Chicken feathers are the most abundant keratinous biomass in the world. Disposal of thehuge and increasing volume of waste feathers presents as a major concern for poultryindustry. On the other hand, energy and material recovery of this valuable protein sourceis an important issue for organic solid waste treatment and bioenergy generation.Anaerobic digestion is an environmentally and economically promising alternativeprocess for biogas production of waste feathers.In this study in order to enhance the methane potential of batch anaerobic digestion ofchicken feathers this waste was treated by various kinds of pretreatments includingthermal, thermo-chemical, enzymatic, thermo-enzymatic and chemo-enzymatic methods.Also the effect of different treatment conditions on the methane yield was investigated.As a whole, thermo-chemical pretreatment with lime (Ca(OH)2) rendered the mostsignificant effect on enhancement of the chicken feathers methane potential. In particularlime treated triplicate samples under treatment condition of 40g TS feather/l water, 0.1gCa (OH)2 /g TS feather, 100°C and 30 min produced the highest amount of methane (anaverage maximum volume of 480 Nml/g VS, which is about 96.8% of the theoreticalmethane potential of protein), during 50 days of anaerobic incubation. Increasing theoperational parameters such as feather concentration, lime loading, temperature andreaction time improved the feathers solublisation resulting in a higher soluble chemicaloxygen demand (SCOD) concentration of the samples but inserted negative impacts onthe anaerobic digestion performance. Although other pretreatment methods improved theSCOD concentrations of the feathers too, compared to the lime treatment those methodsdidn’t show considerable effects on the enhancement of methane yield from the chickenfeathers. Thermo-enzymatic, enzymatic, and thermal pretreated triplicate samplesproduced an average maximum of 185 Nml/g VS, 154 Nml/g VS, and 143 Nml/g VS(37.3%, 31%, 28.8% of the theoretical methane potential) respectively, during 33 days of50 days of anaerobic incubation. Especially, chemo-enzymatic pretreated sample showednegative methane potential of only 41 Nml/g VS, i.e. 8% of the theoretical methanepotential. Consequently, lime pretreatment under the above recommended conditions canbe suggested for hydrolysis of chicken feathers to achieve significant enhancement of itsmethane potential.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2017-02-16T13:41:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Luciene Luzia Tavares Albuquerque.pdf: 748109 bytes, checksum: ed6d14d8d94e3639f3bb58a2eb31663a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-16T13:41:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Luciene Luzia Tavares Albuquerque.pdf: 748109 bytes, checksum: ed6d14d8d94e3639f3bb58a2eb31663a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-03-01 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Experiments had been carried in the Laboratory of Shrimp culture of the Fishery Department of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), the purpose to acclimatize post larvae of the marine shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei to freshwater, during the period of 2003 at 2004. The experiments had been carried through in three phases, using post larvae with nine and ten days (PL9-10) and post larvae with twenty five and twenty six days (PL25-26) produced by commercial hatcheries. The acclimatization had been developed in aquariums with capacity of 44 liters each where the post larvae had stocked a density 11,3 PL/L, of with an acclimatization average time of of ten days.In first experiment had been tested concentrations lime, associates with the renewal rate daily of water of aquariums. In second experiment had been tested the concentration of lime and diets with two levels of artemia and artificial feed for shrimp. At the third experiment five diets with levels different of artemia, artificial feed for fish and artificial feed for shrimp had been tested. In the end of acclimatization in three experiments, post larvae had removed of the aquarium, counted, measured and weighted to calculate the survival, final weight, weight gain, final length and length gain. At first experiment the renewal rate of 50% daily of water de 50% were more efficient at post larvae parameter growth. In second experiment, diet D1 provided best survival than diet D2 (P < 0.05). While in third experiment, the survival rates were best to make useful artificial feed for fish. As conclusion, the water ofrenewal rate and diets had influenced significantly (P<0,05) on zootechnical data of these specie. / Experimentos foram realizados no Laboratório de Carcinicultura do Departamento de Pesca da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), objetivando aclimatar pós-larvas do camarão marinho Litopenaeus vannamei à água doce, durante o período de 2003 a 2004. Os experimentos foram realizados em três fases, utilizando-se pós-larvas com idade de nove e dez dias (PL9-10) e 25 e 26 dias (PL25-26), provenientes de larviculturas comerciais. A aclimatação foi realizada em aquários com capacidade de 44 litros cada, onde as pós-larvas foram estocadas na densidade de 11,36 pós-larvas/L com um tempo médio de aclimatação de dez dias. No primeiro experimento foram testadas concentrações de cal, associadas com a taxa de renovação diária da água dos aquários. No segundo experimento testaram-se concentrações de cal e dietas com dois níveis de concentração de artêmia e ração comercial para camarão. No terceiro experimento foram testadas cinco dietas com níveis diferentes de artêmia, ração para peixe e ração para camarão. No final da aclimatação de cada experimento, as pós-larvas foram retiradas dos aquários, contadas e realizadas biometrias, para estimar respectivamente a sobrevivência, o peso final, ganho de peso, comprimento final e ganho de comprimento. No primeiro experimento a taxa de 50% de renovação diária da água foi mais eficiente sobre os parâmetros de crescimentos das pós-larvas. No segundo experimento, a dieta D1 proporcionou melhores índices sobrevivência que a dieta D2 (P < 0,05). Enquanto no terceiro experimento, os índices de sobrevivências foram melhores ao utilizar-se a ração de peixe. Pode-se concluir que a taxa de renovação da água e a alimentaçãoinfluenciaram (P < 0,05) nos dados zootécnicos da espécie.

