Biofilm dynamic changes in drip irrigation emitter flow channels using reclaimed water
Reusing reclaimed water through drip irrigation offers an effective way to overcome freshwater scarcity. However, biofilm accumulation in the flow channel of drip emitters is the primary obstacle. So far, biofilm development in the emitters remains largely unknown. Here, industrial computed tomograp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2024-02-01
|
| Series: | Agricultural Water Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377423004894 |
| _version_ | 1797365565049798656 |
|---|---|
| author | Changjian Ma Mengyao Li Peng Hou Xuejun Wang Zeqiang Sun Yan Li Yang Xiao Yunkai Li |
| author_facet | Changjian Ma Mengyao Li Peng Hou Xuejun Wang Zeqiang Sun Yan Li Yang Xiao Yunkai Li |
| author_sort | Changjian Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Reusing reclaimed water through drip irrigation offers an effective way to overcome freshwater scarcity. However, biofilm accumulation in the flow channel of drip emitters is the primary obstacle. So far, biofilm development in the emitters remains largely unknown. Here, industrial computed tomography was used to quantify the emitter biofilm developments. Results showed that biofilm typically accumulated in the inlet of the emitter flow channel and decreased toward the flow direction. Biofilm was also typically accumulated in dead areas having low flow velocities, such as edge, corner, and adjacent surface zones in flow channels. The dynamics of the emitter biofilm variation mechanisms were also elucidated. Specifically, particle and nutrient transport appeared to be dominant in shaping the initial biofilm formation (i.e., 5% emitter clogging degree), resulting in biofilm abundant in the inlet of the flow channel. However, it changed the hydraulic conditions in emitter flow channels, increased local water shear stress, which made the biofilm easier to be washed away in the inlet, and caused biofilm to grow faster in the middle and outlet regions of the flow channel at 20% emitter clogging degree. At 50% clogging degree, biofilm in inlet regions grew faster again. Finally, some biofilm control approaches such as water quality management and emitter flow channel structure optimization were proposed. This study provided a better understanding of biofilm formation mechanisms in the emitter flow channels, which is critical for designing appropriate biofilm control technologies and will facilitate the reuse of reclaimed water in agricultural irrigation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:51:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-25554eab6b02468ca197a13a942646ff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1873-2283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:51:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agricultural Water Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-25554eab6b02468ca197a13a942646ff2024-01-05T04:22:38ZengElsevierAgricultural Water Management1873-22832024-02-01291108624Biofilm dynamic changes in drip irrigation emitter flow channels using reclaimed waterChangjian Ma0Mengyao Li1Peng Hou2Xuejun Wang3Zeqiang Sun4Yan Li5Yang Xiao6Yunkai Li7State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; National Center of Technology Innovation for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land, Institute of Modern Agriculture on Yellow River Delta of SAAS, Dongying 257091, ChinaCollege of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, ChinaCollege of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, ChinaCollege of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China; Engineering Research Center for Agricultural Water-Saving and Water Resources, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China; Correspondence to: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, PR China.College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China; Engineering Research Center for Agricultural Water-Saving and Water Resources, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, ChinaReusing reclaimed water through drip irrigation offers an effective way to overcome freshwater scarcity. However, biofilm accumulation in the flow channel of drip emitters is the primary obstacle. So far, biofilm development in the emitters remains largely unknown. Here, industrial computed tomography was used to quantify the emitter biofilm developments. Results showed that biofilm typically accumulated in the inlet of the emitter flow channel and decreased toward the flow direction. Biofilm was also typically accumulated in dead areas having low flow velocities, such as edge, corner, and adjacent surface zones in flow channels. The dynamics of the emitter biofilm variation mechanisms were also elucidated. Specifically, particle and nutrient transport appeared to be dominant in shaping the initial biofilm formation (i.e., 5% emitter clogging degree), resulting in biofilm abundant in the inlet of the flow channel. However, it changed the hydraulic conditions in emitter flow channels, increased local water shear stress, which made the biofilm easier to be washed away in the inlet, and caused biofilm to grow faster in the middle and outlet regions of the flow channel at 20% emitter clogging degree. At 50% clogging degree, biofilm in inlet regions grew faster again. Finally, some biofilm control approaches such as water quality management and emitter flow channel structure optimization were proposed. This study provided a better understanding of biofilm formation mechanisms in the emitter flow channels, which is critical for designing appropriate biofilm control technologies and will facilitate the reuse of reclaimed water in agricultural irrigation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377423004894Emitter cloggingBiofoulingBiofilm distributionIndustrial computed tomography |
| spellingShingle | Changjian Ma Mengyao Li Peng Hou Xuejun Wang Zeqiang Sun Yan Li Yang Xiao Yunkai Li Biofilm dynamic changes in drip irrigation emitter flow channels using reclