Development of a Data Acquisition System to Optimizing the Agricultural Tractor Performance

A novel data acquisition system was successfully integrated on-board the Massey Ferguson 3,000 series agricultural tractors for measuring tractor-implement performance. A commercial load cell was incorporated into the existing system for the needed tractor-implement performance, measurements. This system is capable of measuring, displaying and recording, in real-time, the tractor＇s theoretical travel speed, the actual travel speed, the engine speed, the fuel consumption rate, and the drawbar pull. Static calibration tests on various associated sensors for the required measurements show excellent linearity with correlation coefficients that are close to 1. The developed system was extensively and successfully field demonstrated for tractor-implement performance with offset disc harrows on dry, undisturbed loamy soils. Under these conditions, a ratio of tractor power to implement width is suggested. The data also show the existence of a linear relationship between fuel consumption per hectare and specific draught, for the 4 to 9 kN m^-1 range, which suggests the possibility of extending the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers model of draught prediction to forecast fuel consumption. The configuration of the tractor-harrow combination, based on the measurement of the draught required under operational conditions, provides the manufacturers with a reliable indication of the recommended power required for each harrow model. With this type of information farmers can make decisions regarding selection of a suitable tractor-implement combination for their farms. As a consequence, there is improved tractor-harrow productivity and field efficiency.

Effects of Sky Conditions Measured by the Clearness Index on the Estimation of Solar Radiation Using a Digital Elevation Model

This study evaluated the effects of sky conditions (measured by the clearness index, KT) on the estimation of solar radiation and its components. Solar radiation was calculated by a digital elevation model derived from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). The calculated radiation was parameterized and validated with measured solar radiation from two stations inside the urban perimeter of the city of Cuiabá, Brazil, during 2006 to 2008. The measured solar radiation varied seasonally, with the highest values in December-March and the lowest in June-September. Comparisons between calculated and measured values for two sites in Cuiabá demonstrate that the model is accurate for daily Rg estimates under clear sky conditions based on Root Mean Square Error, Mean Bias Error and Willmott’s index. However, under partially cloudy and cloudy sky conditions the model was not able to provide robust estimates. Spatially, the highest values of incident Rg occurred on strands with North, Northeast and Northwest orientations and were lowest on those oriented to the South, Southeast and Southwest.

Attenuation of coda waves in the SW of High-Atlas area, Morocco

We investigate attenuation scattering and loss properties in Souss basin(SW of High-Atlas) as a transition zone between the High and Anti Atlas ranges. This district consists in a thinned crustal patch with shallow seismicity and loose sedimentary trenches that perform an important contribution to augment seismic attenuation. So far, no coda waves approach in our knowledge have been used to draw satisfying outputs about the attenuation properties in the region. Therefore, this update suggests to correlate the lateral changes of seismic attenuation to different characteristics and asperities i.e. seismic activity,crustal age and thickness, heat flow, and ground deformation rate. To do so, we analysed coda waves derived from waveform data of more than 23 local earthquakes from seven broadband seismometers recorded during 2010 e2012 period. As a starter, we utilized the backscattering model which defines theseismic attenuation as inversely proportional to quality factor by the equation A ?1=. QQcestimates c were deducted at various central frequency bands 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0, 12.0 and 18.0 Hz according to different lapses times. The estimated average frequency dependence quality factor gives relation Qc? 120 f1;01,while the average Qcvalues vary from 149 at 1.5 Hz to 1895 at 18 Hz central frequencies. We observed an intimate dependence between quality factor and frequency ranges, which reflects the complexity of geological/geophysical pattern in the Souss basin and the presence of a variety of heterogeneities within the underlying crust.

Lithosphere structures dynamics in the central High Atlas(Morocco)by seismic tomography and gravimetric data

We investigate sedimentological and tectonic processes at the central High Atlas, in order to understand their functioning and to build a geodynamic model that placed the area in its current geological frame.The analysis used here is based on the numerical enhancement of a Landsat image where the main goal is to map surface sedimentary deposits throughout the central High Atlas in order to delimit the large geological structures. The sediment distribution throughout central High Atlas indicates that this one is a large tectonic subsiding basin, where the ongoing tectonic events and the geodynamical evolution remain to be explained by other prospecting techniques.3-D structure velocities obtained by local seismic tomography and enhancement techniques of gravimetric anomalies are used to explore and define deep structure beneath the central High Atlas. The goal is to establish the evolution of the deep structure related to the geodynamical processes. Modest crustal thickness variation beneath the central High Atlas(~20-~40 km) define by local tomography and gravimetric anomalies, confirms that, a major part of the lower crust is detached into the lithosphere by delamination. Gravimetric anomaly, local seismic tomography and vertical cross sections throughout the central High Atlas, suggest that the lower crust detached is related to the broken slab of remain northward subduction beneath High and Middle Atlas. Meanwhile, extrusions of heated Asthenosphere materials induce the rifting stage concomitant to tectonic subsidence of the basin.

Evaluation of Variable Rate Technology for Fertilizer Application in Permanent Pastures

This paper describes the field tests carried out to evaluate the new Vicon RS-EDW centrifugal fertilizer spreader, to be used in Precision Agriculture. The results of initial dynamic calibration tests showed a significant and systematic difference between the application rates of the two discs （about 20%）. This difference had to be corrected by the manufacturer that carried out the necessary changes to the electric actuators. The fertilizer spreader had good distribution homogeneity, considering different working velocities and different positions in the parcel. The pattern distribution curve for 18% super phosphate fertilizer led to an effective working width of 28 meters, with a coefficient of variation of 15%. The longitudinal test, under experimental working conditions led to a machine delay time of 6-7 seconds. The results show an actual fertilization application density between 74%-90% of that determined for each location. These results confirm that the spreader can be used to spread fertilizer differentially in the field.