Optimal and synchronized germination of Robinia pseudoacacia,Acacia dealbata and other woody Fabaceae using a handheld rotary tool:concomitant reduction of physical and physiological seed dormancy

The Fabaceae(legume family) is one of the largest families of plants with a worldwide distribution and a major role in agriculture and in agroforestry.A hard seed coat impermeable to water is a typical feature of several species.Physical dormancy delays and reduces germination so that mechanical,physical and chemical scarification methods have been classically used to break seed dormancy of many species.We evaluate the effectiveness of a methodology to scarify seeds of several woody Fabaceae of ecological and economical importance,including Robinia pseudoacacia and Acacia dealbata and the shrubs Cytisus scoparius,C.multiflorus and Ulex europaeus.We describe the optimized use of a handheld rotary tool(HRT),and compare its effectiveness with other scarification methods reported to break dormancy such as boiling or dry heating.Total germination and/or speed of germination were enhanced after the application of the HRT,with germination percentages significantly higher than those achieved by other methods of scarification.Based on a thorough literature review,a mode of action for the HRT is suggested which could operate by breaking the physical and physiological dormancy of treated seeds through thecombined action of coat abrasion and moderate temperatures.Considering these results,we recommend the application of this rapid,effective,low-cost and highly reproducible HRT method to break seed dormancy and enhance germination of these species and others with similar dormancy constraints.

Optimal Design of Rotary Tool based on ANSYS Workbench

Rotary tool of garbage crusher is the key component of the whole mechanism, which is of vital importance to tool design and analysis. Based on ANSYS Workbench 3D modeling, we carried on finite element analysis to tool, and used the method of goal driven optimization to optimize the rotary tool. The optimization proves that the optimized maximum equivalent stress is 544.14 MPa, the quality is less, and the optimized rotary tool size is more reasonable. So it provided reasonable and scientific reference frame to the structural design of rotary tool.

Experimental investigation of rotary sinking electrochemical discharge milling with high-conductivity salt solution and non-pulsed direct current

Electrochemical milling is a modified technique of traditional electrochemical machining(ECM)that can be used to manufacture some helicopter transmission system parts.The use of rotary tools and an inner-jet electrolyte supply pattern can greatly improve the material removal rate(MRR)in a single pass.However,the feed speed is generally limited to minimize the tool wear.To increase the MRR,electrical discharge machining(EDM)is introduced into the electrochemical milling process.The tool rotation is employed to interrupt the discharge and the high-conductivity salt solution and non-pulsed direct current power supply are also adopted to increase ECM,eventually,a new machining method is proposed,which can be called rotary sinking electrochemical discharge milling(RSECD milling).The mechanism of it is explored in this study by analyzing the machined current,MRR,surface morphology,and tool wear at different applied voltages and feed speeds.Besides,the RSECD milling using the tool with a larger diameter is also conducted to further verify the effectiveness.In particular,the MRR can be increased by 742.5%when using the tool with a diameter of 20 mm at the applied voltage of 20 V.

Field experimental study on optimal design of the rotary strip-till tools applied in rice-wheat rotation cropping system

The rice-wheat rotation system plays a significant role in Asian agriculture.The introduction of strip-tillage into the rice-wheat system for wheat planting offers a way to use conservation tillage practices to improve the seedbed quality,retain residue between rows and reduce energy input.A field experiment was conducted using an in-situ test rig.Three types of blade(bent C,straight and hoe)were evaluated in four tool configurations at four rotary speeds(180 r/min,280 r/min,380 r/min and 510 r/min)in a paddy soil.Furrow shape parameters,tillage-induced soil structures and energy consumption were assessed.Results showed that the straight blade configuration failed to create a continuous furrow at either 180 r/min or 510 r/min.The bent C blade configuration produced a uniform furrow profile but its furrow backfill was poor and unsuitable for seeding.The hoe blade configuration cut a continuous furrow and better tillage-induced soil structure,but it produced a much wider and non-uniform furrow shape.The mixed blade configuration(central hoe blades with two straight blades aside)provided a uniform furrow with good backfill and fine tilth by utilizing both the cutting effect of straight blades on the furrow boundaries and tensile fracturing of the furrow soil by the hoe blades.The torque of the mixed blade configuration was comparable with the bent C blade but was less than the hoe blades.Hence,a mixed blade configuration was recommended for rotary strip-tillage seeding using in rice-wheat system.

Computer aided engineering analysis and design optimization of rotary tillage tool components

The computer aided engineering analysis and design optimization of rotary tillage tool on the basis of finite element method and simulation method is done by using CAD-software for the structural analysis.The different tillage tool parts of rotary tillage tools are geometrically constructed as a solid model.The actual field performance rating parameters along with boundary conditions are set in the software for 35 hp and 45 hp tractor.The estimated forces acting on soil-tool interface are fed into software as a loading condition.The resultant effects of loading condition on tillage blade and whole rotavator assembly were obtained from stress distribution and deformations plots.The proposed working results in identifying sufficient tolerance in changing the dimensions of rotavator frame sections and side gear box for removing the excess weight in a solid section and also to raise the weight of blade for a reliable strength.The present working model with tillage blade is analysed to new design constraints with change of its geometry for the maximum weed removal efficiency by presenting its practical results from the field performance.