Compressibility of Some Trinidadian Soils as Affected by the Incorporation of Peat

The effect on compressibility of incorporating peat into four remoulded Trinidadian agricultural soils was investigated over a range of stresses from 0 to 1000 kPa using a compression machine. Air-dry peat was applied at four levels (0, 4, 8 and 12% by mass) to the soils (two sandy loams, clay loam and clay) and tested at three moisture contents close to the Proctor optimum moisture content of the soils. Compression curves (bulk density versus log applied stress) for each soil at the moisture levels tested were almost linear and parallel over the range of stresses from about 100 to 1000 kPa.Mean values of dry bulk density declined significantly at 0.001 level with increasing peat content from 1·23 to 0·87 Mg m^-3. Mean bulk density values increased significantly at 0·001 level with increasing applied stress and moisture content and declined with increasing clay content. Significant interaction effects were observed between soil type and peat content and between peat content and moisture content. Peat incorporation resulted in greater soil compression, but the increases were less evident in clay than in sandy loam soils. Soil compression refers to the decrease in soil volume with the application of external load. The compression index, C (slope of the dry bulk density versus log applied stress relationship), increased significantly at 0·05 level from 0·21 Mg/m³ in one sandy loam soil to 0·38 Mg/m³ in the clay soil. While the C value did not differ significantly with increasing peat content in the sandy loams and the clay loam, it decreased significantly at 0·01 level in the clay soil. An equation expressing C as a function of initial soil bulk density before compression and a strain parameter was developed in order to explain the variation of C in the soils tested. A method is described that can be adopted to quantify the effect of peat on soil compressibility.     

Temperature-compensated and Density-independent Moisture Content Determination in Shelled Maize by Microwave Measurements

Moisture content of shelled maize,Zea maysL., was correlated with the attenuation and phase shift of electromagnetic waves travelling through a layer of grain. Several calibration equations are presented in the paper that are based on measurements taken at 15·2 GHz for various grain densities, moisture contents and temperatures. Validation of the calibration equations indicated that moisture content can be predicted with an uncertainty less than ±0·72% moisture content w.b. at the 95% confidence level. Moisture predictions are largely independent of bulk density variations at temperatures from 4 to 45°C and moisture contents from 9 to 19% w.b. By following one approach described, the grain bulk density can be determined from the same measurements with an uncertainty of less than 25 kg/m³. With another approach, the grain bulk density cannot be determined, but moisture content is determined independent of the material bulk density and compensated for temperature. No differences among three maize hybrids were observed in the measured data.     

Some Physical Properties of Lentil Seeds

Several physical properties of lentil seed were evaluated as a function of moisture content. The average diameter, thickness, unit mass and volume of seed were 6·64 mm, 2·65 mm, 0·070 g and 49·08 mm³respectively at 6·5% m.c.d.b. Studies on rewetted seed showed that as moisture content increased from 6·5 to 32·6% d.b., bulk density decreased from 1190 to 935 kg/m³, porosity increased from 27·4 to 32·0%, projected area increased from 56 to 82 mm²and terminal velocity increased from 10·95 to 12·06 m/s. The static and dynamic coefficients of friction of lentil seed against galvanized sheet metal, plywood and rubber surfaces increased with moisture content in the range from 6·5 to 32·6% d.b. The largest coefficient of friction was against a rubber surface, ranging from 0·374 to 0·532. The effect of moisture content was as great as or greater than the difference between the surfaces.     

Physical properties of gram

The dependence of physical properties of gram on moisture content was determined. The best approximate shape was found to be a prolate spheroid. At 10·9% moisture content d.b., the measurements yielded an average 1000 grain weight of 0·173 kg, a mean surface area of 133·4 mm², and sphericity and roundness of 74% and 70% respectively. In the moisture range from 9·64 to 31·0% d.b., studies on rewetted gram showed that the bulk density changed from 780 to 708 kg/m³, kernel density from 1311 to 1257 kg/m³; porosity from 40·5 to 43·7% and static coefficient of friction from 0·384 to 0·651 over surfaces of different materials. The angle of repose was observed to change from 25·5° to 30·4° in the moisture range from 8·62 to 17·6% d.b.     

