Research Paper
Abstract
The present study examined the effect of packaging film on the quantitative and qualitative properties of button mushrooms. The three types of packaging tested were a clear polyvinyl chloride box, polyvinyl chloride stretch film and biaxially-oriented polypropylene film (BOPP). The five types of moisture ...
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The present study examined the effect of packaging film on the quantitative and qualitative properties of button mushrooms. The three types of packaging tested were a clear polyvinyl chloride box, polyvinyl chloride stretch film and biaxially-oriented polypropylene film (BOPP). The five types of moisture absorbers examined were silica gel (2.5 g, 1.25 g), sodium chloride (2.5 g, 1.25 g), and silica gel (1.25 g) with spongy foam. The storage times tested were 0, 8 and 16 days. The characteristics of weight loss, retention of light coloration, and overall acceptability after storage at 5 ± 2 °C were investigated in a factorial experiment using a randomized complete block design with six replications. The results show that the BOPP film produced the least weight loss and the clear polyvinyl chloride box produced the highest weight loss. Silica gel (2.5 g) with BOPP film had the highest rating for retention of light coloration. Polyvinyl chloride stretch film recorded the greatest weight loss and the rating for light coloration. The combination of silica gel (2.5 g) with BOPP film produced the highest overall rating.
Research Paper
Abstract
The presence of unsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols in hazelnuts and hazelnut products, including hazelnut milk, are useful for health, especially for preventing cardiovascular disease. Fermentation with probiotic microorganisms present in kefir grain increases the functional properties of the products. ...
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The presence of unsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols in hazelnuts and hazelnut products, including hazelnut milk, are useful for health, especially for preventing cardiovascular disease. Fermentation with probiotic microorganisms present in kefir grain increases the functional properties of the products. Hazelnut milk is nutritious and can be used in drinks in addition to whey. The present study produced a novel kefir-like beverage using hazelnut and whey. The effects of fermentation, type of kefir grain, milk ratio and fermentation temperature on the antioxidant power, acidity, kefiran content, apparent viscosity and microflora composition were evaluated to determine the most appropriate functional and organoleptical properties. Results showed that fermentation using kefir grains changed these properties in hazelnut milk; the amount of change increased as the kefir grain content increased. Hazelnut milk fermented with 8% kefir grain at 25°C showed the highest functional properties, especially in antioxidant power and probiotic count. Although the highest concentration of polysaccharide in the media was observed at 30°C, this temperature has a destructive effect on the kefir grain.
Research Paper
Abstract
This study carried out a factorial experiment with two factors and two replicates to determine factors that improve the quality and increase the shelf life of apricots. The first factor was four levels of treatment of treatment including: the control, coated with zein, immersed in a 1% solution of calcium ...
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This study carried out a factorial experiment with two factors and two replicates to determine factors that improve the quality and increase the shelf life of apricots. The first factor was four levels of treatment of treatment including: the control, coated with zein, immersed in a 1% solution of calcium chloride, and coated with zein containing 1% calcium chloride. The second factor was time of cold storage at 1, 15, 30, 45 and 60 d. Statistical analysis of the results showed that, at the end of storage, the two treatments coated with zein showed higher rates of firmness, vitamin C and L* than in the control (p < 0.05). Weight loss and total soluble solids were lower. The ratings for appearance and color of the coated samples were significantly higher for the uncoated fruit (p < 0.05). The results indicate that zein coating had no adverse effect on the organoleptic properties of the apricot and improved its quality characteristics. There was no significant difference between the mixture containing zein and CaCl2 and zein alone on the characteristics of the apricot. Immersion in 1% calcium chloride solution increased firmness and vitamin C content and decreased the weight loss of apricots.
Research Paper
Abstract
The apricot is a soft, vulnerable fruit. Appropriate packaging decreases waste of this product. The present study examined the effect of packaging on the Iranian apricot cultivar Shahroud 58. The apricots were coated with a chitosan-based nano-emulsion coating, placed in a chitosan nano-based container ...
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The apricot is a soft, vulnerable fruit. Appropriate packaging decreases waste of this product. The present study examined the effect of packaging on the Iranian apricot cultivar Shahroud 58. The apricots were coated with a chitosan-based nano-emulsion coating, placed in a chitosan nano-based container or were left untreated apricots (control). All treatments were then kept in cold storage at 0°C for 8 wk. The results showed that the coating and container were more successful in retaining moisture than the control and that the coating performed better than the container. It appears that, in the early stage of storage, the coating and container better preserved texture than did the control; however, subsequent texture values did not differ markedly. The nano-containers performed similarly to the control and coating (excluding the end stage), but maintained a better texture for the apricots. The average ΔΕ increased for all treatments, although there was no significant difference between treated apricots and the control. A significant difference was observed between coating and storage time for respiration rate. There was no significant difference for ethylene production. SEM confirmed the presence of the nano-based coating on the skin of the fruit. The physical properties of the apricot showed that the use of chitosan as a coating or container was suitable as packaging to increase the storage life of apricots.
