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Drying extends the shelf life of crops; thus, dryers with good designs will help them dry to an optimum level. The present research work was carried out to assess and compare the performance of conventional (CD), solar tunnel (STD), and solar-cum gas-fired dryers (SGD) for drying hot chilies. The Sanam variety of hot chilies was used in this study. Samples were dried using CD, STD, and SGD methods. The drying process was conducted over three days, from 9:00 to 17:00 daily. Results showed significant differences among the drying methods in temperature, relative humidity, and moisture content reduction (p < 0.0001). The SGD consistently outperformed the other methods, achieving the highest temperature (55 °C) and lowest relative humidity (17%), compared to the STD (44 °C, 23%) and CD (34 °C, 31%). The SGD demonstrated superior efficiency, reducing moisture content from 70% to 9.36% in just 36 h, while the STD required 50 h (to 11.37%) and CD took 84 h (to 9.63%). ANOVA and post hoc analyses revealed that the SGD significantly outperformed both the STD (p = 0.0412) and CD (p = 0.0018) in moisture content reduction. Additionally, the SGD and STD better preserved the color of hot chili samples compared to CD, as determined by the Essential Oil Association (EOA) method. It is concluded that the SGD is the most technically suitable method for drying hot chilies, offering improved efficiency and quality retention. It is recommended to use an SGD for optimal results in hot pepper drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive optimization of algal oil extraction and transesterification for sustainable biodiesel production. Freshwater Spirogyra algae underwent Soxhlet extraction using n-hexane. response surface methodology (RSM), principal component analysis (PCA), and multivariate regression analysis (MRA) were employed to investigate the effects of biomass–solvent ratio (BSR), algae particle size (APS), and extraction-contact time (E-CT) on algal oil yield (AOY). The extracted oil was then converted to biodiesel via transesterification, and the impacts of the methanol–oil ratio (MOR) and transesterification-contact time (T-CT) on biodiesel conversion efficiency (BCE) were analyzed. Results demonstrate that optimal BSR, APS, and E-CT for maximal AOY are 1:7, 400 µm, and 3–4 h, respectively. For transesterification, a MOR of 12:1 and a T-CT of 4 h yielded the highest BCE. Predictive models exhibited exceptional accuracy, with R2 values of 0.916 and 0.950 for AOY and BCE, respectively. The produced biodiesel complied with ASTM D6751 and EN 14214, showcasing its potential for renewable energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discrete element modelling (DEM) is widely regarded as one of the most effective methods for simulating the soil-to-tool interaction. Discrete element simulations were carried out to evaluate the performance of mouldboard plough in paddy soil. The Hertz-Mindlin bonding contact model was applied to develop the bonding between soil particles. Maximum soil draught force (3.64 N) was obtained at 15 cm depth. The force decreased from 1.98 to 1.10 N as the depth decreased from 10 cm to 5 cm. From the results, the DEM have the potential to predict cutting forces of mouldboard plough in all direction draught, vertical and side (Fx, Fy and Fz. A linear relationship was observed throughout the simulation process between working depths. It is concluded that the EDEM model has the potential to serve as a reliable tool for determining the soil-tool interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dryland region of the loss of stability is subject to developing strategies for sustainable crop production by the variation of field executive affecting soil properties and crop production. In this study, a field experiment was carried out and the effect of straw incorporation rates by different tillage implement combinations (T1= Reduced tillage at 10 cm + wheat straw incorporation rate 02 t.ha-1, T2 = Conventional tillage at depth 10 cm + straw incorporation rate 02 t.ha-1, T3 = Reduced tillage at depth 20 cm + wheat straw incorporation rate 04 t.ha-1 and T4= Conventional tillage at depth 20 + wheat straw rate 04 t.ha-1) were evaluate the pre and post harvesting physic-chemical properties, plant traits and maize yield. The results revealed that the EC and pH of soil significant decreased significantly (P<0.05) towards all treatments after the harvesting crop at depths 0-45 cm. Moreover, average organic matter and bulk density were highest improved significant towards T3 and T4 at depth 0-15 cm, while lowest at 15-30 and 30-45 cm respectively. Plant height, thousand grains weight, and crop yield was increased significantly in T3 treatment as compared to T1, T2, and T4 treatments. It is concluded that (T3) Reduced tillage at depth 20 cm + wheat straw incorporation rate 04 t.ha-1 to soil for the sustainability of the soil fertility, physico-chemical properties plant traits and maize yield under the combinations of tillage practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The effect of three total solid (TS) concentrations of 7.5, 10 and 12.5% on bio-hydrogen production potential of food waste (FW) in comparison with noodle waste (NW) and rice waste (RW) derived from FW were studied after co-digesting the wastes with heat shocked sludge under mesophilic (37°C) and thermophilic (55°C) conditions. The increase in TS concentration from 7.5% to 10% found an effective way to improve cumulative bio-hydrogen production from all tested wastes. As a whole, 7.5% TS concentration represented higher conversion efficiency of volatile solids into bio-hydrogen and the highest experimental yield of 95.8mL/VSfed was observed in 7.5%NW digester under thermophilic conditions. The increase in temperature within experimental range found an effective way to increase bio-hydrogen production potential of FW and NW only, whereas the same