Embora o Brasil ocupe a primeira posição no ranking mundial de produção de lima ácida Tahiti, somente 6,6% desta produção é exportada. Tal aspecto deve-se, parcialmente, às perdas provocadas por danos pós-colheita, as quais estão distribuídas ao longo da cadeia de comercialização da fruta, desde a colheita até o consumidor final. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar os efeitos dos métodos de colheita e das etapas de beneficiamento pós-colheita de lima ácida Tahiti na sua qualidade e conservação. Para atingir este objetivo, foram realizados três experimentos. No primeiro, avaliaram-se os métodos de colheita com a tesoura, por torção, com o cesto e com o gancho, nos períodos de safra e entressafra. No segundo experimento, foram avaliados os mesmos métodos de colheita, para frutas de lima ácida Tahiti destinadas a exportação, as quais após a colheita passaram pelo processo de beneficiamento pós-colheita. No terceiro experimento, avaliou-se o efeito das etapas do beneficiamento pós-colheita na qualidade e conservação da lima ácida Tahiti. Nos três experimentos foram realizadas análises físicas, químicas e sensoriais ao longo do armazenamento a 22ºC±2 e 70±5 de umidade relativa. Nos experimentos envolvendo a avaliação dos métodos de colheita constatou-se que a colheita com o gancho foi a que mais prejudicou os atributos de qualidade da lima ácida Tahiti independentemente de terem sido beneficiadas. Este método causou maior redução da coloração verde da casca das frutas, maior degradação do ácido ascórbico, maior perda de massa, maior incidência de distúrbios fisiológicos e maior alteração do sabor do suco quando comparado aos outros métodos. A quantidade de frutos aptos para exportação foi 23% menor para a colheita com o gancho quando comparado com a tesoura. Tais resultados estão diretamente relacionados com a quantidade de injúrias mecânicas causadas nos frutos no método de colheita com gancho. No experimento com as etapas do beneficiamento póscolheita observou-se que as limas ácidas Tahiti que passaram pelo beneficiamento completo apresentaram maior redução do conteúdo de ácido ascórbico, maior perda de massa, maior incidência de oleocelose, menor quantidade de frutos comercializáveis e maior alteração do aroma e sabor do suco quando comparado aos frutos que não passaram por todas as etapas do beneficiamento. Tais resultados podem ser relacionados ao fato do processo de beneficiamento aplicado nas limas ácidas Tahiti conter etapas consideradas agressivas aos frutos, impedindo que os demais procedimentos tenham resultado eficiente. A avaliação dos distintos métodos de colheita permitiu identificar a colheita com a tesoura como mais eficiente na conservação dos atributos de qualidade da lima ácida Tahiti e também como o método que apresentou maior rendimento de frutas com padrão de qualidade exigido para exportação. O método de colheita com o gancho causa danos físicos aos frutos e prejudica seus atributos de qualidade de forma irreversível. Os procedimentos de beneficiamento pós-colheita das limas ácidas Tahiti têm sua eficiência reduzida quando aplicados em frutos que sofreram danos físicos. / Although Brazil occupies the first position among the worlds largest producers of Tahiti lime, only 6,6% of this production is exported. This situation is partly due to fruit losses caused by postharvest injuries, which are distributed along the fruit supply chain from harvest to the final consumer. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of different harvesting methods and postharvest practices of Tahiti limes on their quality and conservation. For this purpose three trials were conducted. In the first trial, different harvesting methods were evaluated on fruit picked with scissors, by twisting, with basket and with hook, both during the main harvest as well as on the offseason periods. In the second trial, the same harvesting methods were assessed on Tahiti limes classified for export on a commercial packing line. In the third trial, different postharvest stages were evaluated regarding their effects on fruit quality and storage of Tahiti limes. In all the experiments physical, chemical and sensory analyses were conducted during fruit storage at 22±2 °C and 70±5% relative humidity. For the experiments comparing different harvesting methods, fruit picking with hook was found to cause largest injuries on quality attributes of Tahiti limes, both for sorted and unsorted fruit. This harvest method caused larger degradation of green skin color and ascorbic acid content on fruits, with larger mass loss, increased incidence of physiological disorders and major alterations of juice flavor, when compared to other