Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The thermal and luminous conditions in aviaries affect the production and quality of eggs. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the thermal and luminous environment of commercial laying hen aviaries equipped with compact fluorescent (CF) and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps and their influence on egg production and quality. The study was carried out in two commercial laying hen facilities with similar construction features and management. The first facility was illuminated with CF lamps and the second with LED lamps. The thermal environment was assessed via air temperature, air relative humidity, and enthalpy. The evaluated lamps provided a similar thermal environment in both facilities. The aviary equipped with LED lamps showed higher illuminance than the one equipped with a CF lamp. Production performance was evaluated through feed intake (FI), feed conversion (FC), mortality (M), and laying percentage (LP). Specific gravity (SG) was used to evaluate eggshell quality. The variables related to production performance and eggshell quality of laying hens raised in aviaries equipped with LED lamps were statistically equal (F-test, p > 0.05) to those raised in aviaries equipped with CF lamps. These results indicate that the replacement of CF lamps with LED lamps does not adversely affect the yield and quality of eggs.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The characterization of ventilation during the transport of broiler chickens is essential for identifying and characterizing the potential problems of a convective heat flow and its effects on the welfare and the health and production conditions of the chickens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ventilation patterns in two layout models of a live transport load: conventional (LC) and alternative (LA) with spacers placed between the chicken transport crates. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind tunnel tests were performed using small scale models. The results showed that the use of spacers between crates (LA model) modified the ventilation patterns and increased the wind circulation between crates. However, wind tunnel tests simulating a density of eight birds/crate were inconclusive because the ventilation was below the sensitivity of the measuring devices used (0.001 m/s). It can be concluded that the use of spacers between the transport crates can modify the ventilation patterns within the load and increase the air circulation between the crates. However, the internal ventilation within the crates has not changed, suggesting the need for studies on the aerodynamics of a transport crate for poultry use.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The consumption of saline water in semiarid regions is a recurrent situation that can affect the ingestive behavior of small ruminants. This study evaluated the ingestive behavior of Santa Inês sheep maintained in a climatic chamber under two air temperatures -25 °C within the thermal comfort zone (TCZ) and 32 °C above the TCZ - and consuming water with three levels of salinity - 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 dS m-1. The experimental design was completely randomized in 2 × 3 factorial schemes, comprising two air temperatures and drinking water with three levels of salinity, in six replicates (animals). Regardless of air temperature, the consumption of saline water did not affect feed and water intake by the sheep; however, there was a decrease in feed intake and an increase in water intake as air temperature increased. Feed and water intake; feeding, rumination, and idle times; defecation frequency; and fecal production were not affected (P > 0.05) by the water salinity levels, whereas reduction in feed intake, feeding time, and rumination time and an increase in water intake and idle time were observed as air temperature increased. In summary, increasing air temperature negatively affected the ingestive behavior of the animals; however, water with salinity up to 8.0 dS m-1 did not affect their ingestive behavior and hence could be used for drinking.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to characterize the thermal environment and evaluate the behavior of finishing pigs housed in deep bedding and conventional systems. The work was carried out in the Department of Animal Science of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southeast Minas Gerais, Rio Pomba campus. Three pens were used in an installation for breeding pigs in their finishing phase. Two pens contained deep bedding, with wood shavings and rice husks. The remaining pen was a conventional system. The behavior of the piglets was observed from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., noting the behaviors with the use of an ethogram, while data relating to the thermal environment in the stalls were automatically collected using data loggers. Thermal environment data for all systems presented thermal stress conditions. Regarding behavioral variables, animals in conventional systems had a higher frequency of visits to feeders, while animals in the deep bedding system were more active and visited the drinking fountains more frequently. Despite the higher level of activity of the animals in the deep bedding system, it is not possible to confirm that the deep bedding provides a better degree of well-being for the animals under thermal stress conditions.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Considering the challenges faced by poultry farming, this study aimed to develop a neuro-fuzzy model to predict eyeball and crest temperatures of egg-laying hens based on environmental conditions (dry bulb temperature and relative humidity). To develop the models and simulations, Matlab’s Fuzzy Toolbox® (Anfisedit) was used. Different configurations were used for each of the several neuro-fuzzy models developed. Eyeball temperature (ET) and chicken crest temperature (CCT) were simulated from the developed neuro-fuzzy models, and the obtained results were validated with the variables collected experimentally with the aid of recorder sensors and an infrared thermographic camera. The proposed neuro-fuzzy models allow the accurate estimation of ET and CCT of two lineages of egg-laying hens raised in conventional aviaries, thus helping in decision-making for better animal welfare.