Mathematical Modelling of Vacuum Pressure on a Precision Seeder

The purpose of this research was to determine the optimum vacuum pressure of a precision vacuum seeder and to develop mathematical models by using some physical properties of seeds such as one thousand kernel mass, projected area, sphericity and kernel density. Maize, cotton, soya bean, watermelon, melon, cucumber, sugarbeet and onion seeds were used in laboratory tests. One thousand kernel mass, projected area, sphericity and kernel density of seeds varied from 4·3 to 372·5 g, 5–77 mm², 38·4–85·8% and 440–1310 kg m⁻³, respectively. The optimum vacuum pressure was determined as 4·0 kPa for maize I and II; 3·0 kPa for cotton, soya bean and watermelon I; 2·5 kPa for watermelon II, melon and cucumber; 2·0 kPa for sugarbeet; and 1·5 kPa for onion seeds.The vacuum pressure was predicted by mathematical models. According to the results, the final model could satisfactorily describe the vacuum pressure of the precision vacuum seeder with a chi-square of 2·51×10⁻³, root mean square error of 2·74×10⁻² and modelling efficiency of 0·99.     

Genotypic Differences in Concentration and Bioavailability of Kernel‐Iron in Tropical Maize Varieties Grown Under Field Conditions

Abstract

Iron deficiency is estimated to affect over one‐half the world population. Improving the nutritional quality of staple food crops through breeding for high bioavailable iron represents a sustainable and cost effective approach to alleviating iron malnutrition. Forty‐nine late maturing tropical elite maize varieties were grown in a lattice design with two replications in three locations representing three agroecologies in West and Central Africa to identify varieties with high levels of kernel‐Fe. Bioavailable iron was assessed for some varieties selected for high Fe concentration in kernel and improved agronomic traits using an in vitro digestion/Caco‐2 cell model. Significant differences in kernel‐Fe and ‐zinc concentration were observed among varieties (P < 0.001). Kernel‐Fe levels ranged from 16.8 to 24.4 mg kg^?1, while kernel‐Zn levels ranged from 16.5 to 24.6 mg kg^?1. Environment did not have a significant effect on kernel‐iron and ‐zinc levels, but genotype by environment (G × E) interaction was highly significant. The genetic component accounted for 12% of the total variation in kernel‐Fe and 29% for kernel‐Zn levels. Kernel‐Fe was positively correlated with kernel‐Zn (R ² = 0.51, P < 0.0001). Significant differences in iron bioavailability were detected among selected Fe‐rich varieties grown at one location. Mean bioavailable Fe ranged between 30% below to 88% above the reference control variety. The results indicate that genetic differences exist in kernel‐Fe and ‐Zn concentrations and Fe bioavailability. These differences may be useful in biofortification intervention programs, but additional research is needed to determine the efficacy of iron‐rich maize varieties in alleviating iron deficiency in humans.     

Assessment of Boron Application in Chestnuts: Nut Yield and Quality

A field trial was conducted between 2006 and 2009 in order to quantify the effect of boron (B) application on the yield and quality of chestnuts. The trial was established in an acid soil derived from siliceous schist and two levels of B were applied. Fruit abortion and nut yield per tree were measured, and nut quality parameters and chemical composition of the kernel were determined. Foliar B concentration was 8.6 mg kg^?1 in the control trees and 48.4 mg kg^?1 in fertilized chestnuts. Boron improved fruit setting and promoted nut production by 77%. In 2008, the occurrence of cold temperatures enhanced the effect of B on fruit setting, which was four-fold, whereas with the normal temperatures of 2009 the increase was lower. The drought of 2009 was responsible for the ruinous chestnut caliber and shell cracking. Boron induced a significant increase in the crude fat of chestnut kernel.     

