Journal of Engineering in Agriculture and the Environment

UNLOCKING SUSTAINABLE ECO-FRIENDLY AGRICULTURE: THE ROLE OF PEROXIDE OXIDATION TREATED CASSAVA PROCESSING EFFLUENT IN BOLSTERING CELOSIA ARGENTEA GROWTH PARAMETERS

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The study investigated effect of peroxide-oxidation-treated wastewater from the hitherto environmentally problematic cassava processing industry on the growth parameters of Celosia argentea. Peroxide-aeration treated cassava processing wastewater was mixed with groundwater at 25, 50, 75 and 100% concentration. Prepared solutions were applied on Celosia to determine its effect on growth and nutritive quality. The treatment was observed to have stimulated plant growth parameters by 18.28±0.03 cm, 3.85±0.02 mm, 23.80±0.11 and 35.70±0.03 mm² for plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, and leaf area, respectively at 25% treatment concentration after 62 days from planting. Improvement in macro nutrients such as iron (0.95%), calcium (0.52%), potassium (0.03%) and micro nutrients like manganese (9.34%) and copper (1.07%), with no bioaccumulation of heavy metals were recorded. Conclusively, peroxide-aeration treated cassava processing wastewater offers sustainable, eco-friendly water source for irrigation purposes, as well as fertigation potential for cultivation of Celosia argentea.

ASSESSMENT OF RAINFALL IMPACT ON GROUNDWATER VULNERABILITY FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The research study was conducted in Northern Lake Victoria basin to assess rainfall impact on groundwater as a fresh water source on 30 farms for agricultural production. Depth Aquifer Recharge and Transmissivity (DART) index quantitative method was applied that revealed that rainfall was directly related to groundwater vulnerability index. Positive DART index was realized during long rainfall season between April and June, and during short rainfall season in September and October. The other months had negative values during dry season. DART indices ranged between -8.40 and 2.50 with positive values representing more resilience to negative impact of erratic rainfall. There were two groundwater vulnerability Index Thresholds of -8.40 and -4.80 that marked onset of long and short rainfall seasons respectively. Mann-Kendall trend analysis and t-test performed indicated a downward trend and a significant difference of groundwater vulnerability index values because of seasonal rainfall changes that caused wells to dry up thus increasing water insecurity. The research study results confirmed the severity of rainfall patterns on groundwater recharge that can affect agricultural production and food security to households.

ESTIMATION OF SOIL WETTING PATTERN USING DIFFERENT IRRIGATION REGIMES IN CONJUCTION WITH SUPER ABSORBENT POLYMER

Hellen J. Sang, Romulus O. Okwany, Raphael M. Wambua — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The design and management of irrigation systems require soil water movement and distribution knowledge. Finding the actual ability of drip irrigation to supply sufficient water uniformly and timely requires optimizing the operational management parameters. The objective of the study was to estimate the water distribution pattern with drip irrigation under different irrigation frequencies, durations and Belsap super absorbent polymer. A factorial experimental design layout of drip irrigation system was set up in Noiwet, Mogotio Sub County, Baringo County. The same quantity of water with three irrigation frequencies were applied once daily, after two days and three days and three durations which were full, half and a third the irrigation time. The total number of treatments were 18 with three replications making a total of 54 experiments. The wetted depths and widths of the soil were measured directly in the field using a ruler immediately after irrigation. ANOVA statistical analysis was carried out to determine the significance of the treatments on the soil wetting pattern of the clay soil. The results from the study revealed that the super absorbent polymer had no effect on the soil wetting pattern while the decrease in the irrigation frequency and increase in irrigation duration led to an enlargement in both the diameter and depth of the soil wetted zone. Information on depths and widths of wetted zone of soil under drip irrigation have a great significance in the design and management of drip irrigation system for delivering required quantity of water and chemicals to plants.

EFFECT OF PROCESSING TECHNIQUES ON FUEL BRIQUETTES

Wilberforce Okwara, Baqe Doti, Mercy Mboya, Daudi Nyaanga — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Densification of agroforestry biomass for energy production has positively impacted the energy sector across the globe. Wood fuel consumption has led to deforestation and degradation. Recently, much has been discussed on biomass briquetting technologies and their influence. However, knowledge about appropriate technique for briquetting to achieve high-quality briquettes is yet to be explored. Thus, efforts were made to critically evaluate briquetting techniques on briquettes’ combustion performance properties. The Water Boiling Test was used in the determination of various parameters. High (screw press); and low (drum agglomerator and hand making) pressure briquetting techniques were distinctly different in ignition time (minutes), time to boil (minutes) burning rate (g/min), specific fuel consumption (g/ml) and power output (kW) values as (1.3,1.0,0.9; 14, 12, 11: 0.8, 1.1, 1.3; 0.11, 0.13, 0.15; and 1.8, 1.4, 0.75). Briquetting technology, based on pressure, is thus a factor that influence performance properties of briquettes. This knowledge is therefore useful when converting waste biomass into briquettes as alternate energy source towards realization of Sustainable Development Goal #7 on affordable and clean energy.

FORECASTING OF FLOOD EVENTS FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN GUCHA-MIGORI RIVER BASIN, KENYA

Edith A. Onyango, Nyakach Samwel, Raphael M. Wambua, Hesbon Otieno — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Floods are devastating natural disasters frequently occurring in many river basins such as Gucha-Migori River Basin, Kenya. However, non-structural countermeasures such as hydrologic modelling, flood proofing, and continuous forecasting have not been fully explored and implemented to reduce risk, damage, and vulnerabilities of flood events. The major challenge in flood forecasting is the selection of the relevant probability distribution. The main objective of the study was to forecast flood events in Gucha-Migori River Basin for integrated water resource management. Daily hydrological datasets between 1969 and 2015 were obtained from Water Resources Authority. After the ranking of independent flood events had been achieved, return periods and flood frequencies were computed. The relationship between flood magnitudes and their respective frequencies was through modelling using probability distribution functions (PDFs). The evaluated PDFs include Normal Distribution, Log-Normal Distribution, Gumbel Distribution, and Log-Person Type III Distribution. Coefficient of Determination (R²), Goodness of Fit test, and Best-Fit Distribution Curve guided selection of the suitable distribution model. The suitable probability distribution model out of the tested four was then applied to predict P-percent annual exceedance probabilities corresponding to specific flood magnitudes. From the results, out of the 132 flood events that occurred in the period 1969 to 2015, only 42 were identified as independent flood events. Based on the frequency analysis, the highest and lowest, and the average and standard deviation of the recorded independent flood events were 423.90, 240.8, 284.80 m³/s, and 45.54 respectively. It was revealed that the probability of a flood event of a magnitude equal to or exceeding the lowest (240.8 m³/s) and the highest (423.90 m³/s) occurring for a particular year were 0.98 and 0.02 respectively. Gumbel distribution curve was selected to be the best fit for the Gucha-Migori River Basin. According to the derived Gumbel's formula, the estimated magnitude for the return period 1.05, 1.11, 1.25, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 years were 221.38, 231.92, 245.77, 278.01, 321.39, 350.11, 386.39, 413.31, 440.03, and 466.65 m³/s. This research provides useful information for enhanced determination of probability occurrence of flood events and thus proper water resources planning and management strategies in the Gucha-Migori river basin.