Abstract: The potential of entomopathogenic nematodes in suppressing T. squalida population on cauliflower from transplanting to harvest was evaluated. Significant reductions in plant infestation percentage and population density (/m2) were recorded throughout the plantation seasons, 2011 and 2012 before and after spraying the plants. The percent reduction in numbers/m2 was the highest in March for the treatments with Heterorhabditis indica Behera and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Giza during the plantation season 2011, while at the plantation season 2012, the reduction in population density was the highest in January for Heterorhabditis Indica Behera and in February for H . bacteriophora Giza treatments. In a comparison test with conventional insecticides Hostathion and Lannate, there were no significant differences in control measures resulting from treatments with H. indica Behera, H. bacteriophora Giza and Lannate. At the plantation season is 2012. Also, the treatments reduced the economic threshold of T. squalida on cauliflower in this experiment as compared with before and after spraying with both the two entomopathogenic nematodes at both seasons 2011 and 2012. This means an increase in the marketability of heads harvested as a consequence of monthly treatments.
Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of
gibberellic acid and 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on flower
number, fruit growth and fruit quality of wax apple. GA3 and 2,4-D
were applied at small bud and petal fall stage. Number of flower,
fruit set, fruit drop, fruit crack, fruit growth and fruit quality were
recorded. Results indicated that spraying with 10 ppm GA3 had the
best results in number of flower. GA3 spray at 30 ppm gave the
faster rate of fruit growth than the other treatments. Fruit set, fruit
size as well as fruit weight markedly improved by spraying 30 ppm
GA3, followed by 10 ppm GA3 compared to untreated control.
Moreover, spray GA3 at 30 ppm was the most effective and
increased total soluble solids, reduced titratable acidity and fruit
drop. On the other hand, it was noticed that with 10 ppm 2,4-D
application also enhanced the fruit growth rate, improved
physiological and biochemical characters of fruit compared to
untreated control. It was concluded that both GA3 and 2,4-D spray
have positive effects on fruit development, reduced fruit drop, fruit
crack and improved fruit quality of wax apple under field conditions.
Abstract: In this paper, the babbitting of a bearing in boiler feed pump of an electromotor has been studied. These bearings have an important role in reducing the shut down times in the pumps, compressors and turbines. The most conventional method in babbitting is casting as a melting method. The comparison between thermal spray and casting methods in babbitting shows that the thermal spraying babbitt layer has better performance and tribological behavior. The metallurgical and tribological analysis such as SEM, EDS and wet chemical analysis has been made in the Babbitt alloys and worn surfaces. Two type of babbitt materials: tinbase and lead-base babbitt was used. The benefits of thermally sprayed babbitt layers are completely clear especially in large bearings.
Abstract: Titanium dioxide coatings were deposited by utilizing
atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) system. The agglomerated nanopowder
and different spraying parameters were used to determine
their influences on the microstructure surface feature and photoabsorption
of the coatings. The microstructure of as-sprayed TiO2
coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Surface characteristics were investigated by Fourier Transform
Infrared (FT-IR). The photo absorption was determined by UV-VIS
spectrophotometer. It is found that the spray parameters have an
influence on the microstructure, surface feature and photo-absorption
of the TiO2 coatings.
Abstract: In this paper, the techniques for estimating the
residual stress in high velocity oxy fuel thermal spray coatings have
been discussed and compared. The development trend and the last
investigation have been studied. It is seemed that the there is not
effective study on the effect of the peening action in HVOF
analytically and numerically.
Abstract: In this article, using finite element analysis (FEA)
and an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), cold-sprayed titanium particles
on a steel substrate is investigated in term of cooling time and the
development of residual strains. Three cooling-down models of
sprayed particles after deposition stage are simulated and discussed:
the first model (m1) considers conduction effect to the substrate only,
the second model (m2) considers both conduction as well as
convection effect to the environment, and the third model (m3) which
is the same as the second model but with the substrate heated to a
near particle temperature before spraying. Thereafter, residual strains
developed in the third model is compared with the experimental
measurement of residual strains, which involved a Bruker D8
Advance Diffractometer using CuKa radiation (40kV, 40mA)
monochromatised with a graphite sample monochromator. For
deposition conditions of this study, a good correlation was found to
exist between the FEA results and XRD measurements of residual
strains.
Abstract: Growth and mineral nutrient elemental content were
studied in Mokara chark kuan pink terrestrial orchid and wild
Lantana camara weed agroecosystem. The treated subplots were
encircled with L. camara plants and sprayed weekly with L. camara
10% leaf aqueous extract. Allelopathic interactions were possible
through extensive invading root of L. camara plants into the treated
orchid subplots and weekly L. camara leaf aqueous extract
sprayings. Orchid growth was not significantly different in between
the control and treated plots, but chlorosis and yellowish patches of
leaves were observed in control orchid leaves. Nitrogen content in L.
camara leaf was significantly higher than in orchid leaf, the order of
importance of mineral nutrient contents in L. camara leaf was
K>Mg>Na>N. In treated orchid leaf, the order of importance was
N>K>Mg>Na. Orchid leaf N content from the treated plot was
higher than control, but Mg and Na contents were almost similar.