Effect of Hybrid and Physical Properties of Individual Popcorn Kernels on Expansion Volume

The relationships between expansion volume and physical properties of three varieties of popcorn kernels were investigated on a single kernel basis. Physical properties studied were kernel size, kernel sphericity, and kernel density. Methods of measuring densities and popped volumes of individual popcorn kernels were developed. Popcorn kernels were separated into seven kernel sizes by screening with round‐hole sieves. Thirty kernels from each of three kernel sizes (4.76 < D < 5.16, 5.56 < D < 5.95, 6.35 < D < 6.75 mm) of three popcorn varieties were individually measured for sphericity, density, and popped volume. Density and sphericity measures of popcorn kernels showed little variability. Variety, kernel sphericity, and kernel density had minor effects on expansion volume. Kernel size had no effect. There were no strong linear relationships (R² = 0.28) among expansion volume and physical properties of the three varieties of popcorn kernels. The variety with the highest mean density and the highest mean sphericity showed a tendency of producing higher mean expansion volumes.     

Analysis of the Thermal Energy Requirements for the Extraction of Leaf Protein Concentrate from some Green Plants

Extraction of protein from the leaves of green plants is very important because of the high cost of conventional forms of protein such as meat, milk and fish. In order to design machinery for this extraction, and also to embark on leaf protein concentrate extraction, it is necessary to measure and analyse the energy requirements to carry out each process involved in the extraction, using different plant species.Experiments were carried out to determine the amount of crude protein, and the thermal energy required to extract leaf protein concentrate, from juices obtained from the leaves of some plant species. Leaves from the following plants were selected: cassava (Manihot esculanta), Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata), bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), gliricidia (Gliricidia maculata) and thorny tree (Hura crepetans). The leaves from the plant species were macerated in a laboratory pulper. Juice was obtained from the samples using perforated cylinders and a hydraulic press. The specific heat capacity of the juices was determined using the cooling curve method. The values of the heat capacities were used to calculate the amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of each juice from its normal temperature of about 25°C to a total protein coagulation temperature of about 80°C. The crude protein content of the extract was determined using the Kjeldal method.Results indicate that the green coagulum extracted from all the juices all have a protein content of at least 37%. The thermal energy required to coagulate protein from the juices ranges from 1·59 kJ kg⁻¹ for Hura crepetans to 2·7 kJ kg⁻¹ for Vernonia amygdalina. The energy requirement to obtain crude protein (CP) ranges from 8 kJ kg⁻¹ [CP] with Hura crepetans to 182 kJ kg⁻¹ [CP] with Vernonia amygdalina. Both results are statistically significant at the 0·01 confidence interval. It is concluded that the choice of plant species can significantly lower the thermal energy requirement for the extraction of leaf protein concentrate.     

适宜核桃壳划口位置改善其破壳特性提高整仁率

针对目前传统单一的机械破壳方式存在的破壳率和整仁率难以平衡的问题,该文以预处理视角研究了对新疆核桃进行破壳前划口预处理的静态压力试验,试验结果表明,核桃划口预处理相比未处理核桃的破壳力和破壳形变量明显减小,整仁率明显增加;当核桃划口位置和施加载荷位置均在核桃肚部时,核桃破壳力和破壳形变量均明显减小,与未处理的核桃相比破壳力减小了139 N,减幅为38.4%;破壳形变量减小了0.37 mm,减幅为18.2%;利用三维扫描仪对研究对象进行三维建模,使其更接近物料实形,并实施模型核桃划口处理。有限元静力学分析结果表明:未划口处理的核桃,其壳体表面最大应变、应力和形变发生在加载位置;当加载力相同时,划口预处理条件下在核桃划口位置产生的应变、应力和形变量最大;当核桃划口位置和加载位置均在核桃肚部时,核桃壳表面产生的应变、应力和形变量均较大。该研究结果经验证与静态压力试验结果基本吻合。研究结果为核桃划口机和核桃破壳设备的研制提供理论支撑。     

PH—Postharvest Technology: Some Aspects of the Mechanical Properties of Shea Nut

Compression tests were carried out on pre-treated shea nuts to study the effects of moisture content, temperature and loading position on rupture force, deformation, toughness and firmness at the point of failure. All factors were examined and most of their interactions had significant effects on the measured para-meters at 0·05 level of significance. Rupture force and firmness decreased while deformation and toughness increased with increases in moisture content in both horizontal and vertical loading positions. The results provide useful data to be used by engineers in the design of suitable shea nut cracker.     

