Browsing by Author "Omobowale M.O."

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A Technical Assessment of Grain Storage Structures in Oyo North Senatorial District of Oyo State, Nigeria Omobowale M.O.* and Hammed Akinsoji Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan,
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan,, 2018) Omobowale M.O.
The need for updated information on storage practices by subsistence f rm rs in Oyo North Senatorial district of Oyo state, Nigeria necessitated a technical as^e^ 'men t of grain storage structures with particular interest on availability and features as well a ’ associated postharvest losses. Small-scale farmers who are not occupying government-o 'ned farm settlements were surveyed. Ten Local Government Areas, namely; Iseyin, Kajola, Iwajowa, Saki-West, Saki-East, Orelope, Irepo, Olorunsogo, Itesiwaju and Atisbo were surveyed. A total of 250 respondents, identified to be lead-farmers and storage facility owners, were interviewed using structured questionnaires. About 35.9% of respondents still mak' use of thatched rhumbu but rainfall and insect damage pose a major challenge to grains stored within. Lack of adequate design and poor maintenance culture are major causes of structu. A faaure. Efforts to reduce postharvest losses must include provision of adequate storage facilities to small-scale farmers where most crops are produced.
An Investigation into the Thermal Properties of Termite Mound Clay Applicable to Grain Silo Construction
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, 2015) Omobowale M.O.
Provision of suitable grain silos in humid tropical climates has generated research interests on the possibility of using local materials for construction. Termite mound clay (TMC), a material available in abundance was investigated as a potential construction material. A major factor determining the suitability of construction materials for grain silos is its thermal properties. Therefore, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity and thermal mass of TMC were determined and compared with those of concrete and stainless steel which are commonly used for silo construction. TMC was collected, crushed and sieved using a 500pm sieve to remove coarse particles and foreign materials. The TMC powder obtained was mixed with water using volumetric ratio of 1:5 (i.e. water to clay) after which the thoroughly mixed clay was carefully fed into the mould and left to air-dry for 5 days. The samples were dried in the oven at 105oC for about 48 hours to remove all the moisture. Results revealed that thermal conductivity ranged from 0.17 to 0.24 W/(mK) with an average value of 0.21 compared to concrete and steel which range between 0.8 - 1.28 and 16.3 - 16.7 W/(mK) respectively. Specific heat capacity had an average value of 2576.94 J/(kgK) compared with concrete and steel which had values of 960 and 490 J/(kgK) respectively. Thermal diffusivity had a mean value of 1.47*10-8 m2/s in comparison to concrete and steel whose calculated values were 6.63 ><10-7 and 4.18 ><10-6 kJ/(m3 K) respectively while thermal mass had a mean value of 4723.5 kJ/(m3 K) compared to 2112.0 and 3831.8 kJ/(m3K) for concrete and steel respectively. It was concluded that TMC offers a thermally suitable alternative to these two for grain silo construction in the humid tropics.
Climate change symposium sur de changement climatique 2011
(TECHNOLOGY, 2011) Omobowale M.O.
That climate change, global warning and their consequences are already upon mankind and his environment is a fact that is not in doubt. Sadly enough, the impact of the climate change is more pronounced in african than any other continent due to lack of both short and long term adaptation policies and strategies that could be adopted to combact this threat. Should African not be able to respond to the changing climate, agricultural productivity which provides a means of livehood for about 70% of the African population would suffer serious devastating effects among which are reduction in crop yields and agricultural productivity, increased incidence of pest attacks due to an increase in temperature which favours insect growth, reduction in the amount of wter available in most part of African, longer drought periods, reduced soil fertility and poor livestock productivity. A viable adaptation strategy for enhancing agricultural productivity and preparing farmers for the effect of climate change in african is "Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)/Greenhouse Engineering" This is because CEA can be practiced as a low carbon and climate compatible way of agricultural production by using renewable energy. Unlike most other continent, African lags terribly behind in developing research capabilities as well as good policy formulation and implementation fir large scale agricultural production through CEA. Rain -fed/seasonal farming is still predominat while some other african nations depends largely on food aid from developed countries. CEA offers the possibility of mutiple harvest of crops in successive cycles as there is no need to wait for certain seasons before cultivation can be done. Should the african continent embrace en- mass, the technology behind CEA, the populace would stand a good chance of being nutritional food secured and in addition, mitigate the negative effects of climate change on agriculture by agriculture.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PARTIAL EXTERNAL SHADING ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GREENHOUSE GROWN CUCUMBER {CUCUMIS SATIVUS) AND OKRA {ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS)
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2019) Omobowale M.O.
