FUOYE Journal of Engineering and Technology (FUOYEJET - Federal University Oye-Ekiti)
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E-Agriculture Reviewed: Theories, Concepts and Trends
Get PDFOne of the foremost sectors that have shaped the socioeconomic development of most countries is agriculture. Over the years, the benefits accruing from the widespread adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in agriculture includes increasing people’s knowledge and practice of agricultural processes and hence improving agricultural production and linkages to remunerative markets, food security, national economies amongst many other benefits. A field of activity related to the use of modern information and communication tools and technologies that increase agricultural productivity and make available information that is relevant to agricultural research, planning, extension, production, monitoring, marketing and trade is referred to as e-agriculture. In this paper, we present a methodical review of theories, concepts and trends of e-agriculture. Keywords— Development, e-Agriculture, Globalization, Information and Communications Technology (ICT
Design of an Anaerobic Digester for Generation of Biogas Fired in a Burner and Lamp
Get PDFThis work presents design of an anaerobic digester for generation of biogas fired in a burner and in a gas mantle lamp. The methodology utilized equations to describe digester that stores slurry and biogas which were discharged according to designed orifices over a period. Models to predict volume of biogas generation over a period of retention, spent slurry discharge height from cylindrical digester to expansion chamber as well as energy delivered to the biogas burner and lamp were developed to promote scale and dimensions of digester systems. The anaerobic digester was determined to have a total plant volume of 10.5 m3. The volume of biogas generated over a period of 42 days retention shows a concave down curve of exponential polynomial equation, with highest rated daily gas production of about 5 m3 occurring between 15-25 days. The spent slurry flows towards expansion chamber as slurry level decreases in the digester and became much pronounced in day 15 of 42 days retention. The burner had specific firing rate of 0.256 m3/s/m2 and heat output per unit port area of 677 W/cm2 while the lamp light output was 1267 lm for an illumination area of 11.3 m2. The cumulative heat load of the burner and lamp reaches about 9.0 kW and 2.0 kW, respectively.Keywords: Anaerobic Digester; Biogas; Burner; Lamp; Model
Comparison of Conventional Schlumberger and Modified Schlumberger Arrays in Estimating Aquifer Parameters in A Typical Basement Complex, Southwestern Nigeria
Get PDFThis study compared the interpretation results of the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) data acquired using the conventional Schlumberger and modified Schlumberger arrays with a view to assessing the effectiveness of the modified Schlumberger arrays of VES as alternatives to the conventional Schlumberger array at sites with space constraint during geophysical exploration. A total of thirty (30) VES data for both conventional Schlumberger and modified Schlumberger arrays were collected across different rock units within Federal University Oye-Ekiti campus and Irare estate in Oye-Ekiti metropolis, south-western Nigeria, with electrode spacing
Development of a Solar Aided Crib for Drying and Storage of Maize Cobs
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to design, construct and evaluate the performance of solar aided crib for storage of freshly harvested maize (Zea mays) in a humid tropical climate. A crib with two drying chambers of size 600 mm x 685 mm x 1500 mm with moisture emission chamber of 600 mm x 115 mm x 1500 mm was designed, constructed and evaluated using appropriate design procedures at the department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. The roof of the crib is made of perspex which transmits the sun's energy into stored maize in the crib for effective drying purpose. The crib was raised at 50 mm above the ground surface and wire netted against rodents. It has two doors for easy loading and off-loading. Freshly harvested Maize weighing 500 kg of 30.5% moisture content (wet basis) was stored for three months. Moisture content of the maize was taken on weekly basis while relative humidity and temperature were measured on daily basis. Readings were taken at three positions (top, middle and bottom) in apertures that were made in those positions but were immediately covered up at the end of every reading. The ambient temperatures varied from 20.90C to 380C and also relative humidity varied from 41% to 91% throughout the period of the experiment. The moisture content at the point of storage was 30.5 % but was reduced to 4 % after three months. The final weight of maize in cobs was 362 kg which implied that the Perspex roof significantly aided in the drying process. The structure is structurally balanced and there was no grain deterioration either by fungal invasion or insects attack during the storage period. Keywords: Crib, Drying, Moisture content, Storage, Temperatur
Assessment of Rock Aggregate for Construction Using Comminution Theory
Get PDFIn this research, grinding energy of selected rock samples collected from South West Nigeria was determined using comminution theory in order to evaluate suitability of rock for aggregate production. Bond Work Index (BWi), Aggregate Impact Value (AIV) and Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV) of samples was characterized and correlated. The work index of the charnockitic rock, granite gneiss, porphyritic granite –labelled PG1 and porphyritic granite –labelled PG2 of samples was found to be 17.12 kWh/t, 13.72 kWh/t, 13.64 kWh/t and 12.76 kWh/t respectively. The ACV of the charnockitic rock, granite gneiss, porphyritic granite (PG1) and porphyritic granite (PG2) was determined to be 26.2 %, 27.3 %, 27.6 % and 27.8 % respectively; while the AIV of the samples, in same order, was 11.2 %, 13.2 %, 19.1 % and 18.4 % respectively. Following high correlation coefficient of 0.98% between BWi and ACV, hardness of rock materials are classified as ‘very difficult’, ‘difficult’, ‘medium’, ‘easy’ and ‘very easy’ for grinding energies in the range of >18 kWh/t, 14-18 kWh/t, 10-14 kWh/t, 7-10 kWh/t and 0-7 kWh/t respectively. Based on the classification, rock materials with grinding energy >10 kWh/t could be suitable for aggregate production and usable for civil construction purposes.Keywords- Aggregate, Aggregate impact value, Aggregate crushing value, Comminution, Grinding energy.