Phenotypic diversity and morphological characterization of Amygdalus L. species in Lebanon

In this paper, we report on morphological diversity of Amygdalus L. species native to Lebanon, following a countrywide survey of almond germplasm whereby a total of 149 accessions were collected throughout the country and characterized by thirteen quantitative and four qualitative traits. The results indicated that the genetic diversity of Amygdalus communis L., Amygdalus korshinskyi Hand.-Mazz., and Amygdalus orientalis Duh. in Lebanon is high. Principal component analysis revealed that nut weight, nut volume, nut width, kernel volume and shell strength had highest loading in the first component that accounted for 38.7% and 46.7% of total variation in A. communis and A. orientalis, respectively. In contrast, leaf traits were present in the second component which accounted for 18% and 23.2% of total variation in each species, respectively. No significant correlations were detected between leaf parameters and fruit traits in both species. The results indicated that quantitative leaf characters for all three species were determined by rainfall and not altitude whereby adjacent accessions located in drier areas had smaller leaf sizes than those located in more humid regions. Quantitative fruit characters did not seem to vary accordingly. Qualitative leaf traits in all three species reflected a variability which was independent of rainfall. A. communis populations showed high variability, suggesting that they could be a valuable source in almond improvement programs.     

Development and Performance Evaluation of a Water Hyacinth Chopper cum Crusher

A water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) chopper cum crusher was developed at College of Technology and Engineering, Udaipur, India to solve the problem of the bulk of freshly harvested water hyacinth during transportation. The performance of the chopper cum crusher was evaluated on the basis of its ability to reduce volume and weight of fresh water hyacinth. Two variables namely feed rate and knife speeds were studied. Relationships were developed between changes in specific volume, knife speed; percent weight loss and feed rates. Weight reduction studies showed that, with the increase in feed rate and knife speed, there was a decrease in weight loss. Maximum weight loss of 33·77% was achieved with the minimum feed rate of 1·0 t h⁻¹ and knife speed of 3·14 m s⁻¹. Regression models were developed to fit the data. The developed machine reduced the specific volume and weight of fresh water hyacinth by up to 64 and 31·54%, respectively, at the recommended feed rate of 1·0 t h⁻¹ and knife speed of 4·71 m s⁻¹.     

Vermicomposting of sewage sludge: Effect of bulking materials on the growth and reproduction of the earthworm Eisenia andrei

The effect of different residual bulking agents (paper, cardboard, grass clippings, pine needles, sawdust and food wastes) in mixtures with sewage sludge (1:1 dry weight) on the growth and reproduction of Eisenia andrei, Bouché 1972 was studied in smallscale laboratory experiments with batches of sixty earthworms. The maximum weight achieved and the highest growth rate were attained in the mixture with food waste (755±18 mg and 18.6±0.6 mg day⁻¹ respectively) whereas the smallest size and the lowest growth rate was achieved in the mixture of sewage sludge with sawdust (572±18 mg and 11±0.7 mg day⁻¹ respectively). The earthworms showed much higher reproductive rates in the paper and cardboard mixtures (2.82±0.39 and 3.19±0.30 cocoons earthworm⁻¹ week⁻¹ respectively) compared to the control with sewage sludge alone (0.05±0.01 cocoons earthworm⁻¹ week⁻¹).     

Comparison of modeling approaches to quantify residue architecture effects on soil temperature and water

RZ-SHAW is a hybrid model, comprised of modules from the Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model integrated into the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) that allows more detailed simulation of different residue types and architectures that affect heat and water transfer at the soil surface. RZ-SHAW allows different methods of surface energy flux evaluation to be used: (1) the SHAW module, where evapotranspiration (ET) and soil heat flux are computed in concert with a detailed surface energy balance; (2) the Shuttleworth–Wallace (S–W) module for ET in which soil surface temperature is assumed equal air temperature; and (3) the PENFLUX module, which uses a Penman transformation for a soil slab under incomplete residue cover. The objective of this study was to compare the predictive accuracy of the three RZ-SHAW modules to simulate effects of residue architecture on net radiation, soil temperature, and water dynamics near the soil surface. The model was tested in Akron, Colorado in a wheat residue-covered (both standing and flat) no-till (NT) plot, and a reduced till (RT) plot where wheat residue was incorporated into the soil. Temperature difference between the soil surface and ambient air frequently exceeded 17 °C under RT and NT conditions, invalidating the isothermal assumption employed in the S–W module. The S–W module overestimated net radiation (R_n) by an average of 69 Wm⁻² and underestimated the 3-cm soil temperature (T_s3) by 2.7 °C for the RT plot, attributed to consequences of the isothermal assumption. Both SHAW and PENFLUX modules overestimated midday T_s3 for RT conditions but underestimated T_s3 for NT conditions. Better performances of the SHAW and PENFLUX surface energy evaluations are to be expected as both approaches are more detailed and consider a more discretized domain than the S–W module. PENFLUX simulated net radiation slightly better than the SHAW module for both plots, while T_s3 was simulated the best by SHAW, with a mean bias error of +0.1 °C for NT and +2.7 °C for RT. Simulation results for soil water content in the surface 30 cm (θ_v30) were mixed. The NT conditions were simulated best by SHAW, with mean bias error for θ_v30 within 0.006 m³ m⁻³; RT conditions were simulated best by the PENFLUX module, which was within 0.010 m³ m⁻³.     