harvest methods. The amount of fruit classified for export was 23% lower when the harvest was performed with the hook, as compared with scissors-harvesting. These results are directly related to the amount of mechanical injuries caused by fruit harvesting with hook. In the experiment evaluating different postharvest stages it was observed that Tahiti limes that went over all the sorting and grading steps showed larger reduction in ascorbic acid content, with larger mass loss and incidence of oleocelosis, fewer marketable fruit percentage and stronger alterations on juice smell and flavor, when compared to fruits that did not undergo through all the classification steps. These results may be related with the fact that sorting and grading processes currently applied to Tahiti limes in the packing house are considered to be aggressive to fruits, and they prevent from achieving positive effects with other postharvest practices. Scissors-picking of fruits was more efficient for conserving quality attributes of Tahiti limes, and this was also the method yielding higher percentage of fruit meeting the quality standards required for export. Fruit harvesting using the hook caused physical injuries that irreversibly affected fruit quality. Postharvest practices of Tahiti limes had reduced efficiency when applied onto fruits exposed to physical damage.

A agricultura de precisão (AP) depende do gerenciamento da variabilidade dos fatores que influenciam a produtividade agrícola. Seu principal produto de tomada de decisões são mapas que fornecem a variação de parâmetros do solo. Para obter mapas confiáveis há necessidade de coletar grande quantidade de amostras, resultando em custos elevados de aplicação da técnica. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar as particularidades de grades amostrais que visam à compreensão da distribuição espacial dos parâmetros químicos do solo, assim como propor uma metodologia de avaliação da fertilidade do solo. Para isto, foram testados diferentes instrumentos de coletas, tipo de amostras e metodologia de confecção de amostras. O estudo parte do pressuposto que o método tradicional de levantamento da fertilidade analisa diversos parâmetros quantificados em laboratórios para prescrição de recomendações agrícolas. Seu uso intensivo é limitado pelo custo, comprometendo a precisão da aplicação de insumos agrícolas. Desta maneira, o trabalho testou um método que visa quantificar atributos químicos do solo de baixo custo e estimar parâmetros ligados a prescrição agrícola e, assim, aumentar o número de amostras com menos número de parâmetros a serem analisados, ao invés de poucas amostras com muitos parâmetros. A metodologia apresentou resultados satisfatórios quanto à quantificação da necessidade de calagem. Para a maioria das áreas estudadas a necessidade de calagem estimada foi estatisticamente igual à necessidade de calagem calculada pelo método tradicional de análise de solo. A menor diferença apresentada pelas metodologias quanto a necessidade de calagem foi de 0,035 Mg ha1 e a maior diferença foi de 0,203 Mg ha1. / Precision agriculture (PA) management depends on the variability of the factors that influence agricultural productivity. Its main product decisions are based on maps that provide the variation of soil parameters. For reliable maps there is a need to collect large amount of samples, resulting in costly implementation of the technique. The present study aimed to evaluate the sampling grids particularities designed to understand the spatial distribution of soil chemical parameters, as well as propose a methodology for evaluation of soil fertility. We tested different instruments of soil collecting, type of samples and sample preparation methodology. The study assumes that the traditional method of fertility survey analyzes several parameters quantified in the laboratory for prescribing agricultural recommendations. Its use is limited by the cost-intensive, compromising the accuracy of the application of agricultural inputs. This way the work tested a method that aims quantify soil chemical attributes with low cost and estimate parameters related to the agricultural prescription, and so, increase the number of samples with less parameters to be analyzed instead of a few samples with many parameters. The methodology presented satisfactory results for quantification of lime requirement. For most of the areas studied the effects of limestone was statistically equal to the estimated lime requirement calculated by the traditional method of soil analysis. The smallest difference presented by the methodologies and the need for liming was 0.035 Mg ha1 and the biggest difference was 0.203 Mg ha1.