Greenhouse cultivation is highly influenced by the microclimate, which affects plant growth and development. Shading is an option for ensuring a relatively cool environment within tropical greenhouses which tends to heat up due to intense solar radiations. This study was aimed at comparing the microclimate between a partially shaded greenhouse and an unshaded one with respect to its effect on the crops. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) were grown in two greenhouses during the dry season of early 2018. One greenhouse was shaded with white coloured high-density polythelene film at the roof level while the other greenhouse was left unshaded. Both greenhouses were naturally ventilated. Results showed that shading had a positive effect on the okra growth compared to the okra parameters observed in the unshaded greenhouse as there was significant difference in the leaf length, leaf breadth, stem girth, plant height and yield (3.71± 0.58 and 2.56±1.21 t/ha for shaded and unshaded respectively) at P < 0.05. There was significant difference in stem height of cucumber, as well as the incoming solar radiation at P < 0.05. Partial shading had minimal but positive effect on the crops. More studies are recommended to investigate total roof shading on crop performance
Comparative Analysis Of Tomato Plant (Lycopersiconesculentum) And Stubborn Grass (Eleusineindica)In The Phyto-Remediation Of Soils Polluted With Heavy Metals
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2015) Omobowale M.O.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF RICE HUSK ASH AND WASTE GLASS ON COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH AND WATER ABSORPTION RATIO OF CONCRETE COMPOSITES
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental and Environmental Engineering, 2014) Omobowale M.O.
The problem of disposing and managing solid waste in nigeria where there is no visible regulation has become one of the major threats. with the recent ban on importation of rice by federal Government of Nigeria in order to boost local rice production, as well as the increase in volume of glass waste due to its use year-in-year-out in shops, construction sites and factories, wastes arising from these materials are expected to be on the increase. In order not to add to the environmental problems already being experienced in Nigeria, alternative and environmentally friendly uses must be found for these wastes. This study was conducted to determine and compare the compressive strength of concrete using rice husk burnt into ashes (RHA) and ground glass as replacement for fine aggregates at varying proportions for possible use in rural structures. Concrete mixture of 1:3:5 ratio (i.e. cement-sand-granite) was adopted for the study. While the proportion of cement and granite was kept constant, sand was gradually replaced with RHA and crushed glass in separate mixtures. Five replicates of each composite mixture were produced and tested in line with ASTM standard C67-07a after 28 days of water curing. Findings reveal that composites having about 66.7% to 100% of glass replacement gave better compressive strength than the control specimens with values ranging from 10.6N/mm2 to 12.2N/mm2 compared with a mean value of 9.6N/mm2 obtained from testing the control specimens. However, composites having about 16.7% of RHA replacement had compressive strength greater than the control with 11.9N/mm2. At total substitution of sand with RHA and glass wastes, water absorption ratiowas 47.5% and 10.9% respectively in RHA-concrete and glass-concrete composites compared with the control which was 9.1%. It was concluded that using both RHA and glass in concrete composite mixtures may be a viable option for rural structures in Nigeria and Africa at large in the nearest future while further work was recommended on the testing of other properties as well as the use of other solid waste materials and agricultural residues.
Conference proceedings
(Nigeria, 2024) Omobowale M.O.
A low cost meter was developed as part of a USAID funded Feed the Future project headquartered at Kansas State University to reduce post-harvest loss (PHL) of grains and is referred to as the PHL moisture meter. It actually measures the temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) of the air space between grain kernels and calculates the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) to determine grain moisture. The meter was built and evaluated in laboratory studies in the U.S. and field tested in Ghana and Nigeria. Meter accuracy was compared to two commercial meters: (a) John Deere Chek Plus-SW08120 grain moisture tester and (b) bench top DICKEY-john GACO2100 Agri meter. The portable JD meter is a low cost meter by developed country standards (~US$250, 2016 price), whereas the GAC2100 benchtop moisture meter is a USDA-GIPSA-approved tester that is highly regarded in the US grain trade and has been used for many years. Laboratory studies indicated that the PHL moisture meter requires approximately six minutes to make a measurement due to the time required for the probe tip and sensor to equilibrate to the air within the grain mass. Field tests have shown the accuracy of the PHL moisture meter was comparable to that of the GAC2100 moisture meter for maize below 15% MCwb. Measurement differences averaged over many readings showed a positive offset of 0.45% for the PHL meter relative to the GAC2100, whereas the John Deere SW08120 moisture meter was found to have an offset of 2.37% MCwb.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BASED SYSTEM FOR NUTRIENT DELIVERY TO GREENHOUSE GROWN CROPS
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Technology University of Ibadan Nigeria., 2023) Omobowale M.O.
