Ploughing Technique Research Articles

Restoration and Preservation of Degraded Soils for Crop Production

A broad range of ecological issues may be traced back to agricultural soil management methods that have a significant influence on ecosystems health across the globe. Agriculture has a major influence on the environment via soil quality deterioration or degradation. There are several types i.e., salinity, erosion, water logging and soil pollution with organic and inorganic contaminants and contributing factors to soil degradation. The inclusion of sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to the soil use as zero hunger (SDG 2), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), climate action (SDG 13), life on land (SDG 15) contributes and important in human wellbeing via producing food crops (SDG 2), increasing economic growth (SDG 8), sequestering atmospheric emissions for climate change mitigation (SDG 13), and betterment of life on earth (SDG 13). Factors include non-suitable agricultural practices, usage of wide fields without limits to impede water flow, and improper ploughing techniques. The key element to limit the soil degradation is reducing pressure on natural resources and their over-exploitation. In this chapter, authors have discussed the soil degradation, causes and their remedies in detail.

Surgical Management of Intrauterine Adhesions

Intrauterine adhesions, also known as Asherman’s syndrome, can have an impact on both reproductive outcomes and gynaecologic symptoms. Surgical management with hysteroscopic lysis of adhesions is the gold standard for treatment. The following techniques are described in this presentation for cases with severe occlusive cavity and should be performed by experienced surgeons. 1. The use of 3D ultrasound played an important role in the preoperative workup of the patient, it could be used to evaluate the severity of intrauterine adhesion and predict the complexity of the cases. 2. Transabdominal 2D ultrasound guidance can help to delineate the location and extent of the adhesions and reduce the risk of uterine perforation and the formation of false passage. Laparoscopic guidance for severe cases has been advocated for immediate treatment of uterine perforation and minimizing extrauterine trauma. 3. In patients with severe intrauterine adhesion, a “myometrial scoring technique” could be used by bipolar electrode need with score 6 to 8, 4-mm-deep incisions from the fundus to the cervix and a transverse incision at the uterine fundus. Or the “ploughing technique” could be used by scissors, both methods aim to remove the fibrotic tissue, expose any underlying healthy basal endometrial tissue capable of regeneration. It remains to be seen whether “ploughing technique” using cold scissors or a “myometrial scoring technique” by bipolar electrode produces similar or different results, which could only be resolved by RCT in the future. 4. Surgical management offers favourable fertility outcomes and is often successful in restoring menstruation. Endometrial thickness and volume assessed by 3D-TVUS may have important predictive value for pregnancy after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis. 5. Prevention of reformation of adhesions remains challenging and no single method for preventing recurrence has shown superiority.

Effect of Ploughing Techniques on Water Use and Yield of Rice in Maugo Small-Holder Irrigation Scheme, Kenya

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of paddy rice ploughing techniques on water use and the yield of rice crop, as well as water use efficiency for rice growing in small-holder irrigation schemes. The study was conducted at a farmer’s field in Powo B sub-block of Maugo Irrigation Scheme. The period of study was from July 2019 to January 2020, which is the rice season. The experimental site was located in the vicinity of Olare Shopping Centre, Kamenya Sub-location, Kochia East Location, Kochia Ward, Rangwe Sub-County, Homa Bay County, Nyanza Region, Kenya in Maugo rice scheme in Kenya. In the study, four irrigation tillage practices were applied: ox-plough, conventional ox-plough, hand hoe and tractor ploughing. The results showed that conventional ox-ploughing consumed the highest amount of water at 1240 mm. The highest water use efficiency of 0.49 kg/m3 and highest yield of 5.7 tons/ha were observed for hand hoe ploughing. Use of the hand hoe ploughing technique increased yields by 20 percent, as compared to the conventional ox-ploughing. Therefore, the use of water for ploughing is not necessary in the study area. Future research will be needed to see how farmers are adopting the technology before scaling up to full mechanization, as partial mechanization was not profitable.

