Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Patrik Burg Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Vladimír Mašán Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Martin Dušek Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Pavel Zemánek Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Kazimierz Rutkowski Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Production and Power Engineering, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland Title: Review of energy potential of the wood biomass of orchards and vineyards in the Czech Republic Abstract: The most important sources of biomass energy are currently coming from agricultural activity. A sizeable portion in production areas is waste wood after the winter cut of orchards and vineyards, which cover areas exceeding 30,000 ha in the Czech Republic. The most important are species like apples, peaches, apricots, plums, sweet cherries, sour cherries and grapevines. Average production of wood mass for individual species of fruit trees and grapevines ranges from 1,540 kg/ha up to 6,762 kg/ha, i.e. 1.5 t/ha to 6.8 t/ha. The calorific value for these species ranges from 14.70 to 16.39 MJ/kg, with moisture between 6 and 8%. The results show that the total measured energy potential of the fruit species-cultivated areas is 1,469.7 TJ for the whole Czech Republic. Keywords: net calorific value, waste wood, wood production, total energetic potential Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: S1-S7 Volume: 63 Issue: SpecialIssue Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/30/2017-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/30/2017-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201710-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:63:y:2017:i:SpecialIssue:id:30-2017-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jakub Lev Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Physics, Author-Name: Vadym Shapoval Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jan Bartoška Author-Workplace-Name: Department of System Engineering, Faculty of Economic and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: František Kumhála Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Low-cost infrared sensor for wildlife detection in vegetation Abstract: The protection of wild animals from mutilation or being killed during haymaking is still a serious problem connected with high working speeds and widths of modern harvesting machines. That is why the main aim of this study was to test low-cost, high-speed and low-noise infrared array sensor Melexis MLX90621 for the application of wildlife detection with the potential to be used in front of the mower equipment. The tests with two different crops with or without a hidden dog were made. Results showed that the sensor is able to detect an animal hidden in the crop with very high probability. Nevertheless, direct sunlight conditions can cause the problems when using infrared technology. A simultaneous use of other sensors working on different principle than infrared technology can be thus recommended. Keywords: haymaking, wild animals' protection, internet protocol camera, infrared array sensor Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: S13-S17 Volume: 63 Issue: SpecialIssue Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/32/2017-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/32/2017-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201710-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:63:y:2017:i:SpecialIssue:id:32-2017-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jakub Lev Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Physics, Author-Name: František Kumhála Author-Workplace-Name: Departmen of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic Corresponding auhtor: kumhala@tf.czu.cz Title: Dielectric properties of hops - an effect of bulk density Abstract: Continuous detection of basic physical properties of freshly picked and cleaned wet hop cones would be very helpful for better control and automation of harvesting processes. That is why the main aim of this article was to determine the effects of bulk density changes on dielectric properties of freshly picked hop cones. Relative permittivity and loss factor were measured using a newly developed capacitance measuring device. A strong linear correlation between fresh hops relative permittivity and bulk density was found. This finding could be used e.g. for consequent hop drying process control. Significant differences between tested hop varieties were observed for both relative permittivity and loss factor measurements. These differences cannot be explained only by a slightly different moisture content of the measured varieties and ambient temperature changes. Measured material loss factor was only slightly affected by bulk density changes. However, relative permittivity was affected by bulk density changes significantly. These facts could be used for other properties of wet hop cones estimation. Keywords: fresh hop cones, relative permittivity, loss factor, capacitance sensor Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: S18-S23 Volume: 63 Issue: SpecialIssue Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/34/2017-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/34/2017-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201710-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:63:y:2017:i:SpecialIssue:id:34-2017-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Adolf Rybka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Petr Heřmánek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Ivo Honzík Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Karel Krofta Author-Workplace-Name: Hop Research Institute Co., Ltd., Žatec, Czech Republic Title: Parameters of the drying medium and dried hops in belt dryer Abstract: An important factor in hop growing is the process of drying. For this purpose belt dryers with follow-up conditioning are the most widespread but they are not ideal. In this respect, an analysis of the drying process was carried out in the belt dryer of Agrospol Velká Bystřice Co., Ltd. for the 'Saaz' hop variety. Drying parameters were monitored by means of fixed sensors, continuously sensing data loggers and samples taken for laboratory analysis (hop moisture, alpha and beta bitter acids, Hop Storage Index (HIS). The process of drying showed that hops are practically dry (10 ± 2.0% of moisture) already at the end of the second belt or possibly at the beginning of the third belt. It was also proved that hops are over-dried (moisture of 4 to 8%) and then they are adjusted by conditioning to the final moisture content of 8-10%. Excessive drying leads to cone disintegration, which makes any manipulation with hops for purposes of further processing difficult and results in greater losses of lupulin. Keywords: hop