Adaptability of Chopper Harvester in Harvesting Sugarcane, Energy Cane, and Banagrass

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-35
Author(s):  
Shaochun Ma ◽  
Manoj Karkee ◽  
Patrick A. Scharf ◽  
Qin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Recovery Rate ◽  
Operating Cost ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Energy Crop ◽  
Recovery Rates ◽  
Energy Cane ◽  
Biomass Recovery ◽  
Sugarcane Harvester ◽  
Field Efficiency

Abstract. Energy crops are important sources of feedstock for biofuel production. Feedstock cost, which accounts for more than 50% of biofuel operating cost, plays a significant role in the commercialization of biofuels. Energy crop harvesting cost is the biggest single contributor of the total feedstock production cost. Thus, investigation of harvesters to improve productivity and efficiency, and hence reduce costs, is important for biofuel production. The performance of an existing sugarcane harvester was evaluated in terms of biomass recovery rate and field efficiency to assess its adaptability for energy crop harvesting. The harvester performance was evaluated in Hawaii fields with three different energy crops: energy cane, banagrass, and sugarcane. The biomass recovery rates achieved by the harvester were 83.0%, 86.6%, and 52.3%, respectively, for energy cane, banagrass, and sugarcane, whereas the field efficiencies were 86.2%, 80.6%, and 59.6%, respectively. In another similar experiment with banagrass, the harvesting rate and field efficiency were 89.8% and 88.7%, respectively. The recovery rates in harvesting energy cane and banagrass achieved in this work were higher than the recovery rate of ~73% found in the literature. Similarly, the nominal field efficiency found in the literature for a harvester is ~70%. The sugarcane harvester used in this work achieved higher field efficiency with energy cane and banagrass harvesting compared to the nominal field efficiency (70%). Additionally, the limitations of existing machines in harvesting energy crops were analyzed to identify the main factors limiting biomass recovery rate and field efficiency. It was found that stubble leaning angle and machine off-track errors have the greatest effect on the harvester’s ability to recover biomass, whereas plugging issues may have a substantial effect on the field efficiency. Keywords: Adaptability, Biomass recovery rate, Chopper harvester, Energy crop, Off-track error, Stubble leaning angle.

scholarly journals Mechanical Properties of Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) Biomass

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
Andris Kronbergs ◽  
Elgars Širaks ◽  
Aleksandrs Adamovičs ◽  
Ēriks Kronbergs
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Cannabis Sativa ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Energy Crop ◽  
Agricultural Ecosystem ◽  
Mass Unit ◽  
Cutting Energy ◽  
Cross Section Area ◽  
Solid Biofuel

In Latvia approximately of 14.6% of unfarmed agricultural land can be used for herbaceous energy crop growing. Herbaceous energy crops would be as the main basis for solid biofuel production in agricultural ecosystem in future. Herbaceous energy crops as hemp (Cannabis sativa) are grown in recent years and can be used for solid biofuel production. Experimentally stated hemp stalk material ultimate tensile strength the medium value is 85 ± 9 N mm-2. The main conditioning operation before preparation of herbaceous biomass compositions for solid biofuel production is shredding. Therefore hemp stalks were used for cutting experiments. Cutting using different types of knives mechanisms had been investigated. Specific shear cutting energy for hemp samples were within 0.02 – 0.04 J mm-2. Hemp stalk material density was determined using AutoCAD software for cross-section area calculation. Density values are 325 ± 18 kg m-3 for hemp stalks. Specific cutting energy per mass unit was calculated on basis of experimentally estimated values of cutting energy and density.

scholarly journals Water Use Efficiency and Stress Tolerance of the Potential Energy Crop Miscanthus lutarioriparius Grown on the Loess Plateau of China

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 544
Author(s):  
Xuhong Zhao ◽  
Lifang Kang ◽  
Qian Wang ◽  
Cong Lin ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Central China ◽  
Energy Crop ◽  
Miscanthus Lutarioriparius ◽  
Use Efficiency