Hysteroscopic metroplasty of a T-shape uterus with intrauterine adhesions using blunt spreading dissection and ploughing techniques

Hysteroscopic metroplasty of a T-shape uterus with intrauterine adhesions using blunt spreading dissection and ploughing techniques

Hysteroscopic metroplasty of a T-shape uterus with intrauterine adhesions using blunt spreading dissection and ploughing techniques.

Hysteroscopic metroplasty of a T-shape uterus with intrauterine adhesions using blunt spreading dissection and ploughing techniques.

Cold scissors ploughing technique in hysteroscopic adhesiolysis: a comparative study.

Intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) can be dissected using hysteroscopic scissors (cold scissors) or other methods, but there is no consensus on which hysteroscopic method is preferable. There is also no consensus on the method of how to deal with the scar tissue on the surface of the intrauterine cavity. From January 2016 to October 2017, 179 patients who had HA met the enrollment criteria (see the text below), and their data were analyzed retrospectively. In addition, all patients were divided into three groups according to the surgical techniques used. The groups were the ploughing group (PG) (using cold scissors to dissect the adhesion and cut the scar tissue using a ploughing technique) (n=81), the traditional group (TG) (using cold scissors to dissect the adhesion, but not deal with the scar tissue) (n=42), and the electrosurgical group (EG) (using a resectoscope to dissect the adhesion with an energy L-hook electrode, and not deal with the scar tissue) (n=56). Safety (surgical complications), feasibility (surgical technique replacement rate), and postoperative efficacy (reduction of AFS score, pregnancy, and live birth rate), were each evaluated between groups. No statistically significant differences between the groups were observed in basic preoperative information (P>0.05), while there were significant differences between PG and TG, as well as PG and EG in postoperative AFS scores (PG vs. TG: P=0.007; PG vs. EG: P<0.001) and pregnancy outcome (PG vs. TG: P=0.039; PG vs. EG: P<0.001). No patients had surgical complications such as uterine perforations, moderate or severe fluid overload, heavy uterine bleeding, nor any surgical technique replacements (for example, transfer to use a resectoscope). Cold scissors ploughing technique in HA is effective, feasible, and safe, and thus worthy of further study.

1678 Cold Scissor Ploughing Technique in Hysteroscopic Adhesiolysis-A Comparative Study

Study Objective To investigate the efficacy, feasibility, and safety of cold scissor ploughing technique in hysteroscopic adhesiolysis for intrauterine adhesions. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting University-affiliated hospital. Patients or Participants A total of 179 intrauterine adhesion (IUA) patients who had undergone hysteroscopic adhesiolysis (HA) at the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University were enrolled in this study from January 2016 to October 2017. They were divided into three groups according to the surgical technique used. The groups were: cold scissors ploughing group (PG) (n=81); traditional group (TG:) (n=42); and, electrosurgical group (EG) (n=56). Interventions PG: use cold scissors to dissect the adhesion and cut the scar tissue using a ploughing technique; TG: use cold scissors to dissect the adhesion, but not deal with the scar tissue; and, EG: use resectoscope to dissect the adhesion with an energy L-hook electrode. Measurements and Main Results American Fertility Society (AFS) scores, along with adhesion types and areas; visible uterine horn and tubal ostia; menstrual recovery; pregnancy rates and live birth rates were evaluated to determine surgical efficacy. Feasibility was evaluated by technique replacement rates. Safety was evaluated by intra- and post- operative complication rates. Neither patient pre-operation history or adhesion rates were significant (P>0.05). There were significant differences between PG and TG, as well as PG and EG in: postoperative AFS scores; IUA reverse rates; reduced adhesion areas; pregnancy rates and live birth rates (P Conclusion Cold scissor ploughing is effective, feasible, and safe for HA, which is worth further study.

