Research in Agricultural Engineering, 2020 (vol. 66), issue 3
Electrohydrodynamic, oven and natural drying of mint leaves and effects on the physiochemical indices of the leavesOriginal Paper
Ali Esehaghbeygi, Zahra Karimi
Res. Agr. Eng., 2020, 66(3):81-88 | DOI: 10.17221/16/2020-RAE 
Electrohydrodynamics (EHD) enhanced the thin-layer drying of mint (Mentha Spicata Huds) leaves using multiple point-to-plate electrodes. Its configurations were carried out under DC high voltage and its effects were compared to oven drying at 40 °C and open-air-drying with natural convection at 25 °C. The EHD was run in an optimum electric field of 3.2 kV.cm-1 using positive ionising conical needles to a plate electrode covered by a steel screen grid to prevent the leaves drifting. The samples subjected to the EHD and oven exhibited faster drying kinetics than natural convection. Compared to the oven drying, the EHD electrical power...
Efficiency of a modified plastic tank as a bio-degradation system in Sub-Saharan African countriesOriginal Paper
Chibuzo Stanley Nwankwo, Chigozie Francis Okoyeuzu, Ikpeama Ahamefula
Res. Agr. Eng., 2020, 66(3):89-96 | DOI: 10.17221/21/2020-RAE
The efficiency of three modified plastic digesters (3.6 m3 each) using food waste for biogas generation in cooking food was evaluated. The experiment was laid out based on a completely randomised design. A plastic tank was modified as a biodegradation system for food waste digestion to generate a biogas. The biochemical and chemical oxygen demand ranged from 44.58 to 49.62% and 130.42 to 139.20%, respectively, before digestion, but decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after digestion. The pH of the fermenting slurry fluctuated (6.24-6.86) and an average biogas of 0.574 m3 (505-601 L.day-1)...
Electronic nose sensor development using ANN backpropagation for Lombok Agarwood classificationOriginal Paper
Farel Ahadyatulakbar Aditama, Lalu Zulfikri, Laili Mardiana, Tri Mulyaningsih, Nurul Qomariyah, Rahadi Wirawan
Res. Agr. Eng., 2020, 66(3):97-103 | DOI: 10.17221/26/2020-RAE
The aim of the present study is the development of an electronic nose system prototype for the classification of Gyrinops versteegii agarwood. The prototype consists of three gas sensors, i.e., TGS822, TGS2620, and TGS2610. The data acquisition and quality classification of the nose system are controlled by the Artificial Neural Network backpropagation algorithm in the Arduino Mega2650 microcontroller module. The testing result shows that an electronic nose can distinguish the quality of Gyrinops versteegii agarwood. The good-quality agarwood has an output of [1 -1], while the poor-quality agarwood has an output of [-1 1].
Specific energy consumption of a Moringa oleifera seed shelling machineOriginal Paper
Oluwaseyi Kayode Fadele, Ademola Olagoke Afolabi, Dolapo Opeyemi Oloyede, Olufemi Olusola Adedire, Hafsat Bankole, Adeniyi Adetunji
Res. Agr. Eng., 2020, 66(3):104-111 | DOI: 10.17221/81/2019-RAE
In this work, the Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) and machine capacity for a Moringa oleifera seed shelling machine were determined in relation to the cylinder speed and seed sizes. A M. oleifera seed shelling machine was tested and the SEC was appraised. The SEC and machine capacity of the M. oleifera seed shelling machine were determined at five speed levels, viz. 200, 240, 280, 320 and 360 rpm using three seed sizes (viz. small, medium and large seed sizes). The SEC and machine capacity increased with the seed sizes during the shelling process. The same trend was observed for the relationship between the SEC and cylinder...
Changes of root zone temperature, growth and productivity of broccoli cultivated with coloured plastic mulchesOriginal Paper
El-Sayed Khater, Ramy Hamouda, Harby Mostafa
Res. Agr. Eng., 2020, 66(3):112-121 | DOI: 10.17221/84/2019-RAE
The main aim is to find out the influence of using coloured plastic mulches (blue, white, green, red, black and white on black) compared with a mulch-free treatment on the root zone temperature, growth and productivity of broccoli. The results indicated that the highest and lowest mean root zone temperatures were recorded the in the dark-coloured mulches (blue, green, red and white on black) and in the light-coloured mulches (white), respectively, in both the winter and spring seasons. The average shoot length, leaf number and root volume of the broccoli for all the treatments was higher in the spring season compared with those of the winter season....