UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION

AND IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY

REPORT ON THIRD TRIMESTER FIELD PRACTICAL PROGRAMME (TTFPP)

2021/2022,

1
Content
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Objectives ............................................................................................................................................................................... 6

General Objectives ............................................................................................................................................................ 6

Specific Objectives ............................................................................................................................................................ 6

Methodology ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Abstract................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Chapter One............................................................................................................................................................................ 8

Reporting and Registration .............................................................................................................................................. 8

Meeting and Orientation/ Seminar .................................................................................................................................. 8

Chapter Three ....................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Attachment at the Faculty Workshop ........................................................................................................................... 10

Components of the Internal Combustion Engine ..................................................................................................... 10

Components of a Typical Tire.................................................................................................................................... 11

Types of Welding Plant............................................................................................................................................... 14

Function of Welding.................................................................................................................................................... 14

Operational Principle of the Welding Machine ........................................................................................................... 15

(2) The Bending machine ..................................................................................................................................... 16

(3)The Power Saw ....................................................................................................................................................... 16

Main features of the Lathe Machine. ........................................................................................................................ 18

Operational Principle of the Lathe Machine ............................................................................................................ 18

(6) The Drilling/ Milling Machine.............................................................................................................................. 19

How it works ................................................................................................................................................................ 19

Chapter Four ......................................................................................................................................................................... 23

Chapter Five .................................................................................................................................................................... 29

2
 Infiltration Experiments ................................................................................................................................................. 29

Parts of the Mini Disk Infiltrometer.......................................................................................................................... 29

Procedures Involve...................................................................................................................................................... 29

Principle of Operation ................................................................................................................................................ 29

Uses of the Instrument ................................................................................................................................................ 30

Factors Affecting Min-Disk Infiltration .................................................................................................................... 30

Mini-Disk Infiltration Test Data ................................................................................................................................ 30

Run off Experimental Field ........................................................................................................................................ 35

Uses of Run-Off Experimental Field ......................................................................................................................... 36

Double Ring Infiltrometer .......................................................................................................................................... 36

Caution ......................................................................................................................................................................... 36

Procedures: .................................................................................................................................................................. 36

Double Ring Infiltration Test Data ............................................................................................................................ 38

Chapter Six ............................................................................................................................................................................ 42

Post-harvest Techniques ................................................................................................................................................. 43

Post-Harvest Laboratory ............................................................................................................................................ 43

Some Equipment in the Laboratory are; .................................................................................................................. 43

Components of the Chroma meter ............................................................................................................................ 48

Drying Process ............................................................................................................................................................. 50

Solar Bubble Dryer ..................................................................................................................................................... 51

Characteristics of the Solar bubble Dryer ................................................................................................................ 51

Factors Affecting Drying of Substances using Solar Dryer..................................................................................... 51

3
 Acknowledgement

I would forever remain grateful to the Almighty God for His protection and guidance throughout the whole

period of Third Trimester Field Practical Program (TTFPP).To the Head of Department Dr. Joseph Kudadam

Korese, Ing.Vincent Danny Gbedzi, Dr. Thomas Apusiga Adongo, Mr. Precious Blege, Dr. Bizoola Z. Gandaa,

Dr. Samuel Appah, Mr. Christopher A. Ayambire, Dr. Evans A. Alenyorege, Mr. Richard Dogbe, I say thank

you and may God bless you for your selfless effort, dedication and support given us till the end of the program.

I also thank the workers at the Faculty workshop, Mr. Osman Bashiru, the assistant manager in charge of the

workshop for guiding us during our introduction days at the workshop.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all my colleagues for the cooperation and

support in both general and group works.

4
 Introduction
The Third Trimester Field Practical program (TTFPP) is a core part of the Curriculum of the University for

Development Studies (UDS). This component draws its justification from the PNDC Law Act 279 Section 3 of

the (1992) constitution. The Third Trimester Field Practical Program aims at integrating academic work with

that of the community/industry in order to have constructive interaction between the three northern regions and

some part of Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, for the total development of the country. For the third and final

aspect of the program is a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of BSc. Agriculture Technology

honor degree Agriculture mechanization and irrigation technology option all third year students were supposed

to report on campus for the program.

