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Item Open Access Agricultural waste manual(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1984-12) Vanderholm, Dale H.Agricultural waste management is a rapidly changing technology. It is subject to government regulation and sensitive to population growth patterns, community attitudes and land use changes. It is influenced by variables such as soil type, topography, climate, crop and livestock production practices. The trend towards larger and more concentrated livestock operations has accentuated the problems of waste management. This has necessitated better management methods, not only to hold down labour requirements and cost, but also to minimise detrimental effects on the environment.Item Open Access Guide to subsurface land drainage(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1988-05) New Zealand Agricultural Engineering InstituteThe NZAEI Guide to Subsurface Land Drainage is intended to be a readily available source of design information for farm advisors, contractors, farmers, and others involved in agricultural and horticultural drainage. The emphasis is on subsurface drainage because this is an area where the available information is often difficult to locate and can be confusing. The technical standards required in subsurface work are higher than for surface drainage, and mistakes are not only costly but also not easily rectified. This guide is not a comprehensive treatise on subsurface drainage, and for this kind of information on New Zealand conditions the reader is referred to Hudson, Hopewell, Bowler and Cross (1962), and Bowler (1980). It is presumed that the need for drainage has been established and that a suitably skilled drainage contractor is available. The information presented herein is an attempt to link these two. Drainage is by no means an exact science. Wherever possible, the physical reasons for particular recommendations are given so that the designer can make a judgement on the consequences of departing from the guidelines. In some drainage situations, local experience and practice may appear to conflict with methods presented in this guide. In such cases, proven successful practice must be allowed to reign with due regard for the physical reasons behind the apparent anomaly.Item Open Access Application performance of travelling irrigators(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1985-07) John, Peter H.; Lees, David M.; English, Grant M.The primary aims of this work were two-fold. Firstly, to evaluate the application performance of a cross-section of travelling irrigators available within New Zealand. The performance characteristics investigated were uniformity of application depth and the extent to which surface redistribution of applied water occurred due to mismatch between application rates and soil infiltration rate. The second main aim was to propose design techniques and guidelines which will help designers and farmers choose the most suitable machine(s) for specific situations. To this end, the application performance of eleven large travelling irrigators was measured using a sophisticated monitoring system designed and built by NZAEI.Item Open Access The design of horticultural structures(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1985-08) Pinnell, G. C.; Robinson, M. D.; Lawn, G. D.The basic methods and skills used to design horticultural structures are identical to those used to design large buildings or bridges. However, to produce a design that is acceptable to the client, the design approach needs to be significantly different. This paper offers guidance by discussing aspects of design philosophy and consequences of failure. It also reports or refers to research that is particularly relevant to the design of horticultural structures. To this end, the authors recommend the references listed. This is not a comprehensive and stand-alone document. It does however, signpost the directions, and reports on research not previously published. Our experience of horticultural structures has been in the design of artificial shelter, crop supports and horizontal canopies, which are described below.Item Open Access A simulation model of hill & high country pastoral systems for evaluation of irrigation investment(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1985-12) New Zealand Agricultural Engineering InstituteThe first objective of this study was to develop a simulation model that would allow economic evaluation of alternative farm irrigation schemes in the hill and high country. The model would use estimates of irrigation water supply from a water harvesting model (Borrie and Heiler, 1984) to provide a management and economic evaluation of each engineering option. A second objective was to develop a model framework into which sophisticated submodels could be incorporated if and when they became available. The submodels developed for this study were kept simple and incorporated only sufficient detail to investigate irrigation in the Hakataramea Valley.Item Open Access Contour handbook : A guide to land contouring using the computer program "Contour"(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1982) Harrington, Graham JamesThe aim of this handbook is to give a practical surveyor sufficient information to perform a contour survey using the computer programme called CONTOUR. This program is designed to produce contours of irregularly spaced stadia field readings. The programme is currently implemented at Lincoln College. A programme listing (FORTRAN) is available from the author.Item Open Access Overhead targeted frost protection(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1985-02) John, Peter H.This report describes a preliminary investigation into the use of mini-sprinklers attached to overhead laterals for frost protection of fruit trees. The principle aims of this work were to measure the protection efficiency of this technique under New Zealand conditions and to assess its potential advantages and disadvantages when compared with conventional impact-drive sprinkler networks. The ultimate aim is to produce a system which targets water at the trees to be protected, thus virtually eliminating application to inter-row and headland areas. Twenty-nine temperature sensors, in the form of artificial buds, were attached to a tree situated beneath an experimental sprinkler system. The response of these sensors to water application during frosts over the winter and spring of 1984 is described. It is concluded that an overhead targeted system should provide levels of protection comparable with conventional impact-drive networks, while allowing savings in water use of 25 to 45 %. Power requirements would be 60 to 80% less than for a conventional system, with pumps and motors being compatible with those required tor micro-irrigation. Capital costs would be similar or less than those of a conventional system, depending on the need for water storage and the growing method employed. The work also identified bud temperatures during the period prior to ice formation as being potentially limiting when using conventional or targeted