Agricultural waste management
H. Amiri; A. Asakereh; M. Soleymani
Abstract
IntroductionWheat, is the most important crop in the world. In Iran, wheat is the most important and strategic agricultural crop, due to its vital role in providing food and feeding livestock. Because wheat harvesting operation has a significant share of total grain losses, it is considered as the most ...
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IntroductionWheat, is the most important crop in the world. In Iran, wheat is the most important and strategic agricultural crop, due to its vital role in providing food and feeding livestock. Because wheat harvesting operation has a significant share of total grain losses, it is considered as the most important and sensitive stage of production. Recently, in Iran, the need for straw to feed livestock has increased sharply, and since wheat is the main source of straw production, changes have been made in the configuration of the grain combine harvester so that in addition to collecting grain, it can crush and collect straw. These combine harvesters are known as straw collecting combine harvesters. The growing need for straw, along with the high cost and difficulty of straw collecting, has made straw collecting combine harvesters more popular, especially in areas where animal husbandry is common alongside agriculture. Despite facilitating and increasing the possibility of straw collection by this type of combine harvesters, in many cases grain losses have increased. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the amount of grain losses in this type of combine harvester and determine the factors affecting its losses.Materials and MethodsThis study was conducted to investigate the effect of ground speed and wheat yield on grain loss in a straw collecting combine harvester. The use of this type of harvester was also analyzed economically. Two models of JD-1055 and JD-1165 combine harvesters were considered for evaluation. The experiments were performed in a split factorial design in the form of a randomized complete block design. Grain yield (at three yield levels: less than 2 Ton ha-1, 2 to 5 Ton ha-1, and more than 5 Ton ha-1) was the main factor and the other two treatments, the model of combine harvester and the ground speed (with three levels: 1, 1.5 and 3 km h-1) were factorially placed in subplots. Loss components including head loss, combine harvester body loss, end loss, threshing unit loss, cleaning unit loss, and quality losses were measured and compared with that of a conventional grain combine harvester. Field capacity and harvesting cost were also measured for both types of combine harvesters. Finally, based on cost-benefit analysis, the straw collecting combine harvester was compared with the conventional combine harvester economically.Results and DiscussionThe results showed that in addition to the main effects, the two-way and three-way interactions were also significant for the studied factors on head loss, body loss, end loss, threshing unit loss, cleaning unit loss, and quality losses of straw collecting combine harvester. The losses of the straw collecting combine harvester are strongly affected by the ground speed and the grain yield. The percentage of grain loss in low yields (less than 2 Ton ha-1) was significantly higher than that of medium (2 to 5 Ton ha-1) and high yields (more than 5 Ton ha-1). The average loss of JD-1055 was less than JD-1165, mainly because of more loss in threshing and cleaning units. The highest total losses, with a rate of 10.54%, were related to JD-1165 in low yields, while the lowest percentage of total losses, at a rate of 2.54%, was related to JD-1055 in medium grain yield and low speed (1 km h-1). The total grain losses of conventional combine harvesters obtained about 3.22% while the total grain losses of straw collecting combine harvesters were approximately 5.44%. In general, the losses of straw collecting combine harvester were about 2.22% more than that of the conventional combine harvester. The economic evaluation showed that in the region where animal farming is common along with agriculture, the use of straw collecting combine harvester is more economical than a conventional combine harvester.ConclusionCombine harvester model, grain yield, as well as ground speed of the combine harvester affects the grain losses in different units of a straw collecting combine harvester as well as total losses. As the grain yield and the feed rate increase, the total losses of this combine decrease at first but increase again in high yields. Adjusting the feed rate helps reduce the end losses and total losses of straw collecting combine harvester. In the study area, using a straw collecting combine harvester is more economical than a conventional combine harvester.
Agricultural waste management
E. Alboativi; A. Asakereh; H. Zaki Dizaji; Y. Mansoori
Abstract
Introduction: Bagasse is the dry pulpy fibrous residue that remains after sugarcane stalks are crushed for juice extraction. Bagasse is widely used in conversional and by-product industries. Bagasse is commonly used as a substitute for wood in many tropical and subtropical countries for the production ...
