Effect of drip irrigation method, nitrogen source, and flushing schedule on emitter clogging

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out at the National Research Center farm, Nubaria area, Behura Governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of nitrogen source, flushing schedule and irrigation method on emitter clogging. Peanut Giza 5 variety ( Arachishy pogaea L.) was planted in sandy soil during two successive growing seasons (2010-2011) in the 1st week of May and harvested after 130 days. Treatments used are: 1) two irrigation methods: surface drip irrigation and sub-surface drip irrigation (SDI; SSDI), 2) nitrogen source (NS):NH 4 NO 3 , (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 and Ca(NO 3 ) 2 (NS 1 , NS 2 and NS 3 ) and 3) flushing number (FL) 0, 1 and 4 (FL 1 , FL 2 ; FL 3 ). The experiments design was split-split plot and three replicates were used. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. The main effects of treatments used on clogging per cent could be written the following ascending orders: SDI < SSDI, FL 3 < FL 2 < FL 1 , NS 1 < NS 2 < NS 3 . Concerning the 1st interaction the following ascending orders denote their effects on clogging percent: SDI × FL 3 < SDI × FL 2 < SDI × FL 1 , SDI × NS 1 < SDI × NS 2 < SDI × NS 3 , SSDI × FL 3 < SSDI × FL 2 < SSDI × FL 1 , SSDI × NS 1 < SSDI × NS 2 < SSDI × NS 3 , FL 1 × NS 1 1 × NS 2 < FL 1 × NS 3 , FL 2 × NS 1 < FL 2 × NS 2 < FL 2 × NS 3 and FL 3 × NS 1 < FL 3 × NS 2 < FL 3 × NS 3 . The differences between any two treatments and/or any two interactions in clogging percent were significant at the 5% level. The effect of the 2nd interaction on clogging percent was significant at the 5% level. The maximum value of clogging (20.18%) and the lowest one (3.9%) were archived in the interactions: SSDI × FL 1 × NS 3 and SDI × FL 3 × NS 1 , respectively.