Uniformity in a Microirrigation with Partially Clogged Emitters

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different patterns of clogged emitters on the hydraulics in micro-irrigation laterals installed on flat and sloped terrain. Laterals with 8 different patterns of partially clogged emitters, laid on flat, 3%, and 7% down and up-sloped terrains, were tested. Results obtained from the field were compared with the theoretical results calculated by a computer simulation program. Head loss, pressure variation along lateral, coefficient of uniformity and field emission uniformity were examined. It is found that lateral’s slope was a major factor affecting the pressure variation along the lateral but its impact on uniformity is insignificant. The number and location of partially clogged emitters were found to be the most important factors affecting the coefficient of uniformity and field emission uniformity. The highest impact of emitter clogging on the uniformity occurred when the clogged emitters were located at the first one-third section of the lateral or randomly located along the lateral. Relationship between the uniformity of coefficient and the average degree of clogged emitters along the lateral was established. In all the eight different patterns studied, the field data deviate less than ±5% from the calculated theoretical results.