outcrops and macropore networks can have a significant, yet poorly-documented effect on P movement to the aquifer. Floodplain soils in the Ozark ecoregion generally contain coarse chert gravel layers that exhibit macropore behavior. Previous research has evaluated …

Vehicle Multi-Pass Rut Volume And Mobility Power Study, William W. Barbour

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

This paper presents the relationship between applied power by a wheeled vehicle to soil and the rutting effects. Specifically, a strong positive relationship was found between cumulative applied power and total rut volume across multiple passes by the vehicle over the same tracks. Field-testing was conducted using a high-mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) and two distinct soil types. Sensors on the vehicle measured torque and angular velocity of each of the four wheels, from which applied power was calculated. A rut profile meter was used to document the shape of the rut after set numbers of passes and this profile …

Micro-Irrigation Design For Avocado Orchard In California, Michael C. Meyer

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This project encompasses the design and recommendations for a micro-irrigation system on an avocado orchard owned by Underwood Family Farms in Somis, California. The main objective of this report is to improve the existing irrigation system’s efficiency and uniformity with the new design and recommendations. The analysis includes information about good irrigation practices, irrigation system design and all the processes herein. Although there are many opinions on growing, irrigating and maintaining an avocado orchard, all of the methods, procedures and suggestions must be based on accurate data to provide reliable information to the grower. Evaluating the irrigation system and suggesting …

Redesign And Evaluation Of The Irrigation System For The Cal Poly Radio Hill Avocado Grove, Rob Hillebrecht

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Design, Construction And Analysis Of An Ag Equipment Trailer, Connor Mckean

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Crop Dryer Recirculation And Heat Recuperation, Ross Ribeiro

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Evaluation, Installation, And Documentation Of Adcon Telemetry Stations Connected At Cal Poly, Shelsie Kloepper

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Design And Fabrication Of An Electric Aircraft Dolly, Kyler Zike

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Flap Gate Design And Implementations For Water Delivery Systems In California And Nevada, Kerilyn Ambrosini

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Pump Station Calculations And Irrigation System Evaluation For Trestle Vineyard, Linda Bushey

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Design, Testing, And Development Of An Internal Combustion Engine Throttle Controller, Michael Burlingame

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Design And Analysis Of The Brae Tractor Pull Tow Vehicle, Alexander R. Paulsen

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the design and analysis of a towing vehicle for the tractor pulling team and the BRAE department. This report examines different types of existing hand operated towing vehicles and their strengths and weaknesses and how they can be modified to design a custom tow vehicle for the BRAE department. The purpose of this report was to make transporting and handling of the modified pulling tractors in the BRAE department safer for the operator and bystanders.

Atv Mountable Tree Planting Station, Bradley M. Rogers

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Design And Evaluation Of An Irrigation Storage Reservoir, James Tomac

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Modification Of A Draw Bar Type Arena Harrow To Three Point Mounted Type Harrow, Clayton Alan Brown

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project will be the design, and construction of a three point hitch to be attached to a draw bar type spike tooth harrow. Currently used by the Cal Poly Rodeo Team to cultivate their arena before performances, and practices.

The attachment will allow the harrow to be pulled in both directions to create different types of soil affects.

Also the fabrications has a minimal budget so the majority of the materials will be scrap material already in position of the rodeo team or donated to the project.

Design, Construction, And Evaluation Of An Rc Vehicle Dynamometer, Christian Marron

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Installation Plan For An Automatic Fresh Water Ball Valve For The Dairy Unit Flush Tank At California Polytechnic State University, Garret James Rowley

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this senior project was to plan for the installation of an automatic fresh water valve at the Dairy Unit at California Polytechnic State University. This new valve will replace the existing manual gate valve that repeatedly overfills the tank. The data and research was completed in order to assess the projects feasibility and installation needs. This project outlines the steps needed to be taken in order to install the valve, as well provides a detailed explanation on why this installation is pertinent.

Project Proposal And Development Plan For A New Security Gate At Swanton Pacific Ranch, K. Morgan Perry

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to develop a prototype gate for Cal Poly’s Swanton Pacific Ranch in Santa Cruz, CA. Swanton Pacific Ranch requested that the author design and build a 21’x5’ single-retractable gate for Swanton Pacific Ranch to help decrease the security issues that have recently arisen at the facility. The design and format of this project are focused towards the desires and goals set forth by Swanton Pacific Ranch and the Operations Manager, Steve Auten in order to obtain a certain outcome. This project provides an outline of what needs to be done in order to produce …

Design, Testing, And Evaluation Of Stands To Facilitate Tractor Clutch Repairs, Nathan Sperling

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Design, Construction And Analysis Of A Conveyor System For Drying Seasoned Snack Almonds, Nick Civetz

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Design, Construction, And Evaluation Of A Cotton Module Tarp Roller, Bradon Spain

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Feasibility Of Water Reuse In Solano County, Dakari Barksdale

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Design, Fabrication And Analysis Of A Utility Strip For Light Utility Trucks, Ian D. Hare

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the design and fabrication of a utility strip for a light utility truck. The utility strip is desirable for off road enthusiasts with its double use as a dirt bike ramp as well as a traction strip. This report will show the cost of materials as well as labor, and if it is feasible for mass production.

