Grass Stalks Research Articles

Study on silage mixing device of King Grass stalk particles based on DEM simulation and bench test

This study designed a silage mixing device for King Grass stalk particles and optimized the core component, the blender, based on the discrete element method (DEM). Through simulation tests, the effect of different blender forms, blade lengths and blade orientations on the Lacey mixing index (LMI) was studied, and the structural form of the blender was selected as the inclined blade-same-up impeller blender. Based on simulation tests, to verify the reliability of the simulation test and further determine the optimal blade inclination angle and mixing speed of the blender, a mixing experimental bench was built for bench tests. The LMI was compared between simulation and bench tests. At three speeds of 60, 80 and 100 r min- −1, the average relative errors are 2.3%, 2.1% and 1.5%, indicating that the simulation test can simulate actual tests well. The central composite design (CCD) was used to establish a binary quadratic regression model of the effects of blade inclination angle and mixing speed on LMI and mixing energy consumption. Using the NSGA-II algorithm, it was determined that the best inclination angle of the mixing blade is 42° and the best mixing speed is 78 r min−1.

Moving grassy stand stalks in the process of mowing with a drum mower

Purpose. To describe the processes associated with the movement of cut grass stalks during the operation of a rotary drum mower and to establish directions for improving the process of forming a swath of grass. Methods. The methodological basis of research is the basic provisions of classical mathematics and agricultural mechanics, scientific developments of domestic and foreign scientists, achievements of practitioners in the problems of improving the quality of work, energy, and environmental efficiency of the drum rotary mower. In the research process, a set of methods is used, including: ­ monographic in the analysis of research on processes related to the operation of a rotary drum mower and the movement of mown grass stalks at the same time; ­ analytical when describing the processes of deviation and movement of individual stalks of cut grass. Results. The stalks of the grass stand are moved even before the start of cutting, namely, they are deflected by the cover of the protective apron. It was established that the amount of deviation along the width of the mower is different, and the tangents of the angles of the maximum and minimum value of the deviations are determined by dependencies (2) and (3), respectively. The process of stem movement after mowing is divided into stages, the characteristic zones in which mowing occurs are highlighted, the differences in the action of forces characteristic of these zones are characterized. The movement of the stem while lowering it to the surface of the disk for transportation is described, taking into account the properties of the stem and the action of the knife. The height of the rise of the stem after cutting and the time of its descent to the disk were determined. Conclusions 1. The process of interaction of the mower with the stalk from its deviation to the beginning of the descent from the disk for transportation is divided into stages. The movement of the cut stem at each of the stages is characterized. The stage of movement of the stem after cutting is described taking into account the mass of the stem and its properties (length of the stem, coefficients of friction and slippage). 2. The cut stems, touching the transport disk with the cut part, are placed on it perpendicular to the radius of the disk and transported in several layers. 3. For reliable capture and transportation of stems by disks, it is advisable to equip the latter with radial vanes that will grasp the stems in the direction perpendicular to the radius-vector of the disk and will not resist the descent of the stems to the periphery of the disk. Keywords: drum mower, stem, forces, sliding coefficient, stacking of the stem, disk for transportation, equation, center of mass.

Comprehensive assessment of elephant grass (<i>Pennisetum purpureum</i>) stalks at different growth stages as raw materials for nanocellulose production

Comprehensive assessment of elephant grass (<i>Pennisetum purpureum</i>) stalks at different growth stages as raw materials for nanocellulose production

PERANCANGAN MEKANISASI PANEN TANAMAN BATANG RUMPUT DENGAN PEMOTONG TIPE SIRKULAR MENGGUNAKAN PEMODELAN INVENTOR®

In general, traditional farmers still use the manual method which requires a large number of workers and takes longer for one hectare. With this mechanization, it is hoped that the time and cost at harvest will be faster and cheaper. It is hoped that this harvester can not only be used on one type of grass stalks plant (eg. rice) but can also be used for other types of grass stalks plants (lemongrass, sticky rice, straw). This paper produces a design using Inventor 3D to describe a mechanization system for harvesting grass stalks using a circular harvester. The crucial analysis carried out on the carrier, focuses on three things, namely the estimation of power system requirements, estimation of harvest capacity and system stability. Fits the speed-adjusting lever and the lever adjusts the height of the cutter. In its application can be used on wet land or dry land. The conclusion from the calculation is that the driving force is sufficient to move the body and cutting blades, the design capacity exceeds twice that of the manual method, and in practice the body is still stable when passing through land with an elevation of 30 degrees.