5
 Objectives
General Objectives
• To provide useful services to Ghanaian communities through the exchange of knowledge and its

application to address the felt needs and aspirations of these communities.

• To introduce students to the practices of the techniques and strategies of development problem solving.

• To generate data for further research into problem solving development issues and other purposes.

Specific Objectives
• To help students get enough exposure to acquire prerequisite knowledge with regard to areas of

specialization.

• To expose students practically to general lab practices and biosafety issues and areas of specialization.

• To broaden students’ scope of knowledge to identify problems and how agricultural mechanization and

irrigation technology could be used to solve those problems.

• In addition, students gain knowledge on how to write report, research and publishing.

Methodology
1. Oral lectures

2. Participation

3. Observation

4. Discussion

5. Questions and answers

6
 Abstract
The third trimester field practical program started with a weeklong registration to allow adequate time for

students to register and partake in the activities for the trimester. The head of department (HOD) and lecturers

in charge of the trimester program drew up a five weeks activities timetable. They organized introduction of

lecturers and welcoming of students to the department section for interaction purpose to help students know

more about the department. It was followed by data collection orientation and student group selected

community data collection.

7
 Chapter One
Reporting and Registration
All students in the department were scheduled to report and register within a week long period from 1 st August

to 5thSeptember 2022. Registration was supposed to be done at the department secretariat’s office where each

student had to write their names, student ID, sign and e-mail. During this period, a total number of fifteen (15)

students successfully registered.

Remarks: everyone reported and registration was successful.

Chapter Two

Meeting and Orientation/Seminar

The Head of Department, Dr. Joseph K. Korese, Dr. Samuel Appah, Dr. A. Adongo and Mr. Richard Dogbe

warmly welcomed us to a seminar on the 5th of September, 2022, where the final year students in the

department defended their project works and questions were asked them by the lecturers present. The purpose

for the seminar was to create an opportunity for the third year students to meet and know the lecturers in the

department and also observe and familiarize them of how to select and defend their project topics. After the

defense session, the HoD, Dr. Joseph K. Korese gave his closing remarks to the final year students and the

lecturers present also introduced themselves to us and the courses they will be taking us through. The HoD also

emphasized on the importance of the department as long as agriculture in modern times is concern.

Ing. Vincent D. Gbedzi emphasized that we will not regret of coming into the department, he further mentioned

the courses he would be handling us through.

8
Each lecturer present listed out his respective courses that is taught in each trimester and gave an overview of

each course. They (lecturers) also spoke about punctuality to lectures, where they cautioned us not to be absent

in any of their classes unless we have a tangible reason.

1. Soil and water conservation and management and irrigation technology

2. Post-harvest technology

3. Agricultural Mechanization

Head of department finally introduced all the lecturers present on that day, advised us to be very hardworking

and punctual at our third trimester meetings. We the students could not introduce ourselves but were promised

to do that later.

Remarks: The seminar which last for about three (3) hours was successful. The head of department and the

lecturers in the department made it clear to us that we should freely come to them if we have any problem since

we are part of the department.

9
 Chapter Three
Attachment at the Faculty Workshop
On the 8th of August, 2022, Dr. Samuel Appah met us and discussed with us some of the activities we

shall be undertaking within that period. We were taken through the program outline. He also taught us

how to use word, and also how to code and analyze data using statistical package for social sciences

(SPSS).

Remarks: We learned and really had fun and everything was successful.

On the 11th of August, 2022, Dr. Samuel Appah took us through tractor engine and six-cylinder

combustion engine. He made mention of some important parts of an engine and their functions.

Components of the Internal Combustion Engine

1. Crankshaft

2. Cylinder block

3. Pistons, exhaust manifold

4. Piston rings, connecting rod, gudgeon pin, gaskets

5. Flywheel, crank case, sump

6. Inlet and outlet valves, ejectors, injectors.

10
Picture of internal combustion engine

Dr. Samuel Appah again took us through types of tires, where he made mention of symmetric,

asymmetric and directional types of tires and their labels.

