Research Papers/Topics in Agricultural Engineering

Wrap-and-plant technology to manage sustainably potato cyst nematodes in East Africa

Abstract: Renewable eco-friendly options for crop protection are fundamental in achieving sustainable agriculture. Here, we demonstrate the use of a biodegradable lignocellulosic banana-paper matrix as a seed wrap for the protection of potato plants against potato cyst nematode (PCN), Globodera rostochiensis. Potato cyst nematodes are devastating quarantine pests of potato globally. In East Africa, G. rostochiensis has recently emerged as a serious threat to potato production. Wrapping seed ...

Parallel construction of Random Forest on GPU

Abstract: There is tremendous growth of data generated from different industries, i.e., health, agriculture, engineering, etc. Consequently, there is demand for more processing power. Compared to computer processing units, general-purpose graphics processing units (GPUs) are rapidly emerging as a promising solution to achieving high performance and energy efficiency in various computing domains. Multiple forms of parallelism and complexity in memory access have posed a challenge in developin...

Influence of Solar-Exhaust Gas Greenhouse Drying Modes on Viability of Black Nightshade Seeds

In this study, three distinct and unique modes of greenhouse drying are introduced: solar, solar-exhaust gas, and exhaust gas modes of drying. The effect of drying black nightshade seeds in the three modes was studied, using germinability as a measure of quality. In solar mode, seeds were dried from a moisture content of 89.34% (db) to 7.13% (db) with the greenhouse dryer room air temperature range of 14.82-58.46°C and relative humidity of 9.40-88.03%. In solar-exhaust gas mode drying was pe...

Evaluation of Thin Layer Models for Simulating Drying Kinetics of Black Nightshade Seeds in a Solar-Exhaust Gas Greenhouse Dryer

Abstract: The current study aimed to use, besides solar, waste heat from exhaust gas of a diesel engine operated for milling of grain, to dry black nightshade seeds. Assessment of thin layer models for simulating drying kinetics of black nightshade seeds was performed in a solar-exhaust gas greenhouse dryer operated on solar; solar-exhaust gas; and exhaust gas modes. In solar mode, seeds took 11 hours to reach a final moisture content of 7.13% (db) from an initial one of 89.34% (db). In solar...

Performance Assessment of Hybrid Recuperative Heat Exchanger for Diesel Engine Generated Exhausted Gas

Abstract: In this study, the use of supplemental heat energy from exhaust gas of a stationary diesel engine was assessed to explore a new method of drying black nightshade seeds in a solar-exhaust gas greenhouse dryer. The energy recovery potential of a hybrid recuperative heat exchanger (HRHE) was demonstrated with the objective of utilizing the recovered energy from an engine on milling operations to heat a fluid stream of drying air. The results show that 4.45 kW of thermal energy was avai...

APPLICATION OF VIBRATION TECHNIQUE FOR THE CONTROL OF SPROUTING IN YAM (Dioscorea spp.) DURING STORAGE

Early sprouting of yam tuber is a typical problem during storage resulting into weight losses, deterioration, shrinkage and reduction in quality. This study investigated the application of vibration technique to control sprouting in yam tubers during storage. A mechanical yam vibrator having adjustable frequencies and amplitudes was developed with vibrating chamber of capacity size of 670 × 570 × 180 mm3 which can contain four tubers of yam at a time. The physical properties (length, n...

New Methods of Removing Debris and High Throughput Counting of Cyst Nematode Eggs Extracted from Field Soil

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is the most damaging pathogen of soybeans in the United States. To assess the severity of nematode infestations in the field, SCN egg population densities are determined. Cysts (dead females) of the nematode must be extracted from soil samples and then ground to extract the eggs within. Sucrose centrifugation commonly is used to separate debris from suspensions of extracted nematode eggs. We present a method using OptiPrep as a density gra...

Root Chip for Growth and Imaging of Arabidopsis Plants

  We describe a microfluidic platform that can be used to study the hydroponic growth of Arabidopsis plants with high-resolution visualization of root development and root-pathogen interactions. The platform comprises a set of parallel microchannels with individual input/output ports, where 1-day old germinated seedlings are initially placed. Under optimal conditions, a root system grows in each microchannel and its images are recorded over a 198-h period. Different concentrations of plant g...