Applying nutrients to crops either on the field or in a greenhouse has been a manual process, especially in developing countries where farmers or greenhouse attendants introduce nutrients based on intuition, or at specific intervals, not knowing exactly when a crop requires the said nutrients. This is one of many reasons why artificial intelligence has been introduced into the agricultural sector. This project was designed to develop an artificial intelligence-based system for the automatic delivery of nutrients to greenhouse-grown crops. The system was built with an Arduino microcontroller serving as the brain box of the system, a soil Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) sensor for reading nutrients level, an organic light-emitting diode which display. +he specific nutrient level in mg/kg, while a solenoid valve was incorporated into the delivery mechanism. T. e da*r was logged onto a secure digital (SD) card via SD module installed on the Arduino board. The microcontroller was configured to interpret the varied states of the soil as relayed by the soil sensor; and this involved data capture from NPK sensor, data processing to determine when to release nutrients, and delivery of nutrients if the solenoid valve is activated. The system was evaluated on soil whose nutrients were leached out, placed in a greenhouse, and the performance was satisfactory
Development of Internet of Things (IoT) Enabled Device for Environmental Control In Livestock Structures
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, 2024) Omobowale M.O.
Ventilation plays a critical role in maintaining optimal condition^ for livestock health and productivity. The deployment of smart technologies is gainf g ascendancy in 21st century agriculture and through the deployment of sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the efficiency and sustainability of livestock production sy wm in Nigeria can be improved, ultimately benefiting both farmers and animals. This project was carried out to develop an IoT- enabled device for the ventilation of livestock structures. This made it possible to collect real-time data on temperature, humidity, and air quality within the livestock structures, thereby enabling farmers to make informed decisions about ventilation adjustments. Data collected by IoT sensors can also be stored and analyzed on cloud-based platforms, providing farmers with historical trends and insights; information which can be valuaJe for making informed decisions. The device was tested at the University of Ibadan Teaching and Research farm, and the performance was satisfactory. In order improve the management of livestock, farmers are advised to deploy such systems to monitor and control the ventilation system remotely, and in real-time.
Effect of Fill Volume on Microclimate and Microbial Activity in Non-ventilated Clay Silos Storing Maize in the Humid Tropics
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, 2019) Omobowale M.O.
Silos have a fixed volume at the time of construction; harvests however vary from season to season. Complaints about severe postharvest losses in grains in the humid tropics of southern Nigeria necessitated a study into the effect of fill volume on quality of stored maize. Three clay silos labelled S1 to S3 of the same dimension and capacity (3.5 metric tonnes) were used. The silo walls were painted externally with gloss paint to reduce water absorption and filled with shelled maize. The first silo (S1) was filled with 3 tonnes, the second silo (S2) with 2 tonnes and the third (S3) filled with a tonne of maize for 6 months. Data was collected on microclimatic conditions within the silo and grain quality with increasing time of storage. Temperature, relative humidity (RH) and equilibrium moisture content (EMC) were recorded three times daily for each silo, focusing on the air between the grains and the headspace above the grains. Temperature fluctuations within S1 were smaller as indicated by the statistical range of 2 oC compared to S2 and S3 at 7 and 8 oC respectively. S3 showed high values of RH toward the end of storage, ranging between 65% to 80% at the top level and 76% at the bottom. EMC at the airspace above the grains in S1 increased from 12.0% at the beginning of storage in the dry season to 15.6% at the end of storage in the rainy season compared with S2 and S3 which increased from 12.0 to 17% and 12.0 to 17.2% respectively. Grains were found to be more prone to deterioration with decreasing level of fill because and increase in microbial activity was observed with a decreasing level of fill. Recommendations were made to farmers and grain aggregators on proper actions to take during grain storage given the peculiarities of the humid tropics.
Effect of Fill Volume on Microclimate and Microbial Activity in Non-ventilated Clay Silos Storing Maize in the Humid Tropics
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, 2019) Omobowale M.O.