基于有限元分析的核桃脱壳技术研究

核桃破壳是核桃深加工的第一步,必须首先解决。经实测发现核桃形状不规则、壳仁间隙小。试验证明核桃壳完全破裂所需的变形量大于壳仁间隙,用一般的机械挤压方法破壳必将造成大量的碎仁。该文采用结构静力分析的有限单元法,通过所建核桃的几何模型和破壳的有限元模型,对核桃在几种载荷作用下的应力分布规律进行了分析,找出了核桃壳变形量不大且产生局部裂纹点多、裂纹点易扩展的最佳的施力方式。设计了导向机构。试验表明,核桃导向装置基本实现了使核桃的椭圆长轴与破壳辊轴线平行,使核桃以滚动方式挤压扩展裂纹提高了露仁率。     

黄淮海地区夏玉米农艺性状与产量的通径分析

为应对当前黄淮海地区农业用水紧缺的情况, 选育和推广高水分利用率的高产夏玉米品种是一项重要措施。本试验采用完全随机设计, 对黄淮海区域11 个主推夏玉米品种在灌溉1 水条件下的农艺性状、产量和水分利用率进行通径分析与主成分分析, 结果表明: "滑丰8 号"、"蠡玉18"、"浚单20"和"冀玉3 号"的产量均超过10 000 kg·hm^-2, 且这4 个品种的水分利用率均在3.0 kg·m^-3 以上, 属于水分利用率高的超高产品种; "源申213"和"中科11"产量超过9 000 kg·hm^-2, 其水分利用率也均大于2.7 kg·m^-3, 属水分利用率较高的高产品种;"浚单18"、"登海662"、"冀农1 号"和"登海超级玉米"产量均超过8 000 kg·hm^-2, 其水分利用率在2.3~2.7 kg·m^-3之间, 属稳产品种。主成分分析及综合评价排名的结果表明, "冀玉3 号"、"蠡玉18"、"滑丰8 号"和"浚单20"4 个品种综合表现优异, 可以作为抗旱节水高产品种在黄淮海地区大面积推广。通径分析结果表明, 7 个主要农艺性状对产量的综合效应排名为: 芯重＞百粒重＞行粒数＞秃尖长度＞粒长＞棒长＞行数。芯重、行粒数和百粒重对产量的直接正效应最大, 秃尖长度对产量的直接负效应最大。以上结果为黄淮地区抗旱节水高产玉米品种选育和推广提供了重要信息。     

Effect of selected pistachio pollen on development and quality of pistachio nuts of three commercially grown cultivars 1

The effect of pollen of two wild pistachio species (Pistacio atlantica and Pistado mutica), two cultivated (Pistado vera, cvs ‘Momtaz’ and ‘Soltani') and a control (open pollinated) was compared on nut development and quality of three commercially grown cultivars (P. vera cvs. ‘Owhadi’, ‘Kalleh‐ghuchi’, and ‘Momtaz'). The pollen source had no effect on final fruit set and fruit weight. Pollen of wild pistachio species reduced kernel weight, number of split nuts, and increased percentages of blank nuts of three commercially grown pistachio cultivars. ‘Owhadi’ had the lowest nut weight and highest percentages of blank nuts. The highest percentages of split nut was observed on the cultivar ‘Momtaz.     

