Benchmark Irrigated under Cover Agriculture Crops

AbstractManaging water sustainably in a ‘green’ economy means using water more efficiently in all sectors and ensuring that ecosystems have the quantity and quality of water needed to function effectively. Despite the increasing demand for water and its scarcity in some regions in Europe and the Mediterranean basin, “water use efficiency” or Water Productivity, is claimed to be unsatisfactory. In many Southern European regions up to 85% of the water is consumed by agriculture. The expected climate change will worsen the situation as it will lead to hotter summers. In this paper an initial study to benchmark agricultural irrigation practices– here, protected cultivation - with the objective of evaluating and comparing the systems through performanceindicators that can be obtained from data routinely available at the field and farm level were presented and discussed. Benchmarking, a systematic process for detecting inefficiencies based on comparisons between similar systems, is a potential tool for identifying andtargeting problem areas. The benchmarking tool was based on the results of an FP7 EU-SIRRIMED. In the present study we use this tool in order to assess the performance of two contrasted production strategies (i) hi-tech horticultural production, exemplified by soil-less greenhouse-grown tomato crops with closed, semi closed and open irrigation techniques and (ii) low-tech screenhouse production, exemplified by soil grown sweet pepper under screenhouses having different shading factors. We found that a large margin of progress in water and fertilisers use efficiency is at hand of farmers, provided they can integrate to their farming practices innovative technologies (i.e closed hydroponic systems) or structures that are well adapted to the local climatic and biotic conditions (e.g. screenhouses)

Numerical simulation of solar radiation, air flow and temperature distribution in a naturally ventilated tunnel greenhouse

 Catherine Baxevanou1, Dimitrios Fidaros1, Thomas Bartzanas1, Constantinos Kittas1,2(1. Center for Research and Technology-Thessaly, Institute of Technology and Management of Agricultural Ecosystems, Technology Park of Thessaly, 1st Industrial Area, 38500 Volos;2. University of Thessaly, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Agricultural Environment, Fytokou St., N. Ionia, GR-38446, Magnesia, Greece) Abstract: The effect of solar radiation distribution in a typical agricultural building was numerically investigated, taking into account the thickness of the cover, its spectral optical and thermal properties.  A two dimensional mesh was used to render the building's geometry, and the Discrete Ordinate (DO) model for simulating the radiation, taking into accounts its spectral distribution in three wavelength bands.  Based on the meteorological data of October for the region of Volos (Greece), two parametric studies were carried out, dealing with the variation of intensity and angle of the incoming solar radiation and with the optical properties differentiation of covering materials.  The flow recirculation, due to the buoyancy effect, showed the importance of internal temperature gradients, although forced convection which resulted from natural ventilation was dominant.  It was concluded that cover material with high absorptivity deteriorate the natural ventilation increasing the air temperature by convection, and favoring the development of secondary recirculation where the air is trapped.  Furthermore, high absorptivity reduces the available Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) but it distributes it equally inside the greenhouse.  Finally, the ability of the material to transmit the solar irradiance in the wavelengths corresponding to PAR with comparable absorptivity improved as the refractive index decreased.Keywords: greenhouse, microclimate, CFD, radiation, mixed heat transfer, ventilation, Greece Citation: Catherine Baxevanou, Dimitrios Fidaros, Thomas Bartzanas, Constantinos Kittas.  Numerical simulation of solar radiation, air flow and temperature distribution in a naturally ventilated tunnel greenhouse.  Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal, 2010, 12(3): 48-67. &nbsp

A Diagnostic System for Improving Biomass Quality Based on a Sensor Network

Losses during storage of biomass are the main parameter that defines the profitability of using preserved biomass as feed for animal husbandry. In order to minimize storage losses, potential changes in specific physicochemical properties must be identified to subsequently act as indicators of silage decomposition and form the basis for preventive measures. This study presents a framework for a diagnostic system capable of detecting potential changes in specific physicochemical properties, i.e., temperature and the oxygen content, during the biomass storage process. The diagnostic system comprises a monitoring tool based on a wireless sensors network and a prediction tool based on a validated computation fluid dynamics model. It is shown that the system can provide the manager (end-user) with continuously updated information about specific biomass quality parameters. The system encompasses graphical visualization of the information to the end-user as a first step and, as a second step, the system identifies alerts depicting real differences between actual and predicted values of the monitored properties. The perspective is that this diagnostic system will provide managers with a solid basis for necessary preventive measures

Aplicación de internet de las cosas (IoT) para entornos de invernadero optimizados

Esta revisión presenta la investigación más avanzada sobre sistemas IoT para entornos de invernadero optimizados. Los datos fueron analizados usando métodos descriptivos y estadísticos para inferir relaciones entre Internet de las cosas (IoT), tecnologías emergentes, agricultura de precisión, agricultura 4.0 y mejoras en la agricultura comercial. La discusión se sitúa en el contexto más amplio de IoT en la mitigación de los efectos adversos del cambio climático y el calentamiento global en la agricultura a través de la optimización de parámetros críticos como la temperatura y la humedad, la adquisición inteligente de datos, el control basado en reglas y la resolución de las barreras para la adopción comercial de sistemas IoT en la agricultura. Los recientes eventos meteorológicos severos e inesperados han contribuido a los bajos rendimientos y pérdidas agrícolas; este es un desafío que se puede resolver a través de la agricultura de precisión mediada por tecnología. Los avances tecnológicos han contribuido con el tiempo al desarrollo de sensores para la prevención de heladas, el control remoto de cultivos, la prevención de riesgos de incendio, el control preciso de nutrientes en cultivos de invernadero sin suelo, la autonomía energética mediante el uso de energía solar y la alimentación, el sombreado y la iluminación inteligentes. control para mejorar los rendimientos y reducir los costos operativos. Sin embargo, abundan los desafíos particulares, incluida la adopción limitada de tecnologías inteligentes en la agricultura comercial, el precio y la precisión de los sensores. Las barreras y los desafíos deberían ayudar a guiar futuros proyectos de investigación y desarrollo y aplicaciones comerciales