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT In grape, high temperatures and low humidity prolong midday depression of foliar photosynthesis and dramatically reduce fruit yield. In this study, we explored the effects of various mist micro-spray treatments on grape photosynthesis at a test site in Shanshan County (N, 42.91°; E, 90.30°), Turpan, Xinjiang, China. We tested four different mist micro-spray durations including 1 h (WP1), 2 h (WP2), 3 h (WP3), and 0 h (CK). WP1, WP2, and WP3 affected canopy air temperature and humidity for 5 h, 7 h, and 9 h, respectively. At 12:30, WP1, WP2, and WP3 had the strongest cooling effect and altered temperature by −5.12 °C, −5.09 °C, and −5.17 °C respectively. The relative chlorophyll content was higher in the upper than the lower canopy leaves. There were no differences in the same leaf layers across treatments. The net photosynthesis and transpiration rates and stomatal conductance were higher for the upper than the lower canopy leaves. Compared with CK, the mist micro-spray treatments mitigated “midday depression” in the upper leaves and eliminated it altogether in the lower leaves. Mist micro-spray for 1 h d-1 most effectively improved grape leaf photosynthesis. The findings of the present study lay an empirical foundation for improving grape leaf photosynthesis and fruit yield.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Detecting trends in streamflow and rainfall series can have great significance for proper water resource management. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the trends of historical streamflow and rainfall series using nonparametric statistical tests. A historical series of pluviometric and fluviometric gauges, which belong to the hydrometeorological network of the Brazilian Water National Agency in the Santo Antônio River Basin, Brazil, from 1985 to 2014 were used. By applying statistical tests, it was found that the time series are independent and random, and from the total 24 rainfall gauges evaluated, 12 presented nonstationary behavior, exhibiting mostly decreasing trends. Based on the six fluviometric gauges used for the annual streamflow series, only the annual data of one gauge tended to decrease to the minimum streamflow. However, for the monthly series, three gauges showed decreasing trends between July and September. This decrease in streamflow may be a consequence of rainfall reductions, high water demand, and changes in land use and cover.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Sugarcane mechanized harvesting can lead to serious risks to the longevity of plantations when improperly operated, and may cause damages and disturbances in the remaining ratoons in the field. In this sense, this study aimed to evaluate the damage and disturbance to the sugarcane ratoons by the base cutting quality of two-blade models through statistical process control. The experiment was carried out during the 2015/16 growing season in an agricultural area of the Moreno Mill, located in Cravinhos, São Paulo, Brazil. The sugarcane harvester models A8800 (Machine 1) and BE1035 (Machine 2). The sugarcane variety cultivated in both treatments was SP80-1816. Thirty points were sampled per harvester, with 10-minute intervals between them. Equations were used to calculate the indices, which were then evaluated through descriptive analysis and statistical process control. Machine 2 presented process instability for the index of damages, with lower data variability. On the other hand, Machine 1 presented instability during the process due to the quality indicator and index of disturbance, but with a lower operation variability.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Statistical process control has been widely used in agricultural operations for monitoring and improving process quality. This study aims to evaluate the Shewhart and exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control charts to monitor the performance of an agricultural tractor–planter set. The design is completely randomized based on the assumptions of statistical process control and comprises two treatments: day and night shift treatments. The data to assess the performance of the tractor–planter set are collected during the day and night shifts and used to evaluate the operating speed, motor rotation, engine oil pressure and water temperature, and hourly fuel consumption. The dataset comprised 40 samples compiled from the frontal monitor column inside a tractor cab. It is concluded that both Shewhart and MMEP/EWMA control charts can be used to evaluate engine performance based on the quality indicator parameters investigated, regardless of the normality assumption of the datasets.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the infrared spectrum in the range of 4000−650 cm−1 for characterizing and differentiating dried and ground coffee cherry pulp of different varieties. The spectral data were subjected to first and second derivative treatments to perform the statistical analyses. Three varieties of coffee pulp were previously characterized for color, water activity, moisture, chlorogenic acids, and caffeine. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a viable technique for characterizing and differentiating dried and ground coffee cherry pulp among different varieties, showing the best differentiation with treatment of data from the first derivative, which was mainly associated with the caffeine content and chlorogenic acids. This study is the first investigation of FTIR spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance for characterizing dried and ground coffee cherry pulp from coffee varieties grown in Colombia.