Mechanized sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) harvest without burning has been increasingly adopted in Brazil, increasing trash availability on the field. This study aims at showing the importance of using an integrated framework tool to assess technical and economic impacts of integral harvesting and baling trash recovery strategies and different recovery rates as well as its implications in the sugarcane production, transport and processing stages. Trash recovery using baling system presents higher costs per unit of mass of recovered trash in comparison to system in which trash is harvested and transported with sugarcane stalks (integral harvesting system). However, the integrated agricultural and industrial assessment showed that recovering trash using baling system presents better economic results (higher internal rate of return and lower ethanol production cost) than the integral harvesting system for trash recovery rates higher than 30 %. Varying trash recovery fraction, stalks productivity and mean transport distance for both integral harvesting and baling systems, sensitivity analyses showed that higher trash recovery fractions associated with higher stalks yields and long transport distances favors baling system, mainly due to the reduction of bulk load density for integral harvesting system under those conditions.

Avaliou-se cinco tipos de embalagens (duas plásticas, duas de papelão ondulado e a caixa K de madeira) quanto à proteção fornecida ao tomate variedade Santa Clara durante seu transporte e manuseio. Os tomates acondicionados em tais embalagens foram comparados com frutos controle, isto é, aqueles que não sofreram qualquer tipo de vibração, impacto ou choque, de acordo com a porcentagem daqueles contendo injúrias mecânicas e segundo também sua intensidade. Os tomates foram armazenados à temperatura ambiente por 7 dias, até atingirem 100% de coloração vermelha, e avaliados quanto à incidência de deterioração, perda de peso e sabor (analiticamente através da relação Brix/acidez titulável e por análise sensorial). Os resultados mostraram que os tomates localizados na parte inferior das caixas foram os mais prejudicados e que as ripas de madeira, ásperas e distantes entre si, assim como os pregos da caixa K, foram responsáveis pelos danos mais significativos. As avaliações apontaram a embalagem de papelão ondulado de menor tamanho como a de maior proteção contra injúrias mecânicas nos tomates.

Five different packages (2 made of plastic, 2 of cardboard, and 1 made of wood) were evaluated with respect to the protection of tomatoes (Santa Clara variety) during their transportation and handling. These tomatoes were compared to control samples, as related to fruits with no physical impact or vibration, considering the percentage of those fruits with mechanical injuries and their severity. The fruits were stored at ambient temperature for 7 days until they reached full-color and then evaluated regarding the incidence of decay, weight loss, and flavor by Brix/acidity ratio and sensory analysis. The results have shown that the tomatoes on the bottom of the boxes had worse bruises and that the separated clapboards and the clues of wooden boxes caused the most severe injuries. The results also permitted the conclusion that there were less bruised tomatoes in the smaller cardboard package compared to the plastic and wooden boxes.

RESUMO A presente pesquisa trata do estudo de biodigestores de batelada mantidos a diferentes temperaturas, visando analisar os níveis mais favoráveis à produção de biogás e à degradação de sólidos totais e voláteis de esterco bovino. A temperatura mais adequada obtida em laboratório (31ºC) foi aplicada em um biodigestor rural modelo indiano, com 10m3 de capacidade, a fim de se verificar seu desempenho.

ABSTRACT The current research focus on the study of batch biodigesters, maintained at different temperatures, to analyse the most adequate levels for biogas production, total and volatile solids degradation of cow manure. The most adequate temperature obtained in laboratory (31ºC) was applied to a indian rural biodigester with 10 m3 capasity in order to verify its performance.