A necessidade de desenvolver técnicas mais rápidas e menos onerosas no estudo dos solos, não apenas no setor agrícola como ambiental, criou espaço para o desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias, entre elas o sensoriamento remoto, no entanto, faz-se necessário entender o impacto do manejo nas assinaturas espectrais dos objetos. Neste sentido, este trabalho teve por objetivos: (i) avaliar o grau de alteração da assinatura espectral de diferentes classes de solos em resposta a presença de coberturas vegetais sobre os mesmos; (ii) avaliar o grau de alteração da assinatura espectral de diferentes classes de solo em resposta a aplicação de fertilizantes e corretivos (iii) Comparar os resultados obtidos em laboratório e comparar com dados orbitais multi e hiperespectrais. Para isso, foram coletadas amostrados as seguintes classes de solo: Latossolos vermelhos de textura muito argilosa, argilosa e média arenosa, e Latossolo vermelho ferrico de textura argilosa. Eles foram secos em estufa (65 oC) por 48 horas, moídos e peneirados em malha 2 mm. As coberturas utilizadas no experimento foram: folhas verdes de cana-deaçúcar, palha, cinza, folhas verdes e palha, palha e cinza, calcários (dolomítico e calcítico), gesso, yoorim e torta de filtro. Para cada combinação de solo e cobertura foram elaborados 10 tratamentos com diferentes dosagens, e aplicados sobre os solos com uma balança de precisão. Os tratamentos foram encaminhados para leituras com um sensor de laboratório e em seguida fotografados, para posterior quantificação das proporções de solo e cobertura presentes nos tratamentos. As curvas espectrais foram analisadas visualmente por parâmetros como forma, intensidade de reflectância e inclinação, análise de remoção do espectro contínuo, derivada e por fim análise de agrupamento por método de cluster. Os dados de espectro foram posteriormente utilizados para a simulação das bandas dos satélites LandSat Tm 5, Aster, Spot 5 e Hyperium, e os resultados comparados com o obtido em laboratório. Os resultados obtidos nos tratamentos com coberturas vegetais, de forma geral, mostraram que as doses mínimas resultaram em algum grau de alteração da assinatura espectral dos solos, em pelo menos um dos três parâmetros estudados. Entretanto, quando avaliados pela análise de agrupamento, observam-se que as mudanças não foram suficientes para que estatisticamente fossem separados os solos dos demais tratamentos contendo cobertura vegetal. A semelhança dos tratamentos contendo a dosagem mínima dos adubos e corretivos com o padrão espectral dos solos variaram em função das características intrínsecas a cada um dos solos e das doses recomendadas a cada um deles. As informações quando simuladas para os sensores orbitais multiespectrais mascararam a grande maioria das feições de absorção relacionadas aos solos e coberturas, com exceção dos tratamentos relacionados às folhas verdes. / The need to develop techniques faster and less costly in the study of soils, not only in agriculture and environmental issues, created space for the development of new technologies, including remote sensing, however, it is necessary to understand the impact of management the spectral signatures of objects. Thus, this study aimed to: (i) assess the degree of change in the spectral signature of different soil classes in response to the presence of vegetation on them, (ii) assess the degree of change in the spectral signature of different classes soil in response to application of fertilizers and lime (iii) to compare the results obtained in the laboratory and compared with multi-and hyperspectral satellite data. For this, samples were collected the following types of soil: red Oxisols of clayey, sandy clay and medium, and red ferric Oxisol clay texture. They were dried in an oven (65 ° C) for 48 hours, ground and sieved at 2 mm mesh. The covers used in the experiment were: leaves of sugar cane, straw, gray green leaves and straw, and gray, limestone (calcite and dolomite), gypsum, yourim and filter cake. For each combination of soil and cover 10 treatments were prepared with different dosages, and applied on soils with a precision balance. The treatments were sent to a sensor readings with laboratory and then photographed for later measurement of the proportion of soil and cover these treatments. The spectral curves were analyzed visually by parameters such as shape, intensity of reflectance and slope, analysis of removal of a continuous spectrum, and finally derived by cluster analysis method of cluster. The spectral data were subsequently used for the simulation of the bands of Landsat TM 5, Aster, Spot 5 and Hyperium, and the results compared with those obtained in the laboratory. The results obtained in the treatments with cover crops, in general, showed that the minimum doses resulted in some degree of change in the spectral signature of soils, in at least one of the three parameters. However, when evaluated by cluster analysis, observed that the changes were not sufficient to be statistically separated from the other treatments the soils containing vegetation. The similarity of the treatments containing the minimum dosage of fertilizer and lime with the spectral pattern of the soils varied depending on the characteristics intrinsic to each of the soils and the recommended dose for each of them. Information when simulated for orbital multispectral sensors masked the great majority of absorption features related to soil and toppings, except for treatments related to leafy greens.

