Prediction of canola seed longevity in the drying process

The probit analysis has been an important tool to predict seed longevity during storage and has been applied for seed drying simulation. Sealed aluminum pouches containing approximately 50 g of canola seed at moisture range of 7% to 21% of water content web basis (%) were conditioned in water-bath at 50, 60 and 70 °C to obtain the model to evaluate the reduction of canola seed germination. This model was included in the drying simulation program and the estimated germination was compared to the experimental values of germination during drying to validate the model. Canola seeds at 21% of moisture content and germination of 93% were dried at 51 °C and 61 °C, and the model represented significantly the drying experiments. The aim of this study was to propose a germination model to evaluate the quality of canola seeds during the drying process and to offer the seed producers an important tool to control the drying process. The experimental data validated the objectives of the proposed drying model, optimizing the process at given conditions, managing the energy consumption, according to the minimum germination or maximum moisture content limitation for seed storage. For 51 °C, the drying time for canola seed would be about 6 h to maintain germination above 90% and for 61 °C, 4 h of drying time maintained germination up to 89%.732633

Sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) analysis through biospeckle and spectroscopy (NIR)

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the sugar and water content in sugar cane samples by means of two non-destructive techniques in comparison with conventional methods. One non-destructive technique is the Biospeckle, an interaction between the laser and the biological material which provides information about the material. The other technique is the near infrared spectroscopy (NIR). The Biospeckle technique has been constantly used in agricultural engineering. In this paper, the relation between the water and the sugar contents were obtained. The results for the Biospeckle were acquired through the moment of inertia (MI). The data acquired through already consolidated methodologies were used to quantify the samples’ water and sugar contents, correlating to the spectroscopy results and also to the Biospeckle. It was obtained a high determination coefficient (R2 = 0.9287) between the predicted Brix by the model generated by NIR spectroscopy and Brix measured by refractometer. It was also possible to differentiate the water contents of the sugar cane samples both externally lit (husk) and internally lit (cut) by Biospeckle analysis through the calculation of MI. It is possible to evaluate the water content and the sugar content in samples combining Biospeckle and NIR spectroscopy, which are non-invasive and non-destructive methods.7626

Maize seeds submitted to thermotherapy and analyzed by dynamic speckle

The quality of the seeds used for sowing is fundamental for a high productivity and quality of the crop. Therefore, eradicating pathogens is essential for the plant to develop in the best possible way. The eradication of those pathogens can be accomplished by means of treatments that consist of the application of substances to the seeds or by performing physical procedures. Thermotherapy is a physical treatment, in which the seed is exposed to a given thermal energy, such as heated air or steam, and can be highly efficient for controlling those pathogens, in addition to reducing environmental damage and costs. The present work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of thermotherapy in two ways: wet heat (water) and dry heat (water vapor), both at 60 °C, alternating the exposure time to the thermal sources. The treatment with humid heat with a time of exposure of 5 min was the most efficient, since it presented higher germination percentages (83%) and less occurrence of Fusarium sp. (33%). It was observed that the most efficient thermotherapy is in the control of Fusarium, the most aggressive is for the quality of the seed. The quality of the treatments was evaluated through standard methodologies, according to the rules for seed analysis, such as germination and sanitation tests. Biospeckle laser was used to identify the microbial activity in these seeds, through activity maps generated by laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA) processing. In this way, the research involving thermotherapy can be done by varying the temperature and the time of exposure to obtain values that considerably reduce the pathogenic agents and preserve the quality, in order to maintain the values of germination and vigor acceptable for commercialization.811512

