The influence mechanism of the main suspended particles of Yellow River sand on the emitter clogging − An attempt to improve the irrigation water utilization efficiency in Yellow River basin

Wenqian Zhang, Chang Lv, Xue Zhao, Aihong Dong and Wenquan Niu

Agricultural Water Management, 2021, vol. 258, issue C

Abstract: The existence of suspended particles in water poses a great challenge to the adaptability of drip irrigation technology. To explore the differences in emitter clogging caused by irrigation water containing various suspended solids, this research used irrigation water containing Yellow River sand, quartz sand, and sodium bentonite as the main suspended particles (designated HW, SW and BW, respectively) to conduct a short-period emitter anti-clogging test and particle settlement test in static water. The results showed that the type of suspended particles had a very significant impact on the relative flow rate (Dra) of the emitter (P < 0.01). Emitter clogging was the most serious in the HW treatment, followed by the SW treatment, and emitters in the BW treatment had the lowest clogging degree. The clogging substance formed in the HW treatment exhibited a compact and stable structure; that in the SW treatment was a loosely structured accumulation of large particles; and that in the BW treatment had a flocculent structure with strong plasticity that flowed easily with water. These three types of suspended particles experienced two stages of sedimentation: short rapid sedimentation followed by slow sedimentation. Grid clogging at the emitter’s water inlet caused emitter clogging. The total mass of sediment in laterals in the HW treatment was the largest, and the Dra was the smallest; the total mass of sediment in laterals in the BW treatment was the smallest, and the Dra was the largest. In the SW treatment, the values of these two indexes were between those in the HW and BW treatments. Single suspended particles, such as quartz sand (powder) or sodium bentonite (clay), had more difficulty forming stable clogging structures, so the Dra was relatively high. Coarse and fine particles were balanced in Yellow River sand; thus, the emitter was easily clogged, and the degree of clogging was the most serious. This study tried to provide a basis for the differences and formation mechanisms of emitter clogging and the anti-clogging strategies of emitters in drip irrigation systems in different reaches of the Yellow River.

Keywords: Emitter clogging; Yellow River sand; Quartz sand; Sodium bentonite; Grid clogging; Channel clogging (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:258:y:2021:i:c:s0378377421004790

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107202

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