Evaluation of irrigation water total suspended solids (TSS) on a farm scale

Abstract

This study tackled the problem of the irrigation water Total Suspended Solids (TSS) on a farm level in the northern Jordan Valley, Jordan. Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of the procedures applied for irrigation network flushing. The first experiment showed the effect of laterals flushing on sediments build-up and development. Good managed and regularly flushed block (Block A) compared to a block managed by the farmer (Block B) showed a reduction in the amount of sediments in the laterals and sediments build up started at emitter number 56 along the lateral in block A compared to emitter 26 in Block B. The second experiment confirmed the need of flushing on farm level. The results of this study showed that 95% of the emitters clogging took place in the last half of the laterals. Clogging of the water passage inside the emitter caused 65% of the clogging and 25% caused by the interior screen clogging. Flushing was carried out for all the pipes in the network in the selected farms, and its duration ranged between 5 and 10 min. Significant decreases in TSS were achieved that ranged from 20.9 – 99.9% in the two studied farms.