Evaluating Sensitivity to Clogging by Solid Particles in Irrigation Emitters: Assessment of a Laboratory Protocol

Abstract

As drip irrigation develops rapidly worldwide, the need for a standardized method to evaluate emitters’ clogging sensitivity is reinforced. Methodologies for evaluating the sensitivity of emitters to clogging enable identification of trends in the change in performance of emitters operated under clogging risk, selection of emitter designs with higher performance for a given set of water characteristics, and recommendation of a consistent filtration method and maintenance routines. In this study, a clogging test protocol for evaluating the sensitivity of emitters to clogging caused by suspended solid particles was assessed to improve the reliability of test results and analyze the impact of sample size (number of emitters) on clogging result accuracy. Two models of integrated non-pressure-compensating emitters were tested in three replications. The 160-h clogging test procedure consisted of four 40-h stages that varied in size and concentration of solid suspended particles. The results enabled accurate assessment of the combination of size and concentration of particles that caused clogging in each emitter model, thereby revealing trends in the sensitivity of emitters to clogging, which were not dependent on emitter sample size. Recommendations for an international standardized clogging test protocol are proposed.