Jiale Zhao

Agricultural production is undergoing a rapid transition from mechanized field operations to data-informed, perception-supported, and adaptive equipment systems

Returning crop residues to soil is fundamental to sustainable agriculture, yet its adoption in cold-climate regions is hampered by an agronomic paradox: surface mulching conserves water but suppresses the spring soil temperatures required for crop establishment. In the present study, through a nine-year field experiment in a Mollisol under continuous maize cultivation, it was demonstrated that the method of maize straw incorporation, not merely its rate, is the decisive factor in resolving this conflict. While surface mulching maximized water conservation, it induced severe soil cooling and showed minimal gains in soil fertility. In contrast, incorporation via rotary tillage or deep plowing mitigated this cooling effect and proved superior for nutrient cycling. Among all strategies, rotary tillage of 50% residue (ROT-50) delivered the most balanced performance: it achieved the highest total nitrogen, substantially increased soil microbial biomass, and maintained one of the highest levels of Shannon diversity among incorporation treatments. These biogeochemical enhancements were driven by a fundamental, method-induced shift in the bacterial community from an oligotrophic to a copiotrophic structure. These findings shift the paradigm from a focus on residue quantity to one on incorporation method, providing a robust framework for reconciling crop productivity with long-term soil health in temperate agroecosystems.

To address the growing demand for sustainable materials in advanced manufacturing, the objective of this study was to develop and characterize a novel 3D-printable biocomposite using ruminant-digested corn stover (DCS) as a reinforcement for polylactic acid (PLA). The methodology involved systematically optimizing DCS particle size (80–140 mesh) and loading concentration (5–20 wt.%), followed by fabricating composite filaments via melt extrusion and 3D printing test specimens. The resulting materials were comprehensively characterized for their morphological, physical, and mechanical properties. The optimal formulation, achieved with 120-mesh particles at 15 wt.% loading, exhibited a 15.6% increase in tensile strength to 64.17 MPa and a 21.1% enhancement in flexural modulus to 4.19 GPa compared to neat PLA. In addition to the mechanical improvements, the biocomposite offers an advantageous density reduction, enabling the fabrication of lightweight structures for resource-efficient applications. Comprehensive characterization revealed effective interfacial integration and uniform fiber dispersion, validating biological preprocessing as a viable method for unlocking the reinforcement potential of this abundant biomass. While the composite exhibits characteristic trade-offs, such as reduced impact strength, the overall performance profile makes it a promising candidate for structural applications in sustainable manufacturing. This research establishes a viable pathway for agricultural waste valorization, demonstrating that biological preprocessing can convert agricultural residues into value-added engineering materials for the circular bioeconomy.

Design and testing of slide vibrational compaction device

Design and test of an adaptive self-excited/forced mode intelligent vibrating subsoiler

Corn stalk fibers extracted from cattle manure (CSFCM) represent a unique class of natural fibers that undergo biological pre-treatment during ruminant digestion. This study systematically investigates the optimization of CSFCM-reinforced friction materials through controlled silane treatment (2–10 wt.%). The biological pre-treatment through ruminant digestion creates distinctive fiber properties that influence subsequent chemical modification. Physical characterization revealed that optimized interface modification at 6 wt.% silane treatment (CSFCM-3) effectively enhanced the fiber–matrix compatibility while achieving a 34.2% reduction in water absorption and decreased apparent porosity from 9.03% to 7.85%. Tribological evaluation demonstrated superior performance stability, with CSFCM-3 maintaining friction coefficients of 0.35–0.45 across 100–350 °C and exhibiting enhanced thermal stability through a fade ratio of 14.48% and recovery ratio of 95%. The total wear rate showed significant improvement, reducing by 26.26% to 3.433 × 10⁻⁷ cm³ (N·m)⁻¹ compared to untreated specimens. Microscopic analysis confirmed that the optimized silane modification promoted the formation of stable secondary plateaus and uniform wear patterns, contributing to enhanced tribological performance. This investigation establishes an effective approach for developing high-performance friction materials through precise control of silane treatment parameters. The findings demonstrate the potential for developing sustainable friction materials with enhanced performance characteristics, offering new pathways for eco-friendly material design that effectively utilizes agricultural waste resources.

This study reports the development of highly conductive and stretchable fibrous membranes based on PVDF/PAN conjugate electrospinning with embedded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for wearable sensing applications. The fabrication process integrated conjugate electrospinning of PVDF/PAN, selective dissolution of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to create porous networks, and uniform AgNP incorporation via adsorption-reduction. Systematic optimization revealed that 10 wt.% PVP content and 1.2 mol/L AgNO₃ concentration yielded membranes with superior electrical conductivity (874.93 S/m) and mechanical strength (2.34 MPa). The membranes demonstrated excellent strain sensing performance with a gauge factor of 12.64 within 0–30% strain and location-specific sensing capabilities: moderate movements at wrist (ΔR/R₀: 98.90–287.25%), elbow (124.65–300.24%), and fingers (177.01–483.20%) generated stable signals, while knee articulation exhibited higher sensitivity (459.60–1316.48%) but significant signal fluctuations. These results demonstrate the potential of the developed conductive porous PVDF/PAN composite fibrous membranes for applications in wearable sensors, flexible electronics, and human-machine interfaces, particularly in scenarios requiring moderate-range motion detection with high reliability and stability. The findings suggest promising opportunities for developing next-generation wearable sensing devices through the optimization of conjugate electrospun fibrous membranes.

This study proposed a high-speed precision dual-chamber maize metering device for the dense planting pattern with standard ridge promoted in China. Through theoretical analysis of the sowing process, parameters for the key components have been designed. The metering device is capable of planting two rows in a single pass for high-speed precision seeding. The effect of operating speed and negative pressure on seed metering quality was investigated. A high-speed camera was used to capture the trajectory of maize seed at different operating speeds, and it was found that intra-row shifts were caused by collisions at the mouth of the seed guide tube and rotation of the seed as it fell. Employing a two-factor, five-level orthogonal rotation test, Investigated the optimal operating parameters for the maize metering device. Response surface analysis showed that optimum seed metering quality was achieved at 14.2 km/h and 13.5 kPa. Validation tests showed a qualified rate of 97.93%, with a coefficient variation of 8.97% for this method. Additionally, an energy consumption analysis indicated a reduction in operating energy consumption of approximately 32% compared to conventional air suction seed metering devices for dense planting with large ridges on the same area of farmland. This study provides insights for reducing energy consumption in the seeding process, contributing to the sustainable development of agricultural resources.

To address the significant cutting resistance and fracture susceptibility of rotary blades, an innovative blade design was conceived to minimize resistance and enhance fracture resistance. By analyzing the interaction between the blade, soil, and root systems, an optimized design for the blade structure’s breakage resistance was developed. The theory of eccentric circular side cutting edges was applied to redesign the curve of the side cutting edge, and kinematic analysis was conducted to determine the optimal edge angle (26.57°). A flexible body model of corn residues was established, and cutting resistance measurements indicated a 15.1% reduction in cutting resistance. The breakage resistance of the rotary blade was validated using a discrete element method–finite element method (DEM–FEM) coupling approach. The results demonstrated the following: neck stress (−16.85%), specific strength efficiency (+9.72%), specific stiffness efficiency (+9.78%), fatigue life (+39.08%), and ultimate fracture stress (+20.16%), thereby meeting the design objectives. The comparison between field trial results and simulation data showed an error rate (<5%), confirming the simulation test’s feasibility. These findings provide theoretical references for reducing cutting resistance and enhancing breakage resistance in rotary blades.