Methodologies for Assessing Disease Tolerance in Pigs

Features of intensive farming can seriously threaten pig homeostasis, well-being and productivity. Disease tolerance of an organism is the adaptive ability in preserving homeostasis and at the same time limiting the detrimental impact that infection can inflict on its health and performance without affecting pathogen burden per se. While disease resistance (DRs ) can be assessed measuring appropriately the pathogen burden within the host, the tolerance cannot be quantified easily. Indeed, it requires the assessment of the changes in performance as well as the changes in pathogen burden. In this paper, special attention is given to criteria required to standardize methodologies for assessing disease tolerance (DT) in respect of infectious diseases in pigs. The concept is applied to different areas of expertise and specific examples are given. The basic physiological mechanisms of DT are reviewed. Disease tolerance pathways, genetics of the tolerance-related traits, stress and disease tolerance, and role of metabolic stress in DT are described. In addition, methodologies based on monitoring of growth and reproductive performance, welfare, emotional affective states, sickness behavior for assessment of disease tolerance, and methodologies based on the relationship between environmental challenges and disease tolerance are considered. Automated Precision Livestock Farming technologies available for monitoring performance, health and welfare-related measures in pig farms, and their limitations regarding DT in pigs are also presented. Since defining standardized methodologies for assessing DT is a serious challenge for biologists, animal scientists and veterinarians, this work should contribute to improvement of health, welfare and production in pigs

Multisensor System for Isotemporal Measurements to Assess Indoor Climatic Conditions in Poultry Farms

The rearing of poultry for meat production (broilers) is an agricultural food industry with high relevance to the economy and development of some countries. Periodic episodes of extreme climatic conditions during the summer season can cause high mortality among birds, resulting in economic losses. In this context, ventilation systems within poultry houses play a critical role to ensure appropriate indoor climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to develop a multisensor system to evaluate the design of the ventilation system in broiler houses. A measurement system equipped with three types of sensors: air velocity, temperature and differential pressure was designed and built. The system consisted in a laptop, a data acquisition card, a multiplexor module and a set of 24 air temperature, 24 air velocity and two differential pressure sensors. The system was able to acquire up to a maximum of 128 signals simultaneously at 5 second intervals. The multisensor system was calibrated under laboratory conditions and it was then tested in field tests. Field tests were conducted in a commercial broiler farm under four different pressure and ventilation scenarios in two sections within the building. The calibration curves obtained under laboratory conditions showed similar regression coefficients among temperature, air velocity and pressure sensors and a high goodness fit (R2 = 0.99) with the reference. Under field test conditions, the multisensor system showed a high number of input signals from different locations with minimum internal delay in acquiring signals. The variation among air velocity sensors was not significant. The developed multisensor system was able to integrate calibrated sensors of temperature, air velocity and differential pressure and operated succesfully under different conditions in a mechanically-ventilated broiler farm. This system can be used to obtain quasi-instantaneous fields of the air velocity and temperature, as well as differential pressure maps to assess the design and functioning of ventilation system and as a verification and validation (V&V) system of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations in poultry farms.This work was funded by the project GV04B-511 (Generalitat Valenciana, Spain). The authors would like to thank Victoria Blanes-Vidal of the Southern Denmark University, for her helpful comments and suggestions. We are also grateful for the comments and assistance provided by anonymous referees of earlier versions of this paper.Bustamante García, E.; Guijarro Estelles, ED.; García Diego, FJ.; Balasch Parisi, S.; Hospitaler Pérez, A.; Torres Martínez, AJ. (2012). Multisensor System for Isotemporal Measurements to Assess Indoor Climatic Conditions in Poultry Farms. Sensors. 12(5):5752-5774. doi:10.3390/s120505752S5752577412

Measuring gas emissions from livestock buildings: A review on uncertainty analysis and error sources

Measuring gaseous and particulate emissions from livestock houses has been the subject of intensive research over the past two decades. Currently, there is general agreement regarding appropriate methods to measure emissions from mechanically ventilated buildings. However, measuring emissions from naturally ventilated buildings remains an elusive target primarily because there is no reference method for measuring building ventilation rate. Ventilation rates and thus building emissions estimates for naturally ventilated buildings are likely to contain greater errors compared with those from mechanically ventilated buildings. This work reviews the origin and magnitude of errors associated with emissions from naturally ventilated buildings as compared to those typically found in mechanical ventilation. Firstly, some general concepts of error analysis are detailed. Then, typical errors found in the literature for each measurement technique are reviewed, and potential sources of relevant systematic and random errors are identified. The emission standard uncertainty in mechanical ventilation is at best 10% or more of the measured value, whereas in natural ventilation it may be considerably higher and there may also be significant unquantifiable biases. A reference method is necessary to obtain accurate emissions estimates, and for naturally ventilated structures this suggests the need for a new means of ventilation measurement. The results obtained from the analysis of information in this review will be helpful to establish research priorities, and to optimize research efforts in terms of quality of emission measurements. (C) 2012 IAgrE. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Calvet Sanz, S.; Gates, RS.; Zhang, G.; Estellés, F.; Ogink, NWM.; Pedersen, S.; Berckmans, D. (2013). Measuring gas emissions from livestock buildings: A review on uncertainty analysis and error sources. Biosystems Engineering. 116:221-231. doi:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2012.11.004S22123111