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Volume 07
Advances in Crop Science and Technology
ISSN: 2329-8863
Agri 2019
August 15-16, 2019
August 15-16, 2019 | Rome, Italy
14
th
International Conference on
Agriculture & Horticulture
Field evaluation and distribution uniformity of subsurface drip irrigation systems for half-high blueberry
under different mulching practices
Lordwin Jeyakumar and David McKenzie
St. John’s Research and Development Centre, Canada
E
mitter clogging is one of the major drawbacks of subsurface drip irrigation systems which can seriously affect crop-
yields significantly. The uniformity of water application in a subsurface drip irrigation system is an important aspect
of the system performance. The objectives of this study were to better understand the drivers of the clogging phenomena
and evaluate the uniformity coefficients of subsurface drip irrigation systems. This study was undertaken at St. John’s
Research and Development Centre, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The subsurface drip irrigation was designed
and installed on a blueberry field (Figure. 1). Subsurface drip irrigation lines were installed with a 30" emitter spacing and
a flow rate of 0.42 gal per hour. The blueberry field soil was slightly towards the clay side of the water depletion curve for
the loam soil. Wood chip (10cm), sawdust (10 cm) and black plastic were used to maintain moisture and improve soil
conditions. The distribution uniformity, emitter clogging and the performance of subsurface drip irrigation system were
assessed using the randomly collected field data. Study results indicates that the coefficient of uniformity was found only
59.85% (wood chips), 34.25% (saw dust) and 33.65% (black plastic). It was found that the piping system was clogged in
the mainline, submain line and the lateral pipes which eventually affected the flow rate through the emitters. An attempt
to flush the main pipe lines reduced the emitter clogging significantly. This suggests that the lateral flushing and proper
filtration system can control emitter clogging problems in subsurface drip irrigation systems.
lordwingirish@gmail.com lordwin.jeyakumar@canada.caAdv Crop Sci Tech 2019, Volume 07