Silos have a fixed volume at the time of construction; harvests however vary from season to season. Complaints about severe postharvest losses in grains in the humid tropics of southern Nigeria necessitated a study into the effect of fill volume on quality of stored maize. Three clay silos labelled S1 to S3 of the same dimension and capacity (3.5 metric tonnes) were used. The silo walls were painted externally with gloss paint to reduce water absorption and filled with shelled maize. The first silo (S1) was filled with 3 tonnes, the second silo (S2) with 2 tonnes and the third (S3) filled with a tonne of maize for 6 months. Data was collected on microclimatic conditions within the silo and grain quality with increasing time of storage. Temperature, relative humidity (RH) and equilibrium moisture content (EMC) were recorded three times daily for each silo, focusing on the air between the grains and the headspace above the grains. Temperature fluctuations within S1 were smaller as indicated by the statistical range of 2 oC compared to S2 and S3 at 7 and 8 oC respectively. S3 showed high values of RH toward the end of storage, ranging between 65% to 80% at the top level and 76% at the bottom. EMC at the airspace above the grains in S1 increased from 12.0% at the beginning of storage in the dry season to 15.6% at the end of storage in the rainy season compared with S2 and S3 which increased from 12.0 to 17% and 12.0 to 17.2% respectively. Grains were found to be more prone to deterioration with decreasing level of fill because and increase in microbial activity was observed with a decreasing level of fill. Recommendations were made to farmers and grain aggregators on proper actions to take during grain storage given the peculiarities of the humid tropics.
Evaluation of market-level storage structures and postharvest losses of selected fruits and vegetables: A case study of five markets in Ibadan
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2021) Omobowale M.O.
. Although several measures have been adopted to enhance food storage in sub-Saharan Africa, postharvest losses continue to increase. Addressing the negative *re. , re quires up-to-date information on current practices by agroallied personnel involved in the postharvest handling oi perishables to proffer effective solutions. This study explored the level of postharvest losses in fruits and vegetables in five markets in Ibadan, Nigeria. The proportionate sampling technique was employed to collect data from 235 ellers in the markets using a questionnaire. The percentage of grade loss in the supply chain was classified as bruises, mold, and rot. It was revealed that the quality of about 89.2% of the fruits and vegetables degrade during and au'r transportation. Storage conditions which include keeping the produce on a wooden platform, on the bare floor in stalls, and storage in non-ventilated enclosed rooms remain crude and this also contributes to losses incurred. Imr-ov^ment and maintenance of road infrastructures, the establishment of improved storage facilities and the introduction of modern storage technologies would be recommended for reducing postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables i. mai. ets of Ibadan.
MAIZE STORAGE IN TERMITE MOUND CLAY, CONCRETE, AND STEEL SILOS IN THE HUMID TROPICS: COMPARISON AND EFFECT ON BACTERIAL AND FUNGAL COUNTS
(2015) Omobowale M.O.
Considering the inadequacy of grain storage structures in Nigeria, which has been partly attributed to high cost and unavailability of construction materials, this study investigated the suitability of using readily available termite mound clay (TMC) for grain silo construction in comparison to conventional reinforced conczu (RC) and galvanized steel (GS) silos for maize storage in the humid tropics. The extent to which temperature and relative humidity affected the quality of stored grain during 8-month unaerated storage, covering both dry and rainy seasons, was evaluated using bacterial and fungal counts as performance parameters. The initial bacterial count of3500 colony forming units (CFU) per gram (CFU g-1) increased to 120000, 11000, and 8800 CFU g-1 for TMC, RC, and GS silos, respectively. There was no fungal activity at the beginning of storage, but fungal activity increased to 1500, 5500, and 350 CFU g-1 in TMC, RC, and GS silos, respectively. Fungal activity was noticed in the TMC silo in the fourth month of storage, which coincided with the start of the rainy season. Fungal counts exceeded the acceptable threshold of 1000 CFU g-1 in the TMC and RC silos. Relative humidity was of greater significance than temperature in affecting all. maize quality parameters considered. TMC was found suitable for constructing silos for short-term grain storage under unaerated conditions. Modification of the current TMC silo design to address permeability issues is expected to improve its performance for longer-term maize storage.
Performance evaluation of termite-mound clay, concrete and steel silos for the storage of maize grains in the humid tropics
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, 2016) Omobowale M.O.
Performance evaluation of the DehytrayTM solar drying device using plantain, pepper and okra under the tropical conditions of Oyo State, Nigeria
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2021) Omobowale M.O.; Olenloa, A.E.; Okoro, N.E.
Postharvest Practices among Grain Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2021) Omobowale M.O.