cones, drying, conditioning, temperature, moisture Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: S24-S32 Volume: 63 Issue: SpecialIssue Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/35/2017-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/35/2017-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201710-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:63:y:2017:i:SpecialIssue:id:35-2017-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jiří Souček Author-Name: Radek Pražan Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Amitava Roy Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Petr Plíva Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Antonín Jelínek Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jiří Vegricht Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Comparison of logistic, energy and exploitative parameters of compost and manure application by spreaders Abstract: This article deals with comparison of composts and manure use from the viewpoint of handling, transport and application on agricultural land. The published values were established by measurements under working conditions and afterwards converted on the basis of the content of nutrients defined in laboratory. Compost contained a greater share of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and had higher dry matter content and lower volume weight. Direct consumed energy expressed by recalculation of the consumed diesel fuel in case of composts moved from 5.12 MJ/kg (potassium) up to 16.19 MJ/kg (phosphorus). In case of manure it was higher and moved from 10.49 MJ/kg (nitrogen) up to 29.79 MJ/kg (phosphorus). The greatest share in energy consumption occupies transport, which was considered uniformly at the distance of 5 km. The study confirmed the feasibility of use of compost in agriculture as a partial substitute of conventional organic fertilizers; for its handling, transport and application the standard mechanization used for manure may be utilized. Keywords: organic fertilizer, compost application, organic farming, organic matter, soil, plant nutrition Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: S33-S39 Volume: 63 Issue: SpecialIssue Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/37/2017-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/37/2017-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201710-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:63:y:2017:i:SpecialIssue:id:37-2017-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Petr Šařec Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Machinery Utilization, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Petr Novák Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Changes in soil properties due to the application of activators in conditions of very heavy soils Abstract: This paper deals with verification of the effect of fermented manure (with and without Z'fix activators) and soil activators (PRP Sol) on a soil properties change. Their application should lead to a change in physical, physical-chemical and biological properties of soil, along with ecological material fixation, improved water retention and infiltration, reduction of soil susceptibility to water erosion and decreased soil tillage energy requirements. Field trial was established in Sloveč in Central Bohemia in the year 2014. The experiment was divided into several variants and was designed as multiannual. Z>fix activator was used as a biological transformation activator of manure. PRP Sol was used as a soil activator. In order to verify the effect, soil infiltration, cone index, bulk density and draft of tillage implement were measured. Measurements have shown a beneficial effect of the activators with regard to the decomposition of organic matter. Consequently, changes in soil properties and a reduction of draft at tillage operations developed. Finally, the effect should evolve gradually with a prolonged activator treatment. Keywords: bio-activator, energy requirement, soil properties, transformation of organic matter Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: S40-S45 Volume: 63 Issue: SpecialIssue Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/39/2017-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/39/2017-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201710-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:63:y:2017:i:SpecialIssue:id:39-2017-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Petr Novák Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Josef Hůla Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Translocation of the upper soil layer in multiple operations of seedbed preparation Abstract: Translocation of tracers incorporated into the upper layer of topsoil was evaluated in the course of seedbed preparation for winter wheat. Aluminium cubes with the edge length of 16 mm were used as tracers that were placed into the soil before its tillage into furrows perpendicular to the direction of passes. After the passes of the OPALL-AGRI combined cultivator, the tracers were searched and marked using a metal detector. The translocation of tracers was evaluated during multiple passes on flatland and on the slope. During the seedbed preparation on the slope, downslope and upslope passes in a fall line direction were chosen. Results of the tracers movement measuring that simulate the soil particle translocation indicate a pronounced movement of the upper layer of topsoil during multiple downslope passes of the combined cultivator. A significant translocation was also observed after passes on flatland. A significantly smaller lengthwise translocation of tracers was found out at upslope passes. The type of translocation on flatland and upslope was quite similar, on the other hand, downslope movement was much larger. The upslope passes were found to have a very limited function with regard to the correction of the undesirable downslope movement of soil particles that occurs in the course of tillage. Keywords: tillage erosion, metallic tracers, multiple tillage operations Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: S46-S52 Volume: 63 Issue: SpecialIssue Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/40/2017-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/40/2017-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201710-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:63:y:2017:i:SpecialIssue:id:40-2017-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jiří Souček Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Agricultural Engineering (RIAE), Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Milan Kroulík Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Experimental determination of poplar (Populus nigra L.) wood drying curves Abstract: Fresh plant material is degraded quickly and very easily. A possibility to avoid its degradation is drying. Drying is an energy-intensive operation and reducing of energy consumption means improving the energy balance and the economy of production. An important indicator of drying efficiency is the relative rate of drying. Curves of the relative drying rate for poplar (Populus nigra L.) wood were determined in an experimental oven. Freshly harvested samples were compared to samples of poplars that were stored between March and December on an outdoor uncovered area. The rate of stored wood drying was higher in comparison with fresh wood under comparable drying conditions. Keywords: drying, biomass, bioenergy, energy consumption, poplar, energy wood Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: S53-S58 Volume: 63 Issue: SpecialIssue Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/46/2017-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/46/2017-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201710-0008.