cSAE

5CGR

The Journal of the Canadian Society of Agricultural EngineeringLa Revue de la Societe Canadienne du Genie Rural

CAE 39(3) 151-247 (1997)CN ISSN 0045-432X

Soil and Water

COMBINING FLOOD IRRIGATION AND CONTROLLED SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE TOIRRIGATE MAIZE IN A TEMPERATE SUBHUMlD CLIMATE

D. Nscngiyulllva. F. Papineau and R.S. Broughtoll .

ESTIMATING POTATO YIELD WITH THE SUBSTOR MODEL IN QUEBECM.H. Mahdian and 1. Gallichancl .

REGIONAL ESTIMATION OF WATER DEFICIT AND POTATO YIELD IN QUEBECM.H. Nlahclian nnc! J. Gallichand .

151

157

165

187

ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF SUBSURFACE IRRIGATION IN EASTERN ONTARIOAND SOUTHERN QUEBEC

N.G. Barnett, C.A. Madramootoo ancl M.N. Mejia 177

Ellergy and Processing

EVALUATION D'UN NOUVEAU GENERATEUR DE GOUTTES MONODISPERSESB. Panncton, P.~M. Roy et R. Theriault .

Structures alld Environment

SEQUENCING BATCH REACTORS FOR THE TREATMENT OF EGG PROCESSINGWASTEWATER

M.P. Olsson, K.V. Lo and E.A. Charter 195

MONITORING OF BIOGAS PRODUCTION FROM FERMENTATION OF RICE STRA WUSING A BUBBLE COUNTING SENSOR

D.H. Woo, C.H. Hwang. I.S. Chung and J.K. ChUll 203

A PROCEDURE AND ITS APPLICATION IN EV ALUA TING PIT ADDITIVES FORODOR CONTROL

1. Zilu. D.S. Bundy. X. Li and N. Rashid 207

THE EFFECT OF A CONICAL BIN INSERT ON LOW PATTERNS OF GROUND FEED IN AMODEL BIN

Q. Zhang, J.1. Bergen and M.G. Britton . 215

TIME STUDY ON DAIRY COWS IN AN AUTOMATIC MILKING SYSTEM WITH ASELECTION UNIT AND ONE-WAY COW TRAFFIC

J. Stel~mowska. S. Dcvir and H. Hogcvcen . 221

ABSTRACTS . ........................ 231

Volume 39 Number 3 July/August/September 1997

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING1997

July/August/SeptemberVolume 39, Number 3

EDITOR

R.L. KUSHWAHAAgricultural and Bioresource Engineering

University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A9

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

S. TESSIER(Power & Machinery)Animal Industry BranchManitoba AgricultureWinnipeg, Manitoba R3T 3S6

J.J. LEONARD(Structures & Environment)Agricultural, Food and Nutritional ScienceUniversity of AlbertaEdmonton, Alberta T6G 2P5

S.F. BARRINGTON PresidentAgricultural and Biosystems EngineeringMacdonald College of McGill UniversityStet Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9

JJ. LEONARD Past PresidentAgricultural. Food and Nutritional ScienceUniversity of AlbertaEdmonton. Alberta T6G 2P5

J.S. TOWNSEND President-Elect446 Kingston CrescentWinnipeg, Manitoba R2M OT9

A. GHALY Vice-President (Technical)Agricultural Engineering DepartmentDalTech, Dalhousie UniversityHalifax. Nova Scotia B3J 2X4

J.C. JOFRIET Vice-President (Regional)School of EngineeringUniversity of GuelphGuelph. Ontario NIG 2W I

S.F. BARRINGTON(Waste Management)Agricultural and Biosystems EngineeringMacdonald College of McGill UniversityStet Anne de Bellevue. Quebec H9X 3V9

H.STEPPUHN(Soil & Water)Semiarid Prairie Agricultural

Research CentreAgriculture and Agri-Food CanadaSwift Current. Saskatchewan S9H 3X2

CSAE COUNCIL 1997-98

DJ. NORUM SecretaryAgricultural and Bioresource EngineeringUniversity of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A9

R. D. MacDONALD TreasurerAGVIRO Inc.14 Univeristy Ave. W.Guelph, Ontario NIG INI

R.L. KUSHWAHA EditorAgricultural and Bioresource EngineeringUniversity of SaskatchewanSaskatoon. Saskatchewan S7N 5A9

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

V. LALONDE British ColumbiaCity of Surrey, Engineering Department14245 - 56 AvenueSurrey, British Columbia V2S 8A I

S. ROBERTS AlbertaAgricultural Technology DepartmentOlds CollegeOlds, Alberta T4H lR6

S. SOKHANSANJ(Food & Bioprocessing)Agricultural and Bioresource EngineeringUniversity of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A9

L.GAUTHIER(Information & Computer Technologies)Departement des sols et de genie agroalimentaireUmversite LavalSainte-Foy, Quebec G IK 7P4

D.G. FARRER SaskatchewanSaskatchewan Agriculture and FoodDrinkwater, Saskatchewan SOH IGO

S. CENKOWSKI ManitobaDepartment of Biosystems EngineeringUmversity of ManitobaWinnipeg, Manitoba R3T 5V6

H.K. HOUSE OntarioOntario Ministry of Agriculture and FoodClinton. Ontario NOM ILO

N. ZEMANCHIK Quebec854 Gabrielle D'AnnevilleBeauport, Quebec G IC 7R 1

KJ. SIBLEY AtlanticSibley Engineering8 Wharf RoadGreat Village. Nova Scotia BOM 1LO

Canadian Agricultural Engineering publishes papers covering the general fields of Agricultural. Food. and Biosystems Engineering that fit into one of the followingclassifications: (I) a scientific paper based on original research: (2) a technical paper based on design. development, testing or analysis of machines. equipment,structures. processes. or practice; (3) a general paper on education relative to curricula and philosophy or trends in science, on a surveyor investigation of somephase of research or research methods. or on extension or extension methods.

Manuscripts for publication should be submitted to the Editor. The papers must be original and must have not been published elsewhere in a refereed publicationor copyrighted. The author, not the CSAE/SCGR, is responsible for opinions expressed. Information published in Canadian Agricultural Engineering may bequoted in whole or in part provided that credit is given to the author and to the journal. Publication charges are $75/page plus cost of translation. if required. Reprintcharges are $16/page for 100 copies.

All claims for missing issues must be made to the address below.

Central Office Address: Box 381, RPO University, Saskatoon. SK S7N 4J8Published Quarterly

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ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE CSAE/SCGR CONFERENCE, SHERBROOKE, QC, MAY 1997Copies of papers are available for US$3.50 each for CSAE-SCGR/ASAE members ($5.00 for non-members) plus $2.50

handling per order from ASAE, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659.

97-100. EVAPOTRANSPIRATION REELLE ET COEF­FICIENTS CULTURAUX EFFECTIFS DU MAIS POURLA REGION DE ST-HYACINTHE (QUEBEC)D. Nsengiyumva et R. Lagace, Departement des sols et genieagroalimentaire, Universite Laval, Sainte Foy, QC

L'evapotranspiration reelle (ETR) de la culture du mai's aete determinee pour II parcelles-annees situees dans la regionde St-Hyacinthe (Quebec) a I'aide des bilans hydriquesutilisant les variations de teneur en eau (mesuree par lamethode gravimetrique) des profits du sol et les precipitations.Les coefficients culturaux (Kc) ont ete evalues apres avoirestime l'evapotranspiration potentielle (ETP) a I'aide de laformule nO I de Baier et Robertson (Baier et Robertson, 1965;Baier, 1971) modifiee par Rochette et Dube (1989a; 1989b) etpeuvent etre representes par une relation parabolique en fonc­tion du nombre de jours ecoules depuis la date du semis. Lecoefficient cultural effectif moyen (ETR/ETP) se situe entre0,2 et 0,3 au debut de la saison, atteint son maximum (0,70 ­0,90) aux environs de 70 jours apres Ie semis pour ensuitediminuer a0,10 - 0-20 en fin de saison (septembre).

Actual evapotranspiration (AET) for com crop was esti­mated from II year-plots in St-Hyacinthe area (Quebec) usingwater balance of precipitation and changes in soil water con­tent determined by gravimetric method. Using potentialevapotranspiration (PET) estimated from equation nO I ofBaier and Robertson (Baier et Robertson, 1965; Baier, 1971)modified by Rochette and Dube (1989a; 1989b), the cropcoefficient (AET/IPET) was evaluated and may be approxi­mated by a quadratic function of number of days after seedling.The mean crop coefficient is in the range of 0.2 - 0.3 at thebeginning of the season, reaches a value of 0.7 - 0.9 approxi­matively 70 days after seedling and decreases to a value of 0.1 0- 0.20 at the end of the season (September).

97-103. APPLICATION OF SWINE MANURE TO CLAYSOILS IN MANITOBAD. Small and L.F. Slevinsky, D.G.H. Engineering Ltd., WestSt. Paul, MB

Field investigations were undertaken to determine whetherany physical or chemical changes had occurred in the upperhorizons of clay soils after repeated applications of swinemanure. Twelve locations in the Red River Valley region ofManitoba that consisted of Osborne, Red River and Marquetteclays in the upper 0-120 cm were sampled. These twelvelocations had each received from five to thirty applications ofswine manure. Each manured location was paired with a loca­tion with similar soils that had received no manure. Fields thathad received several applications of swine manure were ob­served to have soil chemical properties that differed from thoseof adjacent non-manured fields. Average electrical conductiv­ity and chloride concentrations in the top 0-15 cm depth werehigher in the manured locations, suggesting that the potentialexists for the accumulation of salts in the surface horizon ofclay soils. Soils receiving manure had lower average pH levelsand higher average organic matter than non-manured soils inthe 0-15 cm depth. At all depths, the average nitrate-nitrogen,phosphate-phosphorous and potassium were higher in the

manured locations. There was no firm evidence of sodifica­tion. While the sodium and exchangeable sodium percentagelevels were higher in the 0-15 cm depth of the manured loca­tions, these differences were not statistically significant.

97-105. REMEDIATION OF SOIL POLLUTED BYHEAVY METALS USING ORGANIC ACIDS AND/ORTHEIR SALTS AS WELL AS CHELATING COM­POUNDSS.A. Wasay, S.F. Barrington, Department of Agriculturaland Biosystems Engineering, McGill Uniiversity, Ste Anne deBellevue, QC; and S. Tokunaga, Department of ChemicalSystems, NIMC, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

Weak organic acids have the capabilities of washing heavymetals without deteriorating the soil properties. The clay loamwas characterized physically and analyzed for its content ofCr, Hg, Mn and Pb. The effect of pH, concentration andreaction time on heavy metal removal was measured usingseveral organic acids and their salts. The optimum pH rangefor the maximum removal of these metals was 5 to 7 for citrate,2 to 3 for tartarate in the case of Cr, Hg, and Mn and 2 to 7 forPb. More than 85% of Pb was removed with both citrate andtartarate at the concentration of 0.12 and 0.2 M, respectivelywithin 24 h Mercury was removed between 86 to 99% usingtartarate and citrate whereas Cr was removed up to 60%.EDTA and DTPA are quite effective for Pb removal but not forother metals.

Les acides organiques peuvent lessiver les metaux lourdssans deterioration du sol. Le limon argileux fut caracterise etanalyse pour son contenu en Cr, Hg, Mn et Pb. L'effet du pH,de la concentration et du temps de contacte sur Ie taux delessivage des metaux lourds fut mesure en utilisant plusieursacides organiques. Le pH optimum fut de 5 a 7 pour Ie citrate,de 2 a 3 pour tartarate et Ie Cr, Hg et Mn, et de 2 a 7 pour IePb. Plus de 85 % du Pb fut lessive avec Ie citrate et Ie tartaratea une concentration de 0,12 et 0,2 M, respectivement, et cecien 24 heures. Le Hg fut lessive a86 a99% avec Ie tartarate etIe citrate alors que Ie Cr fut lessive jusqu'a 60%. EDTA etDTPA ont lessive Ie Pb mais n'ont eu aucun effet sur les autresmetaux lourds.

97-108. UPTAKE AND ACCUMULATION OF ZN ANDCU BY DUCKWEED (LEMNA MINOR): EFFECTS ONCATIONIC STATUSR. Bassil, S.S. Sharma2, S.O. Prasher l and R.S. Clemante l,I Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, McGill Univer­sity, Ste Anne De Bellevue, QC and 2 Department ofBiosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill,Shimla, India

This paper describes a laboratory study that examined thepotential of aquatic plants in removing heavy metals frompolluted water bodies. Specifically, duckweed (LemnG minorL.) was grown on Hoagland medium (diluted I:40) containingZn (10 ppm) or copper (5 ppm). Results indicate that L minorexhibits a tremendous capability to take up and accumulatethese metals. After 96h exposure, Zn and Cu contents of thetest plant were 30 and 12/-lg/mg dry weight, respectively. The

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Vol. 39. No.3. July/August/September 1997 231

metal concentration in Lemna also increased with a rise inexternal metal concentration. Zn accumulation by Lemna ob­served in this study is higher than the values of metalaccumulation reported earlier for other plant species. Theuptake of Zn and Cu by the test plant was accompanied by aprogressive decline in the levels of Ca2+ and Mg2+ resulting inapproximately 50% reduction after 4 d. The level of Fe3+however, increased with the uptake of Zn and Cu. Thesefindings point to the possibility of metals having been taken upat the expense Ca2+/ Mg2+. .

