Design and Development of a Low-cost Acoustic Device to Detect Pest Infestation in Stored Maize

Insect damage in stored maize is one of the major post-harvest losses occurring in developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. To reduce economic losses, separation of infested grains from clean ones is critical and requires detection of infestation in stored grains. This study aimed at developing a rapid non-destructive detection system with three goals; - the first goal was to investigate the acoustic behavior of internally feeding S. zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in maize. The pests were monitored for peak activity and signal amplitudes. The study was performed in the morning, afternoon and night times for three consecutive days with an ultrasonic probe attached to acoustic emission detector. The average number of peaks above threshold in the morning, afternoon and night was significantly different and were 60, 2 and 31 counts/s, respectively (P-value < 0.01). The average maximum amplitude was also different: 2.5, 1 and 1.8V for morning, afternoon and night sessions, respectively. The signal frequencies ranged between 1 and 15 kHz with a peak around 7 kHz. The second goal was to design and develop an inexpensive acoustic device for the detection of S. zeamais in the stored maize. This device included a microphone, signal conditioning circuit and a microcontroller. The third goal was to test the prototype in both clean and infested maize. The device could be manufactured for $55 or less. The device has a noise level below 0.2V in clean maize, infestation amplitude up to 1V and about 93.3% correct detection performance in infected maize.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Systems Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Biological Systems Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Kiobia, Denis Olgen

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Mallikarjunan, Parameswaran Kumar

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Grisso, Robert D.
• Tumbo, Siza D.

• Sitophilus zeamais
• maize kernel
• acoustic sensor
• infestation
• Post-harvest losses
• storage losses
• Tanzania

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:6321

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/56588