The temperature at night in the spring in Okayama City is under 20 ℃ the majority of the fine which is not adequate in order to germinate certain vegetable seeds. In order to promote germination and seedling growth at night, a heating system for a seedling greenhouse was constructed for this study. The above system is composed of a solar collector, a storage tank and a heat exchanger. The performance of the solar collector and heat exchange methods were tested and it was found that there was sufficient solar energy for heating a seedling greenhouse overnight. The quantity of heat delivery that was collected from solar radiation via a solar collector was approximately 50% per day. Pumpkin, eggplant, and tomato seeds were used in this study, and the promotion of germination was observed for all seeds in heating greenhouse (A) at night.

View full abstract

The forced culture of cyclamen 'Scarlet' was carried out in a direct potting culture system. Effects of the watering cycle, fertilizer application and medium soil on the flowering of cyclamen were studied. The following results were obtained: 1. Six and twelve - hour of watering cycle were optimum for a good flowering of cyclamen. 2. Cyclamen cultivated with the application of 6g of coated slow-release fertilizer per pot showed greater growth than those cultivated with other amounts of fertilizer. 3. Good quality cyclamen was gained by the combined use of sewage sludge and coated slow-release fertilizer together with a micronutrient system.

View full abstract

The frame of the machine was reconstructed in order to effectively reduce the work intensity of a portable type tea plucking machine. The reduction effects of work intensity via reconstruction were analyzed by the average muscular electric action potential (AMEP). 1. At the tea plant height of 100 cm, AMEP of a right antebrachial radial muscle via the usage of the standard frame was about 0.07 mV. 2. The AMEP of a left brachium biceps via the usage of the standard frame was 0.15 mV, at a body direction of 90° and the tea plant height of 100 cm. 3. The AMEP of both trapeziuses by the usage of both types (standard and reconstructed) was about 0.05 mV regardless of the body direction, at the tea plant height of 60 cm. At a body direction of 90° and the tea plant height of 100 cm, the maximum reduction effect of work intensity via the reconstruction of the frame was recognized by the AMEP for many measuring portions : in particularly the AMEP of a left brachium biceps decreased by 0.10 mV.

View full abstract

This paper presents the application of the Fuzzy Multi-objective linear programming to multi-objective linear programming of rice mixed farming. Recently, a lot of methods for transforming Fuzzy Multiple objective linear programming(FMOLP) problems into crisp FMOLP problems have been reported. Considering the vague nature ofhuman judgement, it is assumed that the decisions regarding this matter may not be made in the greatest interest of the objective function. Therefore, this data is regarded as on uncertain coefficient. The uncertain data is expressed in terms of trapezoid type L-R fuzzy numbers. We formulate the farm production planning as a Fuzzy Multi-objective programming problem based on the approach by Rommelfanger. And, we appreciated the Fuzzy Multi-objective linear programming model in case of the rice mixed farming in Ketaka-chou, Tottori. It is recognized that the fuzzy approach to the method is suitable for decision-making under forecast planning.

View full abstract

The machined surface produced by the wood-working band saw machine was investigated. The results obtained were summarized as follows:(1) The machined surface had periodicities corresponding to the full, half, and one-third workpiece feed per saw revolution. (2) The periodic length of the machined surface was increased, when the feed speed was increased and the revolution of the wheel was decreased. (3) The periodic characteristics of the machined surface was changed with different kinds of wood; some kinds of wood were prominent corresponding to the half workpiece feed per saw revolution and others were prominent corresponding to the one-third workpiece feed per saw revolution. (4) The periodic length of the machined surface like wash board was smaller than that corresponding to the full, half, and one-third workpiece feed per saw revolution.

View full abstract

In this study, the processing technology for reserved rice in terms of temperature, moisture content and characteristics of rice was synthetically examined. To realize consistent quality and low cost with the existing technology, the following conditions are required. 1. Reserved rice should be stored in the form of pre-washed rice or quick-cooking rice. 2. The moisture content of rice should be slightly lower than the standard level. 3. The storehouse of lower storage cost should be used. 4. A flexible container of one ton capacity is to be used. 5. The fringe process operations such as receiving, drying, moisture conditioning and shipping and the rack system facility for easy quality control should be utilized. 6. The moisture content of rice should be conditioned at 15% before distributing. 7. The deteriorated rice in quality should be re-milled.

View full abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics of the wheat kernel and physical changes occuring to the wheat kernel during debranning in order to advance the current technology of wheat milling systems for flour products. 1. In the debranning process, the bran layer, which contains the highest percentage of ash in the kernel, is removed prior to the milling process. The optimum percentage of bran removal is approximately 10%. 2. The debranning process reduces the ash content in the final product, shortens the tempering time for moisture conditioning and improves the efficiency of grinding by reducing the hardness of the wheat kernel. 3. The debranning process yields flour of better quality at lower cost over conventional milling systems.

View full abstract

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of water management on vitamin C, sugar and organic acid contents in tomato fruit, and to examine relations among cultivars and relations between cropping seasons. Three cultivars of cherry tomatoes were used; 'Mini Carol', 'Yellow Carol' and 'Orange Carol'. 1. The effect of low soil moisture (deficit treatment) on vitamin C content per fresh weight varied with each kind of cultivar. The vitamin C content increased under the low soil moisture conditions in 'Mini Carol' and 'Orange Carol' in spring cropping. However, no such effect could be observed for the fall cropping except in 'Mini Carol'. 2. Major sugars in the tomato fruits were glucose and fructose. The contents of both sugars per fresh weight increased under low soil moisture condition in both the spring and fall croppings. The increases in sugar content per fresh weight were considered to be caused by a reduction in water content in the fruits. 3. Citric acid was the main organic acid present in the fruits. Its content per fresh weight under low soil moisture conditions was higher in each control plot with the exception of 'Yellow Carol' in spring cropping. The higher acid content was attributed to the influences that low soil moisture had over metabolic pathways of organic acid in the fruit. 4. The sugar-acid ratios in the fruits of 'Mini Carol' decreased under low soil moisture conditions in both the spring and fall croppings. Those of 'Orange Carol' in the spring cropping also decreased under the same conditions. However, no such effect could be found on the ratios of the fruits in other plots.

View full abstract

In the case of the pesticide application work on a farm using the four-rotor type RC(radio control)-helicopter made for the experiment, the nozzle layout of the spreading device was discussed in this paper in order to make the coverage rate uniform. The method of calculation and its result were as follows: 1. The distribution pattern of the coverage rate by one nozzle in down-wash blowing was investigated. 2. The application width of spray liquid by down-wash blowing increased 1.3〜2.0 times wide as compared with no blowing on the basis of the experimental results. 3. The simulation model of these distributions could each be made with 8 parameters calculated an approximate equation. 4. Assuming that one nozzle pipe has 9 spraying nozzles, the layout of these nozzles which have uniform coverage rates in the application could be calculated according to these approximate equations of model parameters.

View full abstract