O resíduo sólido estudado na presente pesquisa e decorrente da associação de lama de calcário e dregs (expressão muito utilizada na indústria do papel, inclusive no Brasil, que poderia ser traduzida como \'borra\'), materiais gerados na fabricação de papel. Tradicionalmente, este resíduo é depositado em aterros sanitários ou em áreas controladas. No entanto, a disponibilidade de espaços adequados para a disposição é pequena, e a conservação dos mesmos é muito dispendiosa, visto que apresentam riscos de contaminação para o ambiente e fauna circundantes. Assim, este tipo de solução não é mais visto como viável a longo prazo. Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal determinar, a partir de ensaios de laboratório, o comportamento mecânico de misturas constituídas com solos e o resíduo em destaque, visando a sua utilização na construção rodoviária. Foram compactados corpos-de-prova com e sem adição de resíduo na energia normal do Proctor, variando-se o tipo de solo, o teor de cal e o tempo de cura, e posteriormente foram submetidos a ensaios de compressão simples, compressão diametral e índice de suporte Califórnia. Complementarmente, foram realizados ensaios de difração de raios-X e microscopia eletrônica por varredura para determinar, respectivamente, a composição química e micro-estrutura do resíduo. Os resultados mostraram que a adição do resíduo da fabricação de papel aos solos não melhora as propriedades mecânicas das misturas compactadas, sendo necessária a utilização de um estabilizante, como a cal, para melhorar as más características. Porém para os solos estudados, as misturas de solo, resíduo e cal apresentaram melhor comportamento mecânico que as misturas de solo-cal, oferecendo uma solução factível para a utilização deste resíduo na construção rodoviária. / The solid waste studied in the present research results from the association of lime mud and dregs, these materials are generated during the paper manufacturing. Traditionally, this waste is disposed of either surface impoundment or landfills. However, there is limited appropriate land availability for these disposal practices, and its maintenance is costly, due to the present contamination risks for the surrounding environment and fauna. Therefore, this kind of solution is no longer seen as long term viable. This work has the main objective of studying, based on laboratory tests, the mechanical behavior of soils and the wastes in focus mixtures, seeking their utilization in road construction. Specimens with and without the addition of waste were compacted at the normal proctor energy, varying the soil type, the lime rate and curing time, afterwards they were submitted to tests of unconfined compressive strength, indirect tensile strength and California bearing ratio. Complementary, tests of ray-X diffraction and spectrum electronic microscopy were executed to respectively determine the chemical composition and microstructure of the waste. The results showed that the addition of paper mill wastes to soils does not improve the mechanical properties of the compacted mixtures, being necessary the use of a stabilizer, such as lime, to improve its poor characteristics. However for the studied soils; the lime stabilized soils and the waste mixtures presented bettermechanical behavior than the lime stabilized soils offering a feasible solution for the use of this waste in road construction.