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:63:y:2017:i:SpecialIssue:id:46-2017-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Petr Šařec Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Machinery Utilization, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Oldřich Látal Author-Workplace-Name: Agrovýzkum Rapotín, Vikýřovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: Petr Novák Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Technological and economic evaluation of manure production using an activator of biological transformation Abstract: The aim of this paper was to verify the effect of the Z'fix (PRP Technologies, France) activator of biological transformation of manure from the viewpoint of the cowshed conditions parameters, produced manure quality, manure application effect on crop yields, and overall economics. Concerning manure production, the application of the Z'fix agent enhanced quality, structure and nutrient content (N total by 23%, P2O5 by 42%, K2O by 17%) in the manure from deep litter housing. Compared to the untreated control, differences in the nutrient content of N total and K2O were statistically significant, NH3 emissions dropped significantly by almost 35%. The economic benefit of manure production with the use of the Z'fix agent demonstrated overall savings at the level of 1,369 CZK/LU/year. The influence of manure produced combined with the PRP Sol application was tested in terms of a boost of crop yield potential of silage maize and of winter wheat. Compared to the control, both crops reached yields higher by 0.7% to 9.8%. Keywords: Z'fix, PRP Sol, deep litter, ammonia emission, economy, yield, winter wheat, silage maize Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: S59-S65 Volume: 63 Issue: SpecialIssue Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/50/2017-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/50/2017-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201710-0009.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:63:y:2017:i:SpecialIssue:id:50-2017-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Zděnek Kvíz Author-Name: Milan Kroulík Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech republic Title: Automatic guidance systems in agricultural machinery as a tool for drivers' mental strain and workload relief Abstract: This article evaluates agricultural operator´s stress, mental strain and generally fighting with driving difficulties during operating agricultural machinery sets by means of a heart rate indicator. Different drivers driving different tractors with implements were chosen and evaluated during different field jobs, namely soil tillage and sowing. Machinery position on the field was precisely monitored by a GPS receiver and the heart beat rate was observed by means of a chest belt special device with a heart rate sensor. The output data from the sensors were monitored during conventional manual steering of the tractor-implement set and also when using the complete automatic guidance steering without any driver´s intervention to steering wheel - all by using the DGPS guidance signal. The data were further processed with a special software for the heart rate sensor and detailed statistical evaluation was performed. All described trials were measured at different farms in the Czech Republic. The final outcomes from the experiment showed a statistically significant difference between two experimental variants and confirm our hypothesis that the guidance systems bring a great benefit for drivers concerning mental strain and relief of their workload. Keywords: navigation in agriculture, heart rate sensor, driver's stress, driver's workload Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: S66-S72 Volume: 63 Issue: SpecialIssue Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/53/2017-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/53/2017-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201710-0010.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:63:y:2017:i:SpecialIssue:id:53-2017-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Tomasz K. Dobek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Construction and Use of Technical Equipment, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland Author-Name: Petr Šařec Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Machinery Utilization, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Paweł Kołosowski Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Construction and Use of Technical Equipment, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland Author-Name: Ondřej Šařec Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Machinery Utilization, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Effect of chopped maize straw on the quantity and quality of biogas produced Abstract: The increase in production costs of maize silage intended for biogas has led the producers to look for alternative sources of raw material. One of such materials is straw of agricultural crops, including maize. The use of lignin-cellulose materials, such as straw, by bacteria in a biogas fermenter is limited by its polymer structure. Therefore, it is required to process the straw before it is introduced into the biogas fermenter, which may allow to increase the biogas potential of straw. The simplest way of straw processing is its chopping. On the basis of the obtained results, it can be said that cutting the straw did not help increase the amount of biogas produced, but even limited the potential of this raw material. Keywords: maize straw, fragmentation, biogas production Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: S8-S12 Volume: 63 Issue: SpecialIssue Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/31/2017-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/31/2017-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201710-0011.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:63:y:2017:i:SpecialIssue:id:31-2017-RAE