Three-dimensional reconstruction of live fish through the moiré technique

Currently, in fish farms, the controls of the physical characteristics of the fishes, for example, size and mass are made by means of the operation of fish removal, in which the tanks are emptied to capture the animals and perform the biometry. This operation demands large volumes of water and generates effluent containing high concentrations of organic matter and nutrients that can contribute to the deterioration of water quality in the recipient bodies. Therefore, the development of technologies that use digital image processing, such as the moiré technique and image analysis, can be important allies for the preservation of environmental quality by avoiding the fish removal and the discharge of effluents, increasing productivity due to optimization of the time and still the saving of water. To obtain the images a 9-liter glass aquarium, a support for notebook and light projector, a digital camera brand Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 were used. The objective of this work was to obtain the three-dimensional reconstruction of live fish in aquariums. In the future, the technique can be developed to obtain the mass and the volume of the fish in fish tanks, replacing the fish removal, allowing the preservation of water resources.824224

Survey of the spatial coordinates of vegetable bodies associated to the bioactivity mapping and color

Orientadores: Inacio Maria Dal Fabbro, Adilson Machado EnesTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia AgrícolaResumo: Técnicas ópticas vêm sendo utilizadas para diversas finalidades técnicas e científicas. Algumas técnicas ópticas se caracterizam como métodos robustos, de baixo custo, não invasivos e não destrutivos para avaliação de materiais diversos, como produtos agrícolas, havendo aplicações desde a engenharia até a área da saúde humana e animal. Neste trabalho propõem-se a avaliação de frutos através da combinação de duas técnicas ópticas cujos estudos vêm comprovando suas aplicabilidades como métodos alternativos e inovadores, os quais empregam equipamentos de baixo custo na aquisição dos dados, permitindo automação de processos de seleção e classificação de produtos. Uma dessas técnicas é conhecida como Biospeckle, a qual fornece informações referentes à qualidade do material biológico em nível de estruturas celulares e a outra é o escaneamento com linha laser, que permite a obtenção de geometria do objeto nos eixos Xi (i = 1,2,3). O objetivo é proceder a um levantamento topográfico digital de materiais biológicos combinando o posicionamento geométrico dos pontos da imagem com informações referentes à atividade biológica. Foi realizada ainda a diferenciação entre frutos de formato variado, a classificação de frutos por formato, classe, coloração e defeitos por meio de processamento de imagens. Dessa forma é possível observar frutos com irregularidades superficiais, maturidade, danos mecânicos e latentes, entre outros. Esta pode se tornar a base para a seleção automática de produtos agrícolas. Foram utilizados um emissor de linha laser de diodo com 632 nm de comprimento de onda, luz branca difusa, câmera CCD, computador, mesa óptica, mamões, peras, tomates e esferas de isopor, bem como softwares ImageJ, Octave, Matlab. Foram desenvolvidos cinco programas computacionais para processamento das imagens. Foram realizados cinco experimentos, a saber: (1) Avaliação da Maturidade de Frutos; (2) Reconstrução Tridimensional e Mapeamento da Bioatividade; (3) Detecção de Formato Variado; (4) Mapeamento por Formato, Classe e Coloração; (5) Detecção de Defeitos. Na Avaliação da Maturidade foram correlacionados índices de maturidade tradicionais (parâmetros de Hunter L a b, pH, Sólidos Solúveis Totais (SST), a relação Sólidos Solúveis Totais e Acidez Total Titulável (SST/ATT), Módulo de Elasticidade, massa e diâmetro) e a técnica óptica Biospeckle, pelo cálculo do Momento de Inércia (MI). Para a Reconstrução Tridimensional os