Components of a Typical Tire

1. Tread

2. Rim

3. Body

4. Belt plies

5. Side wall

11
 Asymmetrical Tires Directional Tires

Symmetric Tire

We also had a brief introduction on Corn Sheller, mold and disc ploughs, walk type machine,

slasher/mower, ploughs by Dr. Samuel Appah.

12
Moldboard Plough Disc plough Corn Sheller

Walking Tractor

Dr. Appah again took us through the sections of the workshop where we were shown physically and

practically the equipment mentioned above.

13
On the 23rd August, we met Dr. Samuel Appah again at the workshop where he took through the components

and functions of a clutch. He illustrated to us every component in the clutch system and how it works.

The following are some of the components:

• Pressure plate: it releases the clutch disc from the flywheel

• Clutch disc: the pressure plate is connected to the flywheel and the pressure plate. The surface of

the clutch disc will wear if one tries to reduce gears from 5th to 1st or vice versa.

• Spline: it fits with the shaft and rotates it easily.

• Damper rings: the pressure in the damper rings is used to the clutch in to function. Once the

damper rings are shaking, you must change them.

The flywheel connects the pressure plate and the clutch disc.

On the 31st of August, we again met Dr. Samuel Appah and he told us what we shall do the next day and later

sent us into mechanization laboratory. The laboratory, we were led by the manager Mr. Osman Bashiru. Mr.

Bashiru took us through and demonstrated to us the functions of the equipment in the laboratory and their

operations. This session was so practical to an extent that all we those who were present had to practice

welding.

The following were some of the equipment he took us through in the laboratory;

(1) The Welding Plant

Types of Welding Plant

1. Gas welding

2. Arc welding

Function of Welding
The welding plant is use to join two parts of a metal together.

14
Operational Principle of the Welding Machine
It has two terminals, negative (-) and positive (+) terminals. The negative terminal is normally connected to the

material to be weld to allow flow continuity of current. The positive is normally inserted with welding rod

(electrode) and attached to the point of welding.

Electric Welding Plant

15
 (2) The Bending machine
It is use for bending plates below 3 mm in thickness

Bending Machine

We also had a glance observation of the power saw and its function.

(3)The Power Saw

It is use for cutting metal bars into lengths desired by the operator

16
The Power Saw

(4) The Grinding Machine

It is used to sharpen metallic surfaces or edges

The Grinding Machine

17
(5) The Lathe Machine

This machine is widely used in metal working, metal spinning, wood turning and glass working. Some artifacts

produced with the lathe machine is the crankshaft, table legs, bowls, cutting bolts and knots, spanners of

different sizes.

Main features of the Lathe Machine.

Bed: the bed serves as the base for the actively moving parts. Both the head and tail stock are mounted on the

bed. The head stock is formed on the upper surface of the bed, with the tail stock at the rare of the bed.

Head stock: it carries the head spindle and the mechanism for driving it. The head stock carries the jaw chuck

as well as the artifact to be machined. The head stock consists of the mainly of core pulley that is driven in a

rotary motion.

Tail stock: this reinforces the end of the work being machined. It also serves the purpose of holding live center,

drill chucks, etc.

Jaw chuck: the chuck holds the article to be machined. There are two types of jaw chucks, the three-jaw chuck

and four jaw chuck.

Operational Principle of the Lathe Machine

It operates on the principle of a rotating work piece and a fixed cutting tool.

Lathe Machine

18
(6) The Drilling/ Milling Machine
This device is usually motor driven, fitted with an end cutting tool that is rotated with sufficient power either to

create a hole or to enlarge an existing hole in a solid material. The machine is used for milling and drilling

purposes. Unlike the lathe machine, the drill is used to mill surfaces of the metals, woods or plastics. The

machine is also used to perforate holes into articles of wood, metals and plastics.

Drilling/ Milling Machine

How it works
• An article is set on the bench of the driller.

• It is then clamped onto the bench to minimize errors in the course of drilling or milling.

• Cutting tool is inserted into the drilling bit.

