Laserkeilainperustainen puulajiluokitus - puu- ja metsikkötekijöiden, opetusaineiston koon, laserintesiteetin normalisoinnin sekä keilainmallin vaikutus

Seloste artikkelista: Korpela, I., Ørka, H. O., Maltamo, M., Tokola, T. & Hyyppä, J. / Tree species classification using airborne LiDAR - effects of stand and tree parameters, downsizing of training set, intensity normalization, and sensor type. Silva Fennica 44 (2010) : 2, 319-339.

Reduction of specific energy consumption of a thermomechanical pulping plant

Kuumahiertoprosessi on erittäin energiaintensiivinen prosessi, jonka energianominaiskulutus (EOK) on yleisesti 2–3.5 MWh/bdt. Noin 93 % energiasta kuluu jauhatuksessa jakautuen niin, että kaksi kolmasosaa kuluu päälinjan ja yksi kolmasosa rejektijauhatuksessa. Siksi myös tämän työn tavoite asetettiin vähentämään energian kulutusta juuri pää- ja rejektijauhatuksessa. Päälinjan jauhatuksessa tutkimuskohteiksi valittiin terityksen, tehojaon ja tuotantotason vaikutus EOK:een. Rejektijauhatuksen tehostamiseen pyrittiin yrittämällä vähentää rejektivirtaamaa painelajittelun keinoin. Koska TMP3 laitoksen jauhatuskapasiteettia on nostettu 25 %, tavoite oli nostaa päälinjan lajittelun kapasiteettia saman verran. Toisena tavoitteena oli pienentää rejektisuhdetta pää- ja rejektilajittelussa ja siten vähentää energiankulutusta rejektijauhatuksessa. Näitä tavoitteita lähestyttiin vaihtamalla päälinjan lajittimiin TamScreen-roottorit ja rejektilajittimiin Metso ProFoil-roottorit ja optimoimalla kuitufraktiot sihtirumpu- ja prosessiparametrimuutoksin. Syöttävällä terätyypillä pystyttiin vähentämään EOK:ta 100 kWh/bdt, mutta korkeampi jauhatusintensiteetti johti myös alempiin lujuusominaisuuksiin, korkeampaan ilmanläpäisyyn ja korkeampaan opasiteettiin. Myös tehojaolla voitiin vaikuttaa EOK:een. Kun ensimmäisen vaiheen jauhinta kuormitettiin enemmän, saavutettiin korkeimmillaan 70 kWh/bdt EOK-vähennys. Tuotantotason mittaamisongelmat heikensivät tuotantotasokoeajojen tuloksia siinä määrin, että näiden tulosten perusteella ei voida päätellä, onko EOK tuotantotasoriippuvainen vai ei. Päälinjan lajittelun kapasiteettia pystyttiin nostamaan TS-roottorilla vain 18 % jääden hieman tavoitetasosta. Rejektilajittelussa pystyttiin vähentämään rejektimäärää huomattavasti Metso ProFoil-roottorilla sekä sihtirumpu- ja prosessiparametrimuutoksin. Lajittamokehityksellä saavutettu EOK-vähennys arvioitiin massarejektisuhteen pienentymisen ja rejektijauhatuksessa käytetyn EOK:n avulla olevan noin 130 kWh/bdt. Yhteenvetona voidaan todeta, että tavoite 300 kWh/bdt EOK-vähennyksestä voidaan saavuttaa työssä käytetyillä tavoilla, mikäli niiden täysi potentiaali hyödynnetään tuotannossa.

Effects of thermal environment and supplementation levels on the physiological parameters of moxotó goats in confined and semi-confined rising systems

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of environmental variables and supplementation levels on physiological parameters of Moxotó goats in confined and semi-confined rising systems, in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The semi-confined individuals were kept on a grass based diet during the day and arrested in the end of the afternoon. The confined animals were kept in a management center, receiving two diets composed by forage cactus and maniçoba hay into two different levels (0.5 and 1.5% of the body weight). Inside the management center and in the external environment the environmental comfort parameters were set high during the afternoon period characterizing a situation of thermal discomfort for the animals. During the morning the semi-confined animals presented an average respiratory frequency (69.5 mov min-1) and rectal temperature (39.5 ºC) higher than the confined ones (62.6 mov min-1 and 39.0 ºC, respectively). The confined and semi-confined animals were able to maintain their rectal temperature within normal limits, with increase in the cardiac beatings rate and respiratory frequency. The greater percentage of the used supplementations (1.5%) seemed to increase rectal temperature in the two studied rising systems.

