scholarly works

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    Utilization of oil palm wastes in south western Nigeria
    (The Nigeiran Society of Engineers, 2003) Mijinyawa, Y.; Ogunbanjo, O. I.
    A survey involving the use of questionnaires and personal communication during field visits was undertaken in Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states of Nigeria to ascertain the level of utilization of the inedible portions of oil palm products often referred to as wastes. Items identified as wastes and their present uses include trunk for bridges and roof trusses; fronds and leaves for brooms, thatching of roofs and fences, staking of creeping and climbing plants, weavmg of baskets and cages and cordage materials; fruit bunches for black soap production; kernel shells for soil erosion control and furnace fuel; and mill effluents for sludge cake used as fuel, A substantial amount of these wastes are unutilized which has resulted in their constituting nuisance in plantations and mill sites. Incineration is the only disposal method employed to create space for other activities. It is recommended that the use of these wastes be popularized among urban dwellers to create market for them. Fruit harvesting and conversion of the trunk are tedious; hence the development of appropriate technology for improved efficiency required.
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    The influence of post-cracked exposure period on some physical properties of palm kernel shells
    (The Nigeiran Society of Engineers, 2000) Mijinyawa, Y.; Falayi, F. R.
    A series of experiments were conducted to measure the influence of the duration of exposure to inclement weather after cracking on the bulk density, solid or true density, porosity, and water absorption characteristics of palm kernel shells (PKS). The results showed that the bulk and true densities decreased respectively from 0.60g/cm3 and 1.37g/cm3 for freshly cracked shells to 0.53g/cm3 and 1.25g/cm3 for shells that have been exposed to inclement weather for over ten years after cracking. The porosity and ability to hold moisture increased with the duration of exposure. These experimental observations are attributable to the organic nature of the shells as a result of which there is a gradual biodeterioration especially of the adhering fibers. This reduces the dry matter content and increase the void. Density values obtained are comparable with other materials of construction such as earth and wood which is an indication that PKS has potentials for use as a material for construction. Further work on the mechanical properties of the material is recommended.
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    Coefficient of static friction of palm kernel shell on selected structural surfaces
    (The Nigeiran Society of Engineers, 2000) Mijinyawa, Y.; Falayi, F. R.
    An experiment was conducted to measure the static coefficient of friction of palm kernel shell (PKS) on plywood, galvanized iron and glass. The results of the test showed that the coefficient of static friction of PKS increases with moisture content irrespective of the surface employed. The .values of coefficient of static friction obtained varied from 0.42 to 0.75 on plywood, 0.34 to 0.62 on galvanized iron and 0.32 to 0.56 on glass for moisture contents ranging from bone dry to 18.4% wet basis. This implies that PKS is most resistant to flow on plywood and least on glass. A statistical analysis showed that these variations with structural surfaces were Significant. Further similar work using the cracked palm kernel is recommended.
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    Determination of some physical properties of palm kernel
    (The Nigeiran Society of Engineers, 2005) Mijinyawa, Y.; Omoikhoje, S.
    Experiments were carried out to determine the dimensions of palm kernel, the shell thickness, kernel and nut densities as useful parameters in its handling and processing. The major, intermediate and minor diameters of the kernel were found to vary from 26.5 to 44, 21.5 to 34.5 and 16.5 to 28mm respectively. Sphericity was calculated to be between 76 and 80 and was independent of the size of the kernel. Nut densities varied from 0.8 to 2g/cm3 while kernel densities varied from 0.93 to 1.33g/cm3. The nut densities were generally higher than the kernel densities and the variation is attributed to the large volume but lightweight of the shell. The shell thickness varied from 2 to 6.5mm. These parameters are useful in the design of handling and processing equipment for palm kernel
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    Farm structures: roles and challenges in meeting the needs of the Nigerian farmer
    (The Nigeiran Society of Engineers, 2006) Mijinyawa, Y.
    Although oil is the major source of Nigeria's revenue at present, agriculture is the single largest contributor to the well-being of the rural poor. Agriculture sustains 90% of the rural labour force, provides 60% of industrial raw materials, and contributes 30% to the GDP, with 90% of the output coming from the smallholder farmers. The Nigerian smallholder farmers face a lot of challenges. They are constrained from expanding their farm sizes due to limited labour supply. Poor farm transportation and severe post-harvest losses reduce their economic fortune while the productivity of the farmer and his livestock are reduced by inadequate housing. Farm structures' intervention in the provision of good access roads for farm machinery movement would enable farmers to expand their farm holdings, appropriate crop storage structures which reduce post harvest losses, and cheap but comfortable housing will provide an enabling environment for increased productivity and income. The present Farm Structures curriculum as taught in many institutions needs to be beefed up while farm structures workshops and laboratories should be provided and well equipped. The establishment of a farm structures network is suggested.
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    Assessment of pollution effect of direct use of poultry faecal waste in fish ponds
    (2006) Ogedengbe, K; Ewemoje, T. A.
