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Research Article
Analysis of the Autoregressive Equation of the Dependence of Soil Separation in Potato Harvesters on the Length of the Elevator
Bayboboev Nabijan Gulomovich
,
Muminov A'zam Latifxonovich*
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 2, April 2026
Pages:
23-27
Received:
16 February 2026
Accepted:
26 February 2026
Published:
16 March 2026
Abstract: Modernized potato harvesters are designed to deliver the required level of productivity under specified operating conditions and within different soil environments. However, in present-day field conditions, the effectiveness of these machines does not always meet expectations. In particular, the degree of complete separation of potato tubers from the soil mixture tends to decrease, which in turn leads to an increase in both quantitative losses and mechanical damage to the harvested tubers. These negative outcomes are largely associated with the insufficient efficiency and imperfect operation of the separating components that form a key part of the potato harvester’s working system. When the separating elements do not perform optimally, the soil–tuber mixture is not adequately processed, and this results in reduced harvesting quality and lower overall efficiency. The overall performance of a potato harvester is closely linked to the permeability and effectiveness of its separating elements. These components are responsible for allowing soil and smaller particles to pass through while retaining and transporting the potato tubers with minimal damage. If the permeability of these elements is not properly matched to the characteristics of the soil and crop, the machine’s performance deteriorates. Therefore, understanding and optimizing the parameters of the separating system is essential for improving the operational efficiency of modern potato harvesters. This study focuses on analyzing how the parameters of the elevator working elements depend on the structural design of the potato harvester. The elevator plays a crucial role in transporting the soil–tuber mixture through the separating system and facilitating the removal of soil from the harvested crop. By examining the relationship between the design features of the harvester and the operational parameters of the elevator working element, the research aims to identify ways to improve separation quality and reduce tuber losses and damage. To investigate these relationships, continuous variations in the mass, volume, and weight of soil entering the separating element were considered. These changing conditions simulate real harvesting scenarios in which the amount and properties of soil entering the machine vary over time. By analyzing how these variables influence the performance of the separating system, the study evaluates the dependence of the separating element length on the operational effectiveness of the potato harvester. The results provide insight into how design and parameter adjustments can enhance separation efficiency, improve permeability, and ultimately increase the overall productivity and reliability of potato harvesting machines under modern agricultural conditions.
Abstract: Modernized potato harvesters are designed to deliver the required level of productivity under specified operating conditions and within different soil environments. However, in present-day field conditions, the effectiveness of these machines does not always meet expectations. In particular, the degree of complete separation of potato tubers from t...
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Research Article
Economic Optimization of Poultry Manure in Organic African Spinach (Amaranthus hybridus) Production
Adinde Jonathan Okenna*,
Nwankwo Ogechi Gabriella,
Igwe James Amaechi,
Agu Valentine Ogochukwu
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 2, April 2026
Pages:
28-35
Received:
23 February 2026
Accepted:
9 March 2026
Published:
23 March 2026
Abstract: Organic crop production is a potential sustainable solution to food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria; however, the rising cost of poultry manure, commonly used in organic crop production to boost soil fertility in depleted soil, poses a challenge to its economic viability and sustainability. Thus, a field experiment was conducted in 2024 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Horticultural Technology, Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, Southeast Nigeria, to evaluate the economic viability of using different application rates of poultry manure for Amaranthus hybridus production under organic conditions towards optimizing its use and profitability. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments comprised five poultry manure rates: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 tons per hectare. Data on shoot weight per plant and derived yield per hectare were collected, and analyses of variance at the 5% significance level were conducted. The treatment means with significant differences were separated using Fisher’'s least significant difference at the 5% probability level. Economic analysis, such as gross margin as well as return on investment (RoI), was performed to assess the profitability of different poultry manure application rates. The results showed that poultry manure significantly (p<0.05) improved Amaranthus hybridus shoot yield, with optimum yield obtained at 20 tons per hectare. The highest gross margin was obtained at 20 tons, but the highest return on investment was at 10 tons per hectare. A graph of RoI against poultry manure rates showed a steady increase in RoI from 0 tons to 10 tons beyond which it began to diminish. Poultry manure application at a rate of 10 tons per hectare was the most profitable rate and, therefore, the most economically viable rate; it could be recommended for organic Amaranthus hybridus production in the study area and similar agro-environments for enhanced food security.
Abstract: Organic crop production is a potential sustainable solution to food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria; however, the rising cost of poultry manure, commonly used in organic crop production to boost soil fertility in depleted soil, poses a challenge to its economic viability and sustainability. Thus, a field experiment was conducted...
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Research Article
Intensification Strategies for Small-Scale Irrigation Systems in Urban Areas: Case Study of Bamako District
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 2, April 2026
Pages:
36-47
Received:
19 March 2026
Accepted:
31 March 2026
Published:
21 April 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijaas.20261202.13
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Abstract: Small-scale irrigation in urban and peri-urban areas plays a key role in food security and livelihood improvement in Bamako, Mali. This study evaluates the performance and constraints of 10 irrigated market gardening sites using field surveys, soil and water analyses, and crop water requirement assessments. The objective was to assess the current status of irrigation practices, identify the main agronomic and environmental constraints, and propose feasible strategies for sustainable intensification in these production systems. Results show that soils are predominantly sandy (78–98%) with low organic matter (0–2%), making them poorly fertile and highly water demanding. These soil conditions reduce water retention capacity and increase the need for frequent irrigation, which may further aggravate inefficient water use. Irrigation water quality remains generally acceptable, with no significant heavy metal contamination (<0.01 mg/L), indicating that water sources are suitable for vegetable production under the studied conditions. However, irrigation practices were found to be inefficient, with applied water exceeding crop requirements by 2 to 8 times. Irrigation efficiency is estimated at 40–50%, reflecting substantial water losses and poor control of water application at field level. Correlation analysis indicates that crop yield is more related to water application than to irrigation efficiency, suggesting that farmers tend to compensate for low efficiency by over-applying water. While this practice may help maintain production in the short term, it is neither economically nor environmentally sustainable. Excessive irrigation may also contribute to nutrient leaching and long-term soil degradation.
Abstract: Small-scale irrigation in urban and peri-urban areas plays a key role in food security and livelihood improvement in Bamako, Mali. This study evaluates the performance and constraints of 10 irrigated market gardening sites using field surveys, soil and water analyses, and crop water requirement assessments. The objective was to assess the current s...
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