Hanif Esmaeili; Morteza Almassi; Mohammad Ghahderijani
Abstract
The increasing trend of agricultural waste, considering population growth and increased agricultural production, has become a serious challenge for many countries. In order to avoid unsustainable changes in the consumption pattern of these resources, it is essential to employ proper planning and suitable ...
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The increasing trend of agricultural waste, considering population growth and increased agricultural production, has become a serious challenge for many countries. In order to avoid unsustainable changes in the consumption pattern of these resources, it is essential to employ proper planning and suitable strategies to prevent long-term damages. To address this issue, this research has prioritized various strategies for energy production from agricultural waste using SWOT analysis. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) algorithm has been utilized to quantify the weights and effects of the strategic factors, considering their interdependencies. The best strategy selection has formed the four-level network of primary and secondary factors in the SWOT matrix and proposed strategies. The algorithm's results indicate that the strength factor holds the highest weight of 0.698, followed by the threat factor with a weight of 0.632 in the second rank, while the weaknesses and opportunities have weights of 0.263 and 0.180, respectively, in subsequent ranks. Furthermore, the evaluation of weight coefficients for the ten proposed strategies reveals that the strategy of developing the cultural infrastructure for bioenergy has the highest weight of 0.1356, followed by the mechanized harvesting of agricultural waste with a weight of 0.1188 in the second rank, and the development of bioenergy exports with a weight of 0.1095 in the third rank.
Leila Anbarestani; Morteza Almassi; hossein bakhoda; Mohammad Ghahdarijani
Abstract
The current research was conducted with the aim of identifying and prioritizing strategies for increasing the productivity of agricultural mechanization in wheat production. This research was based on a mixed method and in two phases, qualitative and quantitative. In this research, the integrated approach ...
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The current research was conducted with the aim of identifying and prioritizing strategies for increasing the productivity of agricultural mechanization in wheat production. This research was based on a mixed method and in two phases, qualitative and quantitative. In this research, the integrated approach of SWOT, PESTEL and AHP has been used. First, by using SWOT analysis in the framework of PESTEL, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of wheat production mechanization and strategies to increase the productivity of mechanization of wheat production were identified . Then the process of hierarchical analysis was used to calculate the weight and importance of each of the criteria and strategies. In order to collect data, written sources, interviews and paired comparison matrix questionnaires were used, and the participants in the research were university and organizational experts in the field of agricultural mechanization. The results showed that although mechanization in wheat production has many strengths, the weaknesses are more effective. Also, despite the fact that mechanization has many threats, but the opportunities are more effective. Therefore, the officials should try to make the most of the available opportunities by reducing the weaknesses. As a result, from the expert's point of view, conservative strategies were prioritized in terms of importance. Increasing the technical efficiency, production of suitable technologies for all types of operating systems, improvement and modernization of the system, use of irrigation methods under pressure and create transformation in the process of land preparation , conservative strategies were suggested in this research.
Mansour Saadouninejad; Morteza Almassi; mohammad ghahderijani
Abstract
This study was conducted in order to investigate the factors of sugarcane production (inputs: physical-consumption) and optimization of energy consumption for sugarcane production using a data envelopment analysis in Khuzestan province, Amirkabir Agro-industrial Company Unit. The necessary information ...
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This study was conducted in order to investigate the factors of sugarcane production (inputs: physical-consumption) and optimization of energy consumption for sugarcane production using a data envelopment analysis in Khuzestan province, Amirkabir Agro-industrial Company Unit. The necessary information to conduct this study was collected from Agro-industrial of sugarcane Amirkabir experts through face-to-face interviews and questionnaire completion. According to the results, of the total energy consumed in production, the energy of cuttings and chemical fertilizers had the largest share among the consumed inputs with 59 and 16 (%), respectively. Biocides 3.15 (%), agricultural machines 1.09 (%) and human labor 0.06 (%) were the least energy-consuming inputs among other sugarcane production inputs. According to the results obtained from this research, it was found that two inputs sugarcane cuttings and chemical fertilizer have the highest amount of consumption among all the inputs for production. Also, the results of data coverage analysis showed that nitrogen fertilizer and human labor had the largest share of stored energy with 42 and 60.31 (%). The lowest share of energy stored in production belonged to chemical pesticides and phosphorus fertilizer, respectively. The results showed that reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers and diesel fuel is important for energy storage and reducing the problem of environmental risk in the region. Saving in diesel fuel is possible by improving the performance of the irrigation pump and using new tractors and soil analysis to improve the use of chemical fertilizers.
nasim habibi; Morteza Almassi; Hossein Bakhoda
Abstract
Among different types of biomass, the inherent advantages of microalgae have made them a useful source for biofuel production. The hydrothermal liquefaction process is one of the thermochemical processes that has attracted the attention of researchers due to its advantages such as the production of valuable ...
