1,721,022 research outputs found

    Evaluation of a prototype spreader in the distribution of poultry manure

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    A study of a prototype spreader evaluated the distribution of four poultry manures differing in terms of composting degree and moisture content. The chemical and physical properties such as wet bulk density, moisture content, and static frictional characteristics of the manures were evaluated. The prototype was set up for orchard and arable crops and the spinner speed and point of delivery of the organic fertilizer onto the spinners were adjusted. When properly adjusted it was suitable for broadcast manure distribution and in bands. In the former, an increase in spinner speed improved the throwing width and effective swath width. The best results for the point of delivery of the organic material were achieved by moving the point of delivery away from the center of the spinners. In the band distribution, the best results were observed when the point of delivery coincided with the center of the spinners and spinner speed was low. The physical properties of the fertilizers influenced the distribution pattern. The poorest results were observed in the distribution of manure with large particles and high moisture content. A proper management process of poultry manure is recommended for improving the distribution quality

    The performance of an air-assisted sprayer operating in vines

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    The performance of a sprayer fitted with two vertical adjustable air outlets has been studied in vineyards investigating the effects of changing the fan speeds (1400, 2000 and 2500/min) and the direction of the air-jet (90 and 120° backward angle of the outlet side deflectors in relation to the treated row). Laboratory measurements were made before the field trials in order to define the operating characteristics of the sprayer. The sampling methodology in the vineyard was based on a framework and a system of intersecting nylon threads dividing the canopy into elementary volumetric zones. The spray flux entering and leaving the canopy, and the losses to the ground and to the air were measured. The spray coverage on the leaves at different heights and depths in the canopy has been also quantified. In all the tests, the air outlets were adjusted to localize the spray application to the appropriate heights determined by the growth of canopy. Considering the spray deposit and the environmental losses, the best results were observed with the 120° backward angle of the outlet side deflectors and the low and medium fan speeds. The effect of the fan speed compared with that of the direction of the air stream appeared more evident. The spray losses doubled by increasing the fan speed and frequently these losses were not limited to the treatment area but drifted outside. The degree and the uniformity of the spray coverage were strongly influenced by the high fan speed. © 2000 Silsoe Research Institute

    Mechanical application of orius laevigatus nymphs for the control of Frankliniella occidentalis in greenhouse crops

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    The development of improved technology for use of beneficial organisms in greenhouse crops includes mechanical application methods to that can reduce labour costs compared to manual application while preserving the quality of the applied natural ene-mies. A pneumatic distribution system, verified as effective in previous study with mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot), was tested for application of the predatory bug Orius laevigatus (Fieber). Laboratory and field tests were used to assess the efficiency of mechanical distribution of nymphs of O. laevigatus. The efficiency of mechanical distribution was evaluated comparing the biological parameters of the predator (survival, fecundity, fecundity rate and lon-gevity) dispensed mechanically with to those following manual distribution. Nymphal survival immediately after and 10 days after the dispensing was calculated as proportion of nymphs reaching adulthood. We found that mechanical applications caused a reduction of predator survival in comparison to manual sprinkling of 21% and 36% immediately after and 10 days after the dis-pensing, respectively. The causes of the reduced survival from mechanical application were attributed to the combined effect of the extraction system and the velocity of airflow that transports the predator. Moreover, the biological parameters of adult females that survived mechanical distribution as nymphs, showed no significant differences compared to the same following manual dis-tribution. In the greenhouse test, the mechanically released nymphs of O. laevigatus were as effective as those manually released in controlling Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) in a cucumber crop. Consistently, the yield and quality of cucumber fruits did not show differences in the mechanical vs. manual application. Mechanical application time was significantly lower compared to manual application, determining a 5.5 higher effective work capacity compared to traditional manual distribution