• The dimensions are inputted/keyed into the panel to automatically drill or mill.

• The operator then sets the machine to either cut the article in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.

On the 31st August, 2022, Dr. Samuel Appah gave us an assignment: The assignment was for us to do research

on the implications of the write-ups on the following tire.

19
The results of the research are as follows;

1. The 265(mm) refers to the section width of the tire- from sidewall to sidewall

2. The 70(%) represents the aspect ratio: the height of the tire’s side expressed as a percentage of the

section width.

3. The “R” (radial construction) ; this indicates that the tire is manufactured with a radial ply construction.

4. The 16(inches): it indicates the rim diameter of the tire. This distance of the wheel rim from the wheel

flange to the same point on the other side.

5. The 112 (weight): the load capacity. It represents the maximum load that the tire can carry at its

maximum speed.

6. The “S” (speed index): it represents the maximum speed the tire can go while carrying its maximum

load.

On the 1st September, 2022., we together with Dr. Samuel Appah went and met Mr. Ibrahim, the manager of the
mechanic workshop. He showed us how an engine is structured and functions. He used an old 4-cylinder Navarra engine
to enlighten us. With his directions, we disassembled the engine up to a certain level and were asked to assemble it.

20
Practical session as it was, he demonstrated to us that, the engine can still function with one cylinder when the other
three cylinders are at fault. But with that, there will be vibration. He told us that the filter is not repaired but is replaced
with a new one. He removed the piston and showed us the types of rings on the. He also taught us the firing order of the
pistons in the engine. In the case of the 4-cylinder engine, he said the 1st and the 4th cylinders fire together whilst the 3rd
and the 2nd cylinders fire together.

1. The compressor ring; this helps to produce more traction when the car is climbing a hill.
2. The oil ring; it helps prevent oil from leaking and entering in to the combusting chamber to cause smoking.
3. The normal ring

During the disassembling, it was easy but in the assembling session, it was not easy at all for us so Mr. Ibrahim had to
send one of his boys to help us. We really saw the components of an engine with our own eyes. The engine has 2
different types of holes that are meant for the passage and oil and water separately. This is meant to lubricate the
components of the engine that need to be lubricated to prevent friction whilst the water cools the engine to prevent
over- heating.

We met on the 2nd September and took measurements from tires that will enable us measure the aspect ratio of a tire.
The following were the measurements;

Sample 1:

Section width=255mm

Height = 165mm

Aspect ratio= (165/255)1×00=64.7%

Rim diameter= 17 inches

Sample2

Section width =255mm

Height = 160mm

Aspect ratio = (160/255)1×00=62.7%

Rim diameter = 17 inches

Samlpe3:

Section width = 265mm

Height = 173mm

21
Aspect ratio = (173/265) ×100=65.3%

Rim diameter = 16 inches

Sample 4:

Section width = 265mm

Height = 185mm

Aspect ratio = (185/265)×100= 69.8%

Rim diameter = 16inches

Sample 5:

Section width = 240mm

Height = 159mm

Aspect ratio = (159/240) ×100 = 66.3%

Rim diameter = 17inches

22
 Chapter Four
Attachment at the Solar Powered Irrigation System

On Tuesday, 16th August, 2022, Dr. Thomas A. Adongo took us through the solar powered irrigation system at

the mechanization and irrigation department. He told us the rationale behind the construction of the irrigation

system, it’s construction methods and it’s operation .We were told the challenges they have faced with the

borehole water being salty and due to the salinity, they have resorted to buying water from water tankers for the

irrigation purposes during the dry season. He showed us where and how they harvest rainwater during the

raining system and also, how they intend to treat the brine from the boreholes for all year round water supplies.

He also showed us the equipment, tools and instruments that are used in the irrigation system. He taught us

how;

• to calculate the volume of the underground reservoir; which is length × breadth×depth

It must be noted that; in calculating the volume of the reservoir and quantity of water inside the

reservoir, the leveling staff is used to measure the height.