As a potential energy crop with high biomass yield, Miscanthus lutarioriparius (M. lutarioriparius), endemic to the Long River Range in central China, needs to be investigated for its acclimation to stressful climatic and soil conditions often found on the marginal land. In this study, traits related to acclimation and yield, including survival rates, plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), tiller number (TN), water use efficiency (WUE), and photosynthetic rates (A), were examined for 41 M. lutarioriparius populations that transplanted to the arid and cold Loess Plateau of China. The results showed that the average survival rate of M. lutarioriparius populations was only 4.16% over the first winter but the overwinter rate increased to 35.03% after the second winter, suggesting that plants having survived the first winter could have acclaimed to the low temperature. The strikingly high survival rates over the second winter were found to be 95.83% and 80.85%, respectively, for HG18 and HG39 populations. These populations might be especially valuable for the selection of energy crops for such an area. Those individuals surviving for the two consecutive winters showed significantly higher WUE than those measured after the first winter. The high WUE and low stomatal conductance (gs) observed in survived individuals could have been responsible for their acclimation to this new and harsh environment. A total of 61 individuals with productive growth traits and strong resistance to cold and drought were identified for further energy crop development. This study showed that the variation of M. lutarioriparius held great potential for developing energy crops following continuous field selection.

Attempting to reconcile large differences in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies recovery rates

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 1153-1158
Author(s):  
Scott H Waltman
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Recovery Rate ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Public Funds ◽  
Recovery Rates ◽  
Psychological Therapies ◽  
Percent Recovery ◽  
Small N ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Limited Scope

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies initiative has a reported 50 percent recovery rate. Recently, Scott published a scathing report asserting that 9.2 percent is the correct rate. This alarming assertion requires a closer look and further scrutiny of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies. Scott’s study is fundamentally flawed in many ways; chiefly, the small ( n = 87), forensically involved, convenience sample is not representative of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies population. Scott’s study is more a limited-scope non-representative-sampled audit (or pilot study audit) of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies. Given the large amount of public funds involved in the project, further research and a high degree of transparency is warranted.

scholarly journals 171IMPROVEMENT IN EMBRYO RECOVERY USING UTERINE DOUBLE FLUSHING

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 207 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Castro Neto ◽  
B.V. Sanches ◽  
S.H.V. Perri ◽  
M.M. Seneda ◽  
J.F. Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Recovery Rate ◽  
Foley Catheter ◽  
Test Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Recovery Rates ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Embryo Recovery ◽  
Group A ◽  
Uterine Flushing ◽  
The Mean

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of uterine double flushing on embryo recovery rates (total structures and viable embryos), after a resting period with the uterus filled with PBS. There were 210 embryo recovery procedures conducted using the uterine double flushing method, and the results were compaired with 432 conventional single flushing procedures. All procedures were conducted with Limousin (n=403) and Guzerá (n=239) cows, following the same superovulation protocol. Cyclic donors received a progestagen implant (CIDR) and 1mL of oestradiol benzoate (Estrogin®) at Day 0. Between Day 5 and Day 9 animals received doses ranging from 200 to 300UI (zebu cows) and 300 to 500UI (taurine cows) of FSH (Pluset® – Serono) in decreasing doses. Between Day 6 and Day 8 PGF2a (Ciosin®) was administered, followed by withdrawal of the progestagen after 24h. Artificial insemination was performed between 14 and 26h after the beginning of treatment. For the double flushing procedure, after the first uterine flushing of both horns with 1L DPBS (Nutricell), a Foley catheter was positioned in the uterine body in order to fill the uterus with the same solution (80 to 150mL). After this procedure the catheter was closed with a disposable 5-mL syringe gasket, and the animals were allowed to rest in the surroundings of the work place for 30min. After this period, a second flush was performed in order to recover the remaning liquid used during manipulation of the uterus. Animals from the control group (group A) were subjected to a single uterine flushing procedure. From 210 double flushing procedures (group B – test), 1409 viable embryos were produced, classified as grades I, II, III and IV (IETS), (average of 6.7 embryos per procedure), whereas, in the 432 single flushing procedure (group A – control), 1993 embryos were produced (average of 4.6). Statistical analysis showed the increase of viable embryo recovery rate. When consecutive double flushing was performed, the average of recovered embryos increased from 8.3 to 12.7 (P<0.05) in Limousin cows, and from 7.9 to 11.5 (P<0.05) in Guzerá cows. Comparing recovery after single flushing with that after double flushing, the mean number of viable embryos increased from 4.7 to 6.9 (P<0.05) in Limousin cows and from 4.5 to 6.4 (P<0.05) in Guzerá cows. In order to assure the nonexistence of negligence effects or operator influence on results, the mean values of total embryo recovery rate after single flushing (control group) was compared to the mean values of the same rate after the first uterine flushing on test group. Results indicated no difference between recovery rates. The present work showed the viability of using the uterine double flushing procedure for improvement of embryo recovery rates in cattle.

scholarly journals Comparative review of three approaches to biofuel production from energy crops as feedstock in a developing country