The first record of the Far Eastern grass-carrying wasp Isodontia nigella (F. Smith, 1856) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae: Sphecinae) from the Crimea

Isodontia nigella (F. Smith, 1856) is native to the Eastern Palaearctic, Oriental region, and Australia. A sheaf of reed canes installed as a trap nest in the Crimea was occupied with 73 nests of this species in 2021. The nests contained one to eight cells separated by partitions made of packed fragments of grass stalks and blades; the closing plug was made of the same materials. In some cases, there was no visible partition between two subsequent cells. The prey consisted of three orthopteran species with the predomination of the tree cricket Oecanthus pellucens (Scopoli, 1763) amounted to 95.1% of the identified specimens; three to 15 victims were stored per cell. Sex ratio was strongly male-biased, about 1♀:4♂. The species had two generations per year. Prepupae of the second generation overwintered and imagines emerged in 2022: males on 12–19 June, females on 17 June–5 July. Melittobia acasta (Walker, 1839) and an unidentified bombyliid fly were recorded as parasitoids that damaged only three cells. The reproductive success of the wasp was 65.2%; most deaths of the progeny were for unknown causes. This is the first record of I. nigella in Europe, outside its native range. Isodontia nigella is the second invasive species of the genus in Europe after I. mexicana (de Saussure, 1867) and the fifth invasive species of the family Sphecidae in the Crimea.

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Nagari Batu Kalang Indah terkait Urgensi Hijauan Pakan Ternak

Forage is all food ingredients derived from plants, in the form of leaves, sometimes including stems, twigs, and flowers. Included are grasses, legumes and other plants. All can be fed for ruminants in two forms, i.e. fresh and dry forage. Forages contain almost all the substances animals need. The urgency of forage becomes a crucial point in increasing livestock productivity. The success of a livestock business depends on its feed management. Feed requirements of each animal vary according to the type, age, body weight, environmental conditions and physiological conditions of livestock. Community engagement was carried out with the Batu Kalang Indah cattle group. As many as 20 farmers attended the counselling activity. In addition to socialization activities, 4,000 stalks of grass were also planted, under the name King Grass, using a demonstration method for the groups. The community service activities carried out were responded to positively by the Batu Kalang Indah cattle group.

Non à tanti animali il mar fra l'onde

Non à tanti animali il mar fra l'onde Francesco Petrarca (bio) and Lee Harlin Bahan (bio) 237/November 28: Endymion, Arnold, Cicero, Eliot There aren't as many creatures in the wavesof the sea, never were seen beyond the moon'scircle as many stars on any night,as many birds inhabiting the woods,stalks of grass in a field or along a shore,as there are issues in my heart each evening. Day in and out I hope that my last eveningseparates this living sod from wavesand leaves me deeply asleep on any shore,because no man ever under the moonsuffered to get his breath as I have; the woodsknow this, where I hunt alone day and night. I haven't experienced a peaceful night,but gone heaving sighs morning and evening,since Love made me a citizen of the woods.Before I rest, the ocean won't make waves,the sun will reflect the brilliance of the moon,and flowers will die in April on every shore. Eating myself up, I go from shore to shore,thoughtful by day, then I cry all night;I'm never stable, no more than the moon.Hard on my detection of the evening'sfall, I sigh my lungs out and weep wavesto drench the grass and bring down the woods. Cities are enemies, unlike the woods,of my angst, which I vent on this cliffed shore,letting steam off with the grumbling waves,through the sweet stillness of the night; [End Page 127] so that I wait the entire day for eveningand sundown to accommodate the moon. Ah, would that I now lay beside the moon'sbeloved, fast asleep in summer woods,and she who prior to vespers darkens eveningwould come, with love and beaming, to that shore,only to remain a single night;and day and the sun would stay sunk in the waves. Above relentless waves, by light from the moon,Song, born of night in the middle of the woods,you'll spy a costly shore tomorrow evening. [End Page 128] Francesco Petrarca francesco petrarca (1304–1374), anglicized Petrarch, is remembered today for his lyric masterpiece in the language of Italy's common people, ironically titled in Latin, Rerum vulgarium fragmenta. Also called Canzoniere and Rime sparse, the work's 366 poems chronicle its speaker's frustrated love for Laura on earth and long after she died of bubonic plague, the pandemic of Petrarch's time. Lee Harlin Bahan lee harlin bahan is the author of A Year of Mourning (Able Muse Press, 2017) and To Wrestle with the Angel: Sonnets from Petrarch's "Chapbook" of 1337 (Finishing Line Press, 2018). Advent and Lent, her second book of Petrarch translations, has been accepted for publication by Able Muse Press. Copyright © 2023 Lee Harlin Bahan