• the solar energy is generated

• the sun sensor functions

• the components inside the control box (controller and the PV connect ) works and their implication

Dr. Adongo elaborated to us how the solar system is engineered. He indicated to us that, the system

consist of twelve (12) solar panels and each panel generates 330Watts. This implies that the total Watts

generated in the system is equivalent to 3.96kW. Though the panels receive sun radiations, but when the

sun sensor is covered, there would not be any power in the system to operate. The solar panels receive

the solar power and transmit the power to the controller. When the controller shows a green light it

means there is enough power for irrigational purposes and if the second one is also green it means there

is enough water for irrigation.

23
Underground Water Reservoir

24
 Leveling Staff Control Box

Sun sensor Tape Used to Measure Length of Underground Reservoir

Non-Returnable Valve and Meter Pressure Gauge

When Dr. Adongo successfully familiarized us with the operation of the system, he proceeded with us to the
irrigation site. At the site they practice three systems of irrigation;

1. The spray tube system. In this system water is channeled in to the main canal through the main lateral
where it is regulated with a valve in to the perforated tubes with pressure aligned along the crops.

25
 Spray Tube System
2. Sprinkler system; in this system water from the main canal is regulated into the main lateral then to the
sub-main lateral and finally into the sprinklers that spray the water into air with pressure. The sprinklers
always rotate when in action.

26
Sprinkler System

3. Drip system in the drip system, water from the main canal is pumped in to tanks on a suitable height

with force. The water from the tanks then passes through the sub-main lines due to gravity into the

perforate upward tubes for dripping along the crops. The tubes are perforated upward to prevent

blockages.

27
Drip System

28
 Chapter Five
Infiltration Experiments
On Wednesday, August 17, 2022, we met Mr. Richard Dogbe at the workshop. He took us through infiltration

procedures. He much emphasized on the mini disk infiltrometer.

He made us to understand the importance of performing infiltration test before planting, some were:

1. To help the farmer to calculate the right quantity of irrigation water to be applied on the farm and at

what specific time interval.

2. To also help the farmer to select the right crop to be cultivated on the farmland.

Parts of the Mini Disk Infiltrometer

1. Suction chamber

2. Chamber barrier

3. Reservoir

4. Suction tube

5. Porous stainless disk

Procedures Involve

1. Firstly, fill the suction chamber with water

2. Also, fill the reservoir with water

3. Set your stop clock

4. Read every 30 seconds or one minute depending on the soil type

5. Set the suction tube at 6cm on sandy soil.

6. Set the suction tube at 1cm on clay soil.

7. Set the suction tube at 2cm if you do not know the type of soil.

Principle of Operation

It is based on the principle of tension.

29
Uses of the Instrument

1. It is used to measure hydraulic conductivity.

2. it is used to measure infiltration.

Mini-Disk Infiltration Experiment

Factors Affecting Min-Disk Infiltration

1. Compaction of soil.

2. Soil texture.

3. Moisture content.

Mini-Disk Infiltration Test Data

30
Time/seconds Volume/ml

0 85.0

30.0 83.0

30.0 82.0

30.0 81.0

30.0 80.5

30.0 79.0

30.0 78.0

30.0 77.0

30.0 76.0

30.0 75.5

30.0 75.0

30.0 74.0

30.0 73.0

30.0 72.5

30.0 72

30.0 71.0

30.0 70.0

30.0 70.0

30.0 69.0

30.0 68.0

30.0 68.0

30.0 67.0

30.0 66.0

30.0 66.0

31
30.0 65.0

30.0 64.5

30.0 64.0

30.0 63.0

30.0 61.5

30.0 61.0

30.0 60.0

30.0 59.0

30.0 58.5

30.0 58.0

30.0 57.0

30.0 56.0

30.0 56.0

30.0 55.5

30.0 55.0

30.0 54.0

30.0 53

30 52.5

30 52

30 51.5

30 51

30 50

30 49

30 48.5

30 48

32
30 47

30 46

30 45

30 44

30 44

30 43

30 42

30 42

30 41

30 40.5

30 40

30 39

30 38.5

30 38

30 37.5

30 37

30 36

30 35.5

30 35

30 34

30 33

30 32.5

30 32

30 31

30 30.5

33
30 30

30 29

30 28

30 27.5

30 27

30 26

30 25.5

30 25

30 24.5

30 24

30 23

30 22

30 21.5

30 21

30 20.5

30 20

30 19

30 18.5

30 18

30 17.5

30 16

30 15.5

30 15

30 14

30 13.5

34
30 13

30 12

30 11.5

30 10

30 9

30 8

30 7

30 6

30 5.5

Run off Experimental Field

Mr. Richard explained to us the importance of all the components of the runoff site. He made mention of the