frutos foram rotacionados através de um motor de passo. A cada passo do motor, o fruto foi iluminado pela linha laser projetada e fotografado para obtenção dos dados de geometria e Biospeckle pelo método LASCA (Laser Speckle Contrast Analysis). Foi analisada a correlação entre os índices de maturidade tradicionais e os valores de MI na avaliação da maturidade. Esta tese mostra que é possível avaliar a maturidade dos frutos através do Biospeckle. Obteve-se um mapa tridimensional que integra as informações de topografia e bioatividade do fruto. Obteve-se, ainda, a detecção de formato variado, a classificação de frutos por mapeamento por formato, classe e coloração e detecção de defeitos através de softwareAbstract: Optical techniques have been used for both technical and scientific purposes. Optical techniques are usually characterized as being robust, inexpensive, non-invasive and non-destructive methods in to evaluate a diversity of materials which include agricultural derived products. It also shows applications ranging from engineering to human and animal health. In this doctoral dissertation, a new technique to evaluate some fruit properties is proposed. It combines two optical techniques (i.e. Biospeckle and Scan-line laser) whose applicability has been demonstrated as being alternative and innovative. The new proposed technique allows low-cost data acquisition, automation of the entire process, and a proper selection and classification method of vegetable bodies (e.g. fruits). Biospeckle allows obtaining information regarding the quality level of biological material into cellular structures. Scan-line laser enables the attainment of the object geometry on the axes Xi (i=1,2,3). The main purpose of this doctoral dissertation is to obtain a digital survey of biological materials (i.e. papaya, pear and tomato) integrating both geometric positioning and information concerning to its biological activity. The differentiation between different fruit shapes, fruit sorting by size, class, color and defects through image processing was also carried out. Thus it was also possible to observe fruits with surface irregularities, maturity, and mechanical damage, among others. This is the basis proposed for the automatic selection of agricultural products. The following materials were employed in the tests: a line-emitting diode laser with a wavelength of 632 nm, diffuse white light, CCD camera, computer, optical table, papaya, pear and tomato fruits and polystyrene spheres. The softwares utilized were: ImageJ, Octave, Matlab. A total of five computer programs were developed for the image processing procedures. Five experiments were performed: (1) Maturity Assessment of Fruits; (2) Three Dimensional Reconstruction and Mapping of Bioactivity; (3) Miscellaneous Format Detection; (4) Mapping Format, Class and Coloration; (5) Defect Detection. In Maturity Assessment there were correlated traditional methods to verify the maturity (the Hunter parameters L a b, pH, Total Soluble Solids (TSS), the relationship between Total Soluble Solids and Titratable Acidity (TSS/TA), Modulus of Elasticity, weight and diameter) and the optical technique Biospeckle by calculating the Moment of Inertia (MI). For the Three Dimensional Reconstruction the fruits were rotated by a stepper motor. At every step of the motor, the fruit was illuminated by the projected laser line and photographed in order to obtain both geometric and biospeckle data by the LASCA (Laser Speckle Contrast Analysis) method. The correlation between traditional methods for the maturity assessment and values of MI was analyzed. This doctoral dissertation shows that it is possible to evaluate the maturity of fruits through Biospeckle. A three-dimensional map that includes topographical information and bioactivity of the fruit was generated. Also a software can now detect variations in size, classify fruit shapes, color and class as well as defect detection efficiently.DoutoradoMaquinas AgricolasDoutora em Engenharia Agrícol