O objetivo dessa dissertação é analisar o comportamento de um pavimento com base em solo estabilizado com cal e cinza volante (base pozolânica). O pavimento foi construído em 1985, aproveitando solos próximos à rodovia. Os materiais pozolânicos utilizados foram cinzas volantes originadas na queima do carvão mineral na petroquímica de Triunfo – Rio Grande do Sul - RS, misturadas com cales dolomíticas produzidas à época no Rio Grande do Sul. Na fase inicial da pesquisa a seguir relatada, analisaram-se informações sobre os materiais, estudos das misturas, métodos de dimensionamento bem como das especificações construtivas. O projeto do pavimento foi elaborado e supervisionado pela Fundação de Ciência e Tecnologia – CIENTEC - RS, utilizando um método de dimensionamento baseado na teoria da elasticidade e um método de elementos finitos. Na parte experimental do trabalho, analisaram-se a condição superficial e estrutural do pavimento submetido ao tráfego e as condições ambientais durante 27 anos, através de levantamentos de campo (defeitos superficiais, com cálculo do IGG, e deflexões) e de retiradas de amostras para ensaios laboratoriais de módulo de resiliência e resistência à tração na compressão diametral. Também se realizaram ensaios de difração de raios-X de amostras coletadas no pavimento, visando identificar a formação de produtos cimentantes. De posse dos módulos de resiliência das amostras de campo, calcularam-se as respostas estruturais do pavimento (tensões, deformações e deslocamentos) com as quais se realizaram análises de fadiga da camada estabilizada e de capacidade estrutural do pavimento (resistência a elevadas tensões de tração). Complementarmente, elaboraram-se traços de outras misturas com solo semelhante e cinza volante, empregando cales disponíveis atualmente no mercado, sem obter-se, contudo, as elevadas resistências e módulos das amostras de campo. Globalmente, conclui-se que a estabilização alcalina, com utilização dos solos locais e o aproveitamento de cinza volante e acréscimo de cal hidratada, é uma técnica apropriada dos pontos de vista técnico (pavimento de longa durabilidade), econômico (redução de custos de conservação e de custo com transporte de materiais) e ambiental (preservação de jazidas de agregados, aproveitamento de materiais locais e, especialmente, de resíduos abundantes). / This dissertation analyzes the behavior of a pavement with soil-lime-fly ash stabilized base course (pozzolanic base). The pavement was built in Rio Grande do Sul state (RS), southern Brazil, in 1985, with use of local soils. Fly ashes resulting from coal burning in a petrochemical unit were used as pozzolanic materials, mixed to dolomitic limes produced at that time in the state. In the initial stage of the research here reported, data related to materials, stabilized mixes, design methods and construction specifications were analyzed. The pavement was designed and supervised by the State Science and Technology Foundation (CIENTEC – RS), using a design method based on the elasticity theory and the finite element method. In the experimental part of the research, the pavement structural and functional conditions were analyzed, taking into account that it had been loaded by traffic and submitted to environmental changes along 27 years. Field surveys were carried out; surface distresses survey to allow computing a Brazilian Distress Gravity Index (IGG), and surface deflections to evaluate the pavement bearing capacity. Samples were cored from the asphalt mixture wearing course and form the soil-lime-fly ash base course to measure resilient modulus and split tensile strength in laboratory. Besides, X-ray diffraction tests were carried out aiming at identifying new stabilizing compounds in samples of the stabilized base. Using the measured resilient moduli, the pavement structural answers (stresses, strains and deflections) were computed. Both the fatigue life of the pozzolanic base and the pavement bearing capacity (capacity of resisting high tensile stresses) were analyzed. In addition, new soil-lime-fly ash mixtures were designed using limes presently available in the state and elsewhere; however the achieved strength and modulus values were quite lower than those measured in field samples. All in all it is concluded that the alkaline stabilization, using local soils and fly ashes and hydrated lime , is a satisfactory technique form technical (long-lasting pavement), economical (reducing both the costs of material transportation and pavement maintenance) and environmental (use of local materials, especially abundant wastes and preservation of non-renewable aggregates sources) points-of-view.