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 100412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin Nikkhah ◽  
Mamdouh El Haj Assad ◽  
Kurt A. Rosentrater ◽  
Sami Ghnimi ◽  
Sam Van Haute
Keyword(s):  
Developing Country ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Comparative Review

157 EFFECT OF DENSITY GRADIENT SELECTION ON EMBRYO RECOVERY RATES OF FRESH AND COOLED STALLION SEMEN

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 227
Author(s):  
F. Papa ◽  
M. Carmo ◽  
P. Papa ◽  
J. Dell'Aqua ◽  
M. Alvarenga
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Density Gradient ◽  
Recovery Rate ◽  
Ovulation Induction ◽  
Membrane Integrity ◽  
Recovery Rates ◽  
Plasma Membrane Integrity ◽  
Embryo Recovery ◽  
Fresh Semen ◽  
Sperm Recovery

The aim of this study was to improve the spermatic kinetic parameters from stallions with poor quality of fresh and chilled semen by the use of density gradient Equipure™ (Nidacon, Mölndal, Sweden). Semen from 5 Quarter Horse stallions aged 8 and 16 years with history of low embryo recovery rates were used. The kinetics sperm evaluation was performed by computerized semen analysis (CASA) and plasma membrane integrity with fluorescent probes. The average motility parameters for fresh semen before selection were total motility (MT) 60%, progressive motility (PM) 30%, and plasma membrane integrity (IMP) 60% and for cooled semen (24 h at 5°C) were: MT 50%, MP 18%, and 50% IMP. For the group of fresh and cooled semen with no density gradient selection (NS), mares were inseminated with 1 billion viable sperm diluted in skim milk extender in the uterine body, 24 h after ovulation induction with 1 mg of deslorelin. For EquipureTM selection group (SE) semen was concentrated through Spermfilter membrane™ and resuspended in 5 mL of BotuSemenTM (BotupharmaTM, Brazil). In a 15 mL conic tube 5 mL of EquipureTM was added and another part containing 5 mL of the resuspended sperm was slowly added over the EquipureTM column. The 15 mL conic tube was centrifuged at 400g for 20 min. After centrifugation, the sperm pellet was carefully aspirated and to the pellet was resuspended in 4 mL of BotucrioTM. The sperm recovery rate with EquipureTM was 40%. Deep uterine AI was performed 24 h after ovulation induction with 1 mg of deslorelin. Data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test (P < 0.05). The analysis of semen after EquipureTM selection resulted in average: 75, 35, 65, and 40%, respectively, for MT, MP, and IMP index and sperm recovery. The embryo recovery rate from the 5 stallions showed the following results: Stallion 1 (fresh semen): 12 mares (NS)/4 embryos (33%) and for group SE 22 mares/16 embryos, (72%; P ≤ 0.05). Stallion 2 (fresh semen): 9 mares (NS)/4 embryos, (44%) and for group SE, 12 mares/8 embryos (66%; P > 0.1). Stallion 3 (fresh semen): 4 mares (NS)/1 embryo (25%) and 7 mares for SE/4 embryos (57%; P > 0.1). Stallion 4 (chilled semen): 4 mares (NS)/0 embryo 0% and for SE group 8 mares/6 embryos 75%; P ≤ 0.001). Stallion 5 (chilled semen): 10 mares (NS)/2 embryos (20%) and for SE 6 mares/3 embryos (50%; P > 0.1). For the overall results, 39 inseminations were performed on the no selected group and 11 embryos recovered (28%) for the selected group 55 inseminations and 37 embryos recovered (67%; P < 0.01). The results clearly showed that selection by sperm density gradient EquipureTM was a very effective technique that allowed an improvement on semen quality and fertility. The authors acknowledge support from FAPESP and Botupharma.

scholarly journals Rank-Ordered Analysis of Consumer Preferences for the Attributes of a Value-Added Biofuel Co-Product

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yejun Choi ◽  
Dayton M. Lambert ◽  
Kimberly L. Jensen ◽  
Christopher D. Clark ◽  
Burton C. English ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Wood Waste ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Energy Crop ◽  
Waste Wood ◽  
Consumer Demographics ◽  
A Value ◽  
Best Worst Scaling ◽  
Potential Market

Biochar is a co-product of the production of advanced biofuels that sequesters carbon when used as a soil amendment. Gardening consumers are a potential market for biochar and their purchase of biochar-amended products could provide biofuel producers with an additional revenue stream. To better understand this opportunity, preferences for the attributes of potting soils amended with biochar were elicited using a best-worst scaling experiment administered in a survey of 880 Tennessee households. The attributes analyzed were whether the biochar was produced in Tennessee, certified as biobased, a coproduct of biofuel production, and produced from food waste, wood waste, agricultural by-product, or a non-food energy crop feedstock. The effects of consumer demographics and attitudes on preferences for the biochar attributes were also estimated. We tested the independence of irrelevant alternative assumption using a structured covariance matrix designed specifically to the survey’s structure. The results suggest that the attributes most likely to influence favorably consumers are production from agricultural by-product or wood waste feedstock. On the other hand, the attributes least likely to entice consumers are biochar produced in Tennessee or produced as a co-product of renewable fuel.

