Evaluation of the effects of dynamic pressure and emitter type on clogging in drip irrigation systems

The selection of drip tape types and dynamic pressure (DP) serves as an effective measure to promote sustainable agriculture. Under the condition of integrated water and fertilizer, the effects of drip tape type and DP on the mitigation of coupled clogging remain to be elucidated. Therefore, an indoor experiment was conducted using water containing urea and river sand. The anti-clogging ability of three types of drip tapes were evaluated by comparing DP with constant pressure. The results show that DP and drip tape type have significant effects on discharge ratio and variation ( Dra ) and Christiansen’s uniformity coefficient of irrigation ( CU ) ( p < 0.01). DP increased the time required for the Dra of the drip system to decrease to 75 % by 11.663 %, and exhibited the Dra increase proportion of 32.242 %. Moreover, the average increase proportion in CU was 21.785 %, which showed a positive correlation with Dra ( p < 0.01). DP obviously enhanced the anti-clogging ability of drip systems. Under DP, non-pressure-compensated emitters with low nominal discharge and pressure-compensated emitters have higher anti-clogging ability. Overall, these results may provide new guidelines for the long-term and stable application of DP in the drip system. • Dynamic pressure has a very significant effect on the discharge ratio and variation, and irrigation uniformity. • Dynamic pressure improved the anti-clogging ability and irrigation uniformity of different types of drip tapes. • The type of drip tapes has a very significant effect on irrigation uniformity and discharge ratio and variation.