The effect of renovation of long-term temperate grassland on N2O emissions and N leaching from contrasting soils

Renovation of long-term grassland is associated with a peak in soil organic N mineralisation which, coupled with diminished plant N uptake can lead to large gaseous and leaching N losses. This study reports on the effect of ploughing and subsequent N fertilisation on the N2O emissions and DON/NO3− leaching, and evaluates the impact of ploughing technique on the magnitude and profile of N losses. This study was carried out on isolated grassland lysimeters of three Irish soils representing contrasting drainage properties (well-drained Clonakilty, moderately-drained Elton and poorly-drained Rathangan). Lysimeters were manually ploughed simulating conventional (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) as two treatments. Renovation of grassland increased N2O flux to a maximum of 0.9kgN2O–Nha−1 from poorly-drained soil over four days after treatment. Although there was no difference between CT and MT in the post-ploughing period, the treatment influenced subsequent N2O after fertiliser applications. Fertilisation remained the major driver of N losses therefore reducing fertilisation rate post-planting to account for N mineralised through grassland renovation could reduce the losses in medium to longer term. Leaching was a significant loss pathway, with the cumulative drainage volume and N leached highly influenced by soil type. Overall, the total N losses (N2O+N leached) were lowest from poorly and moderately draining soil and highest for the well draining soil, reflecting the dominance of leaching on total N losses and the paramount importance of soil properties.

Hysteroscopic Intrauterine Adhesiolysis Using “Ploughing” Technique With Cold Scissors

The majority of the published literature describes hysteroscopic adhesiolysis (HA) for patients with intrauterine adhesions (IUA) using electrical instruments which may cause thermal injury to the endometrium. This video shows the technique of HA using ploughing technique with cold scissors.

Effects of Scratching Parameters on Fabrication of Polymer Nanostructures in Atomic Force Microscope Tapping Mode

The nano scratching with an oscillating Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) tip in tapping mode is called as the dynamic ploughing. The tip is vibrated in a high frequency and scratches the surface which is similar to the conventional vibration-assistant machining process. In the present study, the dynamic ploughing technique is utilized to scratch PolymethylMethacrylate (PMMA) polymer surfaces forming nanostructures with a commercial AFM system and two kinds of cantilevers. Effects of scratching parameters of the dynamic ploughing including scratching velocity, driving amplitude, pitch and the cantilever's elastic constant on the machined results are studied in detail. Finally nano ring structures with different radius are achieved successfully. Video abstract [Display omitted]

Soil Degradation: A Challenge to Sustainable Agriculture

Agricultural practices have a substantial impact on many ecosystems worldwide, and give rise to variety of ecological problems. Soil degradation is one the key areas in which agriculture impacts upon ecology. Soil erosion is a result of poor farming practices which cause removal of vegetation cover from soils, the use of large fields without boundaries to slow water movement and inappropriate ploughing techniques all stimulate soil erosion. Salinity of soil is another important factor which limits the use of this natural resource. In present review the causes, the cost of soil erosion and certain soil conservation practices have been discussed.

Effect of Sample Materials on the AFM Tip-Based Dynamic Ploughing Process

To study the effect of different sample materials on the nano dynamic ploughing process in the AFM tapping mode, the spring-oscillator model is employed to simulate the vibrating AFM tip to deform the sample surface. On the surface of different samples with the Young’s modulus of 0.2 GPa, 80 GPa and 180 Gpa, the interaction between the tip and the sample is simulated with different driven amplitudes, spring constants, tip radius and original tip-sample distances. These effects are studied. Results show that the sample with a smaller Young’s modulus is suitable for being used as the sample machined by the dynamic ploughing technique. When the Young’s modulus is greater than 80 GPa, the machine depth is so small that the machining process can not be controlled as we required.