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Previous studies have confirmed the potential of hyperspectral spectroscopy (HS) to detect charcoal rot toxin effect on soybean (Glycine max). However, there is no evidence that it can differentiate among difference responses to that effect. This research tested the potential of HS (900–2400 nm) to differentiate different responses to charcoal rot effect caused by the fungal pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina. Known susceptible ‘Pharaoh’ and resistant ‘Spencer’ cultivars of soybean seedlings at the V1 stage were tested, and HS reflectance was measured in each treatment at 0 h (just before toxin treatment), 24 h, and 36 h after toxin treatment. For both cultivars, reflectance generally decreased up to 10% over time for controls and increased for treated seedlings up to 22%. Pharaoh had significant increases in reflectance 24 and 36 h after treatment, while Spencer did not exhibit significant changes in reflectance over the 24 and 36-h periods. The ratio of Al-Ahmadi et al. (2018) was also evaluated. Spencer showed a higher ratio than Pharaoh. Based on our results, HS can be used to compare the relative resistance of soybean cultivars to charcoal rot and is a potential screening technique to classify soybean cultivars based on their resistance to charcoal rot toxin.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT There exist two options for digital cameras that can capture the near-infrared (NIR) band. Conventional red–green–blue (RGB, visible bands) cameras with a single sensor provide NIR band visibility based on the removal of the internal NIR-blocking filter. Alternatively, multisensor cameras exist that have a specific sensor for each band. The modified RGB cameras are of a lower price. In this context, the objective of this study was to compare the performance of a modified RGB camera with that of a multisensor camera for obtaining the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in an area with coffee cultivations. A multispectral camera with five sensors and another camera with only one sensor were used. The NDVI of the coffee field was also measured using the GreenSeeker handheld NDVI sensor manufactured by Trimble. The images were calibrated radiometrically based on the targets in shades of gray made of napa, and the NDVI was calculated after image calibration. The calibration curves showed a high coefficient of determination. The NDVI value obtained with the calibrated images from the cameras showed a significant correlation with the values obtained by the GreenSeeker NDVI sensor, making it possible to obtain the variability pattern of the vegetation index. However, the NDVI obtained using the multisensor camera was closer to the NDVI obtained by the GreenSeeker NDVI sensor.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Although peanut harvesting results in significant losses, it has rarely been investigated. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the interference of different pod moisture contents on peanut harvesting and their influence on the process quality based on losses and impurities. An experiment was performed in a peanut seed producing area, in Luzitânia, district of Jaboticabal - SP, using average moisture contents of 15% and 20% in the pods; 16 and 14 data points were collected for the 20% and 15% treatments, respectively. The experimental design used statistical process control (SPC) to analyze the collected variables. The results indicated higher losses in the platform than in the machine. In addition, the harvest quality was not affected by the pod moisture content. However, the correct adjustment of machines can restrict total losses to approximately 1% of the yield. Pods with moisture contents of 15% and 20% can be used for peanut harvesting. However, although a pod moisture content of 15% reduced the amount of mineral and vegetal impurities inside the bulk tank, the number of open pods increased, whereas a pod moisture content of 20% provided a greater number of whole pods.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The use of alternative materials such as lignocellulosic residues in the production of particleboards has increased considering that these residues are produced in large volumes and often do not have an appropriate destination. This research studied the use of residues from cellulose industries, sugarcane bagasse, and castor oil-based polyurethane resin in the production of wooden panels and evaluated the influence of using these residues on the physical and mechanical properties of the panels. The products were manufactured according to the Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 14810 and the requirements of the panels were evaluated based on national and international standards. All treatments partially met the regulatory requirements. The addition of bagasse led to an improvement in physical and mechanical properties, with treatment 2 (50% wood residue and 50% bagasse) presenting the best performance, which indicates the possibility of using panels with residues with non-structural purpose in environments to improve the thermoacoustic performance of rural buildings. The statistical analysis indicated that the percentage of bagasse was significant, improving the evaluated properties.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Irrigation is essential for the development of crops in regions with scarcity or irregular rainfall distribution, enabling high productivity. However, the use of water resources and electrical energy leads to a concern with irrigation efficiency. Pressure demand varies during the operations of irrigation systems and the appropriate pressure can be regulated by variable-frequency drives for the power supply of the motor-pump set. This study aimed to analyze the technical and economic feasibility of using a variable-frequency drive to adjust the pressure in subunits of micro-irrigation systems. Laboratory tests were carried out to determine the electrical power consumed in each irrigated subunit for different slopes and the application or not of the variable-frequency drive. Thus, an economic analysis was carried out considering the electricity tariff for group B and rural consumer class, as well as different annual irrigation times. The results showed the potential for energy saving with the use of the variable-frequency drive. Thus, the economic analysis showed that the variable-frequency drive was a better alternative than the dissipative method.