绿豆介电特性的研究

以绿豆为对象,研究了测量信号频率、含水率、温度、容积密度对绿豆介电参数的影响。研究结果表明:在1k～1MHz频率范围内,绿豆的相对介电常数和介质损耗因数皆随着频率的增大单调减小;当绿豆的含水率与温度增高时,其相对介电常数和介质损耗因数均呈增大的趋势;但容积密度对绿豆介电参数的影响并未呈现出一定的规律性。     

Physical and Hygroscopic Properties of Makhana

Makhana is the popped expanded kernel of the gorgon nut (Euryale ferox) and is used as a delicious food in India. Presently, it is sorted, graded and used as an ingredient of various ready-to-eat products. High volumetric expansion of makhana increases transport cost and makes it too expensive in distant places. Makhana thus requires further processing to get some value-added products of minimum volume. To develop any kind of product and mechanized system for their production, physical properties are required. Furthermore, since makhana is a seasonal and regional crop its storage conditions are also needed for keeping it appropriately at processing centres. Physical properties of makhana at moisture contents ranging from 5 to 20% (dry basis) and equilibrium moisture content at relative humidities ranging from 11·2 to 88% at temperature 30°C were determined using standard techniques. Physical properties were found to be: test weight (weight of 1000 makhana) 286 to 384 g; bulk density 56·5–84·6 kg/m³; particle density 105–240·6 kg/m³; porosity 29·4–48·9%; angle of repose 33–35·6°; and static coefficient of friction 0·596–0·82 and 0·493–0·684 on galvanized iron and stainless steel, respectively. The equilibrium moisture content of makhana was found to be between 11·5 and 58·9% (dry basis) within the ranges of variables studied.     

Physical Properties of Pumpkin Seeds

Several physical properties of pumpkin seeds and kernels were evaluated as functions of moisture content. The average length, width, thickness and unit mass of the seed were 16·91 mm, 8·67 mm, 3·00 mm and 0·203 g respectively. Corresponding values for the kernel were 14·62 mm, 6·89 mm, 2·50 mm and 0·160 g respectively. In the moisture range from 4 to 40% d.b., studies on re-wetted seed showed that the bulk density increased from 404 to 472 kg/m³, true density decreased from 1179 to 1070 kg/m³, porosity decreased from 65·73 to 55·46% and terminal velocity increased from 4·7 to 6·5 m/s. For the kernel, the corresponding values changed from 481 to 554 kg/m³, 1080 to 1143 kg/m³, 55·46 to 51·53% and from 4·27 to 5·25 m/s respectively. In the moisture range of 4 to 27% d.b. the static coefficient of friction varied from 0·41 to 0·76 for seed and from 0·34 to 0·65 for kernel over different material surfaces, while angle of repose varied from 30 to 52° for seed and 34 to 42° for kernel.     

Effect of Peat on the Compactibility of Some Trinidadian Soils

The effect on compactibility of incorporating peat into four Trinidadian agricultural soils before compaction was investigated in a laboratory experiment. A factorial experiment was used to study the effect of peat applied at four levels (0, 4, 8 and 12% by mass) on the maximum dry bulk density (MDBD) and optimum moisture content (OMC) of the four soils (two sandy loams, clay loam and clay) compacted using 5, 15 and 25 Proctor hammer blows. The compaction tests were carried out at different moisture contents which varied according to the values of the plastic limits of the soils.Results showed that while the mean values of MDBD of the soils declined significantly (p = 0.001) from 1·51 to 0·92 Mg m^-3 with increasing peat content, the mean values of OMC increased from 24·2 to 42·6%. While MDBD increased, OMC decreased with increasing compaction levels. This applied to all the soils tested. The clay soils had significantly lower values of MDBD and greater values of OMC than the sandy loam soils. There were significant interaction effects between soil type and level of added peat and between compaction level and level of added peat. These interactions were used to describe the effect of peat on soil compactibility. Multiple linear regression equations based on compactive effort, sand content, clay content and percentage peat content, were generated for predicting values of MDBD and those of OMC of compaction of the soils used in this study. There was reasonable agreement between the equation for predicting MDBD and a similar equation derived for Nigerian soils in previous work. A good negative relationship obtained between MDBD and OMC is also similar to the one derived from previous research.     

Pressure Drop Through Wheat as Affected by Air Velocity,Moisture Content and Fines

Pressure drops were measured in clean wheat beds for superficial air velocities up to 0·42 m/s at grain moisture contents in the range of 12·8–22·3% w.b. At 12·8% moisture content, pressure drops were determined in wheat for fines contents up to 10·60% (w/w). It was found that pressure drops decreased by up to 30% with moisture content and increased with fines by up to 75%. The selection of a model was made using the results of clean grain. A Shedd-type equation (model 1), the Hukill & Ives’ equation (model 2), and an Ergun-type equation (model 3), all of two parameters, were examined. Model 3 behaved better than model 2 and both gave lower errors than model 1. Model 3 was simplified by considering the parameter of the quadratic term as a multiplier of that of the linear term. The resultant expression (model 4) behaved better than model 2 and was called the approximate, Ergun-type equation. With this model, the non-linear influence of grain moisture content was better predicted than with a linear model proposed previously. With regard to the effect of fines, the use of model 4 permitted a linear relationship between pressure drop ratio and fines content that was independent of air velocity, a feature that was substantially adequate to describe the experimental results. Model 4 is suggested for further work on the resistance to airflow of grain beds.     