Effects of earthworm communities on water infiltration in wet soils with energy crops

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena Wöhl ◽  
Stefan Schrader
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Allyl Isothiocyanate ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Energy Crop ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Infiltration Rates

&lt;p&gt;Maize (&lt;em&gt;Zea mays&lt;/em&gt;) is the most commonly cultivated energy crop throughout Europe. However, its cultivation has severe negative effects such as loss of biodiversity and its delivery of ecosystem services, soil compaction and enhanced greenhouse gas emissions. These negative effects tend to be even more pronounced in wet soils such as pseudogleys. As an alternative to annual maize, the perennial cup plant (&lt;em&gt;Silphium perfoliatum&lt;/em&gt;) is known to produce a similar yield, especially under waterlogging conditions, while management impacts of its cultivation are assumed to be less harmful to soil biota. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to quantify the provision of ecosystem services (here: control of the soil water balance) delivered by earthworm communities in wet soils under cultivation of cup plant compared with maize and to assess the ecological impact of both energy crops.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fieldwork was conducted cup plant and maize fields (n = 4) in South Western Germany in spring and autumn 2019. The overall soil type was pseudo gleyic luvisol. All fields are managed for commercial purposes by farmers in the area. Sampling included earthworm extraction with allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) while the infiltration rate was measured simultaneously. Afterwards, hand sorting completed the earthworm sampling. Earthworm species, their abundance and biomass (live weight) were determined.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On average, earthworm abundance and biomass were higher in cup plant fields than in maize fields. In addition, variations in earthworm communities were found. While endogeic earthworms, especially of the genus &lt;em&gt;Aporrectodea&lt;/em&gt;, were present in all fields, anecic earthworms were more abundant in cup plant fields. Higher infiltration rates were measured in maize fields. Hints to a correlation between the infiltration rates and the functional earthworm groups were found.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our results suggest that cup plant fields host overall more diverse earthworm communities. These communities are able to produce a wider range of ecosystem services, even though the link between the infiltration and the crops studied in this stud is not yet validated.&lt;/p&gt;

Clinical significance of diffusion tensor tractography as a predictor of functional recovery after laminoplasty in patients with cervical compressive myelopathy

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaya Nakamura ◽  
Kanehiro Fujiyoshi ◽  
Osahiko Tsuji ◽  
Tsunehiko Konomi ◽  
Naobumi Hosogane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
Recovery Rate ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Diffusion Tensor Tractography ◽  
Recovery Rates ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Cervical Compressive Myelopathy ◽  
Compressive Myelopathy ◽  
And Diffusion

Object This study was conducted to determine whether postoperative changes in the fractional anisotropy (FA) value and diffusion tensor imaging of the cervical spinal cord can predict functional outcome for patients with cervical compressive myelopathy (CCM). Methods Twenty patients with CCM were treated by laminoplasty from 2008 to 2009. Both T2-weighted MRI and diffusion tensor imaging were performed before and after surgery. The FA values were analyzed and fiber tracking was performed. The fiber tract (FT) ratio was calculated according to the following formula: (number of fibers at the compressed level)/(number of fibers at the C-2 level) × 100%. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association scoring system for cervical myelopathy was used to determine pre- and postoperative neurological status of the patients, and the Hirabayashi method was used to calculate the recovery rate. Results There was no significant difference in recovery rates between patients with and those without intramedullary high signal intensity on preoperative T2-weighted images. Substantial differences in FA value among spinal cord, bone, and CSF made it difficult to obtain a precise FA value for the compressed spinal cord. There was a significant correlation between the preoperative FT ratio and the recovery rate (p = 0.0006). A poor outcome (recovery rate < 40%) could be anticipated for CCM patients with preoperative FT ratios below 60%. Conclusions The preoperative FT ratio correlated significantly with the recovery rates in CCM patients. Preoperative diffusion tensor tractography can be a new prognostic predictor for neurological recovery in CCM patients after laminoplasty.

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