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Assessment

Normal marking criteria apply. All internally assessed assignments must be attempted.

Assignment Due Date Staff Contact Weighting

Water use 11th August Ian Yule 25%

Machinery System 15th September Ian Yule 12.5%

Post Harvest 16th October Tom Robertson 12.5%

Final Examination 02 Nov 09:20 a.m. 50%

Assignment 1 involves a design calculation for water distribution around a farm. If you wish to

use your own example then please contact Ian Yule who will give you guidance in terms of

the information required from the property and the assignment output.

Assignment 2 will require the use of a PC computer equipped with Excel and be capable of

reading a CD. Details will follow in a subsequent posting.

Assignment 3 requires a written report and will be easiest if you also have internet access.

Details will follow in a subsequent posting.

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Assignment

138.255 Engineering Princip les of Food and Fibre Production

Assignment 1

Water use on farms is a huge issue. Using either a crop, pasture or vineyard

irrigation system as an example state how we would:

1) Evaluate performance in terms of water use efficiency.

2) Maximize production under the irrigator.

3) Evaluate the cost effectiveness of the irrigator.

The assignment is worth 20% of the total marks in the paper. You can either use

case studies or examples to illustrate your answer. Some attempt must be made to

quantify the performance of current systems and quantify the economic and

environmental impacts.

To be submitted: Tuesday 11th

of August before 4:30pm.

To be handed in to the Soil & Earth Office

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138.255 Engineering Princip les of Food and Fibre Production

Assignment 2

Independently research one of the following topics and write a short report on your

findings.

1) Soil Compaction: How do we define it, cause it and cure it?

2) Making the most efficient use of agricultural tractors: Ballast, loading and

fuel use.

3) Choosing the correct tyres for agricultural equipment.

4) Minimum and strip tillage does it have a place in intensive farming.

5) Controlled traffic systems: Do they have an application in New Zealand?

6) Conventional versus minimal tillage techniques: A comparison.

Maximum 3000 words.

Remember to reference your web searches and other material used. Demonstrate

that your understand the principles you are describing, by using examples and

making comparisons with alternatives.

Think about how you present your information, do not simply write a few paragraphs

of descriptive text, think about the problem.

This assignment is worth 15% of the total paper marks.

To be submitted: Tuesday 15th of September.

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138.255 Engineering Princip les of Food and Fibre Production

Assignment 3

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 forbroccoli grown in the Lockyer Valley, Queensland Australia. In PostharvestHandling 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, Fruitand Vegetables. Published by Science Publishers, Inc, Enfield, USA.

Wills, R, McGlasson, B., Graham, D. and Joyce, D., 1998. PostHarvest. AnIntroduction 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., andRamaswamy, H.S.. Published by Marsel Dekker, New York, 2003.

Kadder A.A (Editor), 1992. Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops, 2ndEdition. Pub by University of California, Pub No 3311.

To be submitted: Friday 16th

of October.