Clogging of drippers caused by suspensions of kaolinite and montmorillonite clays
Colmatage des goutteurs causé par les suspensions de kaolinite et d'argiles montmorillonitiques
Résumé
Clay particles under certain physico-chemical and hydrodynamic conditions can form agglomerates after passing through a filtering system, which favours clogging of the emitters. The main factors interfering with the aggregation potential of clay particles are the type of clay mineral, pH, and ionic strength of the irrigation water. This study analysed the influence of ionic strength and type of clay mineral on clogging, discharge variation, and particle deposition in turbulent-flow non-pressure compensating drippers. Two types of clay (kaolinite and montmorillonite) at a concentration of 500 mg L