97-109. TILLAGE EFFECT ON HYDRAULIC CONDUC­TIVITYFOR A WIDE RANGE OF SOILSY. Chen, S. Tessier and J. Gallichand, Departement des solset genie agroalimentaire, Univeriste Laval, Quebec, QC

Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) is needed tomodel many processes in the soil, such as the movement ofwater and solutes as well as soil erosion phenomena. Numer­ous models have been proposed to estimate Ks from easilymeasured or readily available soil properties, such as soiltextural parameters, organic matter (OM), bulk density (Pb)and porosity. In this study, the effect of tillage on Ks wasexamined using data published during the past 25 years, relat­ing Ks to tillage practices. Analyses of the literature datashowed that among the soil variables and field conditionsreviewed, Pb is the major determinant for Ks. In addition, forno-tilled soils, Ks is principally related to OM, whereas forplowed soils, Ks also affected by clay and silt contents. Basedon the literature data, we have developed a model to estimateKs incorporating tillage practice and basic soil parameters.Results from this model were compared with field measure­ments, and large differences in Ks were found due to variablesoil characteristics and field conditions. Performance of threepublished models for Ks prediction was also evaluated againstto field data taken in Quebec, and none of them was in closeagreement with measured values. Campbell's model, whichwas significantly correlated to the measurements, was cali­brated against the measured data. The calibrated model canadequately represent field Ks for sandy soils.

97-110. A CLASSIFICATION OF UNSATURATED SOILHYDROLOGY MODELSK. Davary, S.O. Prasher and R.B. Bonnell, Agricultural andBiosystems Engineering Department, McGill University, Ste.Anne de Bellevue, QC

Computer simulations (models) have played an increas­ingly important role in the study of agricultural andenvironmental systems (AESs). This paper reviews some se­lected unsaturated soil hydrology models, a major componentof AESs. Models are classified according to conceptualiza­tion/formulation of the 'problem, and the algorithm used tosolve the problem. The trend toward more complex/compre­hensive modelling in current AES computer simulationpractices is discussed, and the inherent limitations of complexmodels are mentioned. Finally, some alternative approximateapproaches are introduced.

97-112. WATERSHED MASTER PLANNING IN ST.LUCIA USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYS­TEMTOOLSC. Cox and C.A. Madramootoo, Department of Agricultural

and Biosystems Engineering, McGill University, Ste. Anne deBellevue, QC

A method for estimating long-term average annual soil lossunder different land management scenarios from the Marquisand Soufriere watersheds on St. Lucia is presented. The Re­vised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used, and aGIS was employed to generate the required input parameters.Model execution and results were also generated within theGIS. Modelling soil loss for the different land managementscenarios was based upon a land capability classification andassociated conservation treatments. Soil loss under currentagricultural land-use patterns were analyzed and compared topotential soil loss under conservation treatments following thecriteria specified in the land capability classification. Themodel predicted substantial declines in soil loss where conser­vation treatments were assigned, as compared to soil lossunder current land-use patterns. It was found that predicted soillosses from the Soufriere watershed were four times that ob­served for the Marquis watershed for all the land managementscenarios modelled. It is anticipated that the findings of thisstudy will be used in the development of a decision supportsystem for agricultural and forestry land planning on St. Lucia.

97-113. APPLICATION OF PRECISION FARMING INQUEBECC.-C. Yang and S.O. Prasher, Department of Agriculturaland Biosystems Engineering, McGill University, Ste-Anne­de-Bellevue, QC

This paper describes the development of a precision farmingsystem for agrochemical application to reduce environmentalpollution from Quebec farms. Precision farming collects site­specific information, such as soil characteristics, soil fertilityand crop yields. With all this information, farmers can learnabout the inherent variability of the field, determine the properamount of agrochemical to be applied and analyze the conse­quences of such an application in real-time. This system willreduce waste and the risk of soil, groundwater and runoff waterpollution from agrochemical applications. The system can alsobe used to analyze crop yields at different locations in order tooptimize the use of pesticides and fertilizers. It can increasefarm revenues while concurrently reducing non-point sourcepollution from the farm, and hold countless benefits for thefarmer and the environment.

Dans cet article, Ie developpement d'un systeme de preci­sion pour I' application d' elements agro-chimiques estpresente. Ce systeme a pour but de reduire la pollution envi­ronnementale des fermes du Quebec en exploitant des donneesspecifiques au site agricole tels que les caracteristiques du soletle rendement du champ. En combinant cette information, lesagriculteurs pourraient appliquer une quantite donnee de com­poses agro-chimiques et suivre leurs impactes en temps reel.Ce systeme peut-etre utilise pour I'analise du rendement deschamps tout en optimisant I'application de pesticides et defertilisants. De plus, il pourra reduire Ie risque de contamina­tion des eaux souterraines. Ainsi, Ie developpement de cesysteme offre un potentiel unique pour augmenter Ie revenudes agriculteurs tout en reduisant I'impacte agricole sur l'en­vironnement.

232 Vol. 39, No.3. July/August/September 1997 ABSTRACfS

97-115. DRAINAGE AND NITROGEN DYNAMICS INAGRICULTURAL FIELDSC.A. Dockeray and C.A. Madramootoo, Agricultural andBiosystems Engineering Department, McGill University, Ste.Anne de Bellevue, QC

In eastern Canada, there are over 250,000 ha currently undercom (Zea mays L.) production. In order to achieve higheryields, fertilizer is applied at rates ranging from 150 to 200 kgN/ha. This leads to the loss of excess nitrates, via leaching.This is a financial loss to the farmer and also increases thepotential for water pollution. A field study is being undertakento investigate the effects of different agricultural and fertilizerpractices on nitrate leaching. Various water table managementand fertilizer practices are being examined. Leaf chlorophyllcontent, N03_-N in drains, Eh and denitrification are beingmeasured. The above data will be used to develop empiricalmodels which can be utilized to assess the efficacy of variousbest management practices.

Dans I'est du Canada, Ie mais (Zea mays L.) est cultive surplus de 250 000 ha. Afin d'augmenter la production, Ie fer­tilisant azote est repandu a des taux variant de 150 a 200 kgN/ha. Ceci mene a une perte de nitrates par lessivage qui setraduit ason tour par une perte financiere du fermier et par uneaugmentation potentielle de la pollution de I'eau. Une etudesur Ie terrain est en cours pour evaluer les effets de differentespractiques agricoles et d'application de fertilisant azote surlessivage des nitrates. Differentes practiques de gestion de lanappe phreatique et a I'application d'engrais sont examinees.Le contenu en chlorophylle des feuilles, la concentration deN03_-N dans les drains, I'Eh et la denitrification sont mesures.Les donnees ci-dessus serviront sur developpement demodeles empiriques qui seront utilises pour verifier I'effica­cite de differents practiques de gestion durables.

97-117. NITROGEN DISTRIBUTION IN THE TOP 50CM OF THE SOIL AND IN CORN PLANTS USING DIF­FERENT TILLAGE PRACTICESB.B. Mehdi and C.A. Madramootoo, Department of Agricul­tural and Biosystems Engineering, McGill University, Ste.Anne de Bellevue, QC

This paper examines how inorganic N in the upper 50 cm ofthe soil profile is retained under grain and silage com (ZeaMays L.), in the course of one growing season (Fall 95-Fall96), using no-tillage, reduced tillage, and conventional tillage.An average of 31, 38, 91, 90 and 40 kg N03_-N/ha weremeasulred in the top 50 cm, in Fall 95, Spring 96, July 96,August 96 and Fall 96, respectively. Average soil N03_-N ingrain plots were similar to those for silage corn, except inAugust, where average silage corn plots had higher N03_-Nvalues. July and August N03_-N levels were greater in the 0-20em depth, and lower in the 20-30 cm depth. The study is stillin progress and more results will follow.

Cet article porte sur comment I'azote inorganique des 50 emd~ la partie superieure du sol est retenue sous culture de maYsgrain et maYs d'ensilage (Zea Mays L.), durant une saison(automne 95-automne 96) lorsque des traitements de travaileonventionnel du sol, de travail reduit, et de semis direct sontutilises. En moyenne 31, 38, 91, 90 et 40 kg N03_-N/ha furentmesures dans les 50 cm superieures du sol a I'automne 95, auprintemps 96, en juillet 96, en aoilt 96, et a I'automne 96,respeetivement. En moyenne Ie niveau de N03_-N dans lesparcelles en mats grain furent semblables aceux des parcclles

en mYis d'ensilage, excepte en aoilt, lorsque les parcelles enmaYs d'ensilage eurent des niveaux plus eleves (en moyenne).Les niveaux de N03_-N en juillet et aoilt furent plus eleves auxprofondeurs de 0-20 cm, qu'aux profondeurs de 20-30 cm.Cette etude se poursuit et de plus amples resultats suiveront.

97-120. HYDROLOGIC MODELING OF AN AGRICUL­TURAL WATERSHED IN QUEBEC USING AGNPSJ. Perrone, C.A. Madramootoo, P. Enright and F. Pap­ineau, Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering,McGill University, Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, QC

A study was undertaken to determine the predictive capabil­ity of the AGNPS hydrologic model on a 26 km2 watershed inQuebec. Precipitation, stream discharge, surface runoff, andsuspended sediment concentrations were monitored from1994-96, inclusive. Data describing stream patterns, topogra­phy, soil type, and land use were collected and input to themodel. Calibration curves were developed to correlate theantecedent precipitation index (API) to the SCS curve number.For model calibration, coefficients of performance of 0.05,0.43, and 0.12 were obtained for surface runoff, sedimentyield, and peak flow, respectively. For model validation, coef­ficients of performance of 0.02, and 0.0 I were obtained forsurface runoff, and sediment yield, respectively. Peak flowwas generally overpredicted and yielded a CP'A of 2.07.

La validite du modele hydrologique AGNPS a ete evalueepour un bassin versant agricole de 26 km2. Pendant trois ans(1994-96), on a observe les debits de pointe, la pluie accu­mulee, les eeoulements de surface, et les concentrations de solen suspension. Des donnees topographiques, les caracteris­tiques des sols, et les differents types de cultures ont ete entresdans Ie modele. Des courbes de calibration ont ete developpeespour relier I'indice de pluie antecedente (lPA) au numero decourbe SCS. Les evenements de calibration ont produit descoefficients de performance de 0.05, 0.43, et O. I 2 pour lesecoulements d'eau de surface, les charges de sediments, et lesdebits de pointe, respectivement. Les evenements de valida­tion ont produit des CP'A respectifs de 0.02, et 0.0 I pour lesecoulements d'eau, et les charges de sol. En general, les debitsde pointes ont ete sur-estimes, produisant un CP'A, de 2 07.

97-121. RESTRUCTURATION DES VARIABLES ET DUCODE SOURCE DU MODELE EPICD. Nsengiyumva et R. Lagace, Departement des sols et degenie agroalimentaire,Universite Laval, Ste-Foy, QC

Le modele EPIC est un modele initialement concru pouretudier I'impact de I'erosion du sol sur la productivite. Au furdu temps, Ie modele a subi de nombreuses ameliorations et denombreux chercheurs I'ont utilise ad'autres fins, notammentdans la determination de differentes strategies de gestion descultures (fertilisation, irrigation, interventions phytosanitaires,etc.). EPIC est un modele eomplexe dont les parties sontfortement liees entre elles et qui utilise plusieurs centaines devariables d'entree. De ce fait, I'integration de nouvelles com­posantes y est difficile et I'interface a d'autres modeles commepar exemple a un systeme d'information geographique (SIG)est reconnue comme tres difficile. Cet article presente lastrategie utilisee lors de la structuration interne des variablesd'EPIC et de la restructuration du code source sous forme demodules faiblement lies. La version restructuree d'EPIC fa­cilitera I'ajout de nouveaux sous-modeles ainsi que soninterfacrage avec des systemes de base de donnees ou des

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Vol. 39. No.3. July/August/September 1997 233

systemes d'information geographique.The EPIC model is a model initially developped to deter­

mine the rel.ationship between soil erosion and soilproductivity. As time advanced, the model has been improvedand many researchers have used it for other purposes notablyin determing crop management strategies (fertilization, irriga­tion, crop sanitary interventions, etc.). EPIC is a complexmodel, tilly coupled and which uses hundreds of input vari­ables. Because of that, integration of other sub-modelcomponents is difficult and its interfacing with other modelssuch as geographical information systems (GIS) is very diffi­cult. This paper presents the strategies used to restructureEPIC's variables and its code in loosely coupled modules.With the restructured version, it becomes easier to add newsubmodels as well as to interface it with data base systems andGIS.

97-123. GIBSI - A WATERSHED-BASED SOFTWARESYSTEM FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENTA.N. Rousseau 1, A. Mailhot1,S. Massicotte], J.-F. Tremblay 1,

P. Bolduc I, M. Duchemin I, J. Dupont2, R. Turcotte 1 andJ.-P. Villeneuve I, IINRS-Eau, Ste-Foy, QC; and 2Ministerede 1,Environnement et de la Faune du Quebec, Quebec, QC

This paper presents the development of GIBSI - a softwaresystem designed to assist decision makers in water resourcesmanagement (i.e., quality and quantity). The system is com­posed of a Geographical Information System (GIS), aRelational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) andphysically-based simulation models. GIBSI offers a user­friendly scenario interface to examine the impacts ofagricultural, industrial, and municipal management practices.GIBSI is currently being applied to the Chaudiere River water­shed. All required spatial and attribute data have beencollected and integrated in the GIS and RDBMS.

Cet article presente Ie developpement de GIBSI: un outilinformatique qui permet aux gestionnaires de l'eau d'explorerdivers modes de gestion al'echelle du bassin versant (tant enterme de qualite que de quantite). L'outil informatique com­prend un systeme d'information geographique (SIG), unsysteme de gestion de base de donnees (SGBD) et des mode~esmecanistes de simulation. Un editeur convivial de scenariosoffre al'usager la possibilite d'etudier les impacts de differen­tes pratiques de gestion agricole, industrielle et municipale.GIBSI est presentement applique sur Ie bassin versant de lariviere Chaudiere. Toutes les donnees a reference spatiale etd'attributs requises ont ete integrees au SIG et au SGBD.

