Abstract
Dripline flushing is an effective way to relieve emitter clogging and extend the longevity of drip irrigation systems. This laboratory study was conducted at Kunming University of Science and Technology to evaluate the effect of three targeted flushing velocities (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 m/s) and four flushing frequencies (no flushing, flushing daily, and flushing every three or five days) on the emitter’s service life and the particle size distribution of the sediment discharged from emitters and trapped in an emitter channel. The gradation of particle size was analyzed by a laser particle size analyzer. The experiment results suggested that flushing velocity and flushing frequency had a significant effect on the service life of emitters, and the emitter’s service life was extended by 30.40% on average under nine different flushing treatments. Flushing can effectively reduce the accumulation of sediments in the dripline and decrease the probability of coarse particles flowing into emitters and fine particles aggregating and cementing in the labyrinth channel, thus relieving the emitter clogging. Therefore, dripline flushing can effectively slow down clogging in muddy water drip irrigation system. The recommended flushing velocity should be set at 0.6 m/s, and the flushing intervals should be shortened.
Highlights
Dripline flushing is a necessary maintenance practice for micro-irrigation systems
Ten discharges of the emitters treated under diversified conditions showed a descendant trend with increasing irrigation events, suggesting that clogging with different degrees was seen in emitters until their service life ended
Appropriate flushing can effectively prevent emitter clogging by hindering the agglomeration of sediment particles or their adhesion to organic residuals to generate large particles [23,24]
Summary
Dripline flushing is a necessary maintenance practice for micro-irrigation systems. It removes particles that are not strained by the micro-irrigation system filters and that accumulate in the driplines [1,2]. Physical clogging caused by solid particles is considered the most common emitter clogging category of emitters [3,4,5]. For drip irrigation systems in the Yellow River irrigation areas of Ningxia and Inner Mongolia, the average sediment concentration in the water abstracted from the Yellow River reaches 35 kg/m3. A large quantity of sand enters into drip irrigation systems and results in emitter clogging even after deposition and prefiltration treatment measures are taken [6]. Flushing is required to ensure a long economic service life of drip irrigation systems [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
