Agricultural Engineering

The Response Of Amaranth us cruentus L.:

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Response Of Amaranth us cruentus L.: FASINMIRIN, Johnson Toyin Prince's feather Amaranthus cruentus, a staple leafy vegetable grown in the humid region of sub-SaharanAfrica is widely known for its nutritional and medicinal importance. Its cultivation is however mostly limited to the wet seasons of the year. This is largely due to: inadequate water supply and rapid depletion of moisture from soil during dry seasons, and lack of reliable and relevant data on crop water requirement at the different stages of development and their relationship to yield. Dearth of knowledge about appropriate use of modern irrigation systems has also hindered successes that would have been made at improving Amaranth production during off seasons. Dry season farmers (mostly Fadama farmers) often use intuition and other non-scientific methods to apply water to crop and this often leads to under-irrigation or over-irrigation of crops. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the response of Amaranthus cruentus to different water application levels using sprinkler and drip irrigation systems and as well determine the water-yield relationship for the crop with a view to proposing the most effective irrigation method for its optimum yield under a controlled moisture supply in the study area. A two (2) year field experiment was carried out to investigate the growth, yield and water use pattern of Amaranthus cruentus under limited water supply. The experiment was carried out at the Research and training Farm site of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal university of Technology, Akure. A preliminary investigation was carried out on the soil physical and chemical characteristics, climate variations and water resource of the study site to determine its potentials for dry season farming. A 2 x 3 x 3 combination of two irrigation methods (Drip and sprinkler systems), three (3) crop phenological stages (Emergence, vegetative/fruiting, maturity) and three water stress levels (50-59,60-69 and 70 KPa). The treatments were twice replicated using a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Measurements taken on the field during experiment include soil moisture content using the gravimetric method, soil bulk density, the soil hydraulic change using mercury tensiometers, overland flow during occasional rainfalls in the field by use of developed and celebrated runoff meter, deep drainage from the field using hydraulic lysimeter. Measured crop parameters include the plant height, the leaf area and leaf area index (LAI), the number of leaves and Amaranthus cruentus yield. Weather variables such as solar radiation, minimum and maximum relative humidity, minimum and maximum temperature and wind speed from the field were measured with the aid of automatic mini-meteorological station installed some 200m away from the site of experiment. Soil, crop and meteorological data collected were subjected to statistical analysis such as Analysis of variance (ANOV A), mean, standard deviation and linear and multiple regression analysis. Results obtained from the experiment showed that the soil hydraulic charge (9) is higher during the dry season experiment of 2005 than 2006. Soil moisture depletion during the wet season experiment was close to zero most times at the different soil depths; hence no irrigation was necessary during the wet season experiment. Also, the variations in volumetric moisture content showed an increase in moisture regime down the soil profile. Moisture was readily available for crop use in the treatments that was well watered (STI and DTI). However, as crop reaches maturity and senescence, soil moisture storage for all treatments is reduced due to reduction in canopy at full crop maturity. Consumptive use of crop (Evapotranspiration) was highest (9.96 mm/day) in drip plots DTl and DT2 at the peak of the dry season (57-64 DOY). Reduced radiation at the onset of raining season brought about reduced evapotranspiration to as low as 0.30 mm1day. The value of crop factor k, for Amaranthus cruentus on function of day of the year reduced marginally at the earlier stage of crop growth but rose sharply during the productive stage of the crop. At late season during crop senescence, crop factor kc maintained nearly constant values. The coefficient of correlation between crop consumptive use and the growth stage of Amaranthus (emergence to maturity) was highest (0.94) in sprinkler plot ST6. Crop yield model based on equation calibrated on Amaranthus cruentus yield showed good agreement with the field data. The correlation coefficient (R) of the model output and the measured yield was significantly high (0.86). Linear regression analysis carried out on yield on function of cumulative moisture stored at the vegetative stage of the crop showed that the coefficient of determination between crop yield and soil moisture stored was higher (R=O.84) on drip plots than on sprinkler plots (R=0.74) at P<0.05. Simulated crop growth and soil water balance showed a significantly high agreement with field determined growth and actual evapotranspiration of Amaranthus cruenthus. The WaSim model simulated crop growth and crop cover adequately well, the coefficient of determination (R2 = 9.9) is high. Findings from this research are useful for careful planning of irrigation to meet crop water demand during off seasons most especially in areas of limited rainfall occurrences. xxiii, 224p. : ill. ; 30cm

