Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Estimating The Payback For An Electrical Vfd (Variable Frequency Drive) Application In A Pumping Plant Which Presently Spills Excess Pumpage, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This report includes equations and tips for pump selection criteria and estimating the annual KW-hr savings for a VFD installation, including the maximum potential savings and the approximate amount of KW-hr that would have been consumed if one pump had been converted to VFD.

Monolithic Concrete Irrigation Pipe, Charles M. Burt, John M. Wegener

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Monolithic concrete pipe (also known as "Cast-in-Place Concrete Pipe" (CIPCP) or Cast-In-Place Pipe (CIPP)) is widely used in some regions for purposes such as storm, sewer, or irrigation pipelines. The earliest use of CIPCP was in 1922 in the Turlock Irrigation District of California. It is reported by The Sierra Group (Sierra, 1991) that there are over 15 million linear feet (4.6 million linear meters) of CIPCP under various applications. Nevertheless, many irrigation engineers, especially outside the U.S., are unaware of CIPCP. Monolithic concrete irrigation pipe is seldom mentioned in irrigation design literature. This paper has been written to familiarize …

Grassland Basin Irrigation And Drainage Study, Stuart W. Styles, Dennis Westcot, Dr. Charles M. Burt, Ross Steensen

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper summarizes a project that analyzed the district irrigation efficiency for six subareas of the Grassland Basin roughly representing 80,000 acres on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley near Firebaugh, California. The objectives of this project were to: • Determine the district irrigation efficiency for the six subareas. • Update district drainage policies and water reuse. • Update the geographical information system (GIS). • Perform a pre-plant irrigation efficiency analysis. • Establish a relationship between the drainage volumes and the district irrigation efficiency. • Determine the maximum district irrigation efficiency attainable. • Determine the impact of optimizing …

Evaluating Strength & Energy Requirements For Workers Picking Vegetables, R. A. Cavaletto, J. Miles, J. Meyers, J. Mehlschau

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The paper discusses the need to obtain field data to evaluate the strength and energy requirements for workers picking a variety of vegetables. This information is central to the evaluation of hazards related to repetitive motion, excessive stress, and fatigue. Results can be used to select activities which should be targeted for future engineering design projects. Preliminary data from a commercial broccoli harvesting operation is included.

High Shear Mixing Reactor For Glycerolysis, Hossein Noureddini

Papers in Biomaterials

lnrcreased ervironmental awareness and depletion of resources are driving industry to develop aiternative fuels from renewable resources that are environmentally more acceptable. Esters of fatty acids (biodiesel), derived from the transesterification of vegetable oils, have properties similar to cornponents of petroleum based diesel fuel. Cost has been a major factor in slowing down the commercialization of biodiesel. In order to improve the economy of this process two factors were investigated in this study: 1) use of beef tallow as raw material and 2) by-product utilization.

Glycerol is the by-product of the esterification process. In this work the feasibility of the …

Method And Apparatus For Objective Evaluation Of Patent Ambulation, Balance And Weight Bearng Status, Eric B. Lancaster, Michael F. Kocher

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

A walker is provided which is equipped with detectors for measuring various loads and torques placed thereon by a user including right side and left side loads as well as torque loads on the handles of the walker and having time and distance detectors to allow the ambulation status of a user to be progressively monitored by medical personnel.

Adsorption-Dissolution Reactions Affecting The Distribution And Stability Of Coii Edta In Iron Oxide-Coated Sand, James E. Szecsody, John M. Zachara, Patrick Bruckhart

United States Department of Energy: Publications

The time-variant chemical behavior of Co^IIEDTA (and other metal-EDTA complexes) was investigated in suspensions of iron oxide-coated sand to identify equilibrium and kinetic reactions that control the mobility of Me^IIEDTA complexes in subsurface environments. Batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the adsorption as a function of pH, concentration, and time and to quantify the rate-controlling step(s) of dissolution of the iron oxide by EDTA complexes. Ionic Co²⁺ exhibited typical cation-like adsorption, whereas Me^IIEDTA adsorption was ligand-like, increasing with decreasing pH. Adsorption isotherms for all reactive species exhibited Langmuir behavior, with site saturation occurring …

Interaction Of Hydrophobic Organic Compounds With Mineral-Bound Humic Substances, Ellyn M. Murphy, John M. Zachara, Steven Smith, Jerry Phillips, Thomas Wletsma

United States Department of Energy: Publications

The sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOC) on mineral-associated peat humic acid (PHA) was evaluated under different pH and electrolyte regimes. Relative size distribution measurements indicated that PHA was “coiled” in solution at high ionic strength (I) and elongated at low I. The sorption of PHA to hematite and kaolinite varied with I and electrolyte cation, suggesting that the configuration of the humic acid in solution influenced its structure on the mineral surface. The sorption maxima for PHA on kaolinite indicated that PHA occupies twice the mineral surface area at low I (0.005) as that observed at …

Light, Chlorophyll, Carboxylase Activity And Co2 Fixation At Various Depths In The Chlorenchyma Of Opuntia Ficus-Indica (L.) Miller Under Current And Elevated Co2, Park S. Nobel, Muyi Cui, Alvaro A. Israel

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Mature cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller have a thick chlorenchyma (about 4 mm) with a relatively high chlorophyll content (0-65 g m^-2), suggesting that light may be greatly attenuated and hence CO₂ fixation negligible in the inner part of this tissue. Indeed, blue light (400-470 nm) and red light (670-685 nm) were 99% attenuated in the outer 2 mm of the chlorenchyma when the cladodes developed under both current and elevated CO₂ concentrations. Nevertheless, the nocturnal acidity increase and ¹⁴C accumulation following a brief exposure to ¹⁴CO₂ at night decreased only 22 …