Detailed course outline

Course No. : PFE 402

Course Title : Agricultural Structures and Environmental Control
Credit Hours : (2+1) = 3, Semester II

Course Description:

Theory: Planning and layout of farmstead. Physiological reactions of livestock to solar

radiation and other environmental factors, livestock production facilities, BIS standards
for dairy, poultry and other farm structures. Farm fences and rural roads layout. Heat
and moisture flow in agricultural structures, solar radiation, natural and mechanical
ventilation of farm buildings. Design of shades. Cooling load calculations for biological
materials. Animal Waste and feed handling, Bio-gas plant. Specifications, cost estimation
and economics of farm structures.

Practical: Design and layout of a farmstead, storage structures-designs for grain, seeds
and fodder. Study of instruments for measurement of environmental parameters. Design
and layout of dairy and poultry farms. Practical problems of moisture condensation,
shade design and ventilation of farm buildings. Cooling load for livestock shelters and
cold storages. Design of farm house and waste handling systems. Cost estimation of a
farm structure.

Lecture Schedule

Sr. Topic No. of Lecture(s)

No.
I Introduction to Agricultural Structures
1, Farmstead Planning in India and abroad. Economics 2
feasibility of farm service buildings. Planning principles and
layout of farmstead.

II Environment Control
1. Engineering analysis of physiological and productive 3
responses of livestock to environmental parameters; thermo
neutrality. Feed utilization in livestock; heat dissipation in
livestock.

2. Environmental indices like THI: wet bulb depression; daily 3

range; degree days; effective temperature; black globe
temperature; mean radiant temperature, etc. Basic solar-earth
angles and sol-air temperature.

3. Heat transfer in farm buildings. Various components of 2

 cooling or heating load and their calculation.

4. Flow of moisture vapour in structures; condensation analysis 2

and its control

III. Ventilation
1. Ventilation utility in farm buildings; principles of natural 2
ventilation; psychrometric processes; heat and mass balance
equation for ventilation;ventilation rates for temperature
moisture and odour control.

2 Storage requirements of perishable produce. 2

IV Design of various Agricultural Structures
1. Layout and structural design of shelters for cow, buffaloes, 3
calves bulls etc. alongwith other associated equipments.

2 Layout and structure design of poultry houses along with 3

other associated structures

3 Layout, design and constructional detail of grains and feed 2

storage structures like bins, warehouses, cold storage and silos

4 Layout and structural design of storage structures for farm 2

inputs like farm machinery, seeds, weedicides, insecticides
and fertilizers.
5 General design considerations, operational and maintenance 2
of biogas plant

6 Layout, design and constructional details of farmhouse, farm 2

fencing, farm roads and other facilities
7 Detailed estimates and bill for the materials and 2
constructional costs.

Total 32

Practical
Sr. Experiments Number of turns
No.
1 Instruments for measurements of environmental parameters 1
2 Environmental indices for Ludhiana 1
3 Harmonic analysis for sol-air temperature 1
4 Reflective and non-reflective air space in buildings 1
5 Cooling load of a farm building e.g. poultry house 1
6 Analysis of cooling load of a cold storage 2
7 Moisture condensation in agricultural buildings 1
8 Design and layout of a dairy farm 1
9 Design and layout of a poultry house 1
10 Design of a biogas plant 1
11 Design of a farm fencing system 1
12 Design of ventilation system for dairy and poultry house 1
13 Design of a feed/fodder storage structures 1
14 Design of grain storage structures 1
15 Cost estimation of a farm buildings 1
Total 16
Text Books

1. Esmay, M.L. and Dixon, J.E., Environmental Control for Agricultural Buildings,
AVI Publishing Co., Westport; Connecticut, 1986.
2. Barre, H.J. and L.L. Sammet Farm Structrures, John Willey and Sons, Inc. New
York, 1950.
Recommended Books

1 ASHRAE Guide. Handbook of Fundamental, 1974.

2 Richey, C.B. et al. Agric. Engineers Handbook McGraw Hill Book Company.
3. Threlked, J.L. Thermal Environmental Engineering, Prantice Hill Inc. 1977.
4. Bhatnagar, A.P. Farm Buildings in Punjab, PAU, Ludhiana, 1976.
5. Neubauer Loren W. and Herry B. Walker, Farm Building Design, Prentice Hall,
Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 1961.
6. Gray, Hatiad, E. Farm Service Building, McGraw Hill Book C., 1955.
7. Johne, Johannes, Principles and Practices of Planning Villages, Asia Publishing
House, Bombay, 1964.