Research Paper
Abstract
Selecting a proper envelope (filter) guarantees the performance of underground drainage systems. Mineral and granular envelopes (sand and gravel) have drawbacks such as distance of source from project, high cost, inappropriate gradation of envelope in relation to soil and environmental issues. The use ...
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Selecting a proper envelope (filter) guarantees the performance of underground drainage systems. Mineral and granular envelopes (sand and gravel) have drawbacks such as distance of source from project, high cost, inappropriate gradation of envelope in relation to soil and environmental issues. The use of synthetic envelopes is an alternative, but needs further investigation. There are different types of synthetic envelopes and it is important to adapt the products with soil and regional conditions. The present study investigated the suitability of conventional synthetic envelopes for the Shadegan irrigation and drainage project in Khuzestan province. The permeameter tests compliant with standard ASTM D-5101 were carried out for three samples: an imported PLM synthetic envelope (PP450) and two samples produced by domestic Iranian factory (PP450, PP700). The hydraulic conductivity (HC) and gradient ratio (GR) of the soil-synthetic envelope combinations were determined. The results showed that average HC for the PP450, PP450 and PP700 were 0.21, 0.11 and 0.13 m/d, respectively; the average GR were 1.86, 0.78, and 0.84, respectively. The results suggest that the use of the Iranian PP450 and PP700 envelopes, which have similar functional abilities, is preferable, but PP700 showed less variation during testing.
Research Paper
Abstract
Transplanting bare-root onion seedlings is currently conducted manually under difficult conditions and requires 100 to 110 workers to plant 700-800 thousand stands per ha. The present study developed and evaluated a semi-automatic transplanter that meets the demands of farmers for a densely populated ...
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Transplanting bare-root onion seedlings is currently conducted manually under difficult conditions and requires 100 to 110 workers to plant 700-800 thousand stands per ha. The present study developed and evaluated a semi-automatic transplanter that meets the demands of farmers for a densely populated field. Each planter features a carrousel with cells that are manually fed by a worker. The carrousel then rotates to deliver seedlings one-by-one into a drop tube, where gravimetric force guides them into a groove by made by a trencher. The seedlings are established by press wheels which gather the soil around their roots. The curvature of the drop tube and angle of the press wheel were evaluated and the best options were selected based on the establishment of the bare-root seedlings and the ability to keep planter width to a minimum. The transplanter consisted of nine planter units installed on two parallel toolbars. The machine was tested on a 1000 m2 field and it was found that the planting rows can be set as closely as 17 cm apart without disturbing the planted seedlings of the front row. This allows the spacing between adjacent units on each toolbar to be 34 cm, which is sufficient for the operators to sit next to each other. This arrangement established a stand at 90% field capacity for 3000 m2 working for 8 h at a travel speed of 0.25 km/h. The operation required nine laborers to work the machine, one to fill the seedling boxes and one to replant the missed sections of rows. The transplanter was able to do the work of 11 manual worker days for a 3000 m2 area at the same stand density as that obtained manually while saving 63% in labor.
Research Paper
Abstract
Satellite imagery was used as a rapid and spatially explicit method to delineate crop residue cover and to estimate the use and intensity of conservation tillage. The potential of multispectral high-spatial resolution of WorldView-2 local data was evaluated using 11 satellite spectral indices and linear ...
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Satellite imagery was used as a rapid and spatially explicit method to delineate crop residue cover and to estimate the use and intensity of conservation tillage. The potential of multispectral high-spatial resolution of WorldView-2 local data was evaluated using 11 satellite spectral indices and linear spectral unmixing analysis (LSUA). Experimental plots were examined; residue cover was measured at each location using the line transect method and recorded as ground control. The output of the indices and LSUA were individually correlated to the control and R2 was calculated. Results indicate that crop residue cover was related to IPVI, RVI1 and GNDVI spectral indices and satisfactory correlations were established (.084 - 0.85). The crop residue cover estimated using LSUA correlated with the ground residue data (0.76). The infrared percentage vegetation index (IPVI) and ratio vegetation index (RVI) had maximum R2 values and were considered appropriate for classification of tillage intensity. Classification accuracy of the IPVI and RVI indices under different conditions varied from 83% to 100%, indicating they were in good agreement with ground measurement, observations and field records.
Research Paper
Abstract
Replacement of a tractor is an influential factor affecting timely farm operation. The accurate prediction of repair and maintenance costs is essential to selection of a replacement model. This study used empirical data for 60 two-wheel drive (2WD) tractors from Astan Ghods-e Razavi agroindustry. The ...
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Replacement of a tractor is an influential factor affecting timely farm operation. The accurate prediction of repair and maintenance costs is essential to selection of a replacement model. This study used empirical data for 60 two-wheel drive (2WD) tractors from Astan Ghods-e Razavi agroindustry. The types and numbers of tractors used were the Massey Ferguson 285 (17), Fiat (10), John Deere 3140 (28) and John Deere 4450 (5). Regression analysis showed that the quadratic model was suited for predicting repair and maintenance costs. The four types of tractors recorded 17850, 18380, 27000 and 27400 cumulative hours, respectively, of use to replacement life as predicted using the genetic algorithm.