Thesis (MSc. Agriculture(Soil Science) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / Soil acidity is one of the abiotic stress factors that greatly limit the productivity of crops on farmers’ fields. A greenhouse study was carried out over two summer growing seasons to evaluate the effect of lime and phosphorus (P) application rates on the growth, yield and root attributes of a determinate cowpea variety on acid soil. The experiment was laid out as a 4x5 factorial arrangement with 4 replications. Treatment factors comprised of variable rates of Vaalburg dolomitic lime (0, 2, 4 and 6 t ha-1) and P (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 kg ha-1) using single super phosphate, 10.5% P. The two treatment factors were combined resulting in a total of 20 treatment combinations. Data collected included cowpea growth parameters, crop phenology, yield attributes and root characteristics. While cowpea plants with no P application consistently gave the least plant height, stem diameter, number and length of trifoliate leaves, the 6 t ha1 lime rate appears to be completely disadvantaged for all measured parameters with generally lower values than in soil filled pots without lime application. Results showed that soil pH was increased with 6 t ha-1 lime application while soil electrical conductivity (EC), percent of organic matter (OM) and total organic carbon (TOC) were all increased with increasing P and lime rates. All measured cowpea growth attributes such as plant height, stem diameter, number of trifoliate leaves, and leaf area were significantly increased (p≤0.05) with increasing P and lime rates. During the two planting seasons, P and lime application resulted in reduced (p≤0.05) duration to flowering, pod formation and physiological maturity. The 6 t ha-1 lime application produced higher number of pods (2.50) compared to the other rates. Application rates of 45 kg P ha-1 and 6 t ha-1 of lime produced superior number of seeds per pod with high values of (13.71) and (12.85), respectively. However, cowpea root attributes namely number of nodules per plant, the third branching root diameter, angle of adventitious root, tap root diameter at 5 and 10 cm, shallow and deep score were significantly increased at moderate P rate of 30 kg P ha-1. Overall, findings of this study revealed that application of both P fertiliser and lime were able to ameliorate the negative effect of P deficiency from soil acidity on the evaluated cowpea variety and promoted increased yield. Keywords: Acid soil, grain cowpea, P fertiliser, lime, growth, root characteristics, yield / National Research Foundation (NRF) and Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)

The Vickers residual stress field (VRSF) in soda-lime glass results from the elastic-plastic contact event that takes place when a Vickers diamond pyramid is loaded onto the surface of the material in an indentation cycle. The importance of elastic-plastic indentation lies in the contact damage that it gives rise to in the surface of the glass. Since such surface flaws can be characterised, with respect to shape and size, they offer the opportunity to study naturally occurring flaws in glass and brittle materials in general. The residual stress field is not passive; rather it exerts a crack opening force on the associated crack system during subsequent strength testing of a Vickers-indented sample through a residual stress field coefficient, c. Besides the strength-controlling properties, the elastic-plastic contact residual stress field is also important as a region where the influence of mechanical excitation on material properties such as hardness, H, and elastic modulus, E, can be studied. This thesis concerns studies that were made to characterise the Vickers residual stress field by first measuring the magnitude and distribution of stresses around it, using nanoindentation with a cube corner tip. With a Berkovich tip in nanoindentation, experiments were conducted in the VRSF to study the dependence of hardness, H and elastic modulus, E, on stresses in soda-lime glass: a strong E dependence on stress was observed, while H was not affected unless the stresses were high. In the process, a method was developed to determine the true contact area during elastic-plastic nanoindentation when the Oliver-Pharr method is used for the data analysis. The observed elastic modulus dependence on stress was then utilised in a study where it was shown that the VRSF responds differently to relaxation annealing on either side of the glass transition temperature. This result was then used to explain strength recovery trends in annealed Vickers-indented glass specimens.

Comprehensive studies are needed to better understand the original acoustical features of historical baths in order to uncover the historical technologies that enabled the acoustical performance for which they are renowned and to ensure they retain this performance with time. In this study, acoustic performances of Seng&uuml / l Hamami and Kadi Hamami, two 15th century historical baths belonging to the Ottoman period, were examined to discover their original acoustical features and to assess their present situation by taking into consideration the recent incompatible repair work. The analyses were done by using 3D computer modeling and acoustical simulation methods supported by laboratory analyses. The results were evaluated in terms of sound absorption characteristics of historical lime-based plasters, the original acoustical features of historical Turkish baths and acoustical failures related to recent repairs. The study showed that these baths had originally well-designed acoustical features provide for a proper environment for musical performances. This success was attributed to the conscious use of historical materials having high sound absorption characteristics. It was seen that these original acoustical features had been destroyed by wrong repairs using cement-based plasters. These plasters demonstrated incompatible acoustical properties, such as less porosity and lower sound absorption coefficients. This study also helped to define acoustical specifications for such historical baths to be maintained in restoration work.