sprinkler methods for frost protection on crops exhibiting critical temperatures near 0C. System specifications are discussed and the further work required in order to confirm the viability of overhead targeted frost protection systems and to provide the information necessary for their design is outlined. The need to investigate the potential of the targeted technique for the protection of crops other than stonefruit, particularly kiwifruit, is expressed.Item Open Access An investigation into the effectiveness of some odour control treatments in stored pig manure(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1980-12) Smith, K.; Drysdale, A.; Saville, D.A study was conducted comparing four methods of treating livestock waste. Two commercial formulations were included. These were Alamask M-X, a masking agent designed for odour control, and Actizyme, a digestive product intended for odour control and solids liquefaction. The other two methods were treatment by aeration and treatment with finely divided iron, which was thought to have an application in controlling hydrogen sulphide emission from piggery wastes in enclosed environment housing. Effluent was collected from six Canterbury piggeries and stored in 150 litre plastic drums. Treatments were applied to the effluent shortly after collection and the effects on odour level and solids liquefaction were observed over a 6 week period. Odour level was assessed by means of a panel consisting of Lincoln College students and solids liquefaction by a relative viscosity technique. The results showed that aeration, and initially Alamask M-X were the most effective treatments. Actizyme and finely divided iron were disappointing. The results also indicated that the odour panel technique used was capable of detecting real treatment effects and that there appeared to be no problem of odour fatigue during the assessments. There was no evidence that Actizyrne had a significant effect on the viscosity of the effluent.Item Open Access The maximum line wire/batten spacing and minimum height of a plain wire [fence] for the control of sheep(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1979) Warren, G. A.; Humphries, K. R.Throughout New Zealand there is a considerable divergence of opinion among farmers about the strucural requirements of a farm fence to control sheep and cattle. For example, in some areas of the North Island, fences consisting of 250 posts and 2000 battens to the kilometre and with five plain and two barbed wires, are commonplace, while in other parts of the country, fences containing far less material are being used to restrain the same type of stock. The question arises: what are the minimum structural requirements of a farm fence to restrain stock? If the rate of increase in fence material costs over the last three years is maintained, the cost of basic materials (posts, wire, battens) for a kilometre of the type of fencing given above will be well over $3000 by 1982. Of course much has been done by research to make lighter weight, cheaper, but none the less structurally adequate, fencing materials and systems available to the farmer. Lower cost, 2.5 mm, high tensile galvanised wire has been shown to be structurally superior to dearer 4.0 mm mild steel galvanised wire in a fence . Nevertheless, the single most expensive item of material in the fence mentioned in the first paragraph would be the 2000 battens - and these could well cost the farmer upwards of $1500 in 1982. Consequently, in an effort to determine if the number of battens and line wires in our fences could be reduced, the NZAEI undertook a series of trials aimed at answering the question: "For the control of sheep, what is the maximum line wire and batten spacing possible in a fence? Trials were also carried out to determine how high sheep could jump because any reduction in the height of fences could also lead to cost savings. And an attempt was made to wean lambs against the fences found capable of controlling adult sheep.Item Open Access Water consumption of sheep and cattle in New Zealand(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1980-04) Harrington, G. J.This is the final report which overviews the investigations into the free water consumption of cattle and sheep, the principal livestock animals in New Zealand. The report considers the daily and hourly free water consumption as it affects the engineering design of stock water storage and reticulation.Item Open Access Wind machines and frost protection in New Zealand(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1981-06) Carran, P. S.Wind machines have been widely used as a frost protection method for the last 30 years, particularly in the Western U.S. Although there were some early attempts to investigate this method for New Zealand conditions it is only recently that the system has gained popularity. Under frost conditions the air temperature above an orchard may of ten be warmer than the air closer to the ground, and it is this ''inverted" temperature profile which allows a wind machine to work. The formation of this inversion profile is described and the way in which a wind machine modifies it to provide frost protection is discussed. A review of the performance of typical wind machines is given followed by a summary of the temperature profile measurements which have been made in the various fruit growing areas in New Zealand. It is concluded that, although wind machines probably have a place in frost protection in parts of New Zealand their use should be considered with care and a full appreciation of the risks involved.Item Open Access Sprinkler performance for frost protection systems(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1983-01) Carran, P. S.Frost protection using overhead sprinkler systems has become increasingly important in New Zealand horticulture since the mid-1970's. The reasons for this change and the problems created by the rapidity with which it occurred have been examined. The design requirements of sprinkler frost protection systems are considered. A performance parameter which is based on the percentage of the area receiving less than the minimum application rate necessary to achieve protection is introduced. Sprinkler performance can be measured by still-air distribution pattern tests and the resulting information can be used with computer programmes to predict system performance. The way in which these tasks have been done is described before presenting the results of many such analyses. This information should be of considerable benefit to designers of frost protection systems in New Zealand.Item Open Access Three dimensional computer drawings for agricultural engineering(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1978) Harrington, G. J.The sort of three dimensional computer drawings described here are often used as eye catching gimmicks on the front covers of books and journals. It is not often, though, that the way in which these drawings are made is described. In this report the computer drawing technique is outlined in broad terms for the general reader while the details needed to run such a program are