97-124. CALIBRATION HYDROLOGIQUE DUMODELE HSPF POUR UN BASSIN VERSANT AGRI­COLEC. Bernier et J. Gallichand, Departement des sols et de genieagroalimentaire, Universite Laval, Quebec, QC

La degradation de la qualite des eaux de surface est unprobleme important au Quebec. En milieu rural, les principalessources de pollution diffuse et ponctuelle sont reliees auxpratiques agricoles. La modelisation hydrologique peut per­mettre d'optimiser les interventions en milieu agricole. Lemodele HSPF a ete teste sur un bassin versant de 5.3 km2 a60km au sud de Quebec. Les simulations ont porte sur les debitsmensuels, hebdomadaires et journaliers. Les resultats de lacalibration indiquent une correlation de 0.87 entre les debits

journaliers simules et observes. Pour la verification, la correla­tion est de 0.72 apres elimination des valeurs incertaines. Lesdebits moyens journaliers simules etaient inferieurs de 16%par rapport aceux mesures, ce qui est classe comme accept­able.

Decrease in surface water quality is an important problemin Quebec. In agricultural area, majors sources of nonpoint andpoint source pollution are caused by agricultural practices.Hydrological modeling can optimize agricultural interven­tions. HSPF model was tested on a 5.3 km2 watershed 60 kmsouth of Quebec City. Flowrate simulations were done on adaily, weekly and monthly bases. Results from the calibrationindicated a correlation of 0.87 for simulated and observeddaily mean flowrates. The correlation for the verification pe­riod, was 0.72 after uncertain values were eliminated.Simulated average daily flowrates were under estimated by16%, which is considered as acceptable.

97-126. APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICAL MOD­ELING TO DETERMINE THE SIZE OF ON-SITEGRASS FILTERS FOR REDUCING PESTICIDE POL­LUTION FROM FARMSA. Liaghat and S.O'o Prasher, Department of Agricultural &Biosystems Engineering, McGill University, Ste Anne deBellevue, QC

This paper presents a mathematical approach for estimatingthe size of a grass filter area for removing pesticide residuesfrom agricultural drainage waters. The method utilizes a watertable management model, DRAINMOD, for simulating drain­age waters from agricultural land and then a solute transportmodel, PRZM2, for simulating pesticide concentrations indrain effluent coming from grass filters. DRAINMOD wasused to estimate daily drain outflows that occurred in a 100 hasubsurface drained field in the Ottawa-St. Lawrence lowlandsby running the model for a 1-in-20 year annual rainfall period.The simulated drain outflows were assumed to contain 50 pg!Lof atrazine, metolachlor, and metribuzin residues, and simula­tions were carried out with PRZM2 to determine the requiredsize of grass filter area to make drainage waters safer foraquatic life and marine habitat. It was found that no more than6% of the farm area could be used to bring down the conc"en­trations in drainage waters from 50 pg!L to less than 1 pg/L forthe three herbicides.

97-129. WATER QUALITY AND POLLUTANT CON­CENTRATIONS ON PAIRED AGRICULTURALWATERSHEDS IN QUEBECP. Enright, F. Papineau and C. Madramootoo, Agriculturaland Biosystems Engineering Department, McGill University,Ste Anne de Bellevue, QC

Hydrologic, meteorologic and water quality parameterswere monitored continually over a three year period on twosmall watersheds (26.1 km2 and 17.9 km2) in southwesternQuebec. On one of the watersheds, an agronomist worked withindividual farmers to reduce agricultural pollution. The secondwatershed was used as a control. This paper presents thepreliminary summaries of the data for the water quality pa­rameters. Mean annual concentrations and trends are presentedand discussed.

234 Vol. 39, No.3, July/August/September 1997 ABSTRACTS

97-130. COMBINING SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE ANDWINDBREAK TECHNOLOGIES TO ABATE SALINITYH. Steppuhn and K.G. Wall Semiarid Agricultural ResearchCentre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current, SK

The reclamation of salinized soil involves lowering wa­tertables, draining the vadose zone and leaching the salts fromthe soil. Plastic drain tubing placed 1.5 to 1.8 m below the landsurface can lower watertables and drain phreatic water, butirrigation is usually required to leach the offending salts. Theleaching process in non-irrigated drylands depends on precipi­tation and its distribution. Rows of tall wheatgrass,Thillopyrum pomicum (Podp.) Barkworth & Dewey, (1.2 mmean height) spaced on 15.2-m centres are being grown toretain blowing snow and to moderate evapotranspiration inconjunction with a subsurface drainage system. The meansalinity of saturated soil paste extracts from sets of soil sam­ples taken every fall from such a site in southwesternSaskatchewan averaged 14.1 dS/m during 1985-90 before thedrainage was installed, 13.0 for 1991-92 before the grasswindbreaks became established, and 9.4 for 1993-95 with bothdrainage and windbreaks present.

97-131. IMPACTS OF EMITTER CLOGGING ONHYDRAULIC CHARACTERISTICS IN MICROIRRI­GATION: FIELD EVALUATIONA.A. Ghaemi and S. Chieng, Chemical & Bio-Resource En­gineering Department, The University of British Columbia,Vancouver, BC

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect ofdifferent number and location of clogged emitters on the hy­draulics of microirrigation installed on slope terrain. Theresults obtained were compared with the theoretical resultscalculated by using a computer program. The emitter flowvariation, emitter performance coefficient of variation, hy­draulic design coefficient of variation, coefficient ofuniformity and emission uniformity were evaluated. Four 20­m laterals were used to examine eight different patterns ofemitter clogging. Laterals were laid on 3% and 7% down­slopes and up-slopes. Results show that the slope of lateral andlocation of clogged emitters were the major factors affectingthe emitter flow variation, emitter discharge coefficient ofvariation and hydraulic design coefficient of variation. Loca­tions of clogged emitters have a major impact on thecoefficient of uniformity, field emission uniformity, and emit­ter performance coefficient of variation. It is found that theclogged emitters were located at the first one-third section ofthe lateral or randomly located along the lateral representedthe worst situation of emitter clogging as it had the highestimpact on the uniformity of microirrigation system. In all theeight different patterns examined the differences between thefield measurements and theoretical results were found to beless than 5%.

97-200. BALANCING FAN PERFORMANCE WITHTHAT OF PERFORATED VENTILATION DUCTK. EI Moueddeb and S. Barrington, Department of Agricul­tural and Biosystems Engineering, McGill University, SteAnne de Bellevue, QC

A design model for perforated ventilation ducts is used tooptimize the selection of the fan and duct characteristics toobtain a balanced operating point. Assuming a common effec­tive outlet area, the model was extended to match the

performance of the fan and the perforated duct and to deter­mine their balance operating point.

Un modele de conception pour conduits perfores de ventila­tion a ete developpe pour optimiser la selection descaracteristiques du ventilateur et du conduit. Puisque l'ouver­ture effective de decharge du ventilateur fut trouvee egale acelie des perforations du conduit, Ie modele peut relier lescaracteristiques du ventilateur acelles du conduit perfore etcalculer leur point commun balance d'operation.

97-201. TEMPERATURE EFFECT IN CONCRETE MA­NURE TANKS: FINITE ELEMENT APPROACHS. Godbout, M. Fafard, A. Picard, Civil Engineering Depart­ment; and A. Marquis, Departement des sols et de geniealimentaire, Universite Laval, Quebec, QC

A finite element model to simulate the effects of non axi­symetrical thermal load is presented. A simple approach basedon steady state heat balance at the wall faces is used to evaluatenumerically the wall temperatures. When the outside and in­side wall temperatures and liquid level are known, the modelcan calculate the bending moment and tensile forces due tothermal load and liquid pressure. The steady state model toevaluate the wall temperature gives results close to experimen­tal values. The finite element model can reproduce withsufficient accuracy the behaviour of a typical circular concretetank. The forces and moments predicted are slightly higherthan experimental values with the results obtained from thenumerical model, it was possible to suggest a method to evalu­ate the design loads due to all thermal effects.

Cet article presente un modele de simulation numeriquepour evaluer les effets thermiques non axisymetriques. Afind'utiliser ce modele, les temperautres des parois sont evalueesen premier lieu a l'aide d'un modele numerique base sur uneanalyse thermique en regime permanent. Le modele parelements finis peut determiner les moments de flexion et latension circonferentielle dus a I'ensemble des effets ther­miques. Pour valider les modeles, les differents resultats ontete compares ades resultats experimentaux. La precision a etejugee satisfaisante et des simulations ont pu etre realisees. Lesresultats des simulations ont permis d'etablir une methodepermettant d'evaluer les differents efforts dus aI'ensemble deseffets thermiques.

97-203. THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF THE PLASTICHOT FLOOR (HOG HEART) AND THE THEVCO CON­TROLLERS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EARLYWEANING PIGLETSY. Choiniere and B. Marquis, Les Consultants YvesChoiniere Inc., St-Cesaire, QC

The new Hog Heart hot floor is composed of an effectiveanti-slip surface and a uniform electric heating element. Aswell, this floor is insulated under the surface to prevent energylosses. Preliminary tests were done with a Thevco Controler toprepare a control stategy for the production of early weaningpiglets. The floors and controlers were then used in the testingfacility of the Centre du developpement du Porc du Quebecwith piglets from 4.5 to 28 kg. The piglets layed comfortablyover the floors. The surface temperatures were reduced gradu­ally with piglet growth.

Le nouveau plancher chauffant Hog Heart possede unesurface anti-derapante efficace et un element electrique de

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Vol. 39. No.3. July/August/September 1997 235

chauffage unifonne. De plus, ce plancher presente une isola­tion sous la surface pour minimiser les pertes thenniques. Destests preliminaires ont ete effectues avec un controleur Thevcodans Ie but de preparer une strategie de controle pour laproduction de porcelets en sevrage hati£. Les planchers etcontroles furent ensuite utilises au Centre du developpementdu Porc du Quebec avec porcelets de 4.5 a 28 kg. Les porceletss'installaient confortablement sur les planchers. Les tempera­tures de surface furent abaissees progressivement avec lacroissance des porcelets.

97-204. EVALUATION DE SONDES D'HUMIDITEPOUR CONTROLERL'AMBLIANCE DANS LES POU­LAILLERSR. Joncas, J. Noreau, Ministere de l'Agriculture, des Pecher­ies et de I'Alimentation du Quebec, Centre de recherche etd'experimentation de Deschambault, Deschambault, QC; et B.Laberge, Thevco inc., Saint-Hubert, QC

Quatre modeles de sondes d'humidite (modele Humitter 50de Vaisala, modele CT-829-A de Hycal, modele HM2000 deETC et modele HI de Philips) ont ete evalues a intervallesreguliers pendant douze mois. EIIes ont ete exposees auxconditions rencontrees dans un poulailler. Peu importe Ietemps d'exposition dans Ie poulaiIler, la reponse des sondes esttoujours correlee avec l'humidite relative, c'est-a-dire queleurs reponses vont toujours dans Ie sens de la variation d'hu­midite soit a la hausse ou a la baisse. Les sondes repondent tresrapidement aux changements d'humidite. Une certaine derivedans Ie temps fut observee mais on ne peut la quantifier nidetenniner la sonde qui derive moins apres douze mois dans IepoulaiIIer. L'utilisation de sonde d'humidite est done plus unequestion d'etalonnage et de verification de leurs etatsqu'unequestion de modele.

Four models of humidity sensors (model Humitter 50 ofVaisala, model CT-829-A of Hycal, model HM2000 of ETCand model HI of Philips) were tested regularily during twelvemonths. They were exposed to the poultry house's conditions.During the time in the poultry house, their outputs were alwayscorreled with the relative humidity. They react rapidly wherethe humidity level was going up or down. The drift wasobserved but it can't identified the sensor with more drift anddetennined the level of drift after twelve months in the poultryhouse. The use of the humidity sensor is more the question ofcalibration and the check up of their output than the questionof the model.

97-300. DAMAGE INDEX OF RADIO-FREQUENCYTREATED SEED-QUALITY GRAINV. Orsat, G.S.V. Raghavan, Agricultural & Biosystems En­gineering Department, McGill University, Ste-Anne deBellevue, QC; J. Niewczas, B. Szot, Polish Academy of Sci­ence, Institute of Agrophysics, Lublin, Poland; and A.Kushalappa, Plant Science Department, McGill University,Ste-Anne de Bellevue, QC

Radio-frequency heat treatment of wheat has been studiedto identify the relationship between heating conditions andgrain quality categorized in terms of kernel viability (germina­tion and vigour) and structural damage (stress cracks). Definiteeffects from heating intensity have been found and attributedto the stress cracks developed inside wheat kernels undercertain combinations of temperature and absorbed dieiectric

power. These cracks were visualized by soft x-ray photogra­phy and quantified by a damage index that provides anumerical notation of the cracks. Clear relation among theparameters consisting of heating intensity, stress cracks andgrain quality has been found which justifies the use of damageindices for selecting optimum parameters in highly intenseprocesses such as dielectric heating for phytosanitary pur­poses.

Le traitement thermique de graines de semence de ble a faitl'objet de la presente etude dans Ie but de determiner lesrelations entre les parametres du traitement et la qualite dessemences en termes de pouvoirs germinatifs et de dommagesstructuraux. Des effets certains existent quant a l'intensite dutraitement et au niveau du developpement de craquelures a1'interieur et a la surface de la graine. Ces craquelures ont eteidentifiees grace a 1'analyse de photographies obtenues parrayons X. II existe des relations entre les parametres du traite­ment thermique et Ie developpement de dommages structurauxmenant a une perte du pouvoir germinatif qui peuvent etre tresutiles pour la selection des parametres operationnels d'untraitement thermique phytosanitaire.

97-301. EFFECT OF CHEMICAL PRETREATMENT ONMICROWAVE DRYING OF STRAWHERRIESK. Venkatachalapathy and G.S.V. Raghavan, Departmentof Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, McGill Univer­sity, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC

Previous work has shown that whole strawberries are diffi­cult to dry with microwaves because they tend to cook due tomoisture limitations imposed by the waxy cuticle. The possi­bility of obtaining a good microwave-dried product by dippingin solutions that alter the skin coating, as is done in the fruitdrying industry, was investigated. The solutions were ethyloleate at different concentrations in 0.5% NaOH. It was foundthat very high drying rates could be obtained at 2% ethyl oleateand 0.2 W/g applied microwave power and that the productwas comparable to the freeze-dried alternative in terms oftexture, color and rehydration characteristics. It may be possi­ble to improve the drying rate without affecting quality byincreasing the microwave power, but not beyond 0.3 W/g,since at this higher level, the strawberry will exhibit burntspots even if pretreated.

