A kinetic model for the chemical clogging of drip irrigation system using saline water

Lili Zhangzhong, Peiling Yang, Wengang Zhen, Xin Zhang and Caiyuan Wang

Agricultural Water Management, 2019, vol. 223, issue C, -

Abstract: Saline water utilization, combined with drip irrigation, is the one of the most efficient way to cope with water shortage for agriculture. However, a major constraint on the use of saline water in drip irrigation systems is the potential for fouling, which result in emitter clogging. This research aimed to assess the occurrence of chemical fouling in drip irrigation systems applying saline water and determine the quantity and chemical characteristics of the chemical fouling. A field experiment with four salinity levels of water (ECW of 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 dS/m) in the Hetao irrigation district (Inner Mongolia, China) was performed to determine the formation and growth of chemical fouling in drip irrigation system. The results showed that calcium-magnesium carbonates (calcite, CaCO3–R; aragonite, CaCO3–0; Mg-calcite, CaMgCO3; dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2) were the main clogging materials, accounting for 63.3%–91.1%. When the conductivity (ECW) of the irrigation water was 1.0 dS/m, the dominant crystal form was calcite. The aragonite angered as ECW increased to 2.0 dS/m. As ECW (≥4 dS/m) and running time increased, the aragonite became dominated. The emitter type and salinity of saline water had a direct impact on the growth of chemical fouling (dry weight, DW). The DW of chemical fouling increased slightly in the emitter with large flow rates, and had a linear positive correlation with ECw. The chemical fouling presented an asymptotic growth, including rapid and gradual growth periods. A kinetic model of the growth of chemical fouling inside the emitters was established after the comprehensive consideration of emitter types and water salinity. The model could satisfactorily demonstrate the chemical fouling growth process in drip irrigation system (R2 > 0.96**, significant level a = 0.01). The results in this paper could provide theoretical references to reveal emitter clogging mechanism for using saline water.

Keywords: Drip irrigation; Saline water; Chemical fouling; Kinetic model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:223:y:2019:i:c:40

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2019.105696

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