PERANCANGAN MEKANISASI PANEN TANAMAN BATANG RUMPUT DENGAN PEMOTONG TIPE SIRKULAR MENGGUNAKAN PEMODELAN INVENTOR®

In general, traditional farmers still use the manual method which requires a large number of workers and takes longer for one hectare. With this mechanization, it is hoped that the time and cost at harvest will be faster and cheaper. It is hoped that this harvester can not only be used on one type of grass stalks plant (eg. rice) but can also be used for other types of grass stalks plants (lemongrass, sticky rice, straw). This paper produces a design using Inventor 3D to describe a mechanization system for harvesting grass stalks using a circular harvester. The crucial analysis carried out on the carrier, focuses on three things, namely the estimation of power system requirements, estimation of harvest capacity and system stability. Fits the speed-adjusting lever and the lever adjusts the height of the cutter. In its application can be used on wet land or dry land. The conclusion from the calculation is that the driving force is sufficient to move the body and cutting blades, the design capacity exceeds twice that of the manual method, and in practice the body is still stable when passing through land with an elevation of 30 degrees.

ESTABLISHMENT AND CALIBRATION OF DISCRETE ELEMENT MODEL OF KING GRASS STALK BASED ON THROWING TEST

In order to better use the discrete element method (DEM) to study the cutting and throwing process of King Grass (KG) stalk in mechanical harvesting, the DEM model and contact parameters of KG stalk were studied in this paper. By using the Multi-sphere method, the DEM model of KG stalk was established in EDEM software. Through the impact bounce test and slope sliding test, the stalk-steel coefficient of static friction, stalk-steel coefficient of restitution and stalk-stalk coefficient of restitution were calibrated as 0.372, 0.656 and 0.523, respectively. Based on the stacking test, using the response surface methodology, the optimal values of stalk-stalk coefficient of static friction, stalk-stalk coefficient of rolling friction, stalk-steel coefficient of rolling friction were calibrated as 0.393, 0.072 and 0.144, respectively. The throwing test bench of stalk was designed, and the actual and simulation throwing test were carried out. The relative error of throwing distance in bench test and simulation test under four throwing speeds was 1.15%, 7.76%, 8.88% and 10.46%, respectively. The throwing trajectory curve of the simulation test is consistent with that of the actual test, which verifies the accuracy of the DEM model and contact parameters of KG stalk.

