The Process of Separating Buckwheat and Wheat Grain in a Pneumatic Cone Separator in the Context of Sustainable Agriculture

In machines and devices used for separating and cleaning seed mixtures, the components of such mixtures can be separated in a stream of air. The efficiency of separation of a two-component (model) mixture containing wheat kernels and buckwheat nutlets was investigated. The main crop seeds and other crop seeds imitating impurities accounted for 80% and 20% (w/w), respectively. The experiment involved a pneumatic cleaning device with an immobile conical surface, designed by the authors, where mixture components are separated in a stream of air. The seed mixture was separated in a separator with the shape of an inverted cone, where the seeds were set into motion by a stream of air. The separation efficiency of the analyzed two-component mixture in the designed separator exceeded 78%. Regression equations describing the separation efficiency index of the entire seed mixture (ε) and the separation efficiency of the main crop seeds (ηp) and seeds imitating impurities (ηz) were derived. The coefficient of determination (R2) for the above regression equations describing the separation efficiency of the mixture components (main crop seeds and seeds imitating impurities) and the separation efficiency index of the entire seed mixture ranged from 0.81 to 0.94. This result indicates that the developed equations were characterized by satisfactory and highly satisfactory fit to empirical data, and that they can be applied to accurately predict the quality of the seed separation process in the cleaning device designed by the authors. The developed equations can be effectively used to model and automatically control separation processes in the proposed separator.

Theoretical Study of Vibrocentrifugal Separation of Grain Mixtures on a Sieveless Seed-cleaning Machine

The article presents an analysis of known developments on creation of sieve-less pneumatic vibration centrifuges separating devices and processes of separating seed mixtures into fractions according to the complex of physical and mechanical properties of components. Mechanistic and mathematical models for studying the movement of particles over the sieve-free surface of pneumatic vibration separators were developed, theoretical studies of movement of seed mixture components were conducted and the most acceptable pneumatic vibration centrifugation process was determined by likeness to the process occurring on the separating surface of pneumatic sorting tables. To achieve the greatest separation of particles on the complex of their physical and mechanical properties (density, geometric dimensions, aerodynamic properties of seeds) is possible with the same direction of oscillatory motion and rotation of the separating surface performing the rotation in the direction from a larger radius to a smaller radius of the surface, in the “fluidization” mode, i. e. i.e. with periodic separation of the lower particles of the layer from the separating surface at simultaneous blowing of the layer by an air stream.

Licorice Germplasm Resources Identification Using DNA Barcodes Inner-Variants

Based on the gradual transformation from wild growth to artificial cultivation, the accurate authentication of licorice seeds contributes to the first committed step of its quality control and is pivotal to ensure the clinical efficacy of licorice. However, it is still challenging to obtain genetically stable licorice germplasm resources due to the multi-source, multi-heterozygous, polyploid, and hybrid characteristics of licorice seeds. Here, a new method for determining the heterozygosity of licorice seed mixture, based on the various sites, and finding the composition characteristics of licorice seed is preliminarily designed and proposed. Namely, high-throughput full-length multiple DNA barcodes(HFMD), based on ITS multi-copy variation exist, the full-length amplicons of ITS2, psbA-trnH and ITS are directly sequenced by rDNA through the next-generation sequence(NGS) and single-molecule real-time (SMRT) technologies. By comparing the three sequencing methods, our results proved that SMRT sequencing successfully identified the complete gradients of complex mixed samples with the best performance. Meanwhile, HFMD is a brilliant and feasible method for evaluating the heterozygosity of licorice seeds. It shows a perfect interpretation of DNA barcoding and can be applied in multi-base multi-heterozygous and polyploid species.

Modeling Separation Process for Sunflower Seed Mixture on Vibro-Pneumatic Separators

Aim of the research is to increase the efficiency of the mechanical and technological process of separation of sunflower seed mixture on vibro-pneumatic separators, the principle of which is based on the interaction of seed flow with the surface having fluctuation-type vibration load by substantiating their efficient processing and technological parameters. A system of differential equations of sunflower seeds motions, as a granular gas, under the action of a vibrating surface was developed, taking into account the elastic-damping interaction and physical and mechanical properties of seeds. The presented system of differential equations is the basis of the physical and mathematical means of numerical modeling of this process, which was implemented in the software package STAR-CCM +. To build physical and mathematical models, it was assumed that sunflower seeds are presented in the form of ellipsoids with a certain density and effective diameter. As a result of numerical simulation of the process of moving sunflower seeds under the action of a vibrating sieve, dependences of the change in total concentration θ and productivity q on seed supply Q, sieve angle α, sieve frequency ψ and sieve amplitude A were obtained. As a result of numerical simulation of the process of moving sunflower seeds under the action of a vibrating surface, dependences of the change of filling factor χ, distribution coefficient δ and productivity q on seed supply Q, vibration surface angles α and β, oscillation frequency ψ, oscillation amplitude A and set air velocity V were obtained. Theoretical provisions were implemented and tested in the development of an adaptive vibrating screen separator of sunflower seeds (Ukrainian patent #120235).