provided in an Appendix. Any phenomenon which can be represented as a surf ace can be presented graphically using this computer generated method. The results can often be more easily grasped by both engineers and laymen than description by means of contour plans, mathematical formulae, coefficients of variation,or other mathematical or statistical methods. These three dimensional drawings have a variety of agricultural engineering applications. They have been used as an aid in planning the most suitable earthmoving operations when preparing land for horticulture as the various earthwork patterns can be seen at a glance. The visual representations, together with the costs, assist in decision making (see Figure 1). They have also been used to display the variations in the quantity of water applied to the soil by irrigation sprinklers, and the effect of wind on sprinkler performance (see Figures 2 and 3) . In the future it may be possible to use these projections when planning complex irregular border-dyke irrigation layouts. At present these constitute a difficult problem. If a designer takes the trouble to present a complex layout in detail it is difficult for the machinery operators to interpret the plan in the field. A visual representation may help in meeting both the design and the cost objectives. The examples show the flexibility of the method and the extent to which these three dimensional drawings can be useful to agricultural engineers. Workers in other fields may also find applications for this method of presentation. The cost of producing any one of the computer drawings illustrated here is no more than about $1.00 at commercial computer charge-out rates.Item Open Access Wind erosiveness summaries for New Zealand sites(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1977) Painter, DJMonthly, seasonal and annual values of wind erosiveness, prevailing wind-erosiveness direction and preponderance are given for the 21 New Zealand sites from which suitable hourly wind speed and direction data were available. The values are generally high (by comparison with U. S. A. values) and show considerable variation between sites and according to the time of year.Item Open Access Report on the Bruff TG1 trenchless drainlayer(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1976) Bidwell, Vince J; Collinge, Trevor MA series of trials with an imported trenchless drainlaying machine has shown that the machine can operate successfully under some New Zealand conditions. Drains were laid using 100 mm clay tiles and two types of plastic drainage pipe. The results show that the use of trenchless drainlaying methods could make a significant contribution to land drainage in New Zealand.Item Open Access Contouring by computer from stadia field data(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1976) Harrington, G. J.This report presents a computer based technique of forming contour plans from stadia field data. Unlike other such techniques it makes use of random profiles joining selected spot heights which greatly increase the ability of the computer to interpret the field information. The development of the basic techniques used in the computer programme is described for the benefit of interested programmers. This is followed by a users guide.Item Open Access Liquid manure pumps: Procedure for clean water hydraulic testing(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1976) Dakers, A. J.In designing a waste handling system with a pump as a component, information on the hydraulic performance characteristics of the pump is required. The objective of these tests is to determine these hydraulic characteristics, using clean water as the pumping medium. For typical slurries from washed down yards, the hydraulic performance of a pump is sufficiently similar to clean water for design purposes (Dakers, 1975).Item Open Access The flow characteristics of some pressure reducing valves(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, c1976) Harrington, G. J.Pressure reducing valves are commonly used in farm water supply and trickle irrigation installations. Although they have been used for a long time there is little detailed information on their flow characteristics. This report gives some technical information to assist in designing systems using pressure reducing valves. All the valves tested were originally designed for domestic use. Further tests may be carried out as other valves become available or as necessary.Item Open Access The flow characteristics of plastic drainage pipe available in New Zealand(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1973) Humphris, M. S.; Harrington, G. J.In recent years different types of plastic drainage pipe, intended primarily for use in agricultural underdrainage systems, have become commercially available in New Zealand. No flow resistance data has been supplied by the manufacturers, and, as all these pipes are perforated, and in some cases corrugated, the flow resistance cannot be predicted using existing data. Designers of drainage systems therefore have had no information on which to base calculations of flow in these pipes when laid on various gradients. This report presents the results of experiments carried out to determine the flow characteristics of those plastic drainage pipes available in New Zealand. Table 1 gives some details of these pipes which are illustrated at Fig. 1 . A full description appears in the Appendix. The results have been incorporated in a Plastic Drain Pipe Design Chart which is based on the Ohio Drainage Guide (5) Tile Drain Design Chart. This chart appears at Fig. 6. Test procedures developed at the N. Z. A. E. I. for determining the mechanical strength and water intake ability of plastic drainage pipes have already been described by Heiler (1).Item Open Access The spinning disc distributor - Part 1(Lincoln College. New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, 1972) Davies, G. R.The spinning disc distributor is basically a simple machine and especially suitable for broadcasting granular fertiliser over a large area. Properly designed and operated it can give a wide bout width and a uniform spread. Even spreading is important with some fertilisers and trace elements and essential with most herbicides and pesticides but it is difficult to assess its importance when applying superphosphate to pasture. Very uneven distribution will reduce crop yield; very accurate distribution will be expensive; somewhere between the two extremes is a sensible, practical compromise. After careful study of the whole subject of superphosphate application it was decided, in 1968, that a testing and experimental programme was justified at Lincoln. The project was visualised in three stages. First, the design and installation of test equipment; second, the testing of existing machines and fertilisers; third, but only if warranted by the findings of the second stage, an attempt to help improve design and operation of machines and of fertiliser properties. This last stage would be tackled by a study of published information from this country and overseas, and by a limited experimental programme.