The Effect of Merus Ring on Emitters Efficiency in a Trickle Irrigation System Using Agricultural Wastewater

Emitter clogging for using agricultural wastewater increases the operating costs and reduces the motivation of farmers. The new method to reduce the emitters clogging is the use of a Merus ring that does not have the problems of chlorination and pickling methods, such as pollution and high cost. Due to the importance of agricultural wastewater use, this study investigated the emitters clogging and the effect of Merus ring on the emitter's efficiency in a trickle irrigation system. The treatments including irrigation water (well water and wastewater) and modified water (irrigation with Merus ring and irrigation without Merus ring), as the main factor and the emitters type treatment including Irritec (D1), Corona (D2), Axios (D3), Netafim (D4), Polirood (D5), and Paya (D6) as the sub treatments were performed in three replications. The results showed that the agricultural wastewater caused the emitters clogging in irrigation water and modified water treatments, but over time, the Merus ring had a positive effect on the evaluation parameters of the emitters. For agricultural wastewater, in the first and last irrigation periods, the average discharge of emitters with the Merus ring was 0.05 and 0.33 Liter per hours, respectively, more than the treatment without the Merus ring. The uniformity coefficient of emitters in the first and last irrigation periods, in well water with the Merus ring, was 0.31%and 6.67%, respectively, more than that in the well water without the Merus ring. Also, the uniformity coefficient of emitters in the first and last irrigation periods in agricultural wastewater with the Merus ring was 0.85% and 12.10%, respectively, more than that in agricultural wastewater without the Merus ring. At the end of irrigation period, the results showed that Netafim and Axios had the best and weakest efficiency, respectively. In general, the emitters used in the treatment of well water with the Merus ring had the highest discharge and the emitters used in the treatment of wastewater without the Merus ring had the lowest discharge.