three separate catchment area which is used to check the effect of runoff, where each catchment is separated by

a wall to control the flow of water from one catchment area to the other. Every catchment has different length.

Some other components of the site were;

35
 • Apron: used to control the smooth flow of water, and also to serve as a platform to collect sediments that

is collected as a result of runoff water from.

• Reservoir: it is a cylindrical shaped structure which is placed just in front of the catchment is to collect

runoff water. The water collected in the reservoir is measured and various factors are considered when

calculating for runoff per day.

• Sieve: it is positioned in front of the opening of the reservoir to help control the entry of sediments into

the reservoir water.

After visiting the field, it was divided into three (3) sections with reservoirs at the end part of its down Streams.

Short catchment areas yield more water than longer catchment areas.

Uses of Run-Off Experimental Field

1. It is use to estimate the amount of sediments in an eroded area.

2. It can also be used to plant different crops and determine the vegetation cover.

Double Ring Infiltrometer

Mr. Richard outlined basic things that we would need to make our experiments successful. Some of these were

gallons, 30cm ruler, outer ring, inner ring, cross bar, mallet, stop clock.

Caution

1. Do not disturb soil.

2. Cut grasses to enable fixing the disks.

Procedures:

1. The outer ring is dip into the soil about 10cm to control lateral flow of water.

2. The inner ring is place at the Centre of the outer ring.

3. The rule is then fix in the Centre of the inner ring with the help of cutlass.
36
4. The cross bar is kept on top of the rings, with the help of mallet; the rings are forced into the soil.

5. Water is poured into the outer ring first to control lateral flow and then the inner one.

6. The stop clock is then setup.

7. Reading of the time varies, if you had 3 to 4 consecutive values.

Fixing the Rings into the Ground Water Being Poured in to the Rings

37
Double Ring Infiltration Test Data
Time/minutes Infiltration Infiltration Depth
Depth/cm Difference/cm

0 17.5 0

1 16.5 1

1 15.2 1.3

1 14.5 0.7

1 14.0 0.5

1 13.2 0.8

1 12.7 0.3

1 12.1 0.2

1 11.8 0.6

1 11.5 0.3

1 11.5 0.3

1 11.1 0

1 10.8 0.4

1 10.7 0.3

1 10.5 0.1

1 10.4 0.2

1 10.2 0.1

1 10 0.2

2 15.5 0.2

2 13.8 2

2 13.2 1.7

38
 2 12.5 0.6

2 11.8 0.8

2 11.0 0

2 11.0 0.5

2 10.5 0

2 10.5 0

2 10.5 0.6

3 9.9 0.8

3 9.1 0.7

3 8.8 0.8

3 15.3 0

3 13.8 0.5

3 12.9 0

3 12.7 0

3 11.0 0.6

On the 19th of August, 2022, Mr. Richard Dogbe had a class with us where he taught us how to use excel to

analyze our infiltration experiments results. The following were the analysis of the experiments we performed.

