Rapid Evaluations of Anticlogging Performance of Drip Emitters by Laboratorial Short-Cycle Tests

Abstract

Emitter clogging is the most annoying problem that restrains the development of drip irrigation technologies, but so far, there have been no effective evaluation methods for the anticlogging performance of drip emitters. In this study, a kind of short-cycle experiment was conducted in the laboratory by mixing sands with various concentrates and particle sizes in irrigation water. Through these tests, the clogging rates that quantitatively represent the clogging status of drip emitters in various experimental conditions were obtained, as well as the variation rules of emitter discharges. The statistical calculation results indicated that the anticlogging performance of predepositing drippers was better than round-flow drip tapes, but less than eddy drip arrows. The discharges of every emitter tested differed from each other and most were lower than nominal discharge rates. However, a few emitters had a contrary result. An important modification had been done for the Christiansen uniformity coefficient to accurately evaluate irrigation uniformity and the clogging status of drip emitters. As a result, a new method of rapid evaluation for the anticlogging performance of drip emitters was proposed.