An Analytical Tool for Visual Data Analysis: Application to the Mmogo-Method®

An analytical tool that enables experienced researchers and non-experts to analyse participant-created visual data has so far remained underexplored. Existing frameworks to analyse participant-generated visual data tend to use selected theoretical frameworks, guided by participants’ interpretations, to generalise results, test hypotheses, or to identify representational meanings. Analyses of visual data as separate units employ mainly content analysis or (social) semiotic analysis. This article presents a tool for conducting a systematic and transparent analysis of image-based research data by adopting an empiricist and pragmatist approach. We designed a step-by-step procedure to guide researchers individually or in a group to conduct an analysis of such data. Our prototype—which we named Created-Image Data Analysis (CIDA)—was developed by applying design-based research. The CIDA tool consists of five phases, each with an analytical focus and operational questions. Phase 1 covers the basic information; Phase 2 examines the elements and organisation of the visual representation; Phase 3 analyses its logic or cohesion; Phase 4 interprets meaning; and Phase 5 concludes with an evaluation. We applied CIDA to an example of visual data obtained by applying the Mmogo-method in which participants use materials such as clay, dried grass stalks, and beads of different sizes and colours to respond to a researcher-introduced prompt. The CIDA tool is applicable to all static participant-created visual data obtained during research, but it has not yet been tested for analysing moving image-based data. The tool qualifies as heuristic; it offers a systematic procedure to guide an analysis with data-grounded interpretations. The analysis is replicable and open to scrutiny. When the findings from the textual data are considered in combination with the participant-created visual data, the trustworthiness of the interpretations of these datasets is enhanced. This analytical tool enables a rigorous procedure applicable to visual data across subject disciplines and for different research purposes.

Breeding biology of Sri Lanka White-eye Zosterops ceylonensis (Aves: Passeriformes: Zosteropidae) in tropical montane cloud forests, Sri Lanka

Breeding biology of the endemic Sri Lanka White-eye Zosterops ceylonensis was studied from January 2017 to January 2018 in the montane cloud forests of Horton Plains National Park, in Nuwara Eliya District of Sri Lanka. A total of 46 active nests were studied. Breeding occurred March–May. The peak egg-laying was in March and April. Mean nest construction period 11±2.87 days (n= 17), nest height was 3.16±1.22 m from the ground. Majority of nests were built on Sarcococca brevifolia, Berberis ceylanica, and Cinnamomum ovalifolium trees of 4–12 m tall. Most number of pen cup nests were constructed by the fine grass stalks and mosses woven with cobwebs and internal cup lined with grass roots. Eggs were pale blue. Mean clutch size 2.15±0.37 eggs (n= 11). The incubation period was 10.92±0.9 days (n= 11). Nestling period was 28.33±1.55 days (n= 11). Both sexes participate in nest construction, incubation and brood rearing. About 25.53% of nests were depredated (N= 12). The overall nest success was 74.46%. The study reveals that undisturbed cloud forests are critical to conservation of Sri Lanka White-eye.

The Morphological and Pulping Indices of Bagasse, Elephant Grass (Leaves and Stalk), and Silk Cotton Fibers for Paper Production

ABSTRACT Non-wood fibers are projected as fast-growing resources and sustainable alternate materials to reduce deforestation and enhance efficiency in the pulp and paper industry. This paper addressed the paucity of data on the fiber morphological characteristics (Fiber Length, Diameter, Lumen Diameter, and Wall Thickness) and pulping properties (Slenderness Ratio, Rigidity Coefficient, Flexibility Coefficient, Runkel Ratio, Solids Factor, and Luce’s Shape Factor) for Silk Cotton, leaves and stalk of Elephant Grass and Sugarcane Bagasse found in Ghana, especially, as environmental variations may cause differences in regional data. Observed values for the studied parameters were within the suitable range for paper production and differed from those reported for other regions. Elephant Grass (stalk) and Bagasse that had higher values of Fiber Length (4101.42 ± 197.89 and 3960.20 ± 194.35 µm), Diameter (60.03 ± 1.82 and 59.85 ± 1.72 µm), Lumen Diameter (33.33 ± 1.76 and 35.97 ± 1.38 µm), Wall Thickness (13.35 ± 0.83 and 11.94 ± 0.55 µm), Slenderness Ratio (70.8 ± 4.2 and 67.2 ± 3.4), and Flexibility Coefficient (55.7 ± 2.3 and 55.7 ± 2.3) would perform better during paper production. They would exhibit good physico-mechanical properties suitable for manufacturing flexible, high tearing, elastic, dense, smooth, and well-formed papers with high tensile and bursting strengths. Silk Cotton may also produce good papers with low tearing index, well-bonded, rigid, bulky, and coarse textured.