    The performance of some environmental parameters in fish pond of 1.5ha at the National Institute For Freshwater Fisheries Research (NlFER) in New Bussa, Kainji dam resulting from the direct utilization of fresh poultry faecal waste as fish food was assessed along with three other ponds; South West Pond One (SWP1) using wheat offal, dough, maggot plus some poultry waste as fish feed and South West Pond Two (SWP2) using 100% concentrate, wheat offal and dough as fish feed. A Natural Water Pond (NWP) containing some fishes was also used as control pond along with SWPI and SWP2 to assess the pond at NIFER labeled Northern Pond ( NP). Environmental parameters of water quality in fish pond that are considered important in the assessment study are Dissolved Oxygen (DO); PH Value; Turbidity; Temperature, and 5-day Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5). The temperature range is between 26-35C throughout the assessment work and this correspond with the optimum temperature for warm water fish growth. PH value of the study ponds fall within the excellent range. Also, turbidity in NP and SWP1 are very good thereby promoting effective ecosystem while SWP2 and NWP turbidity values are rather on the high side, hence photosynthesis is slightly affected. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) for the four ponds fall within 5-12 mg/l which is excellent for fish culture in ponds. BOD5 in the ponds is fairly high due to heavy manure loading with the exception of SWP2 which uses only concentrates as feed. NWP sources have the highest BODs value of 3.3 mg/l due to recharge from runoff water. From this assessment work it is evident that the direct utilization of poultry faecal waste as fish feed in fish ponds has great prospects if well monitored.
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    Groundwater recharge estimation from modified soil moisture balance approach at the University Of Ibadan, lbadan, Nigeria.
    (2006) Ewemoje, T. A.; Oluwalogbon, D. O.
    Amount of water that may be extracted from an aquifer without depletion is primarily dependent on recharge. Thus, a quantitative evaluation of spatial and temporal groundwater recharge distribution is a pre-requisite for operating groundwater resource system in an optimal manner. A step-by step procedure of National Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) was used to estimate groundwater recharge based upon modified soil moisture balance approach at the University of Ibadan which covers about 1032 hectares of land. The methodology incorporates the theory of NRCS method of finding storage index. Water recharges were highest in sandy clay loam (59.0% Sand, 11.4% Silt, 29.6% Clay) between 113.1-122.5cm/hr, followed by sandy clay (58.1% sand, 8.9% silt, 33.0% clay) with values between 41.6- 55.3cm/hr and sandy clay (56.8% sand, 7.5% silt, 35.7% clay) between 38.4-47.9cm/hr. This methodology gives better estimates of groundwater recharge because it takes into consideration climatic data, land use pattern and soil properties of study location. However, conventional methods of precipitation minus evapotranspiration minus runoff, is subjective to measurement errors and the method of calculating groundwater recharge by multiplying a constant specific yield value by the water table rise over a certain time interval may also be erroneous, especially in shallow aquifers.
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    Assessment of tractor hiring services in Lagos State
    (The Nigerian Society of Engineers, 2001) Akinoso, R.; Mijinyawa, Y.
    Various agricultural mechanization techniques have been introduced to aid crop production. One of such is intensive use of tractors. Expensive capital and maintenance costs have limited the private ownership of tractors by Nigerian farmers. To promote the use and availability of tractors for farmers, tractor-hiring units were established. Tractor hiring units rent out tractors and other farm implements to farmers at affordable prices. Contrary to expectation, the aim of the program had been defeated due to technical laxity, poor management and the current economic situation of the country. Recognizing the necessity of tractor hiring units, efforts are made on ways of improving performances. Good organization and proper management are needed for effective operation.
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    Determination of discharge coefficient of rectangular side weirs
    (2001) Ogedengbe, K; Ewemoje, T. A.
    The characteristics of flow over side weirs are taken into consideration to verify the discharge coefficient for suberitical flow conditions under the assumption of constant- specific energy. The main channel discharge, length of weir crest and sill height of the weir are treated as controlled variables. The discharge coefficient Cd is found to depend on the upstream Froude No F1 and also on the ratio of sill height to upstream flow depth S/Y1. Simple linear regression analysis was conducted to establish the relationship of Cd with both F1 and S/Y1 taken separately while multiple regression analysis was conducted to establish the relationship of Cd with both F1 and S/Y1 taken together. Cd decreases with increase in F1 while Cd increases with increase in S/Y1 ratio when taken separately. When taken together, it was clearly evident that variation in Cd was largely due to S/Y1 ratio while the effect of F1 was relatively negligible.
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    Design of a gravitational drip irrigation system
    (2005-02) Ewemoje, T. A.
    The design and cost analysis of gravitational drip irrigation system was carried out in the Department of Agricultural Engineering Faculty of Technology University of Ibadan. This irrigation system was designed to suit farmlands not more than one hectare for small-scale farmers to irrigate vegetable crops. Before the design proper, preliminary studies were carried out and climatological data were collected, which was used to determine the rate of crop evapotranspiration used for the system's design i.e. 4.56mm/day for Ibadan climatic zone. The system has 100 laterals each of which is 50m long with each lateral having pressure-compensating emitters to distribute water and the mainline also 100m long. A model of the gravitational drip irrigation system was designed and tested. The test carried out on the model system shows that it can deliver 2.1-liter/hour of water with an operating head of 0.969m and the overall system's efficiency was found to be 94%. The efficiency of the system coupled with the installation and cost analysis shows that the system can be acquired and maintained by peasant farmers and still performs creditably well, when compared to the conventional drip irrigation system.