    La pettinatura meccanica per la gestione meccanizzata della Doppia Cortina

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    La forma di allevamento GDC (Geneva Double Curtain) è largamente diffusa nell’areale padano in relazione alla sua adattabilità ai terreni di pianura e pedecollinari con media e buona fertilità dove fornisce interessanti risultati produttivi sia in termini quantitativi che qualitativi. Alla base dell’efficace gestione di questo sistema di allevamento vi è il mantenimento di una netta separazione delle cortine che può essere garantita sia da una corretta potatura invernale che da un’adeguata pettinatura della chioma. La pettinatura, tradizionalmente eseguita manualmente, può essere resa più rapida ed efficiente con l’impiego di specifiche attrezzature. Nel corso del 2019 in un vigneto di Trebbiano romagnolo allevato a GDC in provincia di Ravenna, è stata effettuata una valutazione comparativa della pettinatura manuale, eseguita da due operatori collocati su una piattaforma mobile, rispetto alla pettinatura meccanica eseguita da un prototipo che, grazie all’azione di organi meccanici convogliatori e di un flusso d’aria che agisce sui tralci orientandone la posizione, consente di sostituire quasi totalmente l’azione dell’uomo nel posizionamento dei germogli nell’interfila. L’operazione meccanica è stata eseguita ad una velocità media di 3 km/h ottenendo una capacità di lavoro di 0,51 ha/h circa 5 volte superiore da quella garantita dal cantiere manuale, 0,1 ha/h. Conseguentemente, anche i tempi di impiego della manodopera sono stati nettamente inferiori con la pettinatura meccanica 5,8 h/ha rispetto a 23 h/ha richiesti nell’intervento manuale. Ipotizzando una superficie media di impiego di 20 ha e simulando i costi di richiesti per l’acquisto e la gestione del mezzo meccanico la pettinatura con il prototipo consente di ridurre il costo di intervento di circa il 40% (175 €/ha contro circa 300 €/ha per il cantiere manuale)

    La raccolta meccanica del trebbiano Romagnolo: influenza di differenti tecnologie sulla caratteristiche dei vini

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    La vendemmia meccanica deve rispettare lo standard qualitativo. A questo scopo diventa interessante l'applicazione di trattamenti sul prodotto raccolto, sovente caratterizzato da livelli di mosto libero elevato. Una valutazione è stata effettuata su Trebbiano romagnolo per la sua diffusa raccolta meccanica. Il prodotto vendemmiato a scuotimento verticale si presentava in ottime condizioni (8,8% di mosto libero) ed è stato sottoposto a differenti tecnologie di trattamento: A) Creazione in campo di ambiente riducente (1000 mg/t di anidride solforosa e 500 mg/t di acido ascorbico). B) Raffreddamento fino a 11 °C con ghiaccio secco nei contenitori di trasporto alla cantina (85 kg/t). C) Iperossigenazione dopo la pressatura mediante insufflazione di ossigeno molecolare fino ad un tenore di 3 mg/L di catechine. Queste tre tesi sono state confrontate con due testimoni senza trattamento: D) Raccolta meccanica, E) Raccolta manuale.Il duo-trio test ha evidenziato una differenza statisticamente significativa fra tutti i vini. Il test di classamento fra le varie coppie di prodotti non ha evidenziato differenze statisticamente significative, fatta eccezione per la tesi con l'impiego del ghiaccio secco, risultata preferita rispetto alla vendemmia meccanica senza alcun trattamento.[...

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

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    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed

    Quattro esempi di vendemmia meccanica in Romagna

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    A titolo di esempio si riportano quattro valutazioni economiche sulla vendemmia meccanica, basate su risultati rilevati nella scorsa vendemmia nell’ambito del Programma Regionale di Sviluppo Rurale 2014-2020 in collaborazione con il CRPV, in aziende viticole della Romagna che per collocazione, tipo di vitigni e forma d’allevamento sono rappresentative della viticoltura di questo territorio. In particolare sono state prese in considerazioni le seguenti situazioni: 1. vigneto in zona pedecollinare con Sangiovese allevato a cordone speronato; 2. vigneto in alta collina con Sangiovese allevato a cordone libero; 3. vigneto in pianura con Trebbiano romagnolo allevato a GDC; 4. vigneto in pianura con Trebbiano romagnolo allevato a Guyot
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