Foreign Body in The Scalp: A Thorn in The Flesh – Case Report

Open scalp wounds are often associated with retained foreign bodies and are poorly reported. Despite meticulous radiological evaluations, foreign bodies can still be missed. Complications such as chronic headache, scalp abscess, chronic osteomyelitis, organic personality disorder had been reported. Coupled with the potential for medicolegal concerns, retained foreign bodies in the scalp thus require critical evaluation and management. Herein we reported a case of a retained stalk of grass (foreign body) in the scalp that is complicated with scalp abscess and chronic headache and call for a high index of suspicious in the management of foreign bodies in the scalp.

Pathogen and drought stress affect cell wall and phytohormone signaling to shape host responses in a sorghum COMT bmr12 mutant

BackgroundAs effects of global climate change intensify, the interaction of biotic and abiotic stresses increasingly threatens current agricultural practices. The secondary cell wall is a vanguard of resistance to these stresses. Fusarium thapsinum (Fusarium stalk rot) and Macrophomina phaseolina (charcoal rot) cause internal damage to the stalks of the drought tolerant C4 grass, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), resulting in reduced transpiration, reduced photosynthesis, and increased lodging, severely reducing yields. Drought can magnify these losses. Two null alleles in monolignol biosynthesis of sorghum (brown midrib 6-ref, bmr6-ref; cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, CAD; and bmr12-ref; caffeic acid O-methyltransferase, COMT) were used to investigate the interaction of water limitation with F. thapsinum or M. phaseolina infection.ResultsThe bmr12 plants inoculated with either of these pathogens had increased levels of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) across both watering conditions and significantly reduced lesion sizes under water limitation compared to adequate watering, which suggested that drought may prime induction of pathogen resistance. RNA-Seq analysis revealed coexpressed genes associated with pathogen infection. The defense response included phytohormone signal transduction pathways, primary and secondary cell wall biosynthetic genes, and genes encoding components of the spliceosome and proteasome.ConclusionAlterations in the composition of the secondary cell wall affect immunity by influencing phenolic composition and phytohormone signaling, leading to the action of defense pathways. Some of these pathways appear to be activated or enhanced by drought. Secondary metabolite biosynthesis and modification in SA and JA signal transduction may be involved in priming a stronger defense response in water-limited bmr12 plants.

Foreign body in the scalp: A thorn in the flesh – case report

Open scalp wounds are often associated with retained foreign bodies and are poorly reported. Despite meticulous radiological evaluations, foreign bodies can still be missed. Complication such as chronic headache, scalp abscess, chronic osteomyelitis, organic personality disorder had been reported. Coupled with the potential for medicolegal concerns, retained foreign bodied in the scalp thus require critical evaluation and management. Herein we reported a case of a retained stalk of grass (foreign body) in the scalp that is complicated with scalp abscess and chronic headache and call for a high index of suspicious in the management of foreign bodies in the scalp.

Indigenous knowledge and community-based risk assessment of climate change among the Fulani Herder Community of Kpongu, North-Western Ghana

AbstractGiven rising concerns about climate change and development in Africa, this paper draws on Community Risk Assessment for mapping the risks of Fulani Herders to climate change in North-Western Ghana. Herder communities are seldom explored in climate change related studies although their livelihoods largely depend on the natural environment. Thus, a case study of the Fulani Herder Community of Kpongu in the Wa Municipality was conducted. The design employed Participatory Rural Appraisal instruments for data collection and analysis. The results reveal multiple indicators of climate change, including longer dry seasons and dry spells, shrinking sizes of water bodies, formation of iron pans on top soils, stunted growth of grass species, smaller grass stalks and less concentration of grasses. These have culminated into scarcity of fodder and water and increased distances of cattle herding under excruciating sunshine and temperatures in search of feed and water as an adaptive mechanism. The paper underscores that herder knowledge of climate change reveals a drying trend in climate and de-concentration in vegetation, especially grass species. The paper advocates climate change adaptation planning and policy attention to providing supplementary sources of water and feed in support of cattle herding and herder communities for climate change adaptation.

Soft Microwave Pretreatment to Extract P-Hydroxycinnamic Acids from Grass Stalks.