Plant Chip for Simultaneous Root growth and Root Imaging

  We describe a microfluidic platform that can be used to study the hydroponic growth of Arabidopsis plants with high-resolution visualization of root development and root-pathogen interactions. The platform comprises a set of parallel microchannels with individual input/output ports, where 1-day old germinated seedlings are initially placed. Under optimal conditions, a root system grows in each microchannel and its images are recorded over a 198-h period. Different concentrations of plant g...

Magnetic Field effects on Saccharomyces cerevisiae for fermentation in bioethanol production

In this study, two sets of experiments were conducted in order to investigate the impact of static magnetic fields on the growth and ethanol production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The first experiment ran for 25 hours with a 2% dextrose loading rate, while the second ran for 30 hours with a 6% dextrose loading rate. The magnetic fields used were homogeneous and non-homogeneous, with strengths of 100 mT and 200 mT, respectively. The results showed that the homogenous magnetic field had no sig...

Rainfall and Evaporation Data Analysis for the Prediction of Hydrological Design Parameters Under Nsukka Tropical Climate

TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I 4.0 Data availability probletn in agricultural Engineering designs in Nigeria - - - - - - - - I 1.1 Significance of the project - - - - - - - - - 6 1.2 Statement of objectives - - - - - - - - - - - 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITFfiTURE REVIEW - - -- - - - - - - - - 8 Analysis of 2ainfuli Data - - - - - - - - - - - 8 Frequency Analysis - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9 Probability Analysis - - - - - - - - - - - - - I1 Water Requirement ...

Performance Evaluation on the Utilization of an Established Variable Amplitude and Frequency of Vibrating Container for Potential Application in Slowing Down Sprouting in Yam

A variable amplitude and frequency of mechanical vibrating container working on cam and follower mechanism have been established. This study carried out a performance evaluation on the utilization of the established vibrating container for potential application in slowing down sprouting in yam. The vibrating container is electrically operated and a variable speed electric motor of 15, 000 rpm was selected for the machine. The performance parameters of the established mechanical vibrating cont...

A Computer Model for Irrigation Water Indenting and Optimization of Minor Canal Operation

ABSTRACT This study was carried out with objectives of developing a proper decision aid for irrigation indenting of multiple crop rotation based on Penman- Montieth equation( 1994) and amenable for the format of meteorological data of the Sudan. Consequently the study developed a mathematical simulation of canal operation for the purpose of optimization of water allocation within such a canal. Linear programming algorithm was made to optimize irrigation water allocation between different outl...

Selection and Development of Suitable Mathematical Model for Evaluation and Improvement of Furrow Irrigation

TABLE OF CONTENT i االية Dedication ii Acknowledgment iii Abbreviations iv Abstract vi viii الملخص Table of content x List of tables xiii List of figures xiv CHAPTER ONE 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Study scope 4 1.3 Problem descriptions 4 1.4 Study objectives 5 1.4.1 Main objective 5 1.4.2 Specific objectives 5 CHAPTERTWO 6 2.1 Introduction 6 2.2 Materials and method 9 2.2.1 Field preparation 9 2.2.2 Field Measurements 11 2.3Result and dissection 15 CHAPTER THREE 22 xi 3.1 Introductio...

The Causes And Effects Of Soil Degradation: A Case Study Of Kombewa Division, Kisumu District, Kenya

TABLE OF CONTENTSCONTENTS PAGEDeclarationApprovalDedicationAcknowledgements ivTable of contents vList of tables viList of acronyms viiCHAPTER ONEINTRODUCTIONBackgroundProblem statementObjectives 3Research questions 4Limitations of the study 4VCHAPTER TWOLiterature review 5Soil degradationCauses of soil degradation 5Nutrient depletion sSoil erosion 7Overgrazing 7Poor agricultural practices 8Population pressure 9Effects of soil degradation 9On-site Effects 10Off-site Effects 11CHAPTER THREEMATE...


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