A new approach to soil erosion and runoff in south Limburg—The Netherlands

AbstractThe southern part of the Province of Limburg in The Netherlands is a region with gentle slopes, generally covered with loess sediments. The rural areas consist partly of arable land, grasslands with forests on the steeper slopes. Winter cereals, maize, sugar beet and potatoes are the most common crops. Especially on the fields where traditional ploughing techniques are used, the loessic silty loam soil is vulnerable to relatively high runoff and soil erosion. Without taking measurements, observations suggest that regularly occurring heavy rainfall events cause muddy floods and flooding of the villages in the valleys, and climate change in the future can be assumed to produce even more erosive rainfall. In the last two decades authorities agreed that protection of urban areas against flooding should be better guaranteed, and about 350 rainwater retention basins have been constructed to prevent flooding of urban areas and other important infrastructures. The other type of control measures that could decrease the muddy flooding frequency are reviewed here. It is concluded that the construction of additional rainwater basins or the enlarging of existing basins will be less necessary if farmers change their conventional ploughing into reduced conservation tillage (or ‘non‐inversion’ tillage) in combination with mulching, since more rainwater will infiltrate into the soil and less runoff and soil erosion will take place. Since January 2009, this model is being slowly adopted, and now the general policy is to introduce conservation tillage with mulching or measures with comparable effect. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Improving mole drainage channel stability in irrigated areas

Mole drains in flood irrigated agriculture can rapidly fail due to high flows of irrigation water entering the mole channel through the soil cracks formed during the moling process. Currently mole drains are formed using a straight leg mole plough that results in rapid irrigation water flow to the mole drain. The use of an angled leg mole plough to reduce the direct inflow of irrigation water and produce more stable mole channels was investigated. The leg of the angled leg mole plough comprised an upper vertical section to which an angled section carrying the mole foot was attached at a 30° angle. The trials were carried out on two contrasting clay soils in a flood irrigated area. One of the soil types was structurally stable on wetting, the other unstable. The quality of the mole channels formed at installation using the straight leg plough was good, but using the angled leg plough were only moderate due to some instability problems with the equipment. This was caused by the mole foot pitching and thus forming an oval channel. After installation, irrigation was applied to the mole channels to ascertain their stability on wetting. The angled leg moles proved more stable than the straight leg moles in the unstable soil. This was due to reduced water flow rates into the channel causing less erosion and to the prevention of the leg slot opening up directly into the mole channel, through shrinkage, during dry periods. The latter prevented significant soil wash and ingress into the channel during the following irrigation. This improved stability is of significant importance in that it may allow the adoption of mole drainage on sodic and swell/shrink soils where previously mole drainage would have been ineffective. In the structurally stable soil, the stability of the angled leg moles was found to be slightly worse than those installed with the straight leg plough. This was probably due to inadequate soil packing in the channel roof during installation. The trial results indicate that mole channels installed with angled leg plough have the potential for much greater stability on sodic and swell/shrink soils than moles installed with current straight leg mole ploughs. Before this potential can be fully achieved further development of the mole ploughing technique is required to ensure that high quality moles are consistently formed at installation. Suggestions are made for future improvements to the mole plough and the moling technique.

Assessing potential secondary effects of countermeasures in agricultural systems: a review

Secondary effects are defined as any positive or negative impacts resulting from the application of countermeasures other than radiological benefits or direct costs. They are categorised into environmental, radioecological, economic and social effects. Impacts on the environment may include changes in water, air and soil pollution or in the conservation and amenity value of an area. Radioecological effects occur when the countermeasure unintentionally alters the behaviour of the target radionuclide or any other radionuclide present. Economic effects may range from changes in agricultural income to environmental costs (e.g. impact of soil erosion on fisheries). Social effects relate to the acceptability of countermeasures, for example in terms of consumer confidence and animal welfare. Recent research into the identification and assessment of secondary effects is summarised. Non-quantitative and quantitative approaches are explained and formal evaluation procedures involving decision matrices and decision support systems are introduced. Examples of recent experimental and modelling work focusing on radiocaesium are given for the following countermeasures: soil application of potassium, administration of AFCF to livestock and ploughing techniques.

Cable design for subsea power links

The installation of subsea cable presents many challenges in the fields of mechanical and marine engineering. The cable must withstand the significant mechanical forces that are generated during installation due to its own weight and the action of tidal currents. The installed cable is also at risk from damage by anchors, fishing activity, vessel impact, and movement of the cable or seabed terrain. To protect the cable during laying or in service, metallic armor wires are applied in one or two layers to the construction as part of the manufacturing process, however, additional protection can be offered by burying the cable in the seabed using a variety of jetting, ploughing, or trenching techniques. This article describes the choices of cable design that exist for subsea power links and the merits of these various designs. The manufacture and installation of long continuous lengths of subsea power cable is discussed with reference to some key installations.