Tests were conducted which indicated that the Utility Strip was able to support the weight of a dirt bike as a ramp, as well as regain traction to a two-wheel drive truck stuck in the sand. This product can …

Design And Construction Of A Feeding System For A Pellet Mill, Jeremy Mahrt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Determining Forage Intake Of Nursing Calves Grazing Native Sandhills Rangeland, Jennifer A. Walker

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Effective management of grazing lands is important for longevity and productivity. Accurate calculations of stocking rates per animal unit will aid in long term sustainability. Calculating stocking rates for cattle can prove challenging for cows and nursing calves. Limited research has been conducted to determine forage intake of the nursing calf pre-weaning. The objective of Trial 1 was to determine nursing calf forage intake over time until weaning. Trial 1 used 8 crossbred cow-calf pairs in experiment 1 and 12 pairs in experiment 2. Pairs were separated into two groups rotating between grazing upland range or housed in individual pens …

Pressure Recorders: Low-Cost, Robust, Low-Battery-Use Field Measurement Techniques For Trending Water Pressure, Stuart Styles, Kerilyn Ambrosini

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Water users across California need robust, low-cost water level/pressure sensors with integrated data loggers for a high level of precision and accuracy. The Cal Poly Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) has installed Telog Instruments devices in California and Nevada over the last 12 years to provide a performance review of the devices. The two devices focused on were the Telog Instruments WLS-31 Level Tracker and LPR-31i Line Pressure Recorder. Over the study period, ITRC has collected several sets of data in varying situations. After 11 years of use on a reservoir, the two Telog WLS-31 units had a 1% …

Investigating Antibiotic Resistance Levels Of Salmonella Internalized In Lettuce Leaves, Jason B. Thomas

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Contamination of food crops by the human pathogen Salmonella is a food safety threat worldwide. Though using treated wastewater for irrigation is a sustainable practice, it may introduce trace levels of Salmonella that may contaminate food crops. Salmonella could develop resistance to antibiotics present in wastewater. The overall goal of the project is to increase the understanding of the public health risk associated with the use of treated wastewater to irrigate food crops. The objective of this particular study is to determine the antibiotic resistance level of Salmonella internalized in lettuce leaves. In this experiment, thirty-six plants of the lettuce …

Lifecycle Assessment Of Microalgae To Biofuel: Thermochemical Processing Through Hydrothermal Liquefaction Or Pyrolysis, Edward P. Bennion

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Microalgae have many desirable attributes as a renewable energy recourse. These include use of poor quality land, high yields, and it is not a food recourse. This research focusses on the energetic and environmental impact of processing microalgae into a renewable diesel. Two thermochemical bio-oil recovery processes are analyzed, pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). System boundaries include microalgae growth, dewatering, thermochemical bio-oil recovery, bio-oil stabilization, conversion to renewable diesel, and transportation to the pump. Two system models were developed, a small-scale experimental and an industrial-scale. The small-scale system model is based on experimental data and literature. The industrial-scale system model …

Principles And Operational Characteristics Of Watermark Granular Matrix Sensor To Measure Soil Water Status And Its Practical Applications For Irrigation Management In Various Soil Textures, Suat Irmak, Jose O. Payero, Brandy Vandewalle, Jenny Rees, Gary Zoubek

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Technology implementation in agricultural water management can significantly enhance crop water productivity and result in soil, water, and energy conservation. Over the years a number of newer and cost-effective technologies/tools have been developed to measure soil water status. Deciding which technique should be used depends on the purpose of the measurements, soil and crop conditions, desired accuracy, cost and durability of the sensor, ease of operation and interpretation of the data, and other factors.

This Extension Circular defines soil matric potential and describes principles and operational characteristics of one of the electrical resistance-type soil moisture sensors for irrigation management. It …

Design & Evaluation Of An Rfid Harvest Labor Tracking System, Sam Parnagian

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This project was the design and evaluation of a harvest labor tracking system through the use of RFID technology. This test will be performed for Fowler Packing Company with one citrus harvest crew. This system will allow each employee to be paid on an individual basis while also developing payroll in real-time. This project will save Fowler Packing money on a yearly basis by paying each employee for the actual work they do and increase the number of bins harvested per day by incentivizing harvest practices.