We used the data we had from performing the experiment with the mini disc infiltrometer and plotted the curve

below. Accumulated time (s) was plotted against infiltration rate(cm/s)

39
Time(s) infil rate(cm/s)
30 0.004192
60 0.003144
90 0.002794
120 0.002358
150 0.002515
180 0.002445
210 0.002395
240 0.002358
270 0.002212
300 0.002096
330 0.002096
360 0.002096
390 0.002015
420 0.001946
450 0.001956
480 0.001965
510 0.001849
540 0.001863
570 0.001875
600 0.001781
630 0.001796
660 0.00181
690 0.001731
720 0.001747
750 0.001719
780 0.001693
810 0.001708
840 0.001722
870 0.001698
900 0.001677
930 0.00169
960 0.001703
990 0.001683
1020 0.001664
1050 0.001677
1080 0.001688
1110 0.001671
1140 0.001655
1170 0.001639
1200 0.001624
1230 0.001636
1260 0.001622
1290 0.001608
1320 0.001596
1350 0.001584
1380 0.001595
1410 0.001583
1440 0.001572
1470 0.001561
40
1500 0.001551
1530 0.001562
1560 0.001572
1590 0.001582
1620 0.001591
1650 0.001562
1680 0.001572
1710 0.001581
1740 0.001554
1770 0.001563
1800 0.001554
1830 0.001546
1860 0.001555
2163 0.001352
2193 0.001348
2223 0.001344
2253 0.00134
2283 0.00135
2313 0.001346
2343 0.001342
2373 0.001351
2403 0.001361
2433 0.001357
2463 0.001353
2493 0.001362
2523 0.001358
2553 0.001355
2583 0.001363
2613 0.001372
2916 0.00124
2946 0.001238
2976 0.001247
3006 0.001245
3036 0.001243
3066 0.001241
3096 0.001239
3126 0.001247
3156 0.001255
3186 0.001253
3216 0.001251
3246 0.001249

41
 infil rate(cm/s)
0.0045

0.004

0.0035 Chapter Six

0.003

0.0025 infil rate(cm/s) Power (infil rate(cm/s))

0.002

0.0015
y = 0.0038x-0.235
R² = 0.9615
0.001
0 20 40 60 80 100

42
 Chapter Six

Post-harvest Techniques

On the 24th of August, 2022, we were taken through the post- harvest techniques by Mr. Mathew who is a post-

harvest technologist at the department. He discussed with us the effects of moisture in food produce and its

effects on the shelf life of the produce. He explained that, moisture content favors the activities of

microorganisms and it is through these activities that cause food produce to deteriorate and hence, the need to

reduce moisture content before storage. He mentioned solar drying, smoking, roasting, salting, freezing and

canning as methods of preserving food produce.

Post-Harvest Laboratory

Some Equipment in the Laboratory are;

• Ritter cutter/ Slicer: used for chopping food samples into uniform shapes.

• Precision balance: for quality control purposes, the precision balance is used to measure up to 620g of

the product; it can also be used to measure nutritional analysis.

• Infrared Moisture Analyzer: it is used to measure the moisture of the sample; it is quick and rapid.

• Calorimeter: is it a color space system used to measure the color variations in food products.

• Lab Swift water Activity Meter: it is used to measure the shelf-life of food products.

• Electrical weighing scale: it is used to measure or determine mass of a sample. It has a limit of

10kg/1000g.

• Electrical Oven: For baking cake or bread

• Electrical Dryer: For drying of food substances.

• Data logger: For measuring temperature and humidity.

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 Chroma meter Calorimeter

Electrical oven and Electrical scale

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Electrical dryer

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 Slicer machine Infrared Moisture analyzer

On 25th of August, we continued with Mr. Mathew Achaglinkame on drying processes.

He took us through chroma meter. We also dried fresh pepper using the infrared moisture analyzer and also

determining the water activity and color of a the pepper using the water analyzer and the chroma meter

respectively. The following were the times and values of weight lost during the experiment. The initial volume

was 10.548g and the time interval for measurement was 30s.