The aim of this article is to provide an analysis of microwave effects on ferulic and coumaric acids (FA and CA, respectively) extraction from grass biomass (corn stalks and miscanthus). Microwave pretreatment using various solvents was first compared to conventional heating on corn stalks. Then, microwave operational conditions were extended in terms of incident power and treatment duration. Optimal conditions were chosen to increase p-hydroxycinnamic acids release. Finally, these optimal conditions determined on corn stalks were tested on miscanthus stalks to underlie the substrate incidence on p-hydroxycinnamic acids release yields. The optimal conditions—a treatment duration of 405 s under 1000 W—allowed extracting 1.38% FA and 1.97% CA in corn stalks and 0.58% FA and 3.89% CA in miscanthus stalks. The different bioaccessibility of these two molecules can explain the higher or lower yields between corn and miscanthus stalks.

КОНСТРУКТИВНЫЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ УСТРОЙСТВА ДЛЯ ОБРАБОТКИ КОРМОВЫХ ТРАВ В ПРОЦЕССЕ СКАШИВАНИЯ

For the treatment of fodder grasses during mowing on modern mowers install various conditioners designed to accelerate their wilting. The most extended among them are pressing rollers and shafts, equipped, as a rule, with various hammer-type beats. However, these conditioners installed on rotary mowers have a difficult drive, high mass and price. It is possible to eliminate these lacks by the use of a new conditioner [1], developed in the Federal Williams Research Center for Fodder Production and Agroecology (Moscow region), and equipped with beats for mechanical action on the stalks of grasses in the process of mowing. Beats are represent a pieces of round-link chains fixed in the upper part of cylindrical hollow drums installed vertically on the cutting discs of the rotary mower. The innovative dynamic action conditioner to the rotary mower KR-2,4M provides acceleration of field drying of the mowed grasses due to strengthening of moisture output by plants, especially the traumatized stalks which usually dry more slowly, than leaves. The constructive features of the conditioner and the principle of its action are described.

Synthesis of some novel 5-substituted benzamido-6-arylamino-pyrazolo[3,4-D]pyrimidin-4-one derivatives for herbicidal activity

Sixteen novel 3-methylthio-5-substituted benzamido-6-arylamino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4 (5H)-one derivatives (4a–p) were successfully synthesized from iminophosphoranes, aryl isocyanate, and substituted benzoylhydrazine. The structures of the title compounds were elucidated by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. Herbicidal activity of the compounds 4a–p against Brassica napus (rape), Echinochloa crusgalli (barnyard grass), Cucumis sativus (cucumber), and Triticum aestivum (wheat) were determined. The results showed that 5-(2-chlorobenzamido)-6-phenylamino-3-methylthio-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4 (5H)-one (4c) displayed remarkable inhibition activity against the stalk and root of rape with 100% inhibition rate at the dosages of 10 mg/L and 100 mg/L, and 5-(4-nitrobenzamido)-6-phenylamino-3-methylthio-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4 (5H) -one (4d) exhibited excellent activity against the stalk and root of barnyard grass with 100% inhibition rate at the same dosages.

Host plants of the non-swarming edible bush cricket Ruspolia differens.

The edible Ruspolia differens (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) is a widely‐consumed insect in East Africa but surprisingly little is known of its host plant use in the field. We studied host plants used by non‐swarming R. differens for 15 months, in central Uganda. In particular, we assessed the use of host plant species with respect to host cover in the field and host parts used by R. differens, also recording their sex, developmental stages, and colour morph. Ruspolia differens were found on 19 grass and two sedge species and they were observed predominantly (99% of 20,915 observations) on seven grasses (namely, Panicum maximum, Brachiaria ruziziensis, Chloris gayana, Hyparrhenia rufa, Cynodon dactylon, Sporobolus pyramidalis, and Pennisetum purpureum). Ruspolia differens was most frequently observed on the most common grass of each study site but P. maximum, and S. pyramidalis were used more frequently than expected from their cover in the field. Furthermore, R. differens were observed predominantly on inflorescences (97% of feeding observations) and much less frequently on the leaves (3.0%), stems (0.1%), and inflorescence stalks (0.1%) of grasses and sedges. Host use was not independent of sex, developmental stage, or colour morph. Panicum maximum was the preferred host of the youngest nymphs of R. differens. Overall, our findings indicate that a continuous supply of diverse grass resources with inflorescences is necessary for the management and conservation of wild populations of R. differens.