African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6863

Full Length Research Paper

Biofouling and performance of labyrinth-type emitters in drip irrigation with treated domestic sewage

Flavio Daniel Szekut
  • Flavio Daniel Szekut
  • Federal University of Campina Grande (COPEAG/CTRN/UFCG), Campina Grande, Brazil.
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Delfran Batista dos Santos
  • Delfran Batista dos Santos
  • Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Bahia (IF Baiano), Senhor do Bonfim, Brazil.
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Carlos Alberto Vieira de Azevedo
  • Carlos Alberto Vieira de Azevedo
  • Federal University of Campina Grande (COPEAG/CTRN/UFCG), Campina Grande, Brazil.
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Marcio Roberto Klein
  • Marcio Roberto Klein
  • Federal University of Campina Grande (COPEAG/CTRN/UFCG), Campina Grande, Brazil.
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Maycon Diego Ribeiro
  • Maycon Diego Ribeiro
  • Federal University of Campina Grande (COPEAG/CTRN/UFCG), Campina Grande, Brazil.
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Salomao de Sousa Medeiros
  • Salomao de Sousa Medeiros
  • National Semiarid Institute (INSA), Campina Grande, Brazil.
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  •  Received: 22 August 2016
  •  Accepted: 15 September 2016
  •  Published: 29 September 2016

Abstract

The use of wastewater in irrigated agriculture is an alternative to the lack of water resources of higher quality and allows obtaining, besides the reuse, environmental improvements. In the application of wastewaters, such as treated domestic sewage, localized drip systems are affected by the decrease in application of uniformity and discharge rate of the emitters, due to clogging. In this context, this study aimed to characterize the material of the biofouling and evaluate its effects on the hydraulic performance of emitters utilized in drip irrigation with wastewater from treated domestic sewage. The experiment was carried out on a bench at the field, in the Brazilian semi-arid region, in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, and consisted of the application of wastewater and public-supply water using three models of labyrinth-type emitters. The hydraulic performance of the emitters was monitored through the variation in discharge rate and coefficient of uniformity along 1188 h of operation. X-ray spectroscopy analysis was performed to characterize the chemical composition of the material that caused biofouling. The chemical elements identified in the characterization of the biofouling material were sodium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, chlorine, calcium, iron, carbon and oxygen; the latter two were found in higher amounts. In addition, the presence of fluorine was also detected. Biofouling caused linear and quadratic reduction in the discharge rate of the emitters over the time of operation. Both wastewater and the hydraulic characteristics of the labyrinth contributed to clogging of the emitters.

 

Key words: Biofilm, X-ray spectroscopy, uniformity coefficient, wastewater, emitter clogging.