Evaluation of Cement and Bitumen Emulsion on Strength Characteristics of Native South African Granular Soil as Base Course Material
Get PDFPavement rehabilitation where the material in the existing pavement is recycled in-situ with bitumen will sustain the environment with conservation of natural aggregates, reduction in noise, dust emission and traffic disruption. This study investigate the effects of a native South African granular material stabilized with cement and bitumen emulsion as a base layer in pavement construction. The material stabilized with cement-bitumen emulsion (2-3%) was subjected to Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) and Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) tests for 1, 4, 7 and 28 days curing. The UCS and ITS requirement was evaluated with respect to a base layer for design traffic application of less than six million equivalent single axles. The results of UCS and ITS tests for the stabilized material showed improved strength and have the potential for use as a base course material for the design traffic. The result revealed that 2.5% cement and bitumen emulsion meets the minimum strength characteristics for the base layer. Relative to 2% cement and 2% bitumen emulsion, ITS obtained for 4 and 7 days of curing increased approximately by 24%, 41% and 24%, 53% respectively. Models for UCS in terms of ITS was developed for cement and bitumen emulsion which will make one test among the two sufficient to indicate the strength of cement and bitumen emulsion stabilized materials at the mix design level. Bitumen stabilization is a quick construction method, with lower cost than reconstruction and good for rehabilitation. Keywords— bitumen emulsion, cement, granular, indirect tensile strength unconfined compressive strength.
Effect of Ripe and Unripe Plantain Peel Ash on Concrete Workability and Compressive Strength
Get PDFPlantain (Musa paradisiaca) peels are by-product of plantain fruits, constituting about 40% of the fruits. Performance effects of Ripe Plantain peel ash (RPPA) and Unripe Plantain peel ash (UPPA) in concrete were investigated in this research. Both RPPA and UPPA were added to the concrete as admixture in the proportion of 1.5% and 2.5%. The percentage composition of Silica (SiO2) and Alumina (Al2O3) contents in RPPA and UPPA were determined using spectrometry method of analysis. Slump test on the fresh concrete and compressive strength test were carried out on the concrete cube for 7, 14, 28, 56 and 90 days. The Silica (SiO2) content for RPPA and UPPA were 46.37% and 54.00% respectively while the Alumina (Al2O3) content for RPPA and UPPA were 2.20% and 3.08% respectively. The compressive strength for the control mix at 28-day is 20.4N/mm2, while that of 1.5 and 2.5% RPPP are 16.3 and 14.0N/mm2 respectively representing decrease of 20.15 and 31.58% respectively, compressive strength results for concrete containing 1.5 and 2.5% UPPA are 14.4 and 12.2N/mm2 respectively representing decrease of 29.32 and 40.01% respectively with the control mix. At later age, the strength development is observed to be on the increase with concrete containing admixtures. At 90-day, control sample has strength of 23.32N/mm2 which is about 12.56% higher than 28-day strength, concrete with 1.5 and 2.5% RRPA have strength of 22.77N/mm2 (28.50% increase), 20.64N/mm2 (32.40% increase) respectively while 1.5 and 2.5% UPPA concrete have strength of 20.86N/mm2 (31.00% increase) and 19.02N/mm2 (35.70% increase). Keywords---- Admixture, Compressive strength, Ripe plantain peel, Unripe plantain peel, Workability
Effect of Plantain Peel Ash on Gradation and Compaction Characteristics of Tropical Soil
Get PDFThis study investigated the gradation and compaction properties of lateritic soil treated with plantain peel ash (PPA). PPA was used to improve lateritic soil with up to 10% PPA by dry weight of soil. Tests carried out to include specific gravity, particle size distribution, consistency tests, and compaction (using British Standard light, BSL and West African Standard, WAS) compaction energies. XLSTART 2018 Software was used to develop regression models for the test conducted between the self-determining factors and the dependent factors. The results of the study show that the specific gravity of the soil significantly decreased from its natural value of 2.55 to 2.43 at 4% PPA and thereafter increased to 2.48 at 10 % PPA. The fines content reduced from 59.9 % at the 0 % PPA to 5% at 10% PPA