Des travaux anterieurs ont demontre qu'il est difficile desecher des fraises par micro-ondes parce que Ie transfert deI'eau vers l'exterieur est limite par Ie caractere hydrophobe dela peau du fruit. De ce fait, Ie fruit a tendance a cuire plutotqu'a secher. La possibilite d'obtenir un produit de qualitesuperieure est envisageable en traitant la surface des fraisesavec des solutions d'oleate ethylique (EO) de differentes con­centrations dans une solution de 0.5% de NaOH, a l'exempledes pratiques courantes de l'industrie du sechage des fruits. Untaux de sechage eleve et un produit de qualite (couleur, texture,rehydration) comparable aux fruits lyophilises, peut etre ob­tenu par sechage micro-onde avec une puissance de 0.2 W/g etun produit traite avec une solution de 2% d'EO et 0.5% deNaOH. Le taux de sechage peut etre accelere en augmentant lapuissance microonde jusqu'a 0.3 W/g, puissance limite au delade laquelle Ie fruit sera endommage.

236 Vol. 39. No.3. July/August/September 1997 ABSTRACTS

97·302. MICROWAVE PROCESSING OF MAPLE SAPD. Favreau, V. Sosle·and G.S.V. Raghavan, Department ofAgricultural and Biosystems Engineering, McGill University,Ste.Anne de Bellevue, QC

The study of the physical process of concentration of maplesap to maple syrup and preparation of maple syrup products bymeans of microwave heating is described. Pulsed power sup­ply with duty cycles of 60, 75 and 100% were used for themicrowave application. The total time required for processingwas found to be dependent on the initial mass of the load. Theproducts obtained were compared with commercial gradedproducts for the quality and were found to match the higheststandards prescribed by the industry. The absence of heatdamage or browning of the product was identifed as the dis­tinct advantage that could be derived from microwaveprocessing of maple syrup. The dielectric properties of maplesyrup at different moisture content levels were determined at25°C. An effort was made to observe the behaviour of thedielectric properties in relation to the moisture content. Thevariation of the dielectric properties of the maple syrup withmoisture content was found to be fairly linear for the range ofmoisture content studied.

Le processus de concentration de I'eau d'erable en sirop etd'autres produits d'erable en utilisant les micro-ondes, estdecrit. Des cycles d'operation de 60, 75 et 100% ont eteutilises. Les temps requis furent bases sur la masse initialed'eau d'erable. Le sirop, Ie sucre d'erable, la tire et les frian­dises furent de la plus haute qualite. II n'y avait aucun signe dedecoloration ou de brfinissement indesirables. Les proprietesdielectriques de l'eau d'erable a differentes concentrationsfurent mesurees a25°C et demontrerent une relation presquelineaire avec la teneur en eau.

97·303. HEAT TRANSFER TO MODEL NON·NEWTO­NIAN LIQUID AND PARTICLE MIXTURES IN CANSSUBJECTED TO END-OVER-END ROTATIONP.K. Pandey, S.S. Sablani and H.S. Ramaswamy, Depart­ment of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, McGillUniversity, Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, QC

Heat transfer parameters for liquid and particle are essentialin determining the process times and optimal processing con­ditions for the heat sterilization of canned liquid particlemixtures. In this study, heat penetration parameters (heatingrate index, f, and heating lag factor, j) for liquid and particlewere determined in aqueous solution of guar gum carryingNylon particles in cans during end-over-end rotation. Theseparameters were used to determine the process time for bothliquid and particle. The system and product variables investi­gated were: retort temperature (110, 120 and 130°C), rotationalspeed (10,15 and 20 rpm), radius of rotation (0.08, 0.16 and0.24 m), can headspace (0.005,0.0 I and 0.015 m), particle size(0.01905,0.02225 and 0.025 m), particle concentration (20, 30and 40 %v/v) and guar gum concentration (004, 0.6 and 0.8%w/v). Test runs were carried out in a full-immersion, hotwater rotary sterilizer. A three-level fractional factorial design,127 (3 13), was employed to evaluate factors influencing heatingrates. Analysis of variance of data indicated the significance ofseveral variables and their interactions.

97·304. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BAKING CON­DITIONS OF TUNNEL TYPE MULTI.ZONEINDUSTRIAL CAKE OVENSO.·D. Baik, F. Castaigne, Department of Food Science andNutrition, Laval University, Quebec, QC; and M. Marcotte,Food Development Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri­Food Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC

Baking characteristics of two different multi-zone industrialscale ovens (gas fired band oven and electric fired mould oven)were observed. During the test period, four different types oflow ratio cakes (batter and final product) were tested forviscosity, pH, density, moisture content, temperature and tex­ture. Internal temperature profile, air velocity and dew pointwere measured at each zone of both ovens. Air temperatureprofile close to oven wall were higher than center air tempera­ture for both ovens tested, however there was no significantvariation in temperature profiles with respect to time. Dewpoints of air in the gas fired band oven (43.6-63.3°C) werehigher than those of electric fired mould oven (29.6-37.6°C).The range of air velocities of both ovens were 0.025-0.139 and0.034-0.365 m/s respectively.

97·305. SIMPLIFIED EQUATIONS FOR CENTER TEM·PERATURE OF SOLID FOODS DURING THE INITIALHEATING OR COOLINGU.S. Ramaswamy, Department of Food Science and Agricul­tund Chemistry; and S. Sreekanth, Department ofAgricultural and Biosystems Engineering, McGill UniversitySte Anne de Bellevue, QC

The transient temperature of solid foods subjected to con­vective heating at the surface can be approximated, withreasonable accuracy, by the first term of an infinite series forlong time heating/cooling processes (F0 ~ 0.2). For short timeheating/cooling processes (Fo< 0.2), errors involved in theabove approximation are quite high increasing from about 1%at F(} = 0.2 to 14-31 % at Fo = 0.05 to a maximum of27-100%,depending on the particle shape, at F() = O. Simplified equa­tions, based on first term approximation coefficients, weredeveloped for estimating the initial curved portion of the semi­logarithmic heating/cooling curves. Initially, a regressionmodel for the correction factor (li1) was developed for Bi =00, asa function of Fourier number (Fo). Subsequently, an additionalcorrection factor ('II) was developed as a function of Biotnumber to accommodate finite Biot numbers. The errors inpredicted temperatures using the developed equations wereless than 2.5% as compared with the infinite summation series.

97-306. INDUCTION HEATING FOR THERMALTREATMENT OF CORND.G. Prabhanjan, G.S.V. Raghavan, Y. Gariepy, Depart­ment of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Ste Annede Bellevue, QC; M. Dostie and J. Carignan, LTEE, Hydro­Quebec, Shawinigan, QC

Induction heating is a recognized technology for the thermalprocessing of metals. In principle, poor electrical conductors,such as grain and other biological materials, can also be ther­mally treated by induction processing; however, the mode ofheating is then by contact (conduction) with the induction­heated surface. This paper describes an exploratory study ofindirect induction heating of corn in a 150 kW induction screwprocessor developed by LTEE of Hydro-Quebec. The motiva-

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Vol. 39. No.3. July/August/September 1997 237

tion for the work was to evaluate the concept for applicationsto agri-food and to suggest design modifications. The processvariables studied were screw pitch (40 mm and 80 mm), screwsurface temperature (80, 120, 160, 200°C) and residence time(180,240, 300 s). Residual com quality was evaluated in tennsof percentage brokens and germination. Although this particu­lar unit does not appear suitable for processing delicatematerials, a number of modifications to improve processingand efficiency can be envisioned.

Le chauffage inductif est un procede reconnu pour Ie traite­ment des metaux. En theorie, des materiaux etant de pauvresconducteurs electriques (bio-materiaux) peuvent egalementetre chauffes par induction. Cependant Ie mecanisme de chauf­fage est par conduction sur une surface qui elle est chauffee parinduction. Cet article presente une etude du chauffage de mai'sdans un applicateur inductif a vis developpe par Ie LTEEd'Hydro-Quebec. Differents parametres d'operations ont eteetudies tout en etablissant la qualite residuelle du ma'is. II s'estavere que l'applicateur avis n'est peut etre pas Ie plus adequatpour des materiaux fragiles (bio-materiaux), cependant, Iechauffage inductif pourrait avoir d'interessantes applicationsdans Ie secteur agro-alimentaire.

97-307. DESIGN AND EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATIONOF A SOLAR DRYER FOR COMMERCIAL HIGH­QUALITY HAY PRODUCTIONE.A. Arinze, S. Sokhansanj, G.J. Schoenau, B. Crerar andA. Opoku, College of Engineering, University of Saskatche­wan, Saskatoon, SK

Design features, development and experimental functionalperfonnance evaluation of an efficient and effective solar en­ergy dryer for commercial production of high-quality hay andprocessed forage products are presented. The newly developedsolar hay dryer consists of a solar collector with aluminumabsorber plate and spaced fins, a drying shed with perforatedmetal grate floor above the ground level, swing-away plywoodframes and polyethylene curtains for effectively sealing thesides and end of the hay stack during drying, an insulated duct,and a crawl space below the floor where a 3-hp in line centrifu­gal fan is housed for air circulation by suction. In late Augustand in early September, 1996, 160 small rectangular bales(weighing 3.5-4.5 tonnes) of alfalfa hay with about 25%bromegrass were successfully dried from 33% initial moisturecontent to 13% and from 25% to II % moisture in 4 and 3 days,respectively, u'nder average weather conditions in Saskatoon.The fan supplied about 70 m3/min of air, and the air tempera­ture rise above ambient was 13-15°C during peak brightsunshine hours in August and 10-13°C in September. Night­time humilities ranged from 30 - 90%. With the use of aircirculation by suction and swing away frames and poly cur­tains, uniform air distribution and drying with no airflowlosses and hay spoilage were achieved. Unlike field-cured hay,the hay produced by the dryer remained green in color andattractive after drying. Compared to field drying, the highquality hay produced by the solar dryer can be sold at premiumprice of over twice the price of "beef' or field-cured hay, andthe payback period on investment may be just one year.

97-308. BEND-EFFECTS ON THE RESIDENCE TIMEDISTRIBUTION OF SOLID FOOD PARTICLES IN AHOLDING TUBE OF ASEPTIC PROCESSING UNITS. Grabowski and H.S. Ramaswamy, Department of FoodScience and Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University, SteAnne-de-Bellevue, QC

The residence time distribution (RTD) of individual foodparticles in the curved section (180°) of a holding tube of anaseptic processing simulator was investigated. Process vari­ables were the radius of curvature (R= 0.1 and 0.2 m) of thebend, type, size and shape of the food particles and type ofcarrier liquid (water or pectin/water solutions). The resultsobtained by video-taping technique indicated that linear veloc­ity of food particle in bend part was reduced from about 8%(R= 0.2 m) to about 15% (R= 0.1 m) in comparison to velocityin the straight section. Particle size and viscosity of the carrierliquid influenced the velocity of the food particle in the bendwhile particle shape effect was similar to that in straight partof the tube.

La distribution des temps de sejour (DTS) des particulesindividuelles d'aliments ala section courbee (180°) de la tubede retenue d'un simulateur de systeme aseptique a ete inves­tigee. Les variables des procedes incluaient Ie rayon de lacourbure (R= O. 1 et 0.2 m), Ie type, la grosseur et la forme desparticules aussi que Ie type de Iiquides porteurs (eau ou solu­tions d 'eau et pectines). Les resuitats obtenus parvideo-technique indiquaient que la vitesse lineaire des par­ticules a la section courbee fut reduite environ de 8% (R= 0.2m) a15% (R= 0.1 m) comparee ala vitesse de la section droite.La grosseur des particules et la viscosite du fluide porteurinfluencenent la vitesse des particules a la section courbee,toutefois la forme des particules eut un effet similaire dans lasection droite et dans la section courbee.

97-310. THE MAKING OF THE LARGEST CHEESE INTHE WORLDT.-H. Nguyen, Agropur, Cooperative Agro-alimentaire,Granby, QC

In collaboration with the supermarket chain Loblaws andthe Dairy Producers of Canada, Agropur made the largestcheddar cheese in the world in September 1995. The 26 tonblock of cheese measured 104m in width, 1.8m in height and9.8m in length. Agropur prov~ded the cheese production tech­nology and the know-how. The steel frame of the mouldenabled the manufacturer to handle the gigantic block whilethe plastic panelling served to exhibit the cheese. Agropur wasable to cur the cheese, prevent its weight lost despite theabsence of wrapping and sell it in smaller blocks to Loblawscustomers all over Ontario.

En collaboration avec la chaine de supennarches Loblawset les Producteurs de lait du Canada, Agropur fabriquait Ie plusgros cheddar au monde en Septembre 1995. Ce bloque defromage pesait 26 tonnes metriques et mesurait 104 m enlargeur, 1.8 m en hauteur et 9.8 m en longueur. Ce projet serealisait grace au savoir faire et ala technologie de productiond'Agropur. La charpente d'acier du moule a permis au fabri­quant de manipuler ce bloc gigantesque de fromage alors queles panneaux transparents ont permis d'exposer Ie fromage.Agropur reussissait a faire murir Ie bloque gigantesque defromage sans perle de poids, en depit de l'absence d'un embal­lage et aIe vendre aux clients des Loblaws de I'Ontario.

