Thermophysical properties of oil palm empty fruit bunch peduncle for use as a mulching material

Etuk, Sunday Edet and Robert, Ubong Williams and Agbasi, Okechukwu Ebuka (2023) Thermophysical properties of oil palm empty fruit bunch peduncle for use as a mulching material. Journal of Oil Palm Research (Malaysia), 35 (3). pp. 448-455. ISSN 2811-4701

The choice of mulching or topsoil covering material for the retardation of soil water loss through evaporation requires a good knowledge of thermal properties of the material. Peduncle of oil palm empty fruit bunch was obtained from some local oil palm processing units in Uyo, soaked in water and air-dried completely before shaping and subjecting samples to various laboratory tests. The bulk density, water absorption, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, volumetric heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, thermal effusivity and solar radiation absorptivity of the sample were found to be (332.59 ± 0.65) kg m–³, (269.54 ± 1.28)%, (0.078 ± 0.001) W m–¹ K–¹, (1552.56 ± 1.56) J kg–¹ K–¹, (0.516 ± 0.001) MJ m–³ K–¹, (1.51 ± 0.01) 10–7 m² s–¹, (200.42 ± 1.33) J m-² K-¹ s-¹/² and (15.54 ± 0.05) m-¹ respectively in the longitudinal direction whereas the respective values were found to be (332.54 ± 0.68) kg m–³, (269.51 ± 1.27)%, (0.042 ± 0.001) W m–¹ K–¹, (1553.38 ± 0.44) J kg–¹ K–¹, (0.517 ± 0.001) MJ m–³ K–¹, (0.82 ± 0.01) 10–⁷ m² s–¹, (147.98 ± 1.57) J m–² K–¹ s–¹/² and (21.06 ± 0.18) m–¹ in the transverse direction. The results of the tests favour the peduncle as a potential mulching material for retardation of soil water loss through evaporation and a slow response to changes in its thermal environment.

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Abstract

The choice of mulching or topsoil covering material for the retardation of soil water loss through evaporation requires a good knowledge of thermal properties of the material. Peduncle of oil palm empty fruit bunch was obtained from some local oil palm processing units in Uyo, soaked in water and air-dried completely before shaping and subjecting samples to various laboratory tests. The bulk density, water absorption, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, volumetric heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, thermal effusivity and solar radiation absorptivity of the sample were found to be (332.59 ± 0.65) kg m–³, (269.54 ± 1.28)%, (0.078 ± 0.001) W m–¹ K–¹, (1552.56 ± 1.56) J kg–¹ K–¹, (0.516 ± 0.001) MJ m–³ K–¹, (1.51 ± 0.01) 10–7 m² s–¹, (200.42 ± 1.33) J m-² K-¹ s-¹/² and (15.54 ± 0.05) m-¹ respectively in the longitudinal direction whereas the respective values were found to be (332.54 ± 0.68) kg m–³, (269.51 ± 1.27)%, (0.042 ± 0.001) W m–¹ K–¹, (1553.38 ± 0.44) J kg–¹ K–¹, (0.517 ± 0.001) MJ m–³ K–¹, (0.82 ± 0.01) 10–⁷ m² s–¹, (147.98 ± 1.57) J m–² K–¹ s–¹/² and (21.06 ± 0.18) m–¹ in the transverse direction. The results of the tests favour the peduncle as a potential mulching material for retardation of soil water loss through evaporation and a slow response to changes in its thermal environment.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	palm oils
AGROVOC Term:	thermal properties
AGROVOC Term:	mulching
AGROVOC Term:	research
AGROVOC Term:	mathematical analysis
AGROVOC Term:	evaporation
AGROVOC Term:	soil density
AGROVOC Term:	mulches
AGROVOC Term:	soil conservation
Geographical Term:	Nigeria
Uncontrolled Keywords:	bulk density, evaporation, mulching material.
Depositing User:	Nor Hasnita Abdul Samat
Date Deposited:	29 Apr 2025 01:08
Last Modified:	29 Apr 2025 01:08
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/1749

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