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Assessment

Normal marking criteria apply. All internally assessed assignments must be attempted. Assignment Water use Machinery System Post Harvest Final Examination Due Date 15th of April 4th May 27th May . Staff Contact Ian Yule Ian Yule Tom Robertson Weighting 20% 15% 15% 50%

Assignment 1. Requires a written report. It is not a generalised description of an irrigation system so address the 4 parts of the question, taking note that the final part is worth twice that of the first three parts. Use an example of one system type, to answer the questions. Assignment 2. Requires independent research which can be started earlier in the paper. The submission date is Wednesday the 4th of May, which is just after you come back from mid semester break. Do not leave it until the last minute as this is likely to lead to a poorly structured assignment. Assignment 3. Requires a written report and will be easiest if you also have internet access. Details will follow in a subsequent posting.

Assignments for Internal Students

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Assignments Internal students

138.255 Engineering Principles of Food and Fibre Production

Assignment 1: Water Use

Water use on farms is a huge issue. Using either a crop, pasture or vineyard irrigation system as an example to state how you would:
1) 2) 3) 4)

Calculate the operating capacity of the required irrigation system. ( 20%


of assignment marks)

Calculate pumping and water transport requirements. ( 20% of


assignment marks)

Evaluate performance in terms of water use efficiency. ( 20% of


assignment marks)

Evaluate the cost effectiveness of the irrigator. ( 40% of assignment


marks)

The assignment is worth 20% of the total marks in the paper. You should either use your own case study or hypothetical example to illustrate your answer. You must quantify the performance of the proposed systems and quantify the economic and environmental impacts. Maximum 3000 words To be submitted: Friday April 15th To be handed in to: Soil and Earth Sciences Office, Aghort B. Room number 1.31

Assignments for Internal Students

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138.255 Engineering Principles of Food and Fibre Production

Assignment 2: Machinery Systems

Independently research one of the following topics and write a short report on your findings. 1) The economic and agronomic importance of achieving accurate fertiliser spreading. 2) Modern developments in farm/orchard sprayer technology 3) Precision farming for cropping: Opportunities to increase input efficiencies. 4) Precision dairy farming: How can it be used to improve productivity and achieve better environmental outcomes. Maximum 2500 words. Printed material and material from the web must be referenced. Discuss the topics and demonstrate that your understand the principles you are describing by using examples and making comparisons with alternatives. Discuss the economic implications as well as the physical. Think about how you present your information, you have a limited number of words you can use, structure your work. This assignment is worth 15% of the total paper marks. To be submitted: Wednesday 4th of May To be handed in to: Soil and Earth Sciences Office, Aghort B. Room number 1.31

Assignments for Internal Students

Page 3

138.255 Engineering Principles of Food and Fibre Production

Assignment 3: Post Harvest


Post Harvest Assignment 1. Develop a Process Flow chart for the postharvest handling system for a fruit or vegetable. (see Wong & Bagshaw, 2001). (5 marks) 2. Discuss this postharvest handling system using a systems approach (see Prussia & Shewfelt, 1993). (10 marks) References: Wong, L.S. & Bagshaw, J, 2001. Assessment of the postharvest handling system for broccoli grown in the Lockyer Valley, Queensland Australia. In Postharvest Handling of Fresh Vegetables, Proceedings of a workshop held in Beijing, 2001. Pub by Australian Centre for International; Agricultural Research, Cnberra, 2001, pp26 32. Prussia, S.E. & Shewfelt, R.L., 1993. Systems Approach to Postharvest Handling. Chapter in Posthgarvest Handling A Systems Approach, Ed by Shewfelt & Prussia, Pub by Academic Press, San Diego. Pp43 71. Additional References: Chakraverty, A. & Singh, R.P., 2001. Postharvest Technology, Cereals, Pulses, Fruit and Vegetables. Published by Science Publishers, Inc, Enfield, USA. Wills, R, McGlasson, B., Graham, D. and Joyce, D., 1998. PostHarvest. An Introduction to the Physiology & Handling of Fruits, Vegetables & Ornamentals. 4th Ed, Published by UNSW. Handbook Of Postharvest Technology. Cereals, Fruits, Vegetables, Tea and Spices. Edited by Chakraverty, A., Mujumdar, A.S., Raghavan, G.S.V., and Ramaswamy, H.S.. Published by Marsel Dekker, New York, 2003. Kadder A.A (Editor), 1992. Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops, 2nd Edition. Pub by University of California, Pub No 3311. To be submitted: Friday 27th May. To be handed in to: Soil and Earth Sciences Office, Aghort B. Room number 1.31 Assignments for Internal Students Page 4

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