Intensity-duration-frequency ratios obtained from annual records and partial duration records in the locality of Pelotas - RS, Brazil

The intensity-duration-frequency occurrence ratio (IDF) is a tool commonly used for precipitation-runoff data transformation, which is established from observations of intense precipitations over a period sufficiently long as to allow the occurrence of extremes at the observation site. This study focused on verifying the existence or absence of new data, in terms of IDF ratio, by using partial duration records produced from data on maximum daily disaggregated rainfall for pre determined durations. The partial duration records considered a base value of 55 mm, totaling 279 values. After the rainfall series were established, their independence and seasonality were assessed. Using the Student's t-test statistics, it was established that no new data, as IDF ratio, emerged from the analysis of the partial duration series with the recommended base value of precipitation, as compared to the historical records.

Behavior, performance and physiological parameters of pigs reared in deep bedding

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the behavior, performance and physiological parameters of pigs in different production systems. Twenty four animals in the growth phase were distributed in a randomized block design in three treatments: T1 - concrete floor, T2 - deep bedding with wood shaving, and T3 - deep bedding with coffee husks. The behavioral study was carried out by observing the animal behavior for an uninterrupted period of eight hours throughout seven weeks. The proportions of time spent in each behavior were characterized using the frequency histogram composition. Environmental (IBGTH), physiological (rectal and skin temperature and respiratory rate) and performance (weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion) parameters were measured in animals during the period. The production systems of deep bedding showed higher values of IBGTH. There was no effect of production systems evaluated on the performance parameters. Rectal temperature was higher in animals reared on deep bedding with coffee husks in relation to the concrete floor. The use of deep bedding benefited the behavior of piglets in the growth phase and it reduced the agonistic behavior among individuals.

Spatial variability of yield and other parameters associated with pear trees

In the last few years, precision agriculture has become commonly used with many crops, particularly cereals, and there is also interest in precision horticulture. Pear is a seasonal fruit and well appreciated by Brazilian people, although it is mostly imported. Brazilian farmers are nowadays trying to increase pear production. Thus, this research aimed at mapping the yield of pear trees in order to study the spatial variability of yield as well as its comparison with spatial variability of soil and plant attributes. The experimental field had 146 pear trees, variety 'Pêra d'água', distributed on a 1.24 ha. Four harvests were performed according to the fruit ripening and from each tree; only the ripe fruits were harvested. In each harvest, all the fruits were weighed and the total yield was obtained based on the sum of each harvest. The soil attributes analyzed were P, K, Ca, Mg, pH in CaCl2, C, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and base saturation, and the plant attributes were fruit length, diameter and yield. Yield had low correlation with soil and plant attributes. An index of spatial variability was suggested in this study and helped in classifying levels of spatial dependence of the various soil and plant attributes: very low (fruit length); low (P, fruit diameter), medium (Mg, pH, Cu, Zn, Fe), high (Ca, K, base saturation and yield), and very high (Mn and C).

Soil sampling intensity and spatial distribution pattern of soils attributes and corn yield in no-tillage system

Taking into account that the sampling intensity of soil attributes is a determining factor for applying of concepts of precision agriculture, this study aims to determine the spatial distribution pattern of soil attributes and corn yield at four soil sampling intensities and verify how sampling intensity affects cause-effect relationship between soil attributes and corn yield. A 100-referenced point sample grid was imposed on the experimental site. Thus, each sampling cell encompassed an area of 45 m² and was composed of five 10-m long crop rows, where referenced points were considered the center of the cell. Samples were taken from at 0 to 0.1 m and 0.1 to 0.2 m depths. Soil chemical attributes and clay content were evaluated. Sampling intensities were established by initial 100-point sampling, resulting data sets of 100; 75; 50 and 25 points. The data were submitted to descriptive statistical and geostatistics analyses. The best sampling intensity to know the spatial distribution pattern was dependent on the soil attribute being studied. The attributes P and K+ content showed higher spatial variability; while the clay content, Ca2+, Mg2+ and base saturation values (V) showed lesser spatial variability. The spatial distribution pattern of clay content and V at the 100-point sampling were the ones which best explained the spatial distribution pattern of corn yield.

