Location: National Peanut Research Laboratory
2023 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1: Resolve underlying issues with commercial drying systems to decrease energy consumption, drying time, labor, and increase product uniformity. [NP306, C1, PS1A]
Objective 2: Develop commercial management systems that enable improved aeration and headspace ventilation in farmers’ stock peanut storage to reduce post-harvest losses due to over drying, mold growth, aflatoxin contamination, and insect infestation. [NP306, C1, PS1A]
Subobjective 2A. Develop decision support system to evaluate and manage farmers’ stock warehouses.
Subobjective 2B. Develop instrumentation for early detection of fire in farmers’ stock warehouse.
Objective 3: Develop innovative commercially-relevant peanut drying and handling systems to improve drying uniformity, aeration, and headspace ventilation in farmers’ stock that reduces/eliminates improper drying, mold growth, aflatoxin contamination, and insect infestation; and develop effective RNAi field delivery systems for peanuts. (NP 306; C1, PS 1A)
Approach
The post-harvest processing between the farm gate and the peanut product manufacturer can be broken down into several distinct unit operations. Two of these unit operations, drying at the first point of sale and bulk farmers’ stock storage prior to shelling have primary objectives of reducing and maintaining the peanut kernel moisture content at levels safe for storage, further processing, and handling. Advanced engineering modeling will be used to simulate the airflow and drying uniformity in existing drying systems and bulk farmers’ stock warehouses. The models will be used to design and guide construction and testing of prototype drying and aeration systems to improve product uniformity and storability. Existing data from commercial storage facilities and simulation models will guide the development of decision support systems for segregating and storing farmers’ stock peanuts and minimize deterioration during storage due to mold growth, increased aflatoxin contamination, and insect infestation. Laboratory experiments will determine the products of smoldering combustion of peanuts and sensors to detect those products selected or designed for the purpose of early fire detection in farmers’ stock warehouses. Molecules that induce RNA interference (RNAi) to interrupt the pre-harvest production of aflatoxin are under development in another research project. Conventional spraying, electrostatic spraying, and non-contact injection will be investigated as effective methods of delivering the RNAi molecules to the peanut plant.
Progress Report
We submitted a manuscript on noise produced by a peanut dryer in open shed with and without a muffler. We began collaboration with University of Texas Arlington engineer to develop field deployable sensors for early detection of fires in farmers’ stock peanut warehouses. In collaboration with USDA-ARS Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit to we investigated expanding early fire detection project to cotton product storage facilities. Peanut hull strength measurements made of peanuts exposed to post harvest rainfall and peanuts from experimental varieties adding new data to ongoing research projects at National Peanut Research Laboratory and expanding knowledge of factors effecting peanut hull strength. In collaboration with USDA-ARS Southern Regional Research Center researchers will develop aflatoxin contamination forecast model for farmers’ stock peanuts stored in warehouses. Collaboration with ARS Cotton Ginning Research: Las Cruces Agricultural Research Engineer we conducted research on modeling and improving airflow through walnuts during drying. We continue collaboration with NASA-Langley to design a practical muffler for peanut dryers.
Accomplishments
Review Publications
Sorensen, R.B., Lamb, M.C., Butts, C.L. 2022. Corn yield response to irrigation level, crop rotation, and irrigation system. Journal of Crop Improvement. 36(5):701-716. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2021.2005212.
Sorensen, R.B., Lamb, M.C., Butts, C.L. 2022. Corn, cotton, and peanut response to row spacing, seeding rate, and irrigation system. Journal of Crop Improvement. (37)3:323-340. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2022.2093809.