DEVELOPMENT OF AN ORANGE PEELER

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

DEVELOPMENT OF AN ORANGE PEELER ATANDA, EMMANUEL OLUGBENGA ABSTRACT IR An orange peeler was developed with a view to mechanize the operation of orange peeling unit and remove the drudgery involved in manual peeling. Prior to machine development, measurement of physical dimensions of sweet orange was carried out. Also, an experiment was carried out to study the effect of oranges of different degrees of ripeness on the peeling force. Based on these data, an orange peeler which applies the intermittent motion of Geneva and Scotch yoke mechanisms was designed. The materials for fabrication of component were selected from available local materials. The various components were carefully assembled together and the total cost of machine production amounted to twenty-nine thousand and one hundred and forty naira (N29, 140.00). The machine was tested and the materials for the mating members were functioning as there was no break in transmission between them during operation. The machine was also tested for peeling oranges of different degrees of ripeness. The result shows that the machine capacity and functional efficiency obtained for yellow samples of oranges were 5.82Kg/h and 70.2%, the machine capacity and functional efficiency obtained for pale yellow samples of orange were 5.45Kg/h--and 67.9%, and the machine capacity and functional efficiency obtained for green samples of orange were 5.41 Kg/h and 72.7% xvii, 177p. : ill. ; 30cm

DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED POULTRY/FISH HUSBANDRY AND MODELLING OF RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED POULTRY/FISH HUSBANDRY AND MODELLING OF RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS FALAYI, Folayan Richard The need to find alternative but productive means of managing animal waste in modern agriculture cannot be over-emphasised. One important means of managing these wastes is through conversion to important use either as animal feeds or as manures. Fish farming can be combined with poultry, animal husbandry and irrigation practices, which can lead to higher production and net profits. This practice is called integrated fish farming or integrated aquaculture. The integration of animal husbandry, especially poultry, with fish farming in a small scale results in the production of organic manure for the fertilization of the fish pond to increase the production of the natural food organism (planktonic algae) for fish to eat. In some cases, the poultry wastes are used as direct food by some fishes without supplementary feeding; such species include the Nile tilapia and African catfish Therefore, the study was aimed the development of an integrated poultry/fish housing unit that will promote productive poultry and fish farming in the study area and as well develop a model using environmental parameters that would affect poultry birds in a vertical integrated poultry/fish unit. An integrated poultry/fish housing unit was designed and constructed such that poultry droppings were made to drop into the tanks directly and used as fertilizer for rearing the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. The set-up was made of four concrete tanks (1m x 1m x 1m) on which three wooden battery cages were mounted except the fourth pond which served as the control. The ponds were stocked with twenty (20) juvenile Clarias garipinus of about 20 g each. A single factor experiment was adopted with randomized complete block design (RCBD). There were four treatments and two replicates, Fish in tanks 1, 2 and 3 were fed with droppings from one broiler, two broilers and three broilers, respectively. While fish in tank 4 were fed with a commercial fish feed to serve as control. A total of six birds (4 weeks old) and 80 juvenile C. gariepinus were used. This experiment lasted 168 days. During this period, environmental parameters were monitored and the effects of poultry droppings on the growth of the fish were determined. The micro-climate studies were carried out on an integrated poultry/fish unit and the response of the poultry birds to the environmental factors was carefully analysed. A model of the influence of environmental factors on the development of the birds was developed. The developed model was calibrated and validated using regression model diagnostic tools like leverages, cooks distance and probability plots. The experiment was repeated for three consecutive years, 2004 (April September), 2005 (February- August) and 2006 (March- September). The highest Weight gain (WG) value was obtained in tank 4 and the least in tank 3. The average daily growth rate (ADG) and specific growth rate (SGR) data followed the same trend as WG. Weight gain, ADG and SGR decreased linearly as the dropping levels increased. The fish growth indices data obtained were compared with the control and they were all significant (p = 0.05). Weight gain in fish in tank 1 increased at a rate of 10.85 g/week up to the 15th week after stocking. Thereafter, weight gain increased constantly at a rate of 86.8g/week up to the 20th week after stocking and thereafter decreased to a rate of 136.56 g/week up to harvest period. In tank 2, the weight of the fish increased at 7.47 g/week up to 8th week. Thereafter, the weight gain increased at a rate of 24.88 g/week to 16th week and then decreased to a rate of 42.75 g/week up to harvest period. The same trend was observed in tank 3 but the weight gain increased at a rate of 8.06 g/week up to the 4th week and then at a constant rate of 10.89 g/week to the 16th week. Thereafter, there was decrease in the rate of weight gain to a rate of32.36 g/week up to harvest period. Tank 4, which served as the control, showed a different trend in the growth of the fish, where there was a weight gain at an increasing rate of 12.90 g up to the is" week after stocking. Thereafter the rate of weight gain decreased to a rate of 147.22 g/week up to harvest period. A log-log plot of the weight of birds and time is a straight-line graph which suggests the growth of birds as a power of time similarly observed for other studies. The study showed the possibility of effective poultry waste management technique which ensured that nothing is wasted and waste handling problem is greatly minimised. Pollution of water in tanks resulting from the poultry droppings adversely affected the water quality ad growth of the fish in this study. Increase in the volume of droppings led to increase in the Bio-Chemical oxygen demand and Chemical Oxygen demand of the tank water which consequently led to a decrease in the dissolved oxygen concentration. Water turbidity also increased with increased volume of droppings. Other water quality parameters such as conductivity, chloride and pH values were within the acceptable requirement values for fish culture. The developed model is a good engineering solution for prediction of poultry birds' development based on environmental influence in a humid tropical environment and findings from this study will be useful for adoption and careful planning of an integrated poultry/fish husbandry for optimum productivity. xx, 163p. : ill. ; 30cm

DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A SINGLE- SCREW STARCH EXTRUDER

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A SINGLE- SCREW STARCH EXTRUDER FAYOSE, Folasayo Titilola Graveyards of unserviceable and broken down machines litter the landscape of many developing countries including Nigeria because of poor adaptation. Also, in Nigeria and other tropical countries, significant amount of locally produced agricultural materials including starch producing crops, are lost both in quality and quantity during the peak seasons due to inadequate storage and processing technology. In this study, a single screw starch extruder was designed, fabricated and tested using locally available materials as a means of arresting post harvest losses of starch based crops in Nigeria. The extruder is the dry type. It consists of a hopper, feeding screw with agitator, extruder screw rotating in a closely fitting barrel with surrounding jacket of variable flow rate for cooling, and variable die all made of stainless steel. The extruder has a capacity of 1.06 t/h, a compression ratio of approximately 4.5: 1 and is powered by a 4kW electric motor. A unit of the machine costs W 470, 390.00.00 as at April 2007. It is self cleaning and requires little maintenance. The extruder was used to investigate the process for screw extrusion of the flour and starch of maize and cassava which are grown in Nigeria in large quantity. These were compared with wheat flour which is commonly used for the production of alimentary pastes. Response Surface Methodology, stepwise regression, correlation and Analysis of Variance were employed to a factorial experiment in completely randomized design. The effect of extrusion variables: feed moisture (25, 30, 40%), extruder temperature (40, 70, 100 0C) built up by varying the duration of sampling and screw speed (100, 150, 200 rpm) on system parameters including product temperature, mean residence time (MRT), torque, specific mechanical energy input (SME) and product quality attributes, that is water absorption index (WAI) and water solubility index (WSI), product moisture, transverse expansion, melt viscosity, cold and hot paste viscosity and strength properties of extrudates were studied. A maximum temperature of 150 °C/30 minutes was attained through viscous dissipation and up to a moisture loss of 55% w.b. An increase in temperature and screw speed increased transverse expansion and WAI up to a critical value of 6.46 gig above which it decreased. The melt viscosity reduced with an increase in moisture content and temperature. The extrudates' moisture loss is directly proportional with expansion. Increasing feed moisture content caused a decrease in transverse expansion and increase in extrudate moisture content. A high temperature process produced extrudates with low moisture content. Cold paste viscosity decreased when moisture decreased and temperature increased. An increase in moisture content of maize starch decreased the transverse expansion and the WSI, but increased the WAI and hot paste viscosity. Also, an increase in moisture content decreased the gelatinization of cassava starch and maize flour than that of wheat flour. SME decreased with increasing moisture content and a lower product temperature. The equations relating the various dependent and independent variables were established to predict the performance of the machine and the quality of the products. Generally, the response surface study revealed the range of the extrusion variables for optimum performance. Quadratic coefficients (0.61- 0.86) fitted the extrusion data very well, better than linear models. xxvi, 325p. : ill. ; 30cm