Operational parameters of soybean seeding in santa fe system

The use of no tillage system associated with the crop-livestock integration is an alternate managing that promotes the accumulation of dry matter in the soil, an essential fact to make the system sustainable and profitable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the operational performance of a planter-tractor set on maize straws intercropped with Urochloa, in different seeding modes. The soybean crop was seed on the intercropping of two forage species (Urochloa brizantha and Urochloa ruziziensis) in five cropping systems: MBL (Maize with Urochloa in the maize seeding row, mixed with base fertilizer and deposited at 0.10 m), MBE (Maize with Urochloa seeded between rows at the same day of seeding maize), MBC (Urochloa between rows of maize seeded with the covering fertilizer at the V4 stage), MBLA (Maize with Urochloa by broadcast seeding at the V4 stage ) and MS (Single Maize: control). The following variables were evaluated: dry mass of maize straw, dry mass of forages and total dry mass of straw; and for the operational parameters the speed of seeding, wheel slippage, traction force and average power at the drawbar. The results showed that the amount of straw produced by maize intercropping with Urochloa, interferes in the operational performance of the tractor-planter at the operation of soybean seeding, i.e., areas with higher amount of straw promote greater energy demand, as well as higher wheel slippage.

Characterization of soil parameters of two soils of Rio Grande do Sul in modeling the prediction of tractive effort

The interaction between the soil and tillage tool can be examined using different parameters for the soil and the tool. Among the soil parameters are the shear stress, cohesion, internal friction angle of the soil and the pre-compression stress. The tool parameters are mainly the tool geometry and depth of operation. Regarding to the soils of Rio Grande do Sul there are hardly any studies and evaluations of the parameters that have importance in the use of mathematical models to predict tensile loads. The objective was to obtain parameters related to the soils of Rio Grande do Sul, which are used in soil-tool analysis, more specifically on mathematical models that allow the calculation of tractive effort for symmetric and narrow tools. Two of the main soils of Rio Grande do Sul, an Albaqualf and a Paleudult were studied. Equations that relate the cohesion, internal friction angle of the soil, adhesion, soil-tool friction angle and pre-compression stress as a function of water content in the soil were obtained, leading to important information for use of mathematical models for tractive effort calculation.

Identification of acoustic parameters for broiler welfare estimate

Estimates of broiler welfare have subjective character. Nowadays, researchers seek non-invasive features or indicators that may describe this condition in animal production. The aim of this study was to identify acoustic parameters to estimate broiler welfare using the following five vocalization acoustic parameters: energy, spectral centroid, bandwidth, first formant, and second formant. The database that generated the model was obtained from a field experiment with 432 broilers, which half were Cobb® and half, Ross® breed, from day 21 to 42, containing bird vocalizations under either welfare or stress conditions. The results of the experiment generated responses to the tested conditions of gender, genetic strain, and welfare. The proposed model was based on the specific response of mean weights for each situation of stress and well-being. From the results, a model was developed to estimate the welfare condition of broilers from the registered information linked to their vocalization.

Effects of light intensity modification by reflective aluminized screenhouse on sweet pepper growth and yield

Sweet pepper is one of the ten most consumed vegetables in world. Although it develops better under protected environment, the cultivation in tropical countries is practiced in open field due greenhouse structure higher costs. Unfortunately, such practice has compromised the crop to reach either best yield or fruit quality. Since production and cost are the most important criteria for agricultural production, we aimed to evaluate reflective aluminized polypropylene shading net influence on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) growth and production as intermediary alternative for low/middle income producers from Brazilian tropical regions. Sweet pepper Magali R hybrid was cultivated in two environments: FC - field conditions (control) and RS - reflective shading net with 40% shading rate. RS caused reductions in incident solar radiation (SR) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) on the amount of 46.3% and 48.3%, respectively. There were no significant changes in temperature and relative humidity recorded for the two environments. In addition, RS allowed best use efficiency of photosynthetically active radiation since it promoted higher values of plant height, leaf number and area index than those reached on FC on the amount of 29%, 22% and 80 %, respectively. Similarly, plants grown under RS showed higher yield and marketable fruits and promoted less loses by sunscald.

