Subsurface Drip Lateral Line Depths to Protect against Root Intrusion

Root intrusion into emitters poses a threat to the lifespan of subsurface drip irrigation systems. In an attempt to address this problem, an experiment was conducted on spring wheat (Mengmai 30) grown in soil columns installed in a greenhouse to study the effects of lateral line depths to reduce root intrusion into emitters. The soil columns are rectangular containers, and the dimensions were 15 cm, 60 cm, 100 cm. The soil matric potential at a 20 cm depth immediately over (lateral line depth <20 cm), under (lateral line depth >20 cm), or next to (lateral line depth = 20 cm) the drip emitters was used to schedule the subsurface drip irrigation regime. Five different lateral line depths, with depths of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 cm, were maintained. The lateral line depths influenced the spring wheat root distribution, emitter flow rate, root intrusion, and spring wheat yield and quality. Results indicated that the shallower the lateral line depth, the more root was distributed in the surface layer. Root density values increased with soil depth. The emitter flow rate (eventual flow rate divided by the initial flow rate) increased as the lateral line depth decreased. All the treatments had root intrusion except 50 cm treatment. Root intrusion increased as the lateral line depth decreased. The lowest root intrusion rate (0%) was achieved with a lateral line depth of 50 cm. The greatest relative yield was achieved with a lateral line depth of 30 cm. After root intrusion and yield were both considered, the lateral line depth of 30–40 cm was a better choice.

Download Full-text

Irrigation Regime for Protection on Root Intrusion for Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy ◽

10.1166/jbmb.2021.2098 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 639-647

Author(s):

Shaolei Guo ◽

Shunsheng Wang

Keyword(s):

Flow Rate ◽

Spring Wheat ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Soil Column ◽

Subsurface Drip Irrigation ◽

Irrigation Regime ◽

Soil Columns ◽

Soil Matrix ◽

Matrix Potential ◽

Subsurface Drip

Root intrusion into emitters poses a threat to the service lives of subsurface drip irrigation systems. In an attempt to address this problem, an experiment was conducted on spring wheat grown in soil columns installed in a greenhouse to study the effects of irrigation regimes in protecting against root intrusion into emitters. Spring wheat was planted in soil columns. The specifications of the soil column were 15-cm width, 60-cm length and 100-cm depth. Drip tapes were buried manually in the center of the soil columns at a -40-cm depth. The soil matrix potential at a 20-cm depth immediately over the drip emitters was used to schedule the subsurface drip irrigation regime. Five different irrigation arrangements, with targeted soil matrix potentials of -10, -20, -30, -40 and -50 kPa, were maintained. The soil matrix potential influenced the spring wheat root distribution, emitter flow rate, root intrusion, and spring wheat yield and quality. The total root dry weight increased as the soil matrix potential decreased. Root length density at 35-45-cm increased as the soil matrix potential increased. The decrease in the emitter flow rate increased along with the soil matrix potential. All the treatments had root intrusion, but its severity was correlated with the soil matrix potential. Root intrusion first decreased as the soil matrix potential decreased but then increased as the soil matrix potential continued to decrease. The lowest root intrusion rate (22.22%), as well as the greatest relative yield and relative thousand-grain weight values, were achieved with a soil matrix potential of -40 kPa.

Download Full-text

EFFECTIVENESS OF EMITTER FLUSHING USED FOR SUBSURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Journal of Water Engineering and Management ◽

10.47884/jweam.v1i1pp79-87 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Vinod Kumar Tripathi ◽

Birendra Bharti ◽

Pratibha Warwade ◽

Sushil Kumar Shukla ◽

Prabeer Kumar Parhi

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Flow Rate ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Filtration Efficiency ◽

Water Quality Parameters ◽

Subsurface Drip Irrigation ◽

Drip Irrigation System ◽

Subsurface Drip

Filtration plays vital role to improve the efficacy and reduce the maintenance of drip irrigation systems. The experiment was conducted to evaluate drip irrigation filters (gravel, disk filter and their combination) for groundwater filtration. Water quality parameters responsible for emitter plugging, such as total solids, turbidity, Ca, Mg, CO3 and HCO3 were analyzed at the entry and exit points of filters. The filtration efficiency for water quality parameters was estimated with individual filters and in combination. Significant improvement was observed for turbidity, total solids, carbonate and bicarbonate. The filtration efficiency with combination filter was 14.3±8.8% for turbidity and 16.3±9.31% for bicarbonates. Gravel filter gave better results for filtration of bicarbonate in comparison to the disk filter. Emitters protected by the gravel media filter experienced the largest flow rate reductions but emitters protected by combination filters experienced least flow rate reduction. Backwashing of filters reduces the filtration efficiency and head loss. To reduce emitter plugging by removal of accumulated sediment, flushing of mains, submains and laterals are recommended. Higher improvement in uniformity coefficient was observed in subsurface drip after flushing operation. The results may be utilized in planning and design of subsurface drip irrigation system to diminish emitter clogging incidence.