Wet-chemical nanoscale patterning of GaAs surfaces using atomic force microscope lithography

Sub-100 nm V-grooves in GaAs(001) surfaces have been fabricated by patterning a thin photoresist layer with an atomic force microscope (AFM) and subsequent wet-chemical etching. The nanolithography is based on the dynamic ploughing technique. Anisotropic etchants under investigation are bromine–methanol–isopropanol, sulfuric acid–hydrogen peroxide–water, citric acid–hydrogen peroxide–water, and ammonium hydroxide–hydrogen peroxide–water. Along the [11̄0] direction the etched grooves are V-shaped, along [11̄0] the profile is U-shaped. Best results of 50–60-nm wide V-grooves with straight edges and smooth sidewalls are obtained from bromine–methanol–isopropanol, the other etchants form rough grooves. Concerning the reproducibility of the patterning process, the aqueous etch solutions exceed the bromine etchant.

The Directly Ploughed Concept For Small-Inch Pipelines - A Modern Approach To Reducing Installed Costs And Minimizing Environmental Impact

Abstract Coiled and straight length metallic pipeline systems, installed by the direct ploughing technique, are in a period of rapidevelopment. These systems (in 33.4 mm through 168.3 mm sizes) are now available in operating pressures of from 690 to 6900 kPa and provide an economic means of delivering large volumes of gas and liquids to processing facilities at low installed costs. This paper will deal with developments in installation (ploughing) techniques for metallic pipeline systems, typical cost reductions available through the use of the technique (vs straight length welding and ditching), plus offer suggestions as to further cost reductions available to operators from the land use/easement purchase and environmental reclamation points of view. Introduction Oil and Gas Production Operations in Canada – Pipelines and Line Pipe Sizes The majority of pipelines installed each year in western Canada for direct production purposes by oil and gas developers are in the 60.3 mm to 168.3 mm range; pipeline expansions in large inch pipe are limited, although some are presently being undertaken to deliver more crude, an increased variety of crude blends, heavy crudes and natural gas to specific end markets(1). Crude oil delivery levels to major pipelines have been kept up in western Canada over the last several years due in great part to high drilling rates (in the late 70s, early 80s and 1985) and increased production from the operating Tar Sands Plants. The large-inch pipelines now in place are being debottlenecked and can handle the steady and declining volumes of rudes being delivered to them. This situation will change in the 90s (when there will need to be more large-inch construction projects to deliver reserves from the frontiers), but until then, pipeline construction in western Canada will likely be concentrated in the "small-inch" area and for the following applications:Delivery of oil and gas to existing and new surface facilities.Transport of oil, gas and NGLs to major pipeline facilities for delivery to end markets.Transport of commodities to enhanced oil recovery schemes (gas, water, solvents).Injection pipelines as part of E.O.R. projects (water, solvents).Water disposal pipelines. In parallel with declining reservoir deliveries and productivity is a natural lowering of operating pressures for the majority of systems. In grid form, the following types of lines can be subjectively classified by their characteristics (operating pressure, burial depth, and corrosivity) and approximate (proportional to the whole) percentages assigned to their sub-categories: Lines by Type of Characteristics (Table 1) Table 1 Available in Full Paper. These Types of Lines do not Need to be Overbuilt! This analysis is very subjective, but the figure as generated for the above lines is probably not far off the mark and these types of lines also have one other characteristic in common – they can be directly ploughed.

Soil mark studies near Winchester, Hampshire

The fate of artifacts incorporated into the ploughsoil as a result of plough damage is considered in terms of two soil mark sites near Winchester, Hampshire. Ploughsoil and subsoil analyses indicate that dispersal of soil material, as a result of ploughing, is limited at the present time and under mould board ploughing techniques. The origin of soil marks underlain only by bedrock is also considered and evidence indicates that such soil marks may appear as groundsurface expressions of ditches which have been removed by plough damage where dispersal of ploughsoil is minimal. Such soil marks may be only short lived if plough depth continues to increase.