采收期对叶城县6个核桃品种品质影响初探

为明确叶城县6个核桃品种（温185、新新2、新丰、扎343、新光和温179）不同采收期果实品质和青果开裂率的变化规律,确定6种核桃在叶城县的适宜采收期,本试验测定了6种核桃样品的外观品质（三径、坚果单重、壳厚、出仁率、径仁率、含水率）和内在品质（脂肪、蛋白质、可溶性糖、维生素E和矿质元素含量）。结果表明,随着采收时间的推迟,6个核桃品种的坚果三径、单果重、出仁率、径仁率呈上升趋势,壳厚、含水率均呈下降趋势,内在品质整体呈上升趋势。温185在9月4日、新新2在9月24日、新丰和扎343在9月14日、新光和温179在9月19日采收的核桃坚果质量、脂肪、蛋白质含量等已基本定型,过早或过晚采收对核桃品质均有影响。相关性分析表明,青果开裂率越大,则果实越大、内在营养物质含量越高,果实青果开裂率可作为判断叶城县6个核桃进入适宜采收期的重要依据。综合上述评价结果表明,温185、新新2、新丰、新光和温179的青果开裂率达75%,扎343的青果开裂率达55%为适宜的采收期。本研究结果为叶城县6种核桃采收后深加工、贮藏以及进一步划分果实等级提供了理论依据。     

Investigation of Wheat Milling Yield Based on Grain Hardness Parameters

The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between milling yield and grain hardness. A preliminary study was carried out with 20 samples (both hard and soft wheats) using the Brabender hardness tester (BHT) with two grind settings: one‐step grind (0‐10) and two‐step grind (2‐12: coarse; 0‐8: fine). The two‐step grind was correlated with particle size index, single‐kernel characterization system (SKCS) hardness, break yield, and reduction yield (P < 0.05), whereas there was no correlation with the one‐step grind method. An additional 64 samples were ground with the two‐step grind setting to further validate this method. In terms of the BHT crush profile, no discernible differences were observed between varieties for the coarse grind, whereas for the fine grind, hard wheat gave a higher BHT maximum peak height and shorter grinding time compared with soft wheat. The break and reduction yields were significantly correlated with both BHT and SKCS hardness (P < 0.05). The findings indicated that the BHT method could be used to differentiate for milling yield among the different varieties. Based on the results, two milling yield models were developed, and both gave highly significant correlations between the predicted and Buhler mill break (R² = 0.791, P < 0.05) and reduction yield (R² = 0.896, P < 0.05).     

The distribution of volatile isoprenoids in the soil horizons around Pinus halepensis trees

We measured the terpene concentration in pentane and water extracts from soil horizons (litter, organic, top and low mineral) and from roots growing in top and low mineral horizons on a distance gradient from Pinus halepensis L. trees growing alone on a grassland. Terpene concentrations in pentane were higher than in water extracts, although β-caryophyllene showed relatively high solubility in water. The litter and roots were important sources of terpenes in soil. Alpha-pinene dominated in roots growing in both “top” (A1) and “low” (B) mineral horizons (123 ± 36 μg g⁻¹ or 14 ± 5 mg m⁻²) and roots in low mineral horizon (270 ± 91 μg g⁻¹ or 7 ± 2 mg m⁻²). Beta-caryophyllene dominated in litter (1469 ± 331 μg g⁻¹ or 2004 ± 481 mg m⁻²). Terpene concentration in soil decreased with increasing distance to the trunk. This is likely to be related to changes in litter and roots type on the distance gradient from pine to grass and herbs. The relative contributions of all compounds, except α-pinene, were similar in the mineral soils and litter. This suggests that litter of P. halepensis is probably the main source of major terpene compounds. However, long-term emissions of α-pinene from P. halepensis roots might also contribute to α-pinene concentrations in rhizosphere soils.     

