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14.5: Preventing Clogs

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    44689
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    Clogging of emitters is one of the major concerns for microirrigation. Obviously, the smaller the orifice or the longer the capillary section, the more prone the emitter is to clogging. Emitters can be clogged by particles, bacterial slimes, algae, water-borne organisms, or precipitation of various chemicals. Filtering to prevent mineral and organic particles from entering the system or chemical injections to prevent mineral precipitation or the growth of slime are the normal management schemes to prevent clogging. If emitters become clogged, water distribution is not uniform and in severe cases, crop loss from water stress occurs. Clogging problems are frequently site specific and economical solutions are not always available. Table 14.2 is a water quality classification scheme to predict potential emitter plugging (Bucks et al., 1979).

    Table 14.2. Plugging potential of irrigation water for microirrigation (Bucks et al., 1979).
    Potential Problem Unit of Measure Minor Moderate Severe

    Physical

    Suspended solids

    ppm

    <50

    50-100

    > 100

    Chemical        
    pH - <7 7-8 > 8
    Salts ppm <500 500-2000 > 2000
    Manganese ppm <0.1 0.1 - 1.5 > 1.5
    Iron ppm <0.1 0.1 - 1.5 > 1.5
    Hydrogen Sulfide ppm <0.5 0.5 - 2.0 > 2.0

    Biological

    bacteria Populations

    number/ml

    <10,000

    10,000 - 50,000

    > 50,000


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