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Introduction: Bagasse is the dry pulpy fibrous residue that remains after sugarcane stalks are crushed for juice extraction. Bagasse is widely used in conversional and by-product industries. Bagasse is commonly used as a substitute for wood in many tropical and subtropical countries for the production of pulp, paper, and board. One of the most important conversional industries in the sugarcane agro-industry is chipboard production. In recent years, two chipboard factories from bagasse were exploited in Khuzestan province. In the production of chipboard from bagasse, a lot of waste is produced, most of which include pith. The waste is transferred to the outside of the factory at a great cost and energy level. Also, annually, a large amount of surplus bagasse of conversional Industries is obtained in Khuzestan agro-industries. These wastes cause many environmental and health problems, while these wastes can be used to generate energy. On the other hand, chipboard industries consume a lot of energy which is mostly fossil energy. Nowadays, in many sugarcane agro-industries in different countries, wastes are used to generate energy for sugar plants and conversional industries. Bagasse is often used as a primary fuel source for sugar mills.Materials and Methods: Current research is focused on the direct energy consumed in chipboard production from sugarcane bagasse and whether it can be provided by using residues and wastes of Debal Khozaie Agro-Industry Company. Data were collected from agro-industry companies as well as by sampling and measuring waste, input and energy consumption at the chipboard factory of Debal Khozaie. Direct energy consumed in the chipboard production from bagasse includes diesel fuel, electricity, natural gas, and labor. Input and output values of materials (bagasse, pith, etc.), and energy consumption (electricity, diesel, natural gas, etc.) were collected using both laboratory tests and data available in agro-industry. Potential of energy generation from bagasse, pith, wood chips, and straw in Debal Khozaie agro-industry, were considered by the direct burning method. Also, the potential of biogas production from vinasse in agro-industry for energy production was calculated. The moisture of bagasse (fresh bagasse, 24 hours, five days, 30 days, and 45 days after gathering), outdoor dried pith, outdoor dried straw and wood chip were measured based on the ASTM D2974 standard method in the laboratory. Ash percentage of bagasse, peat, straw, and Wood chips were measured using a furnace, desiccator and a scale. Also, the lower heating value of bagasse, straw, pith, and wood chips were measured using a calorimeter bomb.Results and Discussion: The direct energy consumption in the chipboard factory was determined to be 5.829 GJ m-3 of produced chipboard. Natural gas and electricity were the major sources of direct energy with 78.52% and 18.87% share, respectively. To replace these sources, pith and woodchips form chipboard factory, sugarcane leaves, remainder sugarcane bagasse, and vinasse from molasses-based Razi alcohol factory were considered. Properties of the substituted resources were determined including ash, moisture content, heating value (using bomb calorimeter), and amount of woodchips along with the biogas potential from anaerobic fermentation of vinasse. Results showed that woody residues from chipboard factory and Debal Khozaie Agro-Industry Company had the potential to provide 4.33 fold the energy provided by gas in the chipboard factory, considering the efficiency equal to 60%. Using the residues of the chipboard factory individually, it is possible to replace all the consumed natural gas and electricity energy needed in the chipboard factory as well. According to the volume of available vinasse, the potential biogas production from this resource estimated to be 8.82 Gm3.Conclusion: Electricity, natural gas, and diesel fuel constitute the direct energy consumed in the production of chipboard, and natural gas with 78.52% has the highest share. Electricity accounts for 18.87% of direct energy consumption. The specific energy of chipboard production at the chipboard factory was 5.829 GJ m-3. Only using the pith of chipboard factory can produce 2.85 times the total energy of natural gas consumed in chipboard factory. Investigation of the potential of biogas production from vinasse in Debal Khozaie agro-industry showed that it is possible to generate energy equivalent to 8824.3 thousand cubic meters of natural gas. Overall, the study showed that using the wastes of chipboard factory and sugarcane agro-industry has the potential to replace the entire natural gas and electricity consumption in chipboard factory.
