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Research Article
A Prototype That Improves the Interpretation of Soil Moisture by Using the BGT-SEC Z2 Sensor
Abel Quevedo-Nolasco
,
Graciano-Javier Aguado-Rodriguez*
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 5, October 2024
Pages:
317-324
Received:
2 August 2024
Accepted:
24 August 2024
Published:
6 September 2024
Abstract: The amount of water required to irrigate, is essential in agricultural planning. In Mexico the water required for irrigation is generally not estimated when it is carried out despite several estimation methods being available (direct and indirect). However, some methods can be very expensive, requiring preparation time to use them or time to obtain the results. One of the methods involves using sensors based on relative permittivity. This method have been widely used in agriculture because they show the percentage of water contained in the substrate. However, this value helps the producer know the soil moisture status of their crop in percentage units but does not tell them how much water needs to be added to each plant in liters. Knowing this value could help reduce water losses due to infiltration, thereby increasing the crop area. Therefore, it was developed a device capable of recommending the amount of water in v/v (volume of water/volume of soil) required to irrigate a crop. The prototype device was based on the BGT-SEC Z2TM sensor and the ATMEGA 2560TM microcontroller. The obtained device was calibrated and a specific model was developed for two types of soil: sandy (with an RMSE of 0.0107) and loamy (with an RMSE of 0.00556). With factory calibration, a RMSE value of 0.0339 was found for the loamy soil and 0.0278 for the sandy soil. In addition, the sensor was tested on strawberry plants with pots covered with and without plastic mulch (using loamy soil). The results on the strawberry plants, indicated that water consumption was best explained by the specific calibration equation for loamy soil covered with plastic mulch (67.8 mL RMSE) and without plastic mulch (82.8 mL RMSE). Finally, it was found that at least two measurements are required to obtain soil moisture average in plastic mulch strawberry pots and 6 measurements in pots without plastic mulch. With the above, it is concluded that the device developed in this study performed adequately during experiments and the sensor worked continuously without failing.
Abstract: The amount of water required to irrigate, is essential in agricultural planning. In Mexico the water required for irrigation is generally not estimated when it is carried out despite several estimation methods being available (direct and indirect). However, some methods can be very expensive, requiring preparation time to use them or time to obtain...
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Research Article
Economic Efficiency of Potato Production by Smallholder Farmers in West Arsi Zone, Oromia Region Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 5, October 2024
Pages:
325-339
Received:
17 June 2023
Accepted:
7 December 2023
Published:
11 September 2024
Abstract: This study investigated Economic Efficiency of Potato Production in West Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 117 respondents randomly selected from designated locations in West Arsi Zone. A stochastic production frontier function was fitted to the sample households. The result revealed that the mean TE, AE and EE was about 75.60%, 91.41% and 69.07% of for potato production. The sum of the partial elasticity of all inputs were 1.17 for Potato indicating an increase in all inputs at the sample mean by one percent increase by 1.17%. This indicates that the production function is characterized by increasing returns to scale productions. The result of Tobit model estimation indicated that the technical efficiency of Potato production in West Arsi Zone is significantly influenced by the variables potato farming experience, education level, social participation and Extension contact affect efficiency positively while, distance to FTC affect technical efficiency negatively. The mean potato yield difference between sample farmer due to technical efficiency variation was 31.04 qt per ha. District office of Agriculture, stockholders and concerned bodies should focus on farmers experience sharing, providing technical support and farmers practice different social participation to improve his/her income could jointly contribute to the improvement in efficiency of Potato farmers in West Arsi Zone.
Abstract: This study investigated Economic Efficiency of Potato Production in West Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 117 respondents randomly selected from designated locations in West Arsi Zone. A stochastic production frontier function was fitted to the sample households. The result revealed that t...
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Research Article
Introduction and Evaluation of Moringa oleifera (Lam) Growth in Two Districts of Bale Zone, Oromia Region, Southeast Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 5, October 2024
Pages:
340-345
Received:
19 April 2024
Accepted:
14 May 2024
Published:
11 September 2024
Abstract: Moringa oleifera is one of the most important plants which has to be introduced, conserved and promoted for its social, economic and environmental benefits. Study was conducted aimed to introduce M. oleifera through evaluating its growth performance under the field condition of mid-altitude areas of Bale, Ethiopia. The experiment was laid-out using randomized complete block design with three replications on two locations. In the study the necessary plant growth traits namely survival rate, plant height and diameters (at breast height and root collar) were collected and analyzed by Genstat software. As to results except survival rate other growth performance traits of the studied species were statistically influenced by location in the subsequent years of monitoring period. With this, the mean value of survival rate recorded at Dello-menna was > 80% whereas at Goro it was < 80% throughout the years of study period. For plant height the recorded mean values were found between 65 cm to 370.30 cm and 58.30 to 296.70 cm range in the respective Dello-menna and Goro sites. Breast height diameter ranged from 0.747 cm to 6.533cm at Goro site and from 1.00 cm to 8.983cm at Dello-menna. In terms of root collar diameter, the values ranged from 1.933 cm to 9.867 cm and from 1.410 cm to 4.592 cm at Dello-menna and Goro sites, respectively. The values pointed that M. oleifera had showed a promising growth and development over both locations with relatively the higher performance at Dello-menna site than Goro. Therefore, the species could be demonstrated, promoted and scaled-up to the farming community of Dello-menna, Goro and other areas with similar agro-ecology. However, the nutritive value of the species in response to the studied locations has remained the focus of future research area.
Abstract: Moringa oleifera is one of the most important plants which has to be introduced, conserved and promoted for its social, economic and environmental benefits. Study was conducted aimed to introduce M. oleifera through evaluating its growth performance under the field condition of mid-altitude areas of Bale, Ethiopia. The experiment was laid-out using...
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