稻谷热特性参数的试验测定

采用非稳态热流法测定不同含水率稻谷的热导率和热扩散系数，进而求出比热容。研究了稻谷热特性参数与含水率的关系，结果表明，热导率、热扩散系数和比热容与稻谷含水率呈良好的线性关系。     

退化草地复合体力学特性与影响因素研究

为采用机械手段有效打破高坚实度退化草地板结性土层形成的土壤-根系复合体结构,对退化草地形成的复合体结构基本力学特性进行了研究。通过测定退化草地复合体的紧实程度、容重、含水率、孔隙度和含根量分布,对退化草地形成的复合体的物理性状进行了分析;通过对复合体原状试样进行剪切、无侧限压缩和回弹模量试验,对复合体的抗剪、无侧限抗压和回弹等基本力学特性进行了研究,并在此基础上通过正交试验探讨了容重、含水率和含根量对上述力学特性的影响。研究发现,退化草地形成的复合体具有加剧土壤紧实程度、聚集根系向浅层分布等特征;复合体的抗剪强度、无侧限抗压强度和回弹模量因根系的存在与无根系分布的土层相比有很大变化;复合体容重、含水率和含根量均对其力学特性产生了影响,且各因素的影响存在交互作用,根系的存在可增强复合体结构的抗剪强度和无侧限抗压强度,但对于回弹模量的影响却表现出一定的差异性。     

Thermal properties of gram

Values of specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of rewetted whole grain were found. The specific heat of the grain shows a nonlinear relationship both with temperature and moisture content in the range of 292 to 308 K and 12·4 to 32·4% d.b. respectively, resulting in a second-order multiple regression equation. Bulk thermal conductivity increases both with increase in temperature and moisture content in the ranges 283 to 312 K and 11·5 to 27·2% respectively and was found to vary from 0·114 to 0·247 W/m K. Thermal diffusivity increases with increase in moisture content and decreases with increase in temperature in the temperature and moisture ranges of 293 to 307 K and 12·5 to 26·5% respectively, and its value lies between 9·46 × 10⁻⁸ to 16·35 × 10⁻⁸ m²/s.     

Prediction of soil moisture characteristics from mechanical analysis and bulk density data

Soil moisture characteristics can be established directly from the physical properties of soils such as mechanical analysis and bulk densities. Multiple regression equations were worked out by taking first fractions of sand (E₁), silt + clay (E' = E₂ + E₃) and bulk density (P), and second fractions of sand (E₁), silt (E₂), clay (E₃) and bulk density (P) as independent variables to predict the parameter b, the air-entry potential ψ_e and the saturation moisture content _s of the soil-moisture characteristics equation. Regression equations were tested for soils of different textural and structural compositions and showed good agreement between estimated and experimentally determined values.     

Estimation of Moisture Diffusivity Coefficient and Thermal Properties of Alfalfa Pellets

Heat and mass transfer characteristics of alfalfa pellets are needed in the optimization of coolers for freshly-made pellets and in managing storage schedules of the pellets in silos and bins. Moisture diffusivity and thermal properties are important parameters used to characterize the heat and mass transfer ability of a material. In this study, experimental thin-layer data on (a) moisture desorption, (b) moisture absorption and (c) rate of heating of alfalfa pellets were collected. By applying the inverse theory and using second order mass transfer and heat transfer equations in cylindrical coordinates, the moisture absorption and desorption data were used to estimate the moisture diffusivity as a function of moisture content of the pellets while the heating rate data were used to estimate the thermal properties (thermal conductivity and specific heat) as a function of pellet temperature.Better estimates were obtained when moisture diffusivity of the pellets was exponentially related to moisture content in comparison with a linear relation between moisture diffusivity and moisture content. Moisture diffusivity during desorption (2·40×10^-9to 4·12×10^-9 m²/s) was about three times that of the values of diffusivity during moisture absorption (7·50×10^-10to 1·26×10^-9 m²/s). A good fit to the experimental heating rate data was obtained when thermal conductivity and specific heat of the pellets were linearly related to temperature. Over a temperature range of 2 to 110°C, estimated particle thermal conductivities and specific heats of the pellets were in the range of 0·04 to 0·19 W/m K and from 962 to 2114 J/kg K respectively.     