Improving the Properties of Degraded Soils from Industrial Areas by Using Livestock Waste with Calcium Peroxide as a Green Oxidizer

Over the past years, the treatment and use of livestock waste has posed a significant problem in environmental engineering. This paper outlines a new approach to application of calcium peroxide (CaO2) as a green oxidizer and microbiocidal agent in the treatment of poultry manure. It also presents the application of pretreated waste in improvement of degraded soils in industrial areas. The CCD (Central Composite Design) and RSM (Response Surface Methodology) were employed for optimizing the process parameters (CaO2 concentration 1.6–8.4 wt %, temperature 5.2–38.8 °C and contact time 7–209 h). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the experimental results, which indicated good fit of the approximated to the experimental data (R2 = 0.8901, R2adj = 0.8168). The amendment of CaO2 in optimal conditions (8 wt % of CaO2, temperature 22 °C and contact time 108 h) caused a decrease in bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) in poultry manure from 8.7 log10 CFU/g to the acceptable level of 3 log10 CFU/g. The application of pretreated livestock waste on degraded soils and the studies on germination and growth of grass seed mixture (Lollum perenne—Naki, Lollum perenne—Grilla, Poa pratensis—Oxford, Festuca rubbra—Relevant, Festuca rubbra—Adio and Festuca trachypylla—Fornito) showed that a dose of 0.08 g of CaO2 per 1 gram of poultry manure induced higher yield of grass plants. The calculated indicators for growth of roots (GFR) and shoots (GFS) in soils treated with poultry manure were 10–20% lower compared to soils with amended CaO2. The evidence from this study suggests that CaO2 could be used as an environmentally friendly oxidizer and microbiocidal agent for livestock waste.

MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF MOTION OF A FOREST SEED MATERIAL PARTICLE IN THE OPERATING CHANNEL OF SEPARATOR

Preparation of high-quality seed material for the needs of forest seed stations aimed at the reproduction of forests with seeds with improved hereditary properties requires the use of special seed cleaning machines. The use of such seeds with improved hereditary properties will provide an increase in the productivity, quality and sustainability of plantations. Seed material of different species has features of surface and shape, taking into account these differences, various machines and installations have been developed and widely used. The need to use special machines for magnetic cleaning is caused by the impossibility of high-quality separation of seed material. Analysis of modern technical means of seed preparation showed that the idea of combining air and magnetic cleaning deserves special attention. During pneumomagnetic separation, various forces act on a particle of the seed mixture, the magnitude and direction of which change depending on the design parameters of the working body of the inductor and the position of the particle of the seed mixture in the magnetic field of the inductor. It is possible to study the movement of a particle in the operating channel, as well as to construct a mathematical model, by making some assumptions, the result of which makes it possible to study in theory the influence of design and technological parameters on the separation process of forest seed, as well as to determine the regularities of the process of pneumomagnetic separation. Based on the results of the analysis of the movement trajectories of the seed mixture, curves of the movement of particles are plotted at various values of the magnetic force in the working channel, and graph is presented that illustrates the possibility of carrying out the process of pneumomagnetic separation depending on the ratio of the air flow rate and magnetic force acting on the particle. It has been determined that the process of pneumomagnetic seed cleaning can be effectively carried out at an air flow rate of 3.5 ÷ 5.2 m/s, and a magnetic force of 3.4 × 10-6 ÷ 8 × 10-6N. It is necessary to create a magnetic field induction in the range of 0.115 ÷ 0.177 T in order the magnetic force to have such a value in the working channel.

Short Communication: Performance of steers fed on pasture receiving different seeding rates of vetch in an integrated crop-livestock system

Aim of study: To evaluate the performance of beef calves fed black oat and Italian ryegrass pasture seeded with several different seeding rates (SR) of common vetch in a crop-livestock integrated system.Area of study: The experiment was carried out in Dois Vizinhos city, Paraná, Brazil.Material and methods: An area of 8.3 ha was used, which was divided into 11 paddocks, 0.75 ha each. Nellore calves (n = 22), 7 ± 2 months old and with initial body weight of 134 ± 27 kg were used for the tests. The experimental design was completely randomised. Vetch (Vicia sativa L., ‘Amethyst’) SR treatments included 0, 15, 30, and 45 kg ha-1, in a mixture with black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb. ‘IPR 61’ and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pastures.Main results: There was no effect of SR on pasture productivity parameters. The increase in vetch seed in the seed mixture resulted in an increase in crude protein and neutral detergent fibre, but decreased in vitro digestibility of vetch. However, these changes did not affect the nutritional value of the pasture. Vetch SR of 30 kg ha-1 or higher allowed greater share of the legume in the pasture, thereby enhancing greater individual animal performanceResearch highlights: Vetch SR of 30 kg ha-1 or higher allowed greater share of the legume in the pasture, thereby enhancing greater individual animal performance.