Application of the laser biospeckle in evaluation ipê-roxo (Tabebuia heptaphylla) (Vellozo) Toledo

Orientadores: Inacio Maria Dal Fabbro, Leila MartinsDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia AgrícolaResumo: O ipê-roxo (Tabebuia heptaphylla (Vellozo) Toledo) é uma espécie de alto valor econômico, ornamental e medicinal, pertencente à família Bignoniaceae, cuja multiplicação ocorre prioritariamente por sementes. Há considerável necessidade de estudos sobre o desempenho fisiológico das unidades de dispersão dessa e de outras espécies florestais. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a potencialidade do biospeckle, técnica baseada no fenômeno óptico de interferência, como ferramenta de caracterização do potencial germinativo das sementes de ipê-roxo. A quantificação do biospeckle foi expressa através do cálculo do Momento de Inércia (MI). Foram utilizados laser vermelho (632 nm de comprimento de onda) e 10 mW de potência, câmera filmadora digital e computador. Foram realizados cinco experimentos, a saber: (1) Avaliação de danos térmicos em sementes através do biospeckle; (2) Avaliação da interferência do tegumento na sensibilidade do biospeckle; (3) Diferenciação entre sementes germinadas e não germinadas através do biospeckle; (4) Determinação da faixa de umidade das sementes para a melhor interação entre o laser e a semente para o biospeckle; (5) Avaliação de sementes de ipê-roxo submetidas ao envelhecimento acelerado através do biospeckle. Para os experimentos 1, 2, 3 e 4 as sementes foram hidratadas até atingirem grau de umidade de 69%, divididas em quatro sub-amostras sendo que duas delas foram submetidas ao congelamento. Em seguida as sub-amostras foram separadas em 5 níveis de umidade (28, 35, 54, 63, 69%) e iluminadas com laser. Nesses ensaios foram planejados quatro tratamentos: (1) sementes sem tegumento; (2) sementes com tegumento; (3) sementes sem tegumento submetidas a congelamento a 0°C e (4) sementes com tegumento submetidas ao congelamento a 0°C. Os resultados permitem afirmar que é possível diferenciar as sementes que sofreram dano térmico daquelas que não sofreram através do biospeckle. A presença do tegumento interfere na sensibilidade do biospeckle. É possível diferenciar as sementes viáveis das inviáveis através do biospeckle. Do experimento 4 obteve-se uma correlação positiva entre os valores de MI e de umidade das sementes. Verificou-se também que a faixa de teor de água para a melhor interação entre o laser e a semente de ipê-roxo está entre 28 e 54%. Esta faixa de umidade das sementes foi utilizada como referência para o experimento 5. No experimento 5 as sementes foram submetidas ao envelhecimento acelerado (42°C e umidade relativa do ar de 100 % durante 24, 48, 72, 96 e 120 horas) e avaliadas através da técnica do biospeckle e teste de germinação. Obteve-se que é possível detectar a redução de viabilidade e vigor das sementes de T. heptaphylla ocasionada pelo envelhecimento acelerado. Dessa forma, o biospeckle é uma técnica que vem sendo desenvolvida e apresenta-se como uma ferramenta possível para avaliar o potencial germinativo das sementes de ipê-roxoAbstract: Ipê-roxo (Tabebuia heptaphylla (Vellozo) Toledo) is considered of very important economical, ornamental, as well as medicinal value which is included in the Bignoniaceae botanical family which multiplication is quite solely carried by seeds. Forest dispersion elements, i.e., the seeds, deserve a deep understanding of their physiological performance. The objective of this research work was to evaluate a biospeckle method potential in testing seed viability, which is based on the laser interferometry. The biospeckle phenomenon quantification was carried by means of the Moment of Inertia (MI) which formula resembles its mechanical counterpart. The equipment employed in the experimental setup included a 632 nm red diode laser of 10mW, a digital movie camera as well as a PC. The five tests carried were (1) thermal damage evaluation on seeds, (2) biospeckle sensitivity to the tegument interference, (3) differentiation between non germinated and germinated seeds evaluation by the biospeckle, (4) determination of the best seed moisture content to laser interaction and (5) evaluation of accelerated aging ipê-roxo seeds through the biospeckle. In tests 1, 2, 3 and 4 seeds were hydrated to the value of 69% and divided into four sub samples from which two of them were forwarded to freezing. Following the four sub samples were separated into five moisture level groups (28, 35, 54, 63, 69%) and exposed to the laser. Four treatments have been imposed to the experimental tests, named (1) seeds without teguments, (2) seeds with tegument, (3) frozen at 0° C seeds without teguments and (4) frozen at 0° C seeds with teguments. Results from biospeckle tests confirm the possibility of differentiating seeds with thermal damage from those without thermal damage. When the tegument is covering the seed, the sensitivity of biospeckle is affected.?It's possible to differentiate viable seeds from non viable seeds using biospeckle technique. From test (4) it is obtained a positive correlation between MI and seeds moisture content. It was also verified that seed moisture content between 28% and 54% showed better interaction with laser. That moisture content range was adopted for the test (5). Seeds were submitted to accelerated aging process in the test (5) (42°C and 100% of relative humidity for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours) following by biospeckle evaluation and germination tests. It was concluded that viability reduction of T. heptaphylla as generated by accelerated aging can be detected by the biospeckle test. Thus, the biospeckle is a technique that has been developed and is presented as a possible tool to assess the germination potential of ipê-roxo seedsMestradoMaquinas AgricolasMestre em Engenharia Agrícol