238 Vol. 39. No, 3. July/August/September 1997 ABSTRACTS

97-311. A METHOD FOR THE DIRECT EVALUATIONOF RESPIRATION AND TRANSPIRATION RATES US­ING HEAT AND MOISTURE BALANCE EQUATIONSM.A. Fennir and J.-A. Landry, Department of Agriculturaland Biosystems Engineering, McGill University, Ste-Anne­de-Bellevue, QC

Respiration and transpiration are two biological processesthat continue even after a produce has been detached from theparent plant. Respiration and transpiration rates are highlylinked to the preserving of the freshness of a stored commod­ity. Conventional methods of measuring respiration andtranspiration rates are limited and are applicable only at thelaboratory scale. The use of a direct method for measuringrespiration and transpiration rates may lead to improved stor­age systems. Furthermore, direct methods may be used forcloser study of storage losses. A new method, based on the realtime measurement of temperatures, air flow rate and the appli­cation of heat and moisture balance equations has been tested.Respiration and transpiration rates were simulated using preci­sion heat sources and an evaporative pad in an environmentalchamber. Evaporation rate was measured using weight scaleand estimated using the psychrometric equations. Heat compo­nents were calculated and compared with the heat sourceapplied. Experiments were performed at low and high tem­peratures with a combination of low and high flow rates. Theevaluation was affected by measurement errors due to smallsize of the chamber, thermocouples error, difficulty to evapo­rate large amount of water, and difficulties in keeping stabletemperatures. However, the method has validated previouswork done by the authors on the measurement of simulatedheat of respiration. Further improvement using a larger cham­ber, more precise instrumentation, including better relativehumidity sensors, and stable external temperature has beenrecommended.

97-312. DEVELOPPEMENT D'UN SYSTEME DEPREREFROIDISSEMENT ALA GLACE97-312. LIQUIDE FONCTIONNANT EN CONTINUB. Goyette et C. Vigneault, Agriculture et AgroalimentaireCanada, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC

Un systeme d'injection de glace Iiquide a ete developpepour Ie traitement post-recolte des legumes. Le principe defonctionnement de ce systeme est que la glace est continuelle­ment melangee a I'eau et pornpee dans les bOltes de produits.Lorsque compare aun systeme de prerefroidissement ala glaceliquide conventionnel ce nouveau principe de fonctionnementnous a permis de reduire la puissance requise par pres de 80%.

A liquid-ice system was developed for post-harvest treat­ments of fiuits and vegetables. The principle of operation ofthis system consists on continuously mixing ice and water. Theslurry mixture obtained is injected in the boxes of produce.When compare to a conventionnel liquid-ice precooling unit,this new principle of operation allowed us to reduce the powerconsumption by about 80%.

97-313. CONTROL OF GAS COMPOSITION IN SPIN­ACH CA STORAGE USING DIFFUSION CHANNELSA.F.A. Chimphango, G.S.V. Raghavan, Y. Gariepy, De­partment of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, McGillUniversity, Ste Anne de Bellevue, QC; and C. Ratti, De­partement des sols et de genie alimentaire, Universite Laval,

Ste-Foy, QCA study was camed out to assess the suitability of the

diffusion channels for CA storage of spinach. An average of1.6 kg of spinach was stored for 30 days in chambers, installedwith diffusion channels of 0.006, 0.03, 0.07, 0.12, 0.18 and0.25 m in length and 4*10-6, 1.8*10-5, 1.15*10-4 m2 in crosssectional areas and for 49 days in chambers installed withchannels of 0.043, 0.11 and 0.19 m in length and 9*10-6,

4* ]0-5, 1.7* 10-4 m2 in cross sectional area. C02 was scrubbedin the former using 250 g of lime. The diffusion channelsmaintained desired gas composition for CA storage of spinach.A relationship between respiration rate and the desired gasconcentration was used to develop models for predictinglength of the diffusion channel.

Une etude a ete effectuee afin de determiner l'utilite decanaux de diffusion pour ]'entreposage d'epinards en at­mosphere controlee (AC). En moyenne, 1.6 kg d'epinards ontete entreposes pour une periode de 30 jours dans des conten­ants scelles munis de canaux de diffusion de 0.006, 0.03, 0.07,0.12,0.18, et 0.25 m de longueur et 4* 10-6, 1.8* ]0-5, 1.15*10-4

m2 d'orifice de meme que pour une periode de 49 jours dansdes contenants munis de canaux de diffusion de 0.043, 0.11, et0.19 m de longueur et 9*10-6, 4*10-5, 1.7*10-4 m2 d'orifice.Le CO2 a ete lessive des contenants d'entreposage a l'aide de250 g de chaux. Les canaux de diffusion ont permis de main­tenir des taux de concentrations adequats pour I'entreposageAC d'epinards. Une correlation entre ]e taux de respiration etles taux de concentrations de gaz desires a ete utilisee afin deformuler un modele pour la prevision de la longueur descanaux de diffusion.

97-314. THE USE OF A PRESSURE SENSOR FOR THEEVALUATION OF VENTILATION FLOW RATESM.A. Fennir and J.-A. Landry, Department of Agriculturaland Biosystems Engineering, McGill University, Ste-Anne­de-Bellevue, QC

Fans are a vital component of any ventilation system suchas in fruits and vegetables storage, barns and other agriculturalbuildings. The efficiency of storage system to provide properenvironment is influenced by the proper selection of fans tohandle the ventilation air. The selection of fans is based on aflow rate requirement at a specific design pressure head. Anappropriate air flow rate must be provided and is calculatedbased on heat or moisture loads. Adequate flow rate is deter­mined using fan characteristic curves that present flow ratesversus pressure heads. Fan characteristic curves have beenused exclusively in the determination of flow rate at specificpressure head. However, the proper evaluation of ventilationrates is becoming crucial to fully use the potential of computerbased environmental control systems. Physical measurementof flow rate are normally performed using Pitot tubes or airvelocity sensors. However, those two methods have importantlimitations and the need for an efficient and easy measurementtechnique is evident. A new approach for the evaluation offlow rate has been tested. The method is based on the use of apressure sensor to measure the change in static pressure cre­ated by the ventilation process. Measurement of flow rates andthe pressure head were performed in a long ABS tube as wellas within a laboratory scale environmental chamber. Tworegression models were obtained to describe the pressure andflow rate relationship. The two models gave comparable re­sults at normal operation pressure encountered in a storage

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Vol. 39. No, 3. July/August/September 1997 239

facilities. The model obtained from the measurement of theflow rates and pressures in the environmental was successfullyapplied for the resolution of the heat balance equation.

97-315. DECORTICATION OF FIELD PEASC.V. Ganesh and S. Sokhansanj, Department of Agriculturaland Bioresource Engineering, University of Saskatchewan,Saskatoon, SK

Field peas (Pisum sativum, L) is a pulse crop utilised mainlyfor feed purposes. The purified protein and starch componentsof the seed have some industrial applications. Wet extractionprovide more purified components than dry extraction but theproblems with effluents and process costs remain unsolved.Dry separation is an attractive alternative but component im­purity is a problem. Seeds were exposed to a number of pretreatments such as heating and steaming to expedite the re­moval of fibre rich seed coat from the cotyledon bydecortication. The results of the preliminary investigation onthe decortication characteristics of field peas indicated that theyield and purity of the components obtained from differentpre-treatments on decorticated field peas increased markedly.Also there is a promising scope for improving the texturalcharacteristics of field peas by subjecting it to steam condi­tioning.

97-316. FIELD STUDY OF REUSABLE PLASTIC SHIP­PING CONTAINERS (RPSC) FOR FRESH FRUIT ANDVEGETABLES THROUGH THE GROWER/SHIP­PER/RETAIL SUPPLY CHAINH.W. Fraser, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & RuralAffairs, Vineland, ON; B. Baert, Data Acquisition Systems &Hardware (DASH), Chatham, ON; and N. Delisle,St.Catharines, ON

A field study was completed to learn more about the use ofreusable plastic shipping containers (RPSC) for fresh produce.Seven 'off-the-shelf' RPSC were tested using four crops, withthree shippers, three distribution centres, and six retail stores.The intention of the study was not to decide which of the RPSCtested was best, but to help focus on the features for an idealRPSC. The optimum design should ensure produce quality, beefficient in handling, while still being cost effective.

Afin d'acquerir de meilleures connaissances au sujet del'utilisation de contenants en plastique reutilisables (CPR)pour les fruits et legumes frais, on a complete une etude sur leslieux. Sept CPR ont ete essayes pour quatre produits, enutilisant trois expediteurs, trois centres de distribution, et sixdetaillants. L'objectif de l'etude n'etait pas d'evaluer les CPR,mais plutot d'etablir les caracteristiques ideales pour un CPR.Un plan de CPR ideal assurerait la qualite du produit, unemanutention efficace, et un COllt acceptable.

97-317. ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS OF FORAGE ANDSTRAW PRETREATED WITH AMMONIAP. Savoie l , D. de Halleux2, K. Belkacemi3, G. Turcotte3, P.Nadeaul and J. Chiquette4, IAgriculture and Agri-Food Can­ada, Sainte-Foy, QC; 2Departement des sols et de genieagroalimentaire, Universite Laval, Quebec, QC; 3Departementdes sciences des aliments et de nutrition, Universite Laval,Quebec, QC; 4Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Len­noxville, QC

Three hays (alfalfa, timothy, reed canary grass) and two

cereal residues (barley straw, corn stover) were chopped at 3-5rnm length, pretreated with ammonia and hydrolyzed in thepresence of a commercial enzyme mixture. Between 40 and51 % of total biomass was solubilized. An average of 72% ofcellulose and hemicellulose were hydrolyzed into soluble sug­ars composed of 50% glucose, 25% xylose and 25% othermonomers. The nonhydrolyzed residue had a low fibre con­tent, indicating a potentially good feed energy value, but itsprotein value was low because a high proportion of nitrogenwas bound to the fibre.

Trois foins (luzerne, fleole, alpiste) et deux residus decereale (paille d'orge, tiges de maYs) ont ete haches a unelongueur de 3 a5 mm, traites a l'ammoniac et hydrolyses enpresence d'un complexe d'enzymes commercial. Entre 40 et51 % de la biomasse a ete solubilisee. En moyenne, 72% de lacellulose et de I'hemicellulose ont ete convertis en sucressolubles composes a50% de glucose, 25% de xylose et 25%d'autres monosaccharides. Le residu non-hydrolyse avait uncontenu en fibres relativement faible, indiquant possiblementune bonne valeur energetique en alimentation animale, mais lavaleur proteique du residu etait basse a cause d 'une proportionelevee d'azote liee ala fibre.

97-318. ECHINACEA THRESHING AND SEED CLEAN­INGD.J. Carrier, N. Gibson, B. Madsen, S. Sokhansanj and R.Wilting, Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering Depart­ment, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK

A plot of Echinacea pal/ida had reached maturity, and itsconical shape dried flower heads were harvested. The averagediameter and mass of E. pal/ida flower head were 25.2 mmand 3.81 g, respectively. Flower heads yielded on average 278seeds with an average mass between 4.5 and 5.1 mg per seed.The dried flower heads did not resemble traditional grain cropsand the current threshing and seed cleaning devices could notbe utilised. An in-house threshing device was built. It wasdetermined that minimum seed damage and 100% threshingwas obtained when this in-house threshing device was set at2600 RPM. To separate the seed from the thresh, three seedcleaning devices were evaluated: the Carter Dockage Tester,the Carter-Day Superior Fractionating Aspirator and the Fors­berg Gravity Table. Of these devices, the Carter DockageTester equipped with a # 001 riddle, yielded the highest seedpurity to seed loss ratio.

La vivace, Echinacea pal/ida, a ete cultivee pendant uneperiode de quatre ans. Ses fleurs sechees ont ete recoltees. Lediametre et Ie poids moyens de ces fleurs etaient de 25.2 mmet 3.81 g, respectivement. En moyenne, 278 graines pouvaientetre obtenues d'une fleur. Le poids moyen d'une graine variaitentre 4.5 et 5.1 mg. Ces fleurs sechees ne ressemblaient en rienau materiel obtenu des cultures traditionnelles (i.e. colza, ble,orge etc ..). Afin de traiter ce materiel inusite, une batteuse defortune a ete construite. Cet appareil a donne de bons resultatslorsqu'il etait opere a des vitesses de 2600 RPM. Afin deseparer les graines des debris, trois appareils ont ete evalues:Ie Carter Dockage Tester, Ie Carter-Day Superior Fractionat­ing Aspirator et Ie Forsberg Gravity Table. De ces troisappareils, Ie Carter Dockage Tester s'est avere Ie plus efficace.

97-319. REUSABLE PLASTIC CONTAINERS FORFRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE HANDLINGC. Vigneault, B. Goyette, Horticultural Research and Devel-

240 Vol. 39. No.3. July/August/September 1997 ABSTRACTS

opment Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint­Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC; J.P. Emond and F.Mercier,Horticultural Research Centre, Laval University,Ste-Foy, QC

North America produces a wide variety of fruits and vege­tables of very good quality. However, a large part of thisquality is lost through handling and transportation if no care istaken. The goal of this collaborative project was to identify themain sources of problems associated with fresh horticulturalproduce handling and the potential solutions. This projectresulted in the development of a unique family of reusableplastic containers for the handling of a great majority of thehorticultural crops. The problematic of fruit and vegetablehandling, the methodologies to solve the different problemsand the solutions reached are presented. A complete descrip­tion of the design of the container is not presented since it ispatent pending.

L'Amerique du Nord produit une grande variete de fruits etlegumes de tres bonne qualite. Toutefois, une grande partie decette qualite est perdue dans la manutention et Ie transport siaucun soin n'est pris. Le but de ce projet en collaboration etaitd'identifier les principales sources de problemes associes avecla manutention des produits horticoles frais et les solutionspotentielles. Le resultat de ce projet est une famille unique decontenants reutilisables pour la manutention de la grande ma­jorite des produits horticoles. Les problemes de manutentiondes fruits et legumes, les methodologies utilisees pour lesresoudre et les solutions obtenues sont presentes. Une descrip­tion complete du design des contenants n'est toutefois paspresentee car Ie contenant a ete soumis pour brevet.