increase in temperature caused negative impact on bio-hydrogen production potential of RW. The optimum time period for active bio-hydrogen production found to be 24-72h of incubation. After 72h of incubation, the bio-hydrogen production reduced considerably in all reactors due to an abrupt increase in volatile fatty acid, and due to inhibition of bio-hydrogen production the drop in pH was also decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three common pretreatments (mechanical, steam explosion and chemical) used to enhance the biodegradability of rice straw were compared on the basis of bio-hydrogen production potential while co-digesting rice straw with sludge under mesophilic (37 °C) and thermophilic (55 °C) temperatures. The results showed that the solid state NaOH pretreatment returned the highest experimental reduction of LCH (lignin, cellulose and hemi-cellulose) content and bio-hydrogen production from rice straw. The increase in incubation temperature from 37 °C to 55 °C increased the bio-hydrogen yield, and the highest experimental yield of 60.6 mL/g VSremoved was obtained under chemical pretreatment at 55 °C. The time required for maximum bio-hydrogen production was found on the basis of kinetic parameters as 36 h-47 h of incubation, which can be used as a hydraulic retention time for continuous bio-hydrogen production from rice straw. The optimum pH range of bio-hydrogen production was observed to be 6.7 ± 0.1-5.8 ± 0.1 and 7.1 ± 0.1-5.8 ± 0.1 under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, respectively. The increase in temperature was found useful for controlling the volatile fatty acids (VFA) under mechanical and steam explosion pretreatments. The comparison of pretreatment methods under the same set of experimental conditions in the present study provided a baseline for future research in order to select an appropriate pretreatment method [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw cover protects soil from erosion caused by wind and water. For this purpose, small amount of straw is needed be incorporation into soil. Tillage was done by disc in a soil-bin filled with paddy field soil with straw cover (100 g.m-2) at three speeds and depths to study forces acting on disc, burial straw rate of different lengths of straw (7,13, and 19 cm), soil disturbance and change in bulk density. Results showed draft, vertical and side forces of the disc increased from 533 to 1236, 243 to 632, and 418 to 1063 N. Disc tillage tool brought 47 to 86% of the straw buried in the 0-15 cm layer having smallest straw length (7cm) share of 39 % as maximum. Further soil bulk density was improved from 8.5 to 26.9 % as depth and speed was increased. Moreover, soil disturbance area was highest at 15 cm while lowest at 5 cm. Forces of disc, burial straw, soil disturbance area and bulk density were highly significantly (p<0.05) at higher speed and depth. Present research indicated that powered disc has provided constant and horizontal flow of furrow wedge to the side with more soil disturbed area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical shear resistance of wheat grain is a significant concern for the designers and researchers related to the design of threshing, handling and processing machinery of the field crops. The grain mechanical properties directly affect the machine geometry and its operational parameters. The present study was carried out to determine the shear resistance of five wheat varieties (Locally names; TD-02, Sindhu-1105, Benazir, China and SKD-118) influenced by moisture content (16.7%, 18.7% and 19.5%) and loading rate (3 mm/s, 6 mm/s and 9 mm/s). However, some physio-dimensional properties (length, width, thickness, slenderness ratio, surface area and sphericity) were obtained at different moisture contents. The results showed that the shear resistance reduced by increasing the moisture content and loading rate. The average shear resistance decreased from 10.45 N to 3.74 N for 3-9 mm/s loading rate at moisture content of 16.7% to 19.5%. Thus, the maximum correlation (r = 0.905) of shear resistance obtained at 16.7%, whereas minimum correlation (r = 0.692) obtained at 19.5%. The shear resistance of wheat grain was highly significant (p<0.05) at 9 mm/s for 19.5%. Shear resistance decreased with an increase in the moisture content in the grain whereas deformation is increasing with the increase of moisture content. However, the maximum bulk density of wheat grain obtained at 19.5% for SKD-118, while the minimum obtained at 16.7% for TD-02. It is recommended that the design and modification of wheat grain processing equipment should be executed on the physio-mechanical properties of grain varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biohydrogen productions from the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (OFMSW) were studied under pH management intervals of 12 h (PM12) and 24 h (PM24) for temperature of 37 ± 0.1°C and 55 ± 0.1°C. The OFMSW or food waste (FW) along with its two components, noodle waste (NW) and rice waste (RW), was codigested with sludge to estimate the potential of biohydrogen production. The biohydrogen production was higher in all reactors under PM12 as compared to PM24. The drop in pH from 7 to 5.3 was observed to be appropriate for biohydrogen production via mesophilic codigestion of noodle waste with the highest biohydrogen yield of 145.93 mL/g CODremoved under PM12. When the temperature was increased from 37°C to 55°C and pH management interval was reduced from 24 h to 12 h, the biohydrogen yields were also changed from 39.21 mL/g COD removed to 89.67 mL/g COD removed, 91.77 mL/g COD removed to 145.93 mL/g COD removed, and 15.36 mL/g COD removed to 117.62 mL/g COD removed for FW, NW, and RW, respectively. The drop in pH and VFA production was better controlled under PM12 as compared to PM24. Overall, PM12 was found to be an effective mean for biohydrogen production through anaerobic digestion of food waste.