Time Value Unit

11:34:33 10.548 g
11:35:02 10.538 g
11:35:32 10.459 g
11:36:02 10.114 g
11:36:32 9.83 g
11:37:32 9.233 g
11:38:32 8.728 g
11:39:02 8.472 g
11:39:32 8.218 g
11:40:32 7.72 g
11:41:32 7.22 g
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11:42:02 6.979 g
11:42:32 6.74 g
11:43:02 6.507 g
11:43:32 6.266 g
11:44:02 6.025 g
11:44:32 5.869 g
11:45:02 5.566 g
11:46:02 5.116 g
11:47:02 4.774 g
11:47:32 4.561 g
11:48:02 4.368 g
11:48:32 4.153 g
11:49:02 3.933 g
11:49:32 3.786 g
11:50:02 3.716 g
11:50:32 3.45 g
11:51:02 3.339 g
11:51:32 3.144 g
11:52:02 3.102 g
11:52:32 2.842 g
11:53:02 2.767 g
11:53:32 2.606 g
11:54:32 2.311 g
11:55:02 2.353 g
11:55:32 2.261 g
11:56:02 2.182 g
11:56:32 2.053 g
11:57:02 1.917 g
11:57:32 1.912 g
11:58:02 1.837 g
11:58:18 1.805 g
12:07:03 1.802 g
12:07:32 1.789 g
12:08:32 1.554 g
12:09:02 1.447 g
12:09:32 1.366 g
12:10:02 1.294 g
12:10:32 1.227 g
12:11:02 1.167 g
12:11:32 1.114 g
12:12:02 1.065 g
12:12:32 1.021 g
12:13:02 0.983 g
12:13:32 0.949 g
12:14:02 0.92 g
12:15:02 0.87 g
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12:16:02 0.837 g
12:17:02 0.818 g
12:17:32 0.811 g
12:18:02 0.806 g
12:18:32 0.803 g
12:19:02 0.8 g
12:19:32 0.798 g
12:20:02 0.796 g
12:20:31 0.794 g
12:21:02 0.793 g
12:21:31 0.791 g
12:22:02 0.79 g
12:22:31 0.789 g
12:23:02 0.789 g
12:23:18 0.788 g

Components of the Chroma meter

1. L* which denotes brightness and darkness ranging from zero to hundred: numbers close to hundred

implies brightness and number close to zero represents darkness.

2. A* stands for redness and greenness of color (values ranging within negative are greenness and values

which falls within positive denotes redness.

3. B* connotes yellowness and blueness of color (positive values for yellowness and negative values for

blueness)

4. ∆E* stands for overall color change

5. C* (Chroma) meaning color intensity

We did a sample drying of pepper using Infra-Red Moisture Analyzer with the following results;

First sample results:

Initial weight =10.081g

Final weight = 0.764g

Moisture content = 92.4%

Second sample results;

Initial weight =10.45g

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Final weight = 0.788g

Moisture content = 94.5%

Color results were also obtained using Chroma meter with the following data;

Rep L* A* B*

1 64.45 -14.13 36.92

1 60.64 -10.88 29.70

1 54.01 -12.64 34.32

2 35.19 6.56 16.01

2 24.62 7.27 16.76

2 29.08 7.15 15.30

Average L*1 = 59.7 Average A*1 = -12.55 Average B*1 = 33.65

Average L*2 = 29.63 Average A*2 = 7.00 Average B*2 = 16.02

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 Okra drying inside infrared moisture analyzer

weighing okra

Drying Process
It is a component of post-harvest management that deals with reducing moisture content from a crop using

drying systems. As explained by Mr. Mathew, there are possible ways through which a farmer can dry a farm

produce. He further stated that, the use of drying systems depends on the financial strength and purpose of

drying the produce.

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 Solar Bubble Dryer
It is one of the drying systems that he introduced to us to be one of the new systems of drying cereals (rice,

beans, and soybean). According to him, it was invented by students of a university in Germany.

Characteristics of the Solar bubble Dryer

1. It has a storage capacity of half a tunnel

2. It has drying crates.

3. Solar panel

4. It has fan for blowing air current to drying chamber

5. It has an inlet and an outlet cover.

6. Made of black lining at the bottom to absorb radiation.

7. It is also incorporated with thermocouples for measuring temperature

• Note; Thermocouple is used to check the temperature of the dryer.

• Drying with solar dryer, you are able to save time and energy.

• Contamination is also avoided.

Factors Affecting Drying of Substances using Solar Dryer

1. Maturity level

2. Genetic Makeup.

3. Fat content.

4. Thickness.

5. Air Velocity.

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fan

Solar dryer

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