The object of this research is the cracking of the nuts of oil palm (Elaesis guineensis). The oil palm tree is one of the greatest economic assets a nation can have, provided its importance is realized and fully harnessed. After the oil extraction of palm oil from the palm fruits, virtually all methods involved in palm kernel nut cracking both in traditional and small-scale exist in scattered or separate units of operations. Hence, this research focused on designing a palm nut kernel cracking unit incorporating a separator in form of a screen to separate cracked palm kernel nut shell from kernel. The result shows that there were significant difference (p≤0.05) among the moisture content of the palm nuts, shaft speed of the machine and weight (feed rate), having a significant difference between: – moisture content of the palm nut and the shaft speed of the cracker; – moisture content and feed rate; – shaft speed and feed rate. There exist interaction between cracked, uncracked shell, damaged, undamaged kernel, and palm kernel nut breakage ratio. While, there was no significant difference among interaction between moisture content, shaft speed and feed weight. The result also indicated that for the highest speed of 1,800 rpm at a feed rate of 700 kg/h for all moisture contents, the cracking efficiency was between10 to 90 %, which implies that the kernel cracking efficiency increases with an increase in machine speed. However, it was observed that higher cracking efficiency was at the cost of higher kernel damage for all cracking speeds and feed rates, which is a problem. The kernel breakage ratio ranged from 1.040–7.85 for all feed rates and moisture contents. The kernel breakage ratio increased with moisture content and cracking speed but decreases with feed rate weight.

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The object of research is a double chamber evaporative cooling system for the storage of vegetables with one chamber filled River sand, the other Sawdust as absorbents and Ambient chamber storage conditions being the third treatment (control). Amaranthus was used as the test crop. The structure was developed both internally and externally using six (6) inches concrete blocks and plastered with cemented mortar. 460 g each of Garden fresh vegetables (Amaranthus) were collected and kept chambers of the evaporative cooling system and ambient chamber conditions (control), then, replicated twice respectively. Change in quality (weight reduction, withering, change in colour), temperature change, relative humility and cooling effectiveness were the parameter assessed during the experiment and were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Duncan’s Multiply Test at 5 % level of significance. The experiment was conducted and analyzed at Crop Production Department of the Federal College of Forestry (Jericho Ibadan, Nigeria). The study revealed there were no significant difference between relative humidity (%), absorbent cooling efficiency (%) for absorbent materials in the evaporative cooling chambers were (89.90 %, 89.30 % and 75.80 %) and (88.50 %, 82.50 % and 80.40 %) for day 10 and 15 River Sand (RS), sawdust (SD) and Control (Cont.) respectively. While, Control had moderately highest temperature reading at day 13 (30 °C), followed by Sawdust (28.90 °C) and River Sand (27.80 °C). However, vegetables kept in the ambient chamber were observed to rot faster than those in the double chamber of the evaporative cooling system. Complete deterioration occurred at day 5 for ambient chamber conditions. The quality of the vegetables kept in double evaporative cooling chamber using river sand performed best in the storage of Amaranthus. This research hereby recommended that evaporative cooling chambers filled with river sand and constant water supplied to keep the absorbent moist should be utilized for storage of Amaranths and other vegetables in an evaporative cooling system. Further studies should vary the use of different porous absorbent. Also, cooling fans should also be incorporated to the storage system to enhance cooling efficiency.

Paving stones are increasing, being used by corporate bodies and individual for its functionalities and aesthetic value, the production of pavers over the years have been specifically carried out using stone dust which is relatively expensive and not readily affordable to the common man. This study was carried out to determine comparative effect of grinded and un-grinded palm kernel shell on the strength of pavers. Stone dust, river sand, grinded palm kernel shell, un-grinded palm kernel shell and cement were combine in different ratio namely,T1(4,0,0,0,l), T2(0,2,2,0,l), T3 (1,2,0,1,1), T4(1,1,2,0,l), T5(1,1,0,2,l), T6(0,2,l ,l,1) respectively to form six treatment with two replicates. The pavers were tested for weight and strength properties, T3 has the highest value of the mean weight while T1 has the lowest value. T3 (stone dust (1),river sand (2), un-grinded palm kernel shell (1) and 25kg of cement (1)), T1(stone dust (4) and 25kg of cement (1)).Also, the compressive strength results show that T3 also has the highest value of 127Mpa(Mega pascal) whileT6 has the lowest value of 33Mpa (Mega pascal). The data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the difference in the strength of the pavers. The analysis of variance shows that there is no significant difference between the compressive strength of the treatments. The colour of the paver shows that the paver produced with river sand and un-grinded palm kernel shell is brighter and stronger than others, it is then recommended that T3 can be used in the production of pavers because it is strong and can also withstand environmental stress.