Basis of Grading

Hourly Examination : 10%

Mid Term Examination : 25%
Final Examination : 35%
Practical : 30%
 COURSE NO.PFE-402
TITLE: AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURES & ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

FORMAT FOR MODEL PAPER

Signature of the Invigilator_______________ Admn.No._____________________

B.Tech. (Agri.Engg.) Final Exam

Course:__________________________________

Total Time 2½ Hrs (Part A+B) Max.Marks:70

For Part A – Max.½ Hour) (Part A of 20 and part B of 50 marks)

PART A
(OBJECTIVE)

QUESTION PAPER-CUM-ANSWER BOOK

Time: ½Hour Max.Marks:20

Note: Attempt all the questions. Cutting or overwriting is not allowed. (To be attempted
in first ½ hour)

Q.1 Encircle the correct answer from the following

a) Farmstead is generally designed in _____ out of the total farm area.
i) 6-8% ii) 8-10%
iii) 3-5% iv) 1-3%

b) Metabolic rate can be estimated by measuring

i) O2 – CO2 exchange ii) from the food consumption
iii) total energy released as heat iv) All the above

c) Exposure factor represents the__________________heat loss from a building

per animal per degree temperature difference.
i) Conduction ii) Convection
iii) Radiation iv) Evaporation

d) Psychometric chart is a graphical representation of_______________________

properties of moist air.
i) mechanical ii) physical
iii) thermodynamic iv) chemical

e) The purpose of providing ventilation is to exchange

 i) Air ii) Moisture
iii) heat iv) All the above
f) The width of stall is generally_____________________times the length of stall
i) 0.6 ii) 0.8
iii) 1.2 iv) 1.4

g) Water channel in cage houses is provided_________________the feed channel

i) at par with ii) below

iii) away from iv) above

h) _____________________________is a drum type biogas plant

i) Janta biogas plant ii) KVIC biogas plant
iii) Both of these iv) either of these

i) Key to safe storage of grains when stored in rodent proof structures is

i) Low temp. storage ii) low grain moisture
iii) Both of these iv) either of these

j) In pit silos, to prevent spoilage silage should be removed at the rate of________

a day.
i) 5 cm ii) 10 cm
iii) 15 cm iv) 20 cm

Q.2 Math the following statements (Put the number from column B into the blank of
Column A)

Column A Column B

Wind break …………… Hygroscopic

Homeo stasis …………… Silage
Pschrometry …………… CAP storage
Forced ventilation …………… Methane
Dairy shed …………… Brooder house
Poultry shed …………… Litter alley
Biogas …………… Mechanical blowers
Temporary storage …………… Air-Water relationships
Fodder storage …………… Fixed internal environment
Fertilizer …………… Trees
 PART B
(SUBJECTIVE)

Note: There are 5 questions and each question carries 10 marks each.

Time: 2 Hours Max. Marks: 50

Q.3 a) Describe various functions performed in a septic tank. Also (5)

explain the construction and working of septic tank with the help
of neat diagram.

b) Estimate the total length and weight of barbed wire required for (5)
fencing one hectare farm, square in shape. Also determine the
number of corner, regular and main posts.

Q.4 a) Discuss the response of animals when they are subjected to high (5)
environmental temperature with the help of neat diagram.

b) A stall barn for dairy cattle 10x30 meter designed for 50 cows if (5)
Uavg = 1.2 W/m20C and the ceiling height is 2.5 meters, what is the
exposure factor.

OR

a) Derive the relationship to estimate sol-air-temp. (5)

b) Discuss the effect of body size and age on basal heat production. (5)

Q.5 a) Differentiate between face-in and face-out type stall barns. (3)

b) Design and draw tail-to-tail stall barn dairy shed for 40 animals. (7)

Q.6 a) Discuss the conditions which help in condensation of moisture (5)

within the wall. Estimate vapour resistance required to prevent
condensation within the walls.

b) Outside summer air at 320C db and 40% RH is brought into a (5)

poultry house. It is removed by exhaust fans at the rate of 3500
m3/min.at 350C db and 270C wb. What amount of water is removed
from the poultry house per hour and what is the ratio of sensible
heat to latent heat removed?
 OR

a) Write a short note on commercial storage structures for grains. (3)

b) Explain various environmental factors that should be considered (4)

while planning a poultry house.

c) Write the factors that determine the life of farm machines. (3)

Q.7 a) Design a biogas plant to produce 100 KWH of electricity daily by (5)
using biogas as a fuel for the engine generator, Given that:

i) Thermal efficiency of engine = 25%

ii) Electrical-mechanical efficiency of generator = 80%
iii) 1 KWH = 860 Kcal
iv) 1 Kg of dung+necessary water to make slurry=1.8 litre
v) Heat energy of biogas = 4713 K cal/m3
vi) 1 Kg of dung = 0.0594 m3 of gas
vii) Retention time = 30 days

b) Work out the economical diameter and depth of a pit silo to store (5)
different quality of silage for a herd of 400 dairy cows having an
average body weight of 450 kg each. The cows are fed silage for
200 days a year. Density of silage is 650 kg/m 3. Thickness of
silage fed each day is 10 cm and each cow is to be fed 3 kg of
silage per day per 100 kg body weight.