Influence of greenhouse's shape in the structural performance

The present work aimed to study the treatment with the bioprotector Trichoderma harzianum on maize seeds immediately after treatment and during storage. Maize seeds were analyzed through germination test, vigor tests (cold test, accelerated aging and aerial length), and the viability of the treated seeds was verified through the biospeckle. Seed treatment is recommended because approximately 90% of crops intended for human and animal feeding are seed-propagated. A pathogen present in the seed results in increased diseases in the adult plant, in addition to introducing pathogens in other areas. So the seed treatment can provide better results than chemicals disease control on plants. Bioprotectors have antagonistic fungi that produce metabolites and enzymes that will avoid the proliferation of phytopathogenic fungi. Among the bioprotectors, Trichoderma spp., used for phytosanitary control of seeds, stands out. The tests were carried out with treatment in order to evaluate the physiological potential caused by the treatment with the bioprotector. The biospeckle experimental runs were performed in parallel with the sanitation test. The germination percentages of 93.0%, 87.5%, and 87.5%, respectively, showed that they were all above the minimum requirement for commercialization, which is 85%. Analyzing the vigor and sanitation tests, it was verified that the best treatment was on day zero. Among the seeds analyzed through biospeckle, using the laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA) technique, it was possible to identify fungi activity.817518

Least limiting water range as influenced by tillage and cover crop

Brazil has been experiencing a trend of increased mechanization, although there are no studies addressing the relationship between tillage and cover crops, which affects soil physical attributes, cover crop dry biomass, roots dry biomass, yield, soil water content, and the influence on the least limiting water range (LLWR), defined as the range of volumetric soil water content in which limitations to plant growth occur. This study aimed to i) assess LLWR during two cycles in a sugarcane area using different cover crops and soil tillage systems; ii) correlate the LLWR with different soil physical attributes (soil bulk density, macroporosity and soil penetration resistance); and iii) evaluate the potential use of LLWR as an index of soil and crop quality. The study was conducted under field conditions in a sugarcane culture in the municipality of Ibitinga, São Paulo, Brazil. We used four cover crops (sunn hemp, millet, peanut and sorghum) and three soil tillage systems [no tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT), and minimum tillage with deep subsoiling (MT/DS)] and compared them with a control treatment [conventional tillage with lack of plant cover (CT)] using an experimental design with split-plot scheme. The soil physical attributes were more affected during the cane cycle by the soil tillages and cover plants. Regarding soil water content, sunn hemp and sorghum obtained the highest soil water content over time with the use of MT/DS, also because the soil bulk density values using sunn hemp and sorghum MT/DS (1.64 and 1.59 kg dm−3, respectively) are 8% lower than the CT for the layer 0.15–0.30 m for the cane plant cycle. In what concerns LLWR, the treatments that maintained their soil water contents within the range for more than 3 months in a row were sunn hemp and millet MT/DS. LLWR was an important indicator, showing that the treatments that obtained LLWR equal to zero, even with high root growth and low penetration resistance, were not enough to express differences in productivity. This proved that the index aggregates all the information and produces satisfying results225CNPQ - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoFAPESP – Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa Do Estado De São Paulo130826/2017-02013/07700-8This study was supported by the Agrisus Foundation – Sustainable Agriculture [grant numbers 1439/15], FAPESP- São Paulo Research Foundation (grant numbers: 2013/07700-8) and CNPq (grant numbers: 130826/2017-0), which granted a scholarship. The authors thank the Itaquerê Group for having provided the study area