Applicability, advantages and disadvantages of subsurface ...

Applicability

Are you interested in learning more about agricutural machinery seal factory? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Subsurface drip irrigation systems are highly efficient irrigation systems that apply accurate amounts of water directly to the root zone, preventing water loss through evaporation and other negative effects of surface irrigation. This is especially suitable for arid, semi-arid, hot, and windy areas with limited water supply. However, as the system is relatively complex and most likely automated, it is more suitable for medium to large-scale production.

Advantages

• High degree of control over water application with the potential for high uniformity of application
• Evaporation is reduced
• The amount of water can be fine-tuned. This avoids water loss caused by run off or evaporation
• Frequent irrigation allows for optimum soil moisture content in the root zone
• Great performance in windy and arid locations
• If pre-treated wastewater is used for irrigation, the risk of direct contact with crops and laborers is reduced

Disadvantages

• Risk of clogging
• When saline water is used, salts accumulate at the wetting front
• Emitter can be damaged or blocked by root hairs
• Bacterial slimes and algae growing on the interior walls of the laterals and emitters combined with clay particles in the water can block the emitters
• Suspended organic matter and clay particles can damage the system
• A lot of repair work is caused by rodents chewing the tubes
• Heavy machinery can damage the laterals

(Stauffer 2012b)

The storage of hay and silage is very important since the goal of mechanically harvesting forage is to have a high-quality feed available for winter when pastures are not producing lush forages. Storing hay basically entails preventing deterioration of the hay which can come from mold, rot, or fungi.

Silage storage is more complicated than hay storage. Determining the type of storage system for silage should be based on the following factors: type of silage (species), herd size, available labor, capital investment, access to equipment, feeding management, and future needs. Silage is a good feed because the nutrients are kept in the fermentation process within a sealed container. However, when the silo is opened, the feed value begins to decrease, so the rate at which the silage is fed is important. The rate at which silage is fed to livestock should determine the size and type of the silo.

The company is the world’s best NBR Rubber Industrial Oil Seal Rotary Shaft supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Horizontal silos are commonly used when a large amount of silage is used. They can be filled and emptied with conventional farm equipment and require less energy to move the forage. Tower silos allow greater mechanization during filling and removal (feedout). They have a smaller surface area exposed to the elements and therefore less spoilage than horizontal silos. 

Plastic bags can be used as a flexible storage system. Managers can use as many as is needed. Round bales (balage) offer the advantage of lower capital investment and lower labor and fuel requirements compared to other systems in which the forage is chopped. This system can be a good alternative to haymaking, when weather conditions do not allow field-wilting. The stack system has the greatest loss of dry matter during storage, which can approach 30-35% of the total forage harvested. These losses are associated with the large amount of surface area exposed to the air and also the stack cannot be packed as densely to exclude oxygen. The key factors in minimizing losses during storage are to ensile the crop at the correct dry matter and prevent infiltration of air. The horizontal silos tend to have the greatest losses of dry matter, while concrete and oxygen-limiting towers have the least. As the capacity of the silo increases, there is relatively less surface area exposed and, as a result, less loss of dry matter. (See Diagram)

The costs associated with the common silage storage systems are difficult to compare because initial investment can vary greatly among locations. However, generally, concrete bunker and bagger options provide the least expensive storage systems. It is important to note that the storage costs decline rapidly the more times the silo structure is used each year.

Forage managers interested in storing silage must be familiar with the capacities of their storage systems. Forages should be moved from the site of harvest to the silo and packed as quickly as possible. The forage mass must become anaerobic and excluding air with continuous packing speeds this process. 

Packing in horizontal silos with a wheel tractor is preferred to a "bull dozer", as the wheel tractor will compact the mass more densely. When making round bale silage, forming a tight, dense bale minimizes losses during fermentation and feedout. In addition, round bales which are tight and dense are easier to stack and more convenient to handle and store. The typical size (diameter) and weight of round bale silage harvested at 65% moisture (35% DM) are: 4 ft, 1,000 to 1,250 lbs: 5 ft, 1,500 to 2,000 lbs, and 6 ft, 2,800 to 3,500 pounds. It is desirable to move round bale silage and place in bags within 8 hours after harvest. This will insure a satisfactory fermentation throughout the bale and minimize air infiltration.

After the ensiled material has been properly packed, it is important to provide a good seal to exclude air infiltration into the silage mass. Horizontal silos (bunkers, trenches, and stacks) should be covered with plastic that is weighted down. Used tires closely placed across the surface will hold the plastic in place and prevent whipping and tearing of the material by the wind. Bagged and round bale silage bags should be inspected prior to use to insure that no holes exist. Any holes that are found should be sealed with a good adhesive tape. Occasional evaluation of the bags during the storage period is important, because rodents, birds, and other animals can puncture the plastic and allow entry of air which will result in spoiled silage. Horizontal silos can lose from 4 to 32% of their dry matter compared to covered silage.

Want more information on rubber oil seal suppliers china? Feel free to contact us.