N. Moradi; A. Asakereh; M. J. Sheikhdavoodi
Abstract
IntroductionAgricultural mechanization is defined as the use of energy and production resources, machinery and equipment in agriculture. Modern agriculture is heavily dependent on mechanization, and machinery, equipment, energy resources, and related management processes are heavily used in the food ...
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IntroductionAgricultural mechanization is defined as the use of energy and production resources, machinery and equipment in agriculture. Modern agriculture is heavily dependent on mechanization, and machinery, equipment, energy resources, and related management processes are heavily used in the food and non-food production. Agricultural mechanization is the major energy-consuming factor in the agricultural system and has benefits such as reducing operating costs and agricultural toil. SWOT analysis has been used in numerous studies on agricultural development and mechanization. SWOT analysis, as an effective mathematical approach, is used for strategic planning and identifying system strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. In this study, SWOT method was used to evaluate the internal and external factors of agricultural mechanization development in Ahvaz County to present appropriate strategies.Materials and MethodsThe main purpose of this study is to use SWOT analysis to determine the best strategic planning for agricultural mechanization development in Ahwaz. Therefore, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of agricultural mechanization development in Ahwaz were studied within the framework of the SWAT program. Ahvaz is considered the agricultural hub of Khuzestan province. Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan province, accounts for about 35 percent of the total area under cultivation in the province. Karun, Dez and Karkheh rivers, as the main source of agricultural water, pass through Ahvaz lands. SWOT analysis is a sophisticated but effective way of strategically analyzing a system that considers both the internal and external environment. Opportunities and threats are the external factors of a system, and strengths and weaknesses, the internal factors of the system. Opportunities are attractive external factors that illustrate the reasons for system development and improvement. These are essential elements in the system's external environment that the system can exploit to its advantage. In addition, threats are major external factors that can adversely affect the system. The extent to which the company's internal environment corresponds to the external environment is expressed in terms of strategic fit. SWOT analysis offers four aggressive, conservative, competitive and defensive strategies. Various methods have been used to collect data, including face-to-face interview, questionnaires and a database provided by the Ministry of Jihade-Agriculture of Iran. Data were obtained using the questionnaire from 189 farmers and experts. After classifying and monitoring the data, internal and external factors evaluation matrices were prepared. After analyzing these matrices, the importance and weight of the parameters (i.e. strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities for agricultural mechanization development) were determined. Finally, the SWOT analysis matrix was prepared to determine the agricultural mechanization development strategy in Ahvaz.Results and DiscussionAnalyzing the matrix of external factors evaluation showed that the low tendency to invest in agricultural production, less attention by officials to the agricultural sector and water scarcity for irrigation were the most important threats. On the other hand, parameters such as the possibility of providing agricultural facilities and loans to farmers, the large number of agricultural mechanization graduates, the high incentive for farmers to use agricultural machinery, and the possibility of producing agricultural equipment are the most effective opportunities for agricultural mechanization development in Ahvaz County. Also, the results show that vast and flat agricultural lands are the most important strengths of the area, while the high cost of machinery is the most important weakness. SWOT analysis showed that the region is not internally desirable despite relatively good opportunities in external factors, as weaknesses are relatively dominant. The final scores of the internal and external factors evaluation matrices were 2.437 and 2.593, respectively, indicating that competitive strategy should be considered. Therefore, taking advantage of important opportunities for mechanization development in Ahvaz, important weaknesses should be reduced or eliminated.ConclusionThe purpose of this study was to prepare an appropriate strategic planning for the development of agricultural mechanization in Ahvaz. SWOT matrix was calculated, based on internal and external factors evaluation matrices. The matrix was then used to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of agricultural mechanization development in this region. Also, the weight of the most important factors (i.e. strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of agricultural mechanization development) was calculated. Ultimately, based on the matrix results, to develop agricultural mechanization in this region, the competitive strategy was proposed.