Abstract: The mechanical and tribological properties in WC-Co
coatings are strongly affected by hardness and elasticity
specifications. The results revealed the effect of spraying distance on
microhardness and elasticity modulus of coatings. The metallurgical
studies have been made on coated samples using optical microscopy,
scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Abstract: One important objective in Precision Agriculture is to minimize the volume of herbicides that are applied to the fields through the use of site-specific weed management systems. In order to reach this goal, two major factors need to be considered: 1) the similar spectral signature, shape and texture between weeds and crops; 2) the irregular distribution of the weeds within the crop's field. This paper outlines an automatic computer vision system for the detection and differential spraying of Avena sterilis, a noxious weed growing in cereal crops. The proposed system involves two processes: image segmentation and decision making. Image segmentation combines basic suitable image processing techniques in order to extract cells from the image as the low level units. Each cell is described by two area-based attributes measuring the relations among the crops and the weeds. From these attributes, a hybrid decision making approach determines if a cell must be or not sprayed. The hybrid approach uses the Support Vector Machines and the Fuzzy k-Means methods, combined through the fuzzy aggregation theory. This makes the main finding of this paper. The method performance is compared against other available strategies.
Abstract: In the other to Study of drought stress and Selenium
spraying effect on superoxide dismotase (SOD) activity of rapeseed
(Brassica napus L.) cultivars in Shahr-e-Rey region, an experiment
carried out in Split factorial design in the basis of randomized
complete blocks with 4 replications in 2006. Irrigation in two levels:
Normal irrigation and irrigation with drought stress when the soil
electrical conductivity reached to 60 as main factor and rapeseed
cultivars in 3 levels Zarfam, Okapi, Opera and selenium spraying at
the beginning of flowering stage in 3 levels: 0, 16 and 21 g/ha as sub
factor.
The results showed that the simple and interaction effect of
irrigation, selenium and cultivars on SOD activity had significant
difference. In this case Zarfam cultivar with 2010 u.mg-1 protein and
Opera with 1454 u.mg-1 protein produced maximum and minimum
amounts of SOD activitiy. Interaction effect of irrigation and variety
showed that, normal irrigation in Opera with 1115 u.mg-1 protein
and drought stress in Zarfam with 2784 u.mg-1 protein conducted to
and minimum and maximum amounts of SOD activity.
Interaction effect of irrigation, cultivar and selenium on SOD
indicated that drought stress condition and 21 gr/ha selenium
spraying in Zarfam variety with 3146 u.mg-1 protein gained to
highest activities of SOD.
Abstract: Texture classification is a trendy and a catchy
technology in the field of texture analysis. Textures, the repeated
patterns, have different frequency components along different
orientations. Our work is based on Texture Classification and its
applications. It finds its applications in various fields like Medical
Image Classification, Computer Vision, Remote Sensing,
Agricultural Field, and Textile Industry. Weed control has a major
effect on agriculture. A large amount of herbicide has been used for
controlling weeds in agriculture fields, lawns, golf courses, sport
fields, etc. Random spraying of herbicides does not meet the exact
requirement of the field. Certain areas in field have more weed
patches than estimated. So, we need a visual system that can
discriminate weeds from the field image which will reduce or even
eliminate the amount of herbicide used. This would allow farmers to
not use any herbicides or only apply them where they are needed. A
machine vision precision automated weed control system could
reduce the usage of chemicals in crop fields. In this paper, an
intelligent system for automatic weeding strategy Multi Resolution
Combined Statistical & spatial Frequency is used to discriminate the
weeds from the crops and to classify them as narrow, little and broad
weeds.
Abstract: The mechanical and tribological properties in WC-Co
coatings are strongly affected by hardness and elasticity
specifications. The results revealed the effect of spraying distance on
microhardness and elasticity modulus of coatings. The metallurgical
studies have been made on coated samples using optical microscopy,
scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Abstract: Many agricultural and especially greenhouse
applications like plant inspection, data gathering, spraying and
selective harvesting could be performed by robots. In this paper
multiple nonholonomic robots are used in order to create a desired
formation scheme for screening solar energy in a greenhouse through
data gathering. The formation consists from a leader and a team
member equipped with appropriate sensors. Each robot is dedicated
to its mission in the greenhouse that is predefined by the
requirements of the application. The feasibility of the proposed
application includes experimental results with three unmanned
ground vehicles (UGV).
Abstract: The experiment was performed to evaluate the effect
of GA3, 2,4-D on fruit growth and fruit quality of wax apple. The
experiment consisted of Red A, Monulla, Atu, Red B cultivars. GA3
and 2,4-D were applied at the small bud and petal fall stage.
Physiological, biochemical characters of fruit were recoded. The
result showed application of GA3, 2,4-D greatly response in
increasing fruit set for all treatment as compared to control. Fruit
weight, fruit size were increased at 10 ppm 2,4-D in ‘Red A’, ‘Red
B’, however it was also enhancing at 10 ppm GA3 in ‘Monulla’,
‘Atu’. For ‘Monulla’, ‘Atu’ fruit crack reduced by 10 ppm 2,4-D
application, but ‘Red B’, ‘Red A’ gave least fruit crack at 10 and 30
ppm GA3, respectively. ‘Monulla’, ‘Atu’ and ‘Red B’ resulted in
response well to 10 ppm GA3 on improving TSS, whereas
application of 30 ppm GA3 greatly enhancing TSS in ‘Red A’. For
‘Atu’ titratable acidity markedly reduced by 10 ppm GA3
application, but spraying with 30 ppm GA3 greatly response in
reducing titratable acidity in ‘Red A’, ‘Red B’ and ‘Monulla’. It was
concluded that GA3, 2,4-D can be an effective tool to enhancing fruit
set, fruit growth as well as improving fruit quality of wax apple.