Chelated copper reduces yet manganese fertilizer increases calcium-silica fouling in brackish water drip irrigation systems

Yayu Wang, Tahir Muhammad, Zeyuan Liu, Hongbang Liang, Xingpeng Wang, Zhenhua Wang, Changjian Ma and Yunkai Li

Agricultural Water Management, 2022, vol. 269, issue C

Abstract: Water scarcity and deficiency of trace elements (e.g., Cu and Mn) in soils of arid and semi-arid areas are major constrains to crop growth and development. The application of brackish water drip irrigation system (BWDIs), coupled with trace elements, is probably an effective way to solve this problem. However, fouling problems caused by trace elements in BWDIs were inevitable. Therefore, this paper evaluates the mechanism of different types of trace element chelated fertilizers on the fouling of emitters in BWDIs by using long-period, high-frequency periodic flow monitoring and mineral fraction analysis. The influence of chelated fertilizers such as copper (EDTA-Cu) and manganese (EDTA-Mn), and traditional micro-fertilizers copper sulfate (CuSO4) and manganese sulfate (MnSO4) on emitter fouling in BWDIs were investigated. Results suggested, compared with CK, the EDTA-Cu effectively alleviated the emitter fouling, increasing the average discharge ratio (Dra) and Christiansen coefficient of uniformity (CU) by 21.0%− 28.9% and 36.7%− 67.6%, respectively. Due to the strong adsorption ability, EDTA-Cu adsorb the Ca2+ and Mg2+ in BWDIs, which enhanced the structural stability, reduced the flocculation and deposition ability in the fouling, and indirectly reduced the content of calcium and silica fouling. In addition, compared with CK, the EDTA-Mn significantly aggravated the emitter fouling in BWDIs, decreasing the Dra and CU by 18.2%− 22.5% and 24.5%− 43.1% respectively. EDTA-Mn directly increased the content of Ca2+ and Mg2+ in BWDIs due to strong flocculation, which destroyed the morphology of EDTA-Mn chelates and indirectly increased the content of calcium silica fouling (calcite, muscovite, k-feldspar, dolomite and chlorite), thus reduced the anti-clogging ability of BWDIs. Considering these results, this study does not recommend the application of EDTA-Mn for manganese fertilizer in BWDIs. This study provides a new perspective on the rapid application of micronutrient fertilization in BWDIs, with potential implications for sustainable development in arid and semi-arid areas.

Keywords: Brackish water; Drip irrigation; Integration of water and fertilizer; Irrigation and fertilization; Emitter fouling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:269:y:2022:i:c:s0378377422002025

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107655

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