Download Full-text

Soil Temperature in the Peanut Pod Zone with Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Peanut Science ◽

10.3146/pnut.29.2.0007 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 115-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

R. B. Sorensen ◽

F. S. Wright

Keyword(s):

Soil Temperature ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Subsurface Drip Irrigation ◽

Average Maximum ◽

Soil Temperatures ◽

Subsurface Drip ◽

Maximum Air Temperature

Abstract Maintaining soil temperatures at specified levels (below 29 C) in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is vital to crop growth, development, and pod yield. Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems are not designed to wet the soil surface. Possible lack of moisture in the pod zone could result in elevated soil temperatures that could be detrimental to the peanut crop. The objective of this study was to document the response of pod zone soil temperature when irrigated with a SDI system. Thermocouple sensors were inserted at 5-cm soil depth in the crop row and at specified distances from the crop row in SDI and nonirrigated (NI) treatments. Maximum hourly and daily soil temperature data were measured at three locations, one in Virginia and two in Georgia. The maximum daily soil temperature decreased as plant canopy increased. During the first 50 d after planting (DAP), the average maximum soil temperature was 1 to 2 C cooler for both the SDI and NI treatments than the average maximum air temperature. From 50 DAP to harvest, the average maximum soil temperatures for SDI and NI treatments were 6 C cooler than the average maximum air temperature. During pod filling and maturation, the average maximum soil temperature was about 5 C cooler (27 C) for SDI treatments than the maximum air temperature and 2 C cooler than the recommended 29 C. Soil temperature in the NI treatments did exceed 29 C during periods of drought but decreased to values similar to SDI treatments immediately following a rainfall event. Overall, SDI can maintain maximum soil temperatures below critical values (29 C) during peanut fruit initiation to crop harvest.

Download Full-text

Subsurface Drip Irrigation and Fertigation of Broccoli

Soil Science Society of America Journal ◽

10.2136/sssaj2002.0178 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

pp. 178 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Thomas L. Thompson ◽

Thomas A. Doerge ◽

Ronald E. Godin

Keyword(s):

Drip Irrigation ◽

Subsurface Drip Irrigation ◽

Subsurface Drip

Download Full-text

Behaviour of the fecal pollution indicators in a soil irrigated with treated wastewater under onsurface and subsurface drip irrigation

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2000.0294 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 42 (1-2) ◽

pp. 75-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

C. Campos ◽

G. Oron ◽

M. Salgot ◽

L. Gillerman

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Fecal Pollution ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Subsurface Drip Irrigation ◽

Treated Wastewater ◽

Reclaimed Wastewater ◽

Pollution Indicators ◽

Subsurface Drip

A critical objective for any wastewater reuse programme is to minimise health and environmental hazard. When applying wastewater to soil–plant systems, it is to be noted that the passage of water through the soil considerably reduces the number of microorganisms carried by the reclaimed wastewater. Factors that affect survival include number and type of microorganisms, soil organic matter content, temperature, moisture, pH, rainfall, sunlight, protection provided by foliage and antagonism by soil microflora. The purpose of this work was to examine the behaviour of fecal pollution indicators in a soil irrigated with treated wastewater under onsurface and subsurface drip irrigation. The experiment was conducted in a vineyard located at a commercial farm near the City of Arad (Israel). Wastewater and soil samples were monitored during the irrigation period and examined for fecal coliforms, somatic and F+ coliphages and helminth eggs. Physico-chemical parameters were controlled in order to determine their relationship with removal of microorganisms. The results showed high reduction of the concentration of microorganisms when wastewater moves through the soil; and a good correlation between the reduction of fecal pollution indicators and moisture content, organic matter concentration and pH. The application of secondary treated domestic wastewater in this specific soil and under these irrigation systems affect the survival of microorganisms, thus reducing the health and environmental risk.

Download Full-text