Method adjustment and equation set of maximum rainfall intensity, duration and frequency in the Mato Grosso do Sul State

Due to the lack of information concerning maximum rainfall equations for most locations in Mato Grosso do Sul State, the alternative for carrying out hydraulic work projects has been information from meteorological stations closest to the location in which the project is carried out. Alternative methods, such as 24 hours rain disaggregation method from rainfall data due to greater availability of stations and longer observations can work. Based on this approach, the objective of this study was to estimate maximum rainfall equations for Mato Grosso do Sul State by adjusting the 24 hours rain disaggregation method, depending on data obtained from rain gauge stations from Dourado and Campo Grande. For this purpose, data consisting of 105 rainfall stations were used, which are available in the ANA (Water Resources Management National Agency) database. Based on the results we concluded: the intense rainfall equations obtained by pluviogram analysis showed determination coefficient above 99%; and the performance of 24 hours rain disaggregation method was classified as excellent, based on relative average error WILMOTT concordance index (1982).

Bartlett-Lewis of rectangular pulse modified model: estimate of parameters for simulation of precipitation in sub-hourly duration

The Bartlett-Lewis Rectangular Pulse Modified (BLPRM) model simulates the precipitous slide in the hourly and sub-hourly and has six parameters for each of the twelve months of the year. This study aimed to evaluate the behavior of precipitation series in the duration of 15 min, obtained by simulation using the model BLPRM in situations: (a) where the parameters are estimated from a combination of statistics, creating five different sets; (b) suitability of the model to generate rain. To adjust the parameters were used rain gauge records of Pelotas/RS/Brazil, which statistics were estimated - mean, variance, covariance, autocorrelation coefficient of lag 1, the proportion of dry days in the period considered. The results showed that the parameters related to the time of onset of precipitation (λ) and intensities (μx) were the most stable and the most unstable were ν parameter, related to rain duration. The BLPRM model adequately represented the mean, variance, and proportion of the dry period of the series of precipitation lasting 15 min and, the time dependence of the heights of rain, represented autocorrelation coefficient of the first retardation was statistically less simulated series suitability for the duration of 15 min.

Mathematical simulation parameters for drying of cassava starch pellets

Based on experimental tests, it was obtained the equations for drying, equilibrium moisture content, latent heat of vaporization of water contained in the product and the equation of specific heat of cassava starch pellets, essential parameters for realizing modeling and mathematical simulation of mechanical drying of cassava starch for a new technique proposed, consisting of preformed by pelleting and subsequent artificial drying of starch pellets. Drying tests were conducted in an experimental chamber by varying the air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity and product load. The specific heat of starch was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The generated equations were validated through regression analysis, finding an appropriate correlation of the data, which indicates that by using these equations, can accurately model and simulate the drying process of cassava starch pellets.

Effect of companion ion on nitrate displacement through transport parameters analysis

Nitrate is the main form of nitrogen associated with water contamination; the high mobility of this species in soil justifies the concern regarding nitrogen management in agricultural soils. Therefore, the objective of this research was to assess the effect of companion cation on nitrate displacement, by analyzing nitrate transport parameters through Breakthrough Curves (BTCs) and their settings made by numerical model (STANMOD). The experiment was carried out in the Soil and Water Quality Laboratory of the Department of Biosystems Engineering, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture in Piracicaba (SP), Brazil. It was performed using saturated soil columns in steady-state flow condition, in which two different sources of inorganic nitrate Ca(NO3)2 and NH4NO3 were applied at a concentration of 50 mg L-1 NO3-. Each column was filled with either a Red-Yellow Oxisol (S1) or an Alfisol (S2). Results are indicative that the companion ion had no effect on nitrate displacement. However, nitrate transport was influenced by soil texture, particle aggregation, solution speed in soil and organic matter presence. Nitrate mobility was higher in the Alfisol (S2).