重塑土壤承压模型的建立与试

使用小面积压板在重塑软粘土中进行压板沉陷试验,分析压板尺寸、土壤含水率、土壤密度及样筒筒径对土壤承载力的影响.试验曲线拟合表明重塑土壤的承压特性满足二阶多项式模型.由拟合方程分析可知,模型各项系数随含水率呈对数变化、随土样密度呈线性变化、随着密度和含水率的耦合关系呈对数变化,筒径变化使二次项系数符号发生变化.大田实际土壤的试验表明,其承压曲线也满足二阶多项式模型.     

Prediction of Kernel and Bulk Volume of Wheat and Canola during Adsorption and Desorption

Information don the shrinkage of grain both in bulk and as individual kernels is important in postharvest processing of these materials. The mass and volume of samples of wheat and canola seeds exposed either to humid or dry air were measured during adsorption or desorption cycles. When the grains were exposed to 90% r.h. at 40°C, the bulk density of wheat decreased almost linearly from 790 to 686 kg/m³as the kernel moisture content increased from 8% to 22% w.b. The bulk density of canola descreased by 11 kg/m³, from 672 to 661 kg/m³as the kernel moisture content increased from 5% to 19% w.b. The laws of mixtures were used to develop the following equations to predict grain kernel (v_k)and grain bulk volume (v_b)respectively as functions of moisture adsorption or desorption:v_k/v_k0=[1-M₀/1+(γ-1)M₀] [1+(γ-1)M/1-M]andv_b/v_b0={[1-(M₀-M)][1+(γ-1)M]/[1+(γ-1)M₀]} (1-ϵ₀)/(1-ϵ)wherev_kandv_k0are the kernel volumes,v_bandv_b0are the bulk porosities at the kernel moisture contents ofMandM₀respectively;γis the dry kernel density and is assumed to be a constant for each grain. Compared with experimental data, the kernel volumes of both wheat and canola, adequately predicted by the first equation. The second equation gave an adequate prediction of the bulk volume of canola by assumingϵ= ϵ₀,but not for wheat unlessϵwas expressed as a polynomial function of kernel moisture content.     

土壤脱水过程中结构与含水率间的定量关系

基于9种土壤脱水过程中土壤密度和含水率的跟踪实测数据,揭示了脱水过程中地表土壤密度随时间的变化过程,分析了土壤结构与含水率之间的定量关系。结果表明,土壤脱水过程中,土壤密度与含水率之间存在着较密切的二次函数相关关系;当含水率在某值以上时,土壤密度随含水率降低逐渐增大,而在此含水率值以下时,土壤密度随含水率降低而减小,但减小的幅度要小于增大的幅度,即灌水和脱水过程的综合作用结果是使土壤密度增大。     

芒果介电特性与内部品质的关系

为了探索芒果的介电特性与内部品质之间的关系,构建了基于介电特性的无损检测系统,测试芒果的介电参数(相对介电常数和介质损耗因数);同时,用化学方法检测了芒果的理化参数(总糖含量、含水率、维生素C含量和pH值),建立了频率与芒果介电参数的拟合方程,并用SAS软件分析芒果的介电特性与其内部品质的关系,建立了回归方程。因此,可以通过检测芒果的介电参数来预测芒果内部品质的理化参数参考值,从而对芒果进行分选。     

基于准静态同轴探头模型的土壤复介电测量方法

末端开路同轴探头法测量土壤复介电值用于表征土壤含水率具有准确、快捷的优点。针对目前土壤介电同轴探头集总测量模型没有充分考虑探头的参数以及土壤体积对测量结果影响等问题,基于电磁场理论,对末端开路同轴探头建立了准静态数学模型,适用于土壤的复介电常数准确测量。通过全波软件仿真和模型计算结果对比,以无水乙醇介电实测值和理论值对比,验证模型的准确性。采用本文介电测量模型对不同含水率的黄绵土进行测量计算,复介电常数实部与实测土壤含水率二阶多项式拟合决定系数大于0.965,表明本文所提土壤介电测量方法适用于土壤复介电常数和含水率的测量。     

干燥过程中谷物水分在线测量系统

讨论了以由谷物含水量 (介质介电常数 ε)变化引起电容式传感器振荡频率的变化来测量谷物水分的方法。采用同心圆式电容传感器对谷物干燥设备进行在线水分测量及控制 ,建立了定流量条件下谷物水分同电容传感器振荡频率、谷物温度相关的数学模型