The need for adequate postharvest crop management has come to the fore in sub-Saharan Africa. A survey was conducted in ten farm settlements in Oyo state, Nigeria, where 400 farmers w interviewed. Respondents were predominantly males (82%), and about 33% did not undergo any formal educa io ,. About 39% reported hardly ever seeing agricultural extension agents coming to train them on mitigation of po; uar est losses, while 87% of the farmers agreed that they experience significant postharvest losses. Observations revealed a low level of postharvest mechanization, while storage structures and processing equipment installed at the inc ption of the settlements were in a state of disrepair. Maize threshers were found in all settlements however, b1 owers, dryers and modern storage facilities which would ensure that grains are processed and stored properly were unavailable. Inability to effectively stop insect damage to stored grains makes over 80% of the farmers to apply unapproved chemicals such as DD—Force (Dichlorvos as active ingredient) on harvested crops despite the threat to human health. Moreover, about 60% of the farmers surveyed were unaware of aflatoxin related issues. An obv; ,us g p in information dissemination to farmers in hard-to-reach locations must be eradicated if sub-Saharan Africa will achieve food security
Problems facing Local Manufacturers in the Nigerian Agro-Allied Machine Fabrication Industry
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria., 2010) Omobowale M.O.
This study investigates the challenges and opportunities of the local industries involved in the fabrication of agrorelated machinery in Nigeria. With the aid of personal interviews, on-spot assessment/visual inspection, a number of problems confronting these local industries were recorded. These include erratic power supply, cost of raw materials, level of automation, noise pollution, occupational hazards, instability in government policies, marketability and a general bias for machines fabricated locally. The government is currently making efforts at reviving the economy, yet the priorities set in addressing the problems of the local economy may not be aligned with the actual priority problems that local companies face in their daily business. The paper makes suggestions on how th e government could better address the primary concerns of the industry in areas like power supply, raw material pro - essing and sensitization of the Nigeria populac, towards appreciating and procuring locally made machines.
Problems facing Local Manufacturers in the Nigerian Agro-Allied Machine Fabrication Industry
(Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria., 2010) Omobowale M.O.
This study investigates the challenges and opportunities of the local industries involved in the fabrication of agrorelated machinery in Nigeria. With the aid of personal interviews, on-spot assessment/visual inspection, a number of problems confronting these local industries were recorded. These include erratic power supply, cost of raw materials, level of automation, noise pollution, occupational hazards, instability in government policies, marketability and a general bias for machines fabricated locally. The government is currently making efforts at reviving the economy, yet the priorities set in addressing the problems of the local economy may not be aligned with the actual priority problems that local companies face in their daily business. The paper makes suggestions on how th e government could better address the primary concerns of the industry in areas like power supply, raw material pro - essing and sensitization of the Nigeria populac, towards appreciating and procuring locally made machines.
Science and technology as a tool for poverty reduction and socio-economic development in ECOWAS communities
(ON ADAPTIVE SCIENCE, 2010) Omobowale M.O.
Poverty reduction and economic development have been known to be positively correlated to technological development. On the other hand, studies have shown that government policies directly affect indigenous technological growth and this ultimately impacts the socio-economic well being of a country. even though blessed with abundant human and natural resources, African has for along time been a dumping ground for foreign technology and this has stifled any possibility of serious technological growth that can reverse the trend. economic model from asian countries like China, india and south-korea reveal a significant and positive correlation between indigenous technological growth and poverty reduction. To achieve any meaningful development for ECOWAS countries in the 21st century world, there is need for the creation of an enabling environment through favorable government policies and other incentives for indigenous technology to grow. this in turn would create jobs: ensure food security and sustainable development.
The 1st all african post harvest congress & exhibition
(University of Ibadan, 2014) Omobowale M.O.
Stored product insect pests cause significant losses in maize in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Several-risks technologies are available for use as alternatives to convention insecticides in SSA, In the present study, conducted february -December 2016,efficacy of piper guineense, Bularafa diatomaceous earth (DE) PICS bags, ZeroFly bags and permethrin (Rambo) to preserve maize quality in nigerian market was assessed. A sixth treated was negative control comprising maize in untreated polypropylene bags, study locations were in four markets in ibadan. Oyo and ilorin towns, Each market had a storehouse (SH) which contained experimmental 100kg bags, in each SH each treatment had six bags were destructively sampled every four months, PICS bags were the most effective and had infestation levels of 0.54 live insects per kg of maize, infestation levels in the control were <53.15 psocide were prevalent during rainy season withb highest levels of 14.71 in the ZeroFly treatment in october. The facts that the highest infestation levels (53.15) were found in the control indicates the importance of insect pest management in SH. Based on data obtained, order of effectiveness of the treatment was PICS > bags ZeroFly bags, DE and P. guineense, which are reduced -risk measures for insect control can be incorporated in integrated management of stored product insect pest in SHs.