Evaluation of the portable furrow infiltrometer
Abstract Twenty infiltrometer tests were conducted to compare infiltration rates estimated by the recirculating infiltrometer (RIF) and the newly developed portable infiltrometer (PIF). Two types of furrows commonly used in the western United States; small and steep, and large and less steep; were considered in high and low infiltration soils. Comparison of the PIF and RIF infiltration rate measurements indicated that PIF was most accurate in estimating steady infiltration rates. Use of the PIF for predicting infiltration rate functions was not recommended because of the need for collecting accurate measurements early during the infiltration process. Considering ease of installation, accuracy in measuring steady infiltration rates, and ability to collect data during irrigation, the PIF is a promising device for use in surface irrigation management.
FURROW INFILTRATION AND DESIGN WITH CANNERY WASTEWATER
ABSTRACT Surface irrigation is used to apply food processing wastewater. A newly developed flow-through infiltrometer was developed to measure the influence of wastewater quality on intiltration and irrigation performance. Steady infiltration rate decreased with increased loading of BOD and TS of tomato processing wastewater. Using a hydraulic model to simulate irrigation performance, it was shown that ignoring the decline in intiltration with increased loading and using the unadjusted infiltration function reduced predicted application efficiency 23%. Surface irrigation system design should therefore include the effect of wastewater quality.
Assessment of some agro-technological parameters of cactus pear fruit ( Opuntia ficus-indica Mill . ) in Morocco cultivars
Cactaceae had always attracted attention by their strange shapes and important adaptability supporting extreme conditions. For this reasons, Fruit traits were measured on 13 cultivars growing in different locations in Morocco. Results show significant differences between the cultivars. The source of this variation was probably genetic without excluding the geographic effects. The Tamri, Berkan, Ait Baha cultivars showed small fruit dimensions and weight. In contrast, Sidi-Ifni M, Nador, Mohammedia and Ben Guerir were greater than 100 g by fruit. Sidi-Ifni M, Hoceima, Mohammedia and Nador, although larger, contained few seeds, about 200 seeds per fruit; while Tamri, Ait Baha, Safi, Meknes and Tafraout contained over than 230 seeds per fruit. High levels of juice about 62 ml/100 g pulp were obtained with Sidi-Ifni M, Nador, Mohammedia and Ben Guerir cultivars. Total sugars of the 13 cultivars were quite similar and pH was low in Tamri and close to neutrality in the rest of cultivars. Therefore, oil extracted from Opuntia ficus-indica seeds constituted 13.6% of the whole seed. Thin-layer chromatography in conjunction with gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed a relatively high degree of unsaturation, 83.32% and 16% for saturated fatty acid, with a linoleic acid content of 63.66% followed by oleic 18.34%, palmitic 12.84% and stearic acid 2.81%. Based on these results, O. ficus-indica seed oil appears to be a good potential source of edible oil for human and (or) animal consumption. Our investigation describes that Tamri and Tafraout cultivars are not really a commercial viable fruit due to low total soluble solids value and highest seeds number per fruit. Against Mohammedia, Sidi Ifni M and Nador cultivars proved to have the highest fruit weight, very good total soluble solids value and low number of seeds, these cultivars can therefore be planted for both fruit production and for harvesting of cladodes for animal feed.