respectively. MDD (BSL and WAS) reduced to 1.76 Mg/m3, 1.84 Mg/m3 at 4%, 6 % PPA content and subsequently increased to 1.91 Mg/m3, 2.0 Mg/m3 at 10 % PPA content respectively. OMC for BSL decreases to 11.8 % at 10 PPA content while WAS was decreased to 8.6 % at10 % PPA content. Regression models for MDD show that self-determining factors, primarily influence the MDD of treated soil. However, in the case of OMC model, Gs and CE with higher coefficients have much more effect on the OMC compared to other variables. Based on the obtained results Gs, CE and PPA significantly affect grading and compaction characteristics of PPA treated the soil. Keywords—Compaction Characteristics, Grading Properties, Lateritic soil, Plantain Peel Ash, Regression Model
Determination of Crop Coefficient and Water Use of SUWAN-1-SR with a Mini Lysimeter in Ibadan, Nigeria
Get PDFAccurate irrigation planning requires basic information about the soil, environment and the water requirements of the crop to be cultivated. With new variety of a crop comes the physiological characteristics that may be somewhat different from known varieties. Crop Water Requirement (CWR) and Crop Coefficient (Kc) are major factors required in irrigation planning and they vary with crop developmental stages. Four non-weighing Lysimeters (Diameter, 60cm and Depth, 50cm) were used to determine CWR, Kc as well as crop performances under specific conditions. The CWR and Kc of Maize variety (SUWAN-1-SR) were determined across the four developmental stages (Initial, Development, Mid and Late) using the lysimeter system. The CWR were 58.8, 176.8, 206.0, 59.6 mm and Kc were 1.0, 1.6, 1.4, 0.7 for the respective stages. In comparison with FAO 56 maize Kc and CWRvalues, SUWAN-1-SR requires more water across the developmental stages and a sum of 501.2mm for the crop cycle. The average yield was 14.1t/ha, while average Water Use Efficiency (WUE) in the Lysimeter plots was 2.68±0.44 kg/m3 at a planting spacing of 40cm x 40cm, The WUE is high confirming the yielding potential of SUWAN-1-SRif given necessary nutrient inputs, and water requirement met. The developed lysimeter can be used to efficiently determine CWR. Keywords -Lysimeter, Crop Coefficient, Crop Water Requirement, SUWAN-1-SR maize variet
Simulation of a PLC-based Car parking system
Get PDF Parking is an integral component of the transport system. It plays a crucial role in the management of traffic and congestion. On-street parking constitutes one major problem that makes traffic situation chaotic in Nigeria cities. Most roads in Nigeria cities are narrow and lack pedestrian lanes. As we all know, vehicles are used extensively for transportation. It is also important to have easy and effective system for maintaining the vehicles cleanliness as well which necessitate this simulation experiment. The simulation experiment involves the use of LADDER SIMULATOR which allows the Programmable Computer to simulate a Programmable Logic Controller such that Ladder Logic PLC programs can be developed in a simple ‘Drag and Drop’ manner. The system entails the use of several proximity sensors and components like Timers (On-Delay), Counters (Count-Up and Count-Down), LEDs to control the process of cars moving in to the car park with the proper arrangement of cars entering the car park and the exit of the cars. The sensors transfer the outputs to the PLC (programmable logic controller). This type of setup is an Advanced Parking System (APS) which acquire information any about available parking spaces, process the information and then present it to drivers by means of variable message signs using LADSIM simulation technique. The problem of car parking space is enormous which made this work relevant due to insufficient parking spaces and lack of skilled security men. There is a worldwide and global shift towards the automatic car parking system to calculate accurate space available for car and for revenue collection as parking fees. Opinion statistical analysis sample test with KMO and Bartlett's validity test conducted among fifty students revealed a strong positive significant (0.759) in support of the use of automated car parking system in Nigeria. The significant of this new scheme is that it provides an improvement and reliability in the present car parking system and this system can be implemented easily because it is very economical, dependable and cheap. Keywords— Sensors, PLC (programmable logic controller), Car parking; LADSIM; Ladder Logic