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Among different types of biomass, the inherent advantages of microalgae have made them a useful source for biofuel production. The hydrothermal liquefaction process is one of the thermochemical processes that has attracted the attention of researchers due to its advantages such as the production of valuable products and low energy consumption. The aim of this article is to investigate the production of biofuel from spirulina microalgae using the hydrothermal liquefaction process in a subcritical water environment in a laboratory and discontinuous manner. The results of detailed elemental analysis of biofuel showed that the amount of carbon, hydrogen, sulfur and nitrogen of raw biofuel is equal to 68.27, 15.56, 3.08 and 0.38 percent, respectively. In addition, the produced biofuel compounds were analyzed by infrared Fourier transform spectroscopic analysis, the results of which confirm the production of clean fuel compared to fossil fuels.Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and CHN analyzer were used for analyzing the samples. The result showed that the products of hydrothermal process consisted of different range of hydrocarbons almost similar to hydrocarbon chain available in fuel oil (gasoline). Also, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur contents of the oil obtained from hydrothermal liquefaction process, was consistent with those reports provided by other similar studies.This research has proved that hydrothermal liquefaction is a promising process for converting micro algae to bio oil and emphasizing the effect of pretreatment on improving the oil production.
Farid Tamhidi; Morteza Almassi; Mohamad Ghahdarijani; Hossein Bakhoda
Abstract
Iran has special potentials in the field of medicinal plants, a field that have received less attention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of different stages of production of Rosa damascena and to select appropriate strategies for selecting and developing appropriate technology ...
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Iran has special potentials in the field of medicinal plants, a field that have received less attention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of different stages of production of Rosa damascena and to select appropriate strategies for selecting and developing appropriate technology in the country to lower the costs of production. The research method was descriptive-analytical. The method of collecting statistics and information required for the research was using a questionnaire and face-to-face interviews with farmers and experts producing and studying medicinal plants in three provinces: Isfahan, Kerman and Fars. The total number of questionnaires (Cochran method) in this study was 60. In this research, SWOT analysis model was used to investigate the mechanization situation in different stages of medicinal plant production Factors such as strength, weakness, opportunity and threat have been identified and analyzed in the matrix. Based on the research results, in the evaluation matrix of internal factors (weakness and strength), the sum of the final score was 2.75, which showed that the strengths were higher than the weaknesses. Also, the matrix of external factors (threat and opportunity) with a total score of 2.83 showed that in the current situation, it was possible to show an appropriate strategic response to threats by strengthening opportunities. Therefore, aggressive strategy (SO) was found the best strategy to move towards improving and developing mechanization in Rosa damascena farms in those provinces. Top strategies were also identified through quantitative strategic planning matrix or QSPM in offensive strategy.
Behzad Behzadi; Ali Mohammad Borghei; Arjang Javadi; Saeid Minaei; Morteza Almassi
Abstract
Study on biometric parameters of trout species in the traditional method (based on human and non-automatic factors) are low-efficient due to serious problems such as disease transmission, stress-induced death, inaccuracy, & time-consuming. To overcome the problems of traditional method, an image-based ...
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Study on biometric parameters of trout species in the traditional method (based on human and non-automatic factors) are low-efficient due to serious problems such as disease transmission, stress-induced death, inaccuracy, & time-consuming. To overcome the problems of traditional method, an image-based vision system, including imaging and lighting chambers, was developed in this research. The fish biometric parameters were measured using fish movement videography during passage from the dark chamber. Then the selected images from the video were processed. The length, surface area, weight, amount of food consumed, & growth rate of trout were measured under fully controlled conditions and used as comparison criteria (control). Six mathematical models were used to estimate fish weight through measured parameters and among them the weight/length model was used as the best model for estimating fish weight. The accuracy of the system in estimating fish biometric parameters was above than 90% and the system’s capability to estimate the fish required food during the growth process was 98%.