97-400. REDUCING DRIFT FROM AIR-ASSISTEDSPRAYINGM. Piche and B. Panneton, Horticultural and DevelopmentCentre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint-Jean surRichelieu, QC

Field trials were conducted in 1994 and 1995 to comparespray drift produced by two spraying techniques. An hydraulicboom sprayer providing both air-assisted and conventionalspraying was used for two reduced-volume application. Foreach treatment, 14 trials were conducted over bare groundunder wind conditions varying from I to 5 mIs, 2 m above theground. Drift was measured on a 8 m tower, 10m away fromthe boom sprayer. Results showed that air-assisted sprayingprovides significantly less drift under wind conditions of 5 mlscompared to conventional spraying under a wind of I m/s.

Des essais au champs ont ete effectue en 1994 et 1995 pourcomparer la derive produite par deux systemes de pulverisa­tion. Une rampe de pulverisation produisant it la fois unepulverisation assistee par de I' air et une pulverisation conven­tionnelle a ete utilisee pour deux applications it volume reduit.Pour chaque traitement, 14 essais ont ete effectue sur unevegetation raz sous des vitesses de vent variant entre I et 5 mIs,mesure 2 m au-dessus du sol. La derive a ete mesure sur unetour de 8 m de haut, Ie pulverisateur appliquant les traitementsa 10 m de cette tour. Les resultats obtenues demontrent que lapulverisation assistee par de I'air produit significativementmoins de derive sous des vitesses de vent de 5 mls que I'appli­cation conventionnelle sous des vents de I m/s.

97-401. AUTOMATIC INDEXING OF A WIDE-SPANIMPLEMENT CARRIER (WSIC)C. Lague, Y. Lapierre and P. Savard, Department of SoilScience and Agri-Food Engineering, Universite Laval, Ste­Foy, QC

A research program on the use of Wide-span implementcarriers (WSIC) in cranberry production is currently underwayat Universite Laval. This machine is designed to complete thefollowing field operations: pruning of the cranberry vines,fertilizing, wiping of contact herbicides and harvesting. Someof these operations (pruning, wiping and harvesting) are com­pleted along the width of the fields with the WSIC at rest andthe implements operated by the mobile carriage that travelsalong the span of the WSIC. At the end of each pass, theimplement is raised and the WSIC must be indexed forward bya distance corresponding to the operating width of the imple­ment. A control system was thus designed in order for theoperator of the implement (who is seated on the mobile car­riage of the WSIC) to command the forward motion of the twotractors that support the WSIC. The control system can beprogrammed to accomodate different implement widths. Re­sults on the operation of the control system during the 1996harvesting season are presented.

Dans Ie cadre d 'un programme de recherche conduit itl'Universite Laval et portant sur I'utilisation d'unites motricesit circulation restreinte (UMCR) en agriculture, un prototypefonctionnel a ete developpe afin d'etre utilise en production decanneberges pour la realisation des operations suivantes: tailledes plants, applications de fertilisants ainsi que d 'herbicidespar humectage et recolte des fruits. Certaines de ces operations(taille, humectage, recolte) sont completees dans Ie sens de lalargeur des champs alors que I'UMCR est au repos et que lesequipements aratoires se deplacent Ie long de son axe princi­pal. Apres chaque passage, il est necessaire de faire progresserI'UMCR d'une distance correspondant it la largeur de travaildes equipements. Un systeme d'avancement automatique per­mettant it I'operateur des equipements (localise sur Ie chariotmobile de I'UMCR) de faire avancer les deux tracteursporteurs de la machine a ete mis au point. Le systeme peut etreaisement programme afin de s'ajuster aux differentes largeursd'equipements. Les resultats de I'evaluation de ce systemedurant la saison de recolte 1996 sont presentes.

97-402. DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF A CRAN­BERRY PRUNING MACHINE OPERATED BY AWIDE-SPAN IMPLEMENT CARRIER (WSIC)C. Lague, J. Lajoie and P. Savard, Department of Soil Sci­ence and Agri-Food Engineering, Universite Laval, Quebec,QC

Pruning is a common practice in cranberry production. Itremoves unproductive vines from the fields while yieldingvaluable planting material for the establishment of new plan­tations. As part of an on-going research program on the use ofWide-span implement carriers (WSIC) in cranberry produc­tion, we designed an innovative pruning machine that can: 1.rake the unproductive runners at right angle from the directionof travel of the machine, 2. cut them using knives mounted ona rotating cylinder and, 3. pick them up for subsequent proc­essing. The operating width of the machine is 3.05 m and it issupported and actuated by the mobile carriage of the WSIC.Pruning is completed from one side of the field to the other andthe pruned vines are dropped on the ground along one edge of

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Vol. 39. No.3. July/August/September 1997 241

the field after each pass. Results from preliminary trials con­ducted" during the 1996 pruning season are reported in thepaper.

La taille periodique des plants de canneberges est une pra­tique repandue qui permet d'enlever les tiges improductivesqui peuvent par la suite etre utilisees comme boutures pourl'etablissement de nouvelles plantations. Dans Ie cadre d'unprogramme de recherche sur l'utilisation d'unites motrices acirculation restreinte (UMCR) en production de canneberges,nous avons developpe un equipement de taille capable de: I.disposer les tiges a tailler perpendiculairement a la directiond' avancement de la machine, 2. les couper a I'aide de couteauxrotatifs et, 3. les recuperer. La largeur de travail de la machineest de 3,05 m et celle-ci est supportee et actionnee par Iechariot mobile de I'UMCR. La taille est completee transver­salement dans les champs et les tiges recoltees sont deposeesen bordure de ceux-ci apres chaque passage de la machine. Lesresultats d'essais preliminaires conduits en 1996 sont presen­tes.

97-404. THROWING CAPACITY OF A PULL-TYPE­FORAGE HARVESTER USING A CROP PROCESSORM. Roberge), P. Savoie2 and E. Norris 1, )Agricultural andBiosytems Engineerin¥, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de­Bellevue, QC; and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,Sainte-Foy, QC

A crop processor was integrated in a prototype cut-and­blow pull-type forage harvester to break grain kernels andcoarse stems of silage crops. Because processing rolls increasefriction, air inlet area was increased to improve particle flowand obtain maximum air outlet speed. Field experiments wereconducted to determine the throwing capacity of the prototypein grass (processing roll clearance of I mm). Mean throwingdistances between the spout of the forage harvester and atrailing wagon were 5.3, 5.5 and 7.1 m at blower tip speeds of42, 45 and 54 mIs, respectively. Disactivated rolls (40 mmapart) resulted in a throwing distance on average 1.2 m longer.Crop processing of grass required an increase in blower speedof 10 to 20% to maintain throwing capacity.

On a integre un module de broyage dans une fourrageretrainee experimentale. Pour vaincre la resistance accrue audebit des particules hachees, on a augmente la surface d'entreed'air. Au champ, on a mesure la capacite de projection degraminees broyees (ecartement des rouleaux de broyage de Imm). Les distances moyennes de projection etaient de 5,3, 5,5et 7,1 m a des vitesses peripheriques du souffleur de 42, 45 et54 m/s. Quand les rouleaux etaient desactives (ecartement de40 mm), la distance de projection etait allongee en moyenne de1,2 m. L'utilisation des rouleaux de broyage exige une vitessede soufflerie accrue de lOa 20% pour maintenir la distance deprojection.

97-405. OPTIMIZATION OF ROLL SPEED AND PRES­SURE FOR FORAGE MACERATIONP. Savoie, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sainte-Foy,QC; and D. Tremblay, Departement des sols et de genieagroalimentaire, Universite Laval, Sainte-Foy, QC

Forage maceration was applied on freshly mowed alfalfawith a 3-roll laboratory unit. The finely grooved steel rolls of254 mm diameter were set at 6 different combinations ofrotational speeds between 700 and 1740 rpm. The middle roll

was set at 3 different spring loading levels (0, 2925 and 5850N/m). Macerated forage (MF) was compared with two con­trols, a nonconditioned forage (NCF) and a rubber-rollconditioned forage (RRF), in a wind tunnel simulating gooddrying weather. MF dried faster (average drying coefficient of0.24 h-1) than NCF (0.13 h-1) or RRF (0.15 h-I). Within the 18combinations of maceration (6 roll speeds by 3 roll pressures),there was no significant difference. Losses due to macerationaveraged 4% compared to 1% for NCF or RRF.

On a applique un traitement mecanique intense (surcondi­tionnement) a de la luzerne avec une unite de broyageexperimentale a trois rouleaux de 254 mm de diametre. On acompare six combinaisons de vitesses des rouleaux, entre 700et 1740 tpm. Le rouleau mitoyen etait retenu aux deux ex­tremites par des ressorts tendus a trois niveaux (0, 2925 et 5850N/m). On a compare Ie taux de sechage du fourrage surcondi­tionne (FS) avec du fourrage non-conditionne (NC) oulegerement conditionne avec des rouleaux de caoutchouc (LC)dans un tunnel aerodynamique simulant des conditions clima­tiques favorables. Le traitement FS avait un coefficient desechage de 0,24 h-l comparativement a des coefficients de 0,13et 0,15 h- 1 pour NC et LC, respectivement. Les pertes occa­sionnees par Ie surconditionnement etaient de 4%comparativement a I% pour NC et LC.

97-406. DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AYIELD MAPPING SYSTEM FOR ROOT CROPSB. Panneton, Horticultural R&D Centre, Agriculture andAgri-Food Canada, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC; and J.Larouche, Innotag inc., St-Matthieu-de-Beloeil, QC

Yield mapping is an essential part of the precision farmingapproach. A measuring system based on weighing wheelssupporting a portion of a conveyor on a potato harvester wasdeveloped an implemented. The signal from the load cells ofthe weighing wheels was combined to the signal of a magneticpick up measuring the speed of the conveyor to produce anelectric signal that is compatible with an existing data process­ing unit used for grain crop yield mapping. During the summer1996, the device was implemented on a limited scale on potatofarms. The system will be tested on carrot and onion harvestersin 1997.

La cartographie du rendement est une composante essen­tielle de l'approche de l'agriculture de precision. Un systemede mesure du rendement faisant appel a des cellules de chargepesant une partie de convoyeur d 'une recolteuse a pomme deterre a ete developpe. Le signal en provenance des cellules decharge est combine au signal d'une roue magnetique pourproduire un signal compatible avec une chaine d'equipementutilisee pour cartographier Ie rendement dans les cereales. En1996, Ie capteur de rendement a ete installe sur un nombrerestreint de fermes. Ce systeme sera essaye sur des recolteusesde carotte et d'oignon en 1997.

97-407. HEAT INTENSITY REQUIREMENTS FORLOWBUSH BLUEBERRY PRUNINGJ. Gill, Eng., C. Lague and M.-H. Michaud, Department ofSoil Science and Agri-Food Engineering, Universite Laval,Quebec, QC

Recent developments in propane flamer technology allowedthe determination of heat intensity requirements for properlowbush blueberry pruning. The experiment was conducted

242 Vol. 39. No.3. July/August/September 1997 ABSTRACTS

both in an indoor testing facility on field collected samples,and also at a grower location on mowed plants. Temperaturerise at ground level, damage index after burning, and cropregeneration characteristics are presented. The four treatmentintensities investigated in the field resulted in similar cropregeneration. Results indicated the possibility of using propaneflamer as a mean for lowbush blueberry pruning. Furthermore,light burning with propane flamer could reduce the cost of namepruning, as well as the negative impacts of the technique on thesurface organic layer and on the environment.

Les derniers developpements entourant I'utilisation desbrOleurs au propane en agriculture ont permis de determinerI'intensite de chaleur requise pour l'elagage thermique descultures de bleuets nains. Des essais furent realises ala fois enbanc d'essais et au champ. Les elevations de temperature auniveau du sol, les dommages aux plants ainsi que les carac­teristiques .de regeneration de la culture ont ete mesures. Lesquatre niveaux d'intensite utilises au champ ont resulte en desregenerations de cultures similaires, indiquant I'usage possibledes brOleurs au propane pour I'elagage thermique des champsde bleuets nains. De plus, un brfilage leger effectue au moyende brOleurs alimentes en propane pourrait reduire les coOts deI'elagage thermique de meme que ses impacts negatifs sur lamatiere organique de la surface du sol et sur I'environnement.

97-408. LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY PICKER DEVELOP­MENT IN QUEBECJ. Gill, Eng., C. Lague, J.-P. Emond, and F. Mercier, Depart­ment of Soil Science and Agri-Food Engineering, UniversiteLaval, Quebec, QC

In order to define the design criteria of an efficient lowbushblueberry picker better adapted for continuous field operation,a series of experiments were carried out during the Summer of1996 at two grower locations in Quebec. Among the sevencombinations of picking tools evaluated, field losses rangedfrom 4.8 to 45.8%. The best picking performances were ob­tained by hand raking. An experimental harvester equippedwith canoe-shaped fixed teeth and mobile brushes gave thesecond best results. These results highlighted the needs forimproving lowbush blueberry harvesting equipments and al­lowed for the selection of appropriate components forimproved harvesters.

Dans Ie but de definir les criteres de conception d'unerecolteuse a bleuets nains efficace et pouvant etre operee encontinu, des essais furent conduits a l'ete 1996 sur deux si tesde production au Quebec. Parmi les sept types d'equipementevalues, les pertes de fruits a la recolte ont varie de 4,8 a45,8%. Les meilleurs resultats furent obtenus en utilisant unpeigne manuel. Un prototype experimental muni d'une tetecueilleuse comportant des dents evidees et des brosses mobiless'est classe au deuxieme rang. Ces resultats demontrent lesbesoins d'amelioration des equipements de recolte et permet­tent d'orienter la selection de composantes pour I'ameliorationdes recolteuses mecaniques.