Evaluation of NASA satellite- and assimilation model-derived long-term daily temperature data over the continental US

Agricultural research increasingly is expected to provide precise, quantitative information with an explicit geographic coverage. Limited availability of daily meteorological records often constrains efforts to provide such information through use of simulation models, spatial analysis, and related decision support tools. The Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources (NASA/POWER) project at the NASA Langley Research Center provides daily data globally for maximum and minimum temperatures and other weather variables on a 1° latitude–longitude grid. The data are assembled from a range of products derived from satellite imagery, ground observations, windsondes, modeling and data assimilation. Daily temperature data from NASA/POWER for 1983 to 2004 for the continental US were compared with data of 855 individual ground stations from the National Weather Service Cooperative Observer Program (COOP). Additionally, a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) simulation model was used to compare predicted time to anthesis using the two data sources. Comparisons of daily maximum temperatures (T_max) gave an r²-value of 0.88 (P < 0.001) and root-mean-squared error (RMSE) of 4.1 °C. For minimum temperature (T_min), the r²-value was 0.88 (P < 0.001) and RMSE, 3.7 °C. Mean values of T_max, and T_min from NASA/POWER were, respectively, 2.4 °C cooler and 1.1 °C warmer than the COOP data. Differences in temperature were least during summer months. When data were aggregated over periods of 8 days or more, the RMSE values declined to below 2.7 °C for T_max and T_min. Simulations of time to anthesis with the two data sources were also strongly correlated (r² = 0.92, P < 0.001, RMSE = 14.5 d). Anthesis dates of winter wheat regions showed better agreement than southern, winter-grown spring wheat regions. The differences between the data sources were associated with differences in elevation, which in large part resulted from NASA/POWER data being based on mean elevations over a 1° grid cells vs. COOP data corresponding to the elevation of specific stations. Additional sources of variation might include proximity to coastlines and differences in observation time, although these factors were not quantified. Overall, if mountainous and coastal regions are excluded, the NASA/POWER data appeared promising as a source of continuous daily temperature data for the USA for research and management applications concerned with scales appropriate to the 1° coordinate grid. It further appeared that the POWER data could be improved by adjusting for elevation (lapse rate) effects, reducing seasonal bias, and refining estimation of actual maximum and minimum temperatures in diurnal cycles.     

Heat transfer through covering materials of greenhouses

Conductive, convective and radiative heat transfers are evaluated through single and double walls for a series of materials used as greenhouse covers. Among others, radiative exchanges explicitly take into account the far-infrared partial transmittance of many synthetic materials. The k-values are proposed for cloudless sky, wind speed = 4 m s⁻¹, outside temperature = −10°C. and inside temperature = 20°C. The influence of the wind speed, overcast sky, rain or condensation and thickness of the wall is investigated.     

Contribution of fine roots to ecosystem biomass and net primary production in black spruce, aspen, and jack pine forests in Saskatchewan

Fine root (<2 mm) processes contribute to and exhibit control over a large pool of labile carbon (C) in boreal forest ecosystems because of the high proportion of C allocated to fine root net primary production (NPP), and the rapid decomposition of fine roots relative to aboveground counterparts. The objective of this study was to determine the contribution of fine roots to ecosystem biomass and NPP in a mature black spruce (Picea mariana Mill.) (OBS), aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) (OA), and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) (OJP) stand, and an 11-year-old harvested jack pine (HJP) stand in Saskatchewan. Estimates of fine root biomass and NPP were obtained from nine minirhizotron (MR) tubes at each of the four Boreal Ecosystem Research and Monitoring Sites (BERMS). Fine root data were collected once a month for May–September in 2003 and 2004. Additional C biomass and NPP data for various components of the forest stands were obtained from Gower et al. (1997) and Howard et al. (2004). Annual fine root biomass averaged 3.10 ± 0.89, 1.71 ± 0.49, 1.62 ± 0.32, and 2.96 ± 0.67 Mg C ha⁻¹ (means ± S.D.) at OBS, OA, OJP, and HJP, respectively, comprising between 1 and 6% of total stand biomass. Annual fine root NPP averaged 2.66 ± 0.97, 2.03 ± 0.43, 1.44 ± 0.43, and 2.16 ± 0.81 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (means ± S.D.) at OBS, OA, OJP, and HJP, respectively, constituting between 41 and 71% of total stand NPP. Results of this study indicate that fine roots produce a large amount of C in boreal forests. It is speculated that fine root NPP may control a large amount of labile C-cycling in boreal forests and that fine root responses to environmental and anthropogenic stress may be an early indicator of impaired ecosystem functioning.