97-409. MODELISATION PAR ELEMENTS FINIS DELA FORMATION DE SEMELLE DE LABOURNo Ravonison, S. Tessier, A. Foriero et C. Lague, Departe­ment des sols et de genie agroalimentaire, Universite Laval,Quebec, QC

La methode des elements finis a ete utilisee pour modeliser

Ie compactage induit respectivement par I'action du soc de lacharrue et de la circulation de la roue motrice du tracteur lorsdu labour, dans Ie but de comparer leur contribution respectivea la formation de la semelle de labour. Un premier modelesimule la penetration du soc qui cause la rupture du sol suiviede I'ecrasement et du cisaillement de la couche sous-jacente.Le second simule la transmission des contraintes verticales ettangentielles sous l'action des barrettes de traction du pneu dutracteur. Une forme simplifiee de modele d'etat critique adapteaux sols partiellement satures a ete utilisee pour decrire Iecomportement mecanique du sol agricole.

The finite element method has been used to analyse soilcompaction during moldboard plowing caused respectively bythe moldboard plow share and by the tractor drive wheel, inorder to compare their respective contribution to plow panformation. A first model simulates soil failure and shear dam­ages caused by plow share penetration. The second onesimulates the transmission of vertical pressure and shearstresses between the tractor tire and the soil. A simplifiedconstitutive model based on the critical state concept for par­tially saturated soils was used to describe the mechanicalbehavior of agricultural soil.

97-410. PORTABLE WINDMILL WITH MOMENTUMBLADESSoS. Garg, Regional Development Organisation, Lucknow,India

Due to the present energy crisis all over the world, thedeveloping countries, in particular, have been forced to huntfor the alternate sources of energy, such as: solar, mini-hydro­electric, bio-gas, wind and so on. In an attempt to harness thewindpower, a small, cheap and portable windmill with mo­mentum blades has been developed to lift water for irrigationand generate electricity at even low-speeds of 5 - 10 km/h. Themain features of this windmill in prototype are: windmill rotordiameter of 1.5 m with 12 momentum blades mounted on abearing over a vertical shaft of 1.5 cm diameter; tower of 2.5m height; pump - reciprocating, centrifugal or an axial-flowtype. The angular momentum principle of vector mechanicshas been used to analyse the basic design-factors (forces,torques, velocities, angles and their directions) and to designthe machine-components/dimensions (cross-sectional area ofblade, rotor diameter and blade-angle, etc.) to extract maxi­mum power from the wind and then to transmit it directly tothe attached pump. The rotor blades have been given a curva­ture that helps to develop a torque required to turn the rotorshaft at a maximum possible speed under a given load. Basedon the above design-computations, a prototype of the windmillwas fabricated and erected. At no load, a rotor-speed of 100rpm at a wind velocity of 10 - 15 km/h was obtained. Effortsare now underway to still increase the rotor-speed by provid­ing two or more stages of rotors and by further refining theblade-design. When fully complete with pump attachmentsand power transmission mechanism, it is estimated to generateabout 0.5 horse-power at a normal load.

97-500. EVALUATION OF VEGETATIVE FILTERSTRIPS (VFS) TO TREAT BEEF FEEDLOT ANDDAIRY YARD RUNOFF IN ONTARIOMoR. Toombs, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food andRural Affairs, Port Perry, ON

The vegetative filter strip (YFS) is a low-cost innovative

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Vol. 39. No.3. July/August/September 1997 243

approach for treating contaminated runoff from livestockyards. Five VFS have been constructed across the province onbehalf of the Ontario Cattlemen's Association, through theRural Conservation Clubs Program, funded under the Canada­Ontario Agriculture Green Plan. The VFS system treatscontaminated runoff through settling, filtration, infiltration,absorption and dilution of runoff. Monitoring included meas­urement, sampling and analysis of influent and effluent runofffor nitrates, ammonia, P, K, total dissolved solids, faecal coli­form and BOD5. Results revealed no accumulation of nutrientsin the soil profile and no change in groundwater samples frompreconstruction levels. Surface removal rates, soil profile re­sults and groundwater monitoring results when taken together,establish that the VFS system is an environmentally soundtreatment system for feedlot and barnyard runoff.

97·501. REDUCTION DES REJETS MINERAUX ETD'AZOTE CHEZ LES VOLAILLE PAR MODIFICA·TION DE L'ALIMENT ET/OU ADDITION D'ENZYMESETIMPACT SUR LE SYSTEME "OISEAU·LITIERE·BATIMENT": APPROCHE EXPERIMENTALER. Joncas, Ministere de I'Agriculture, des Pecheries et deI'Alimentation du Quebec, Centre de recherche et d'experi­mentation de Deschambault, Deschambault, QC; M.Lefran~ois, Departement des sciences animales; and A. Mar­quis, Departement des sols et de genie agroalimentaire,Universite Laval, Ste-Foy, QC

La description d'un projet multidisciplinaire realise selonune approche systemique sera presente. II est actuellement encours. II a pour but de reduire les rejets de mineraux et d'azotedes poulets it griller dans l'environnement. La reduction se faitit la source, soit par la modification de l'aliment. L'aliment,l'oiseau, ses rejets et la litiere forment un systeme qui condi­tionne I'air dans Ie poulailler. La dynamique de la compositiond'ambiance sera caracterisee dans douze chambres (mini-pou­laillers) de 1,2 x 1,2 x 1,2 m ventilees egalement par extraction.Elles sont reliees it un chromatographe en phase gazeuse quimesure I '°2, Ie C02, l'NH3' l'NO, I'N02 et l'N20. Les debitsde ventilation et l'enthalpie de l'air it l'entree et la sortie dechaque mini-poulaillers sont mesures. En connaissant les in­trants et les extrants du systeme, divers bilans et tauxd'emission pourront etre etablis.

The description of a multidiciplinary project realised by asystemic approach will be presented. The projet is actuallyimplementing. The purpose of this project is to reduce theeffluents of minerals and nitrogen from broiler production inthe environment. This reduction is achieved at the source bychanging the feeding programme. Feed, bird, droppings andlitter are contributing to a system that modify the air in thepoultry house. Dynamics of air composition and quality willbe caracterized with the help of twelve chambers (small-poul­try house) of 1.2 x 1.2 x 1.2 m equally ventilated byextraction.These chambers are connected to a gas chroma­tograph which measures sequentially the concentration of 02,C02, NH3, NO, N02 and N20. Rates of ventilation and en­thalpy of air at the inlet and the outlet of each chamber aremeasured. Valious balances and emissions rates will be esti­mate from the measured parameters.

97·502. COMPOSTING OF INDUSTRIAL BIO-OXIDA­TION SLUDGEJ.Leonard, R. Mu, Department of Agricultural, Food andNutritional Science; and W.McGiII, Department of Renew­able Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

To evaluate the feasibility and factors controlling the com­posting of bio-oxidation sludge from a water treatment facilityat a chemical plant, an in-vessel composting experiment wascarried out. Barley straw and sawdust were used as filter andmoisture absorbing media in preprocessing the sludge. Thesematerials were also used as carbon sources and bulking agents.The experiment was conducted using two dfflerent moisturecontents (70% and 80%) and carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratios(30: I and 40: I). Composting was carried out in 200L plasticvessels which were aerated with ambient air at a constant flowrate of 3 L/min. This was increased to 30 L/min if the tempera­ture exceeded 55°C. The results showed that moisture contenthad a significant effect on rate of temperature increase and thesustainability of thermophilic temperatures. C:N ratio alsoaffected the rate of temperature increase and the interaction ofmoisture content and C:N ratio had a significant effect ontemperature sustainability. Low C:N ratio treatments gavehigher rates of temperature increase while high moisture treat­ments maintained high temperatures for longer. Reduction ofsoluble organic carbon content was significantly affected bymoisture content, C:N ratio and their interaction. Respirometrytests carried out on two treatments after 80 days indicated thatthese composts were well within established guidelines formaturity. Similarly, final C:N ratios (12.4 to 23 .9: l) were alllower than the maturity guideline value of 25 : I.

97·503. REMOVAL CHARACTERISTIC OF INOR­GANIC NITROGEN AND PHOSPHATE IN DOMESTICWASTEWATER TREATMENT WITH BLUE-GREENALGAE SPIRULINA PLATENSIS USING LEDK. Fujita, Agricultural Science; and T. Maekawa, Institute ofAgricultural and Forest Engineering, University of Tsukuba,Ibaraki-ken, Japan

Availability of light emitting diode (LED) for domesticwastewater treatment using blue-green algae Spirulina platell­sis was studied. Wavelengths of LED examined were 450 nm(blue), 525 nm (green), 660 nm (red), 695 nm (red) and 910 nm(irfrared). The effect of wavelength on biomass productivity,NH3-N uptake, P04-P uptake, chlorophyll and carotenoid pro­ductivity was also investigated. At a LED of 660 nm, cellproductivity was 4 times greater than at a LED of 450 nm.Initial NH3-N concentration of the wastewater was 40 mg/L,removal of NH3-N exceeded 90% in 5 days. P04-P removalrate was 1.5 mg/L-d and 90% removal ratio was achieved in 4days. No reduction of cell productivity by contamination oc­curred in I months operational time. By adjusting theNH3-N/P04-P ratio to 7, 90% removal ratio of NH3-N andP04-P was obtained with initial concentration of 50 mg/L.

97·505. PASSIVE VERSUS ACTIVE AERATION FORCOMPOSTINGS. F. Barrington, D. Choiniere, M. Trigui, S. Wasay and W.Knight, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engi­neering, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, QC

Three bulking agents, pine shaving, grass hay and wheatstraw, were mixed with swine slurry and composted at 40, 32and 28% dry matter (d.m.). The mixtures were aerated in

244 Vol. 39. No.3. July/Augusl/September 1997 ABSTRACTS

duplicate passively and actively for 21 days. The passivelyaerated compost demonstrated temperature regimes similar tothat actively aerated at a rate of 2 ml of air/s/kg of original drymatter. The passively aerated compost demonstrated less dry­ing but still climbed to damaging temperatures of above 65°C.The convective air flow of the compost had a higher correla­tion factor with time rather than with temperature differentialbetween the compost and the ambient air. Thus, the convectiveair flux was related to microbial activity and heat generationrather than temperature differential.

Trois agents riches en carbone, des copeaux de pin, du foinde graminees et de la paille de ble furent compostes avec dulisier de porcs 3 un taux de matiere seche de 40,32 et 28%. Lesmelanges furent compostes passivement et activement pendant21 jours. La ventilation passive a permis au compost d'attein­dre des temperatures similaires 3 celles du compost avecventilation active au taux de 2 ml d'air /s/kg de compost initialsec. Le compost ventile passivement a subit moins de sechageque celui qui fut composte activement. Le taux de ventilationpar convection du compost a demontre un coefficient de corre­lation plus eleve avec Ie temps qu'avec I'ecart de temperatureentre Ie compost et I'air ambiant. Le taux de ventilation passivefut donc relie 3 la generation de chaleur des microorganismeset non 3 I'ecart de temperature.

97-506. FINISHING PIGS ON LITER: EFFECTS OF PIGDENSITY AND BEDDING USE ON SOIL CONTAMI­NATIONSY. Choiniere, Les Consultants Yves Choiniere Inc., St­Cesaire, QC; and J.A. Munroe, Agriculture and Agri-FoodCanada, Ottawa, ON

Two barns were separated in order to create 4 zones wherepig density and litter type were tested. The first section had apig density of 0.70 m2/pig (7.5 ft2/pig) with a straw base.Zones 2 and 3 had a pig density of 0.78 m2/pig (8.5 ft2/pig)with straw on a sawdust base. Finally, zone 4 had a pig densityof 0.94 m2/pig (10 ft2/pig) with a sawdust base. Generally, thepigs were clean until they reach 50 kg where it was difficult toadd enough litter to absorb liquids. There was little soil con­tamination.

La densite des porcs et Ie type de litiere furent testes dansdeux granges separees en 4 zones. La premiere zone offrait0.70 m2/porc (7.5 pi2/porc) et une litiere abase de paille. Leszones 2 et 3 avaient une densite de 0.78 m2/porc (8.5 pi2/porc)et une Iitiere de paille sur base de sciure de bois. Enfin, la zone4 presentait 0.94 m2/porc (10 pi2/porc) avec une Iitiere desciure de bois. Les porcs etaient propres, en general, jusqu'3ce qu'ils pesent 50 kg. Par la suite, iI fut difficile d'ajoutersuffisamment de Iitiere pour absorber les liquides. Le niveaude contamination du sol etait tres bas.

97-507. EVALUATION OF A WIND POWERED AERA­TOR TO CONTROL ODOURS FROM A LIQUIDMANURE STORAGEM.R. Toombs, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food andRural Affairs, Port Perry, ON

Odour control of livestock farms is seen to be one of thelargest challenges facing the livestock industry in Ontario.Two liquid manure storages on the same site, receiving thesame finishing hog manure, were monitored from July toOctober 1996. One storage had a wind powered, mechanical

aerator installed, the other served as a control. Compositeliquid samples from three locations were taken from bothstorages at three different depths. Samples were taken at day0, at day 45 and at the end of the 90 day evaluation. Liquidsamples were analyzed for BOD5, aerobic and arlaerobic platecounts, total N, ammonia and total suspended solids. Odoursamples were taken at the same intervals and evaluated usinga dynamic dilution olfactometer to determine odour thresholdvalues. Air samples taken at the start and end of the evaluationwere monitored for ammonia, methane, total phenols, volatilefatty acids and hydrogen sulphide. The wind driven aeratoreffectively maintained the odour potential of the test storagebelow that of the control storage in spite of receiving freshmanure weekly. The aerator in this project is a cost effectivemeans of controlling odours from the liquid manure storage.

97-600. GIS AND REMOTE SENSING IN AGRICUL­TURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCEUNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMSE. Thompson I, M.H. Mousavizadeh2, S. Broughton3 andC.A. Madramootoo2, INatural Resource Sciences, 2Agricul­tural and Biosystems Engineering and 3Library SystemsOffice, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC

Practical classroom experience in the applications of remotesensing and GIS in resource management was introduced atMcGill University (Macdonald Campus) by linking courseprojects to ongoing research and using team teaching. Datasets are generated through air photo interpretation andSPANS/GIS is used to store, manipulate and display informa­tion. Students analysed land use change in a 200 km2

watershed by working on 16 km2 individual study plots thatwere later joined using GIS. In other projects carried out incollaboration with local environmental groups and consult­ants, students created their own data bases, analysed theinformation and displayed the results in a format suitable forboth scientific and public presentations.

97-602. ADAPTATION D'UN MODELE DE PREVISIONDE RECOLTE DE TOMATES EN SERRE (TOM­POUSSE) A UNE CULTURE COMMERCIALEQUEBECOISE.D. de HaHeux and L. Gauthier, Departement des sols et degenie agroalimentaire, Universite Laval, Ste-Foy, QC

A simple model (TOMPOUSSE, INRA, France) to predictgreenhouse tomato yield was adapted to the Quebec produc­tion context. It requires only three input variables that areusually recorded by growers: temperature and radiation insidethe greenhouse and number of fruits per trust. The model iscomposed of four parts. The first part computes dry matterproduction based on radiation. The second part determines thefruit load, the third determines the proportion of dry matterassigned to fruits while the fourth computes the lime elapsedbetween fruit setting and harvest, the number of fruits har­vested and their weight. The model can also predict fruit sizebut validation was perfomled on total weekly yield and cumu­lated yield.

Un modele simple (TOMPOUSSE, INRA, FRANCE) deprevision des rendements de tomates en serre a adapte auxconditions de cultures quebecoises. II ne necessite que troisvariables d'entree habituellement mesurees par les produc­teurs: temperature et rayonnement a I'interieur de la serre ainsique Ie nombre de fruits par bouquet. Le modele est constitue

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Vol. 39. No.3. July/August/September 1997 245

de quatre composantes. La premiere composante permet depasser du rayonnement a la production de matiere seche. Laseconde partie permet la determination de la charge en fruits.La troisieme determine la repartition de la matiere sechedestinee aux fruits. Enfin, la derniere composante permet Iecalcul de la duree nouaison-recolte d'un fruit, du nombre defruits recoltes et leur poids. Bien que Ie modele permetteegalement la prevision du calibre des fruits, la validation dumodele aete realisee sur Ie poids hebdomadaire recolte et Ierendement cumule.

97-603. GX/SIM: A DYNAMIC GREENHOUSE SIMU­LATOR FOR TEACHING AND RESEARCHL. Gauthier, Departement des sols et de genie agroalimen­taire, Universite Laval, Quebec, QC

GX/Sim is a software package that can be used to study thebehavior of greenhouse systems. It makes use of advancedsoftware engineering techniques and tools and versions areavailable for a several computing platforms. GX/Sim is uniqueas a greenhouse simulator since it dynamically emulates thebehavior of each component of the greenhouse system,namely: the climate, the equipment (controllers and effectors)and the plants grown in the greenhouse (in the current soft­ware, only tomato plants can be simulated). In GX/Sim, whilea simulation is running, the user can visualize the evolution ofthe various climatic and plant parameters. Furthermore, theuser can modify, during a simulation, the settings and setpoints that affect the behavior of the system. GX/Sim is beingused in classrooms to teach greenhouse engineering and gen­eral climate control concepts to students.

GX/Sim est un logiciel utilise pour l'etude du comporte­ment du climat dans l'agrosysteme serre. II utilise destechniques et outils de genie logiciel avances et des versionsdu logiciel existent pour plusieurs plateformes. GX/Sim est unsimulateur unique en son genre puisqu'il peut dynamiquementemuler Ie comportement de chaque composante de I'agro­systeme, notamment: Ie climat, les equipements (regulateurs eteffecteurs) ainsi que les plantes (dans la version courante,seulement les plants de tomate sont simules). Avec GX/Sim,lorsqu 'une simulation est en cours, I'utilisateur peut visualiserl'evolution des differents parametres climatiques et culturaux.De plus, I'utilisateur peut modifier, pendant la simulation, lesconsignes et parametres affectant Ie comportement dusysteme. GX/Sim est utilise en classe pour enseignerl'ingenierie et la regie de I'agrosysteme serre ainsi que pourpresenter des concepts generaux de controle du climat.

97-604. THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLO­GIES IN PRECISION FARMINGC.-C. Yang, S.O. Prasher and J.-A. Landry, Department ofAgricultural and Biosystems Engineering, McGill University,Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC

This paper will provide details on the components of aprecision farming system underdevelopment. The system in­cludes machine vision, artificial neural network (ANN),globalpositioning system (GPS), geographic information sys­tem (GIS), fuzzy controller, anddecision support system (DSS)to reduce pesticide pollution. Machine vision capturesimagesof bare soil, crop, and weeds. ANNs will be trained to distin­guish between weedsand crop, and between crop and bare soil.A GPS accurately locates the unit in the field. A GIS will beused to determine information about the soil types, elevation

data, cropping information, etc., about the farm. A fuzzy con­troller will be used to automatically adjust the spraying ofpesticides. The spraying decision will be made with the helpof a decision-support system which will balance the sprayingrequirements with threats to water pollution.

Cet article presente les differents elements d 'un systemed'exploitation agricole de precision en developpement. Cesysteme comprends des elements de vision artificiel, reseauxde neurones artificiels, systeme global de positionnement(SGP), un systeme d'information geographique (SIG), un con­troleur de logique flou et un systeme de decision support pourreduire la pollution des pesticides. La vision artificiel captur­era les images du sol et des plantes. Les reseaux de neuronesartificiels seront entraines pour reconnaitre les mauvaises her­bes. Le SGP permettra de localiser ces unites dans Ie champ.Le systeme SIG sera utilise pour determiner Ie type de sol,l'elevation, etc. La controleur de logique flou sera utilise pourajuster automatiquement I'application des pesticides. Lesysteme de decision support considerera Ie besoin d'applica­tion ainsi que Ie risque de pollution des eaux.

97-605. ALGORITHMIC METHOD FOR THE RECOG­NITION OF BIOLOGICAL OBJECTST. Bernier and J.-A. Landry, Agricultural and BiosystemsEngineering, McGill U'niversity, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, QC

An algorithmic method of object recognition was developedin order to identify and count fungal spores in microscopicdigital images. A three pass method was used, a preliminarypass in order to narrow the search space down to only the areasthat contain spore like darkening, a second pass that highlightsboth the center and the surrounding edge of the spore resultingin a secondary image to which the template is matched in thethird pass. After the final pass the list of positions and orienta­tions of spores is reviewed and the conflicting and less likelypositions are eliminated. The goal of the method is to accu­rately count the spores in the minimum amount of time. Theresulting time is between zero and twenty-one seconds ofanalysis on a IOOMhz Pentium computer for a 64 by 64 pixelimage.

97-607. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MIND IN ENGI­NEERED BIOSYSTEMSO.G. Clark, R. Kok, R. Molenaar and L. Parrott, Depart­ment of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, McGillUniversity, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC

Biosystems can be engineered so that they are highlyautonomous. This requires that they first possess an ensembleof computational abilities (mind) of sufficient sophistication(intelligence). Such a mind can endow the biosystem withconsciousness by allowing it to generate and manipulate mod­els of itself in the context of its surroundings. The ability toreason in such a manner provides a basis for autonomy, orindependence of comportment. It is proposed that autonomybe implemented in large-scale biosystems by combining eco­systems with sparsely connected control networks. Salientconcepts are defined, and a brief description is given of howvarious functional groups (faculties) of mental abilities couldbe engineered in order to achieve the desired system charac­teristics. The discussion is illustrated with reference to theEcoCyborg Project, a case study in which this approach isbeing explored through the use of computer modeling andsimulation.

246 Vol. 39. No.3. July/August/September 1997 ABSTRACTS

Les biosystemes peuvent etre con\us de fa\on qu' ils soientautonomes. Pour arriver a cet effet, ils doivent tout d'abordetre munis d'un ensemble de facultes computationelles (ou unesprit) d'un certain degre de sophistication (definissant "l'in­telligence"). Soit disant, un biosysteme dote de telles facultesa la capacite de generer et de manipuler des modeles delui-meme en fonction de son environnement, et ceci lui permetde developper une certaine "conscience". La base de I'autono­mie d 'un biosysteme devient donc son pouvoir de raisonner, etcelui-ci a un effet direct sur son independance de comporte­ment. Le present propose qui I'autonomie peut etre implanteedans un biosysteme par moyen de reseaux controlleurs mince­ment lies. L'accent est mis sur la definition de concepts,traitant en detail les differentes composantes de la faculte oul'esprit d'un biosysteme et leur effets sur ses caracteristiquesfinales. La discussion s'illustre par rapport au projet "EcoCy­borg", soit un etude OU la faculte artificielle des biosystemesest exploree a travers un ensemble de simulations et demodeles informatiques.

97·608. THEMIS: SYSTEME DE GESTION DE LALEGISLATION ENVIRONNEMENTALEJ.-A. Landry, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering,McGill University, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, QC; G. Szaraz andS. Ouellette, Triaxone inc., Deux-Montagnes, QC

Les intervenants du milieu environnemental, dans leur tra­vail quotidien, doivent se referer a des milliers d'articleslegaux ainsi que des centaines de references afin de prendreune decision eclairee en matiere environnementale. Bien qu'ilsoit possible de consulter tout les documents relatifs a une

problematique ou a une situation environnementale spec1­

fique, iI est pratiquement impossible d'avoir la certitudequ 'aucun articles ou reference ne soit omis. Un nouvel outil,Ie logiciel Themis, permet la recherche structuree des docu­ments legislatifs et peripheriques dans un environnementconvivial et efficace. Ce nouveau logiciel, developpe par unejeune entreprise quebecoise en collaboration avec un cher­cheur de I'universite McGill, est Ie fruit d 'un long et complexeprocessus de developpement dans Ie but ultime de rendreaccessible la documentation legislative et peripherique relieea I'environnement, un secteur de pointe dans une societe audeveloppement effrene. Themis comprend entre autre une basede donnees contenant la documentation legislative et desreferences reliees au domaine de l'environnement, la Recher­che Themis, jumelee a un systeme d'aide a la decisioninnovateur portant Ie nom d' Expert Themis, qui permet d'ob­tenir les informations les plus pertinentes en regard d'uneproblematique environnementale specifique. La base de don­nees comporte: plus de 170 documents provenant des troispaliers gouvemementaux (federal, provincial et municipal); unimposant fichier d'intervenants et de personnes-ressources enenvironnement; un fichier de plusieurs centaines d'entreprisesfoumisseurs de produits et services; ainsi qu'un glossaire deplus de 1000 mots presentant les termes specialises auxquelsl' utilisateur pourrait se buter. La version presentee est dis­ponible en fran\ais et seul la documentation federale etprovinciale quebecoise est incluse. Les auteurs envisagent Iedeveloppement de versions pour toutes les provinces canadi­ennes, tant en fran\ais qu'en anglais.

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Vol. 39. No.3. July/August/September 1997 247

NOTES TO CONTRIBUTORSThe Editorial Board will assess suitability and essential detail ofpapers submitted for publication in Canadian Agricullllral Engineer­ing. One or more reviewers will be used. Their comments andsuggestions will be compiled and submitted to the author. The reviewwill ensure that:

I. A research paper presents a piece of research carried to awell-defined stage of advancement and the conclusions are adequatelysupported by the experimental results.

2. A technical paper presents a clear, concise, and factual outlineand interpretation of the development, design, test, or analysis underconsideration and that it is a contribution in one of the fields ofagricultural, biosystems, or food engineering.

3. A general paper on education, research, or extension is pertinentto major changes in curriculum, research, or extension or to forward­looking developments in these areas.

4. A technical note on equipment development, technique of meas­urement, or method of analysis will have an application for otherworkers in the fields of agricultural, biosystems, or food engineering.

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Line drawings should be machine produced on white drawing paperor tracing paper. Authors are encouraged to produce drawings usingone of the commonly used computer packages. Letters, numerals,labels and axis captions should have only the first word capitalized.Axis captions should be followed by a comma, the symbol in italics,and the units in parentheses [i.e. Acceleration of particle, Ap (m/s2

)].

If a symbol is not used, omit the comma. Letters and numerals must beat least 1.5 mm high and preferably 2 mm high in final form. Curveson graphs must be 0.3 mm wide after reduction. Axes and grid linesshould be clearly visible but inconspicuous; a width of 0.2 mm afterreduction is suggested. Figure numbers and captions should be typedon a separate page, not on the original illustrations. When a paper issubmitted for publication, the original illustrations need not be pro­vided so long as the copies are of such quality that reviewers canunderstand them. Original drawings must be provided when the paperis accepted for publication. If a drawing has been produced by acomputer package, a copy of the file should be submitted on disk at thetime that the manuscript is submitted on disk.

DISCUSSIONSDiscussions may be submitted on any paper or technical note publish­ed in the Journal for a period of not more than four months followingpublication. Discussion of a paper or technical note is open to anyonewho has significant comments or questions about the content of thepaper/techn ical note. A discussion will not be accepted for publicationif it contains material readily found elsewhere, is purely speculative,introduces personalities, or otherwise falls below the standards of atechnical paper in a professional journal. Authors will be given anopportunity to reply to discussions.

The format for discussions differs from those of papers in thatfigures are to be identified by capital letters to avoid confusion withthe original paper. The discusser should refer to him/herself as "thewriter" or "I" and to the author of the original paper as "the author."The first page shows the title of the original paper with a footnote toidentify the author, volume, page, and date. Name and address of thewriter of the discussion follow the title.

Discussions will be reviewed by the Editorial Board and possiblythe reviewers of the original paper. The length of a discussion isrestricted to one journal page. Lengthy discussions will be returned forshortening, or the writer may be encouraged to submit a paper ortechnical note.

REFERENCENorum, D.I. and D.S. Jayas. 1995. Instructions for preparing a paperfor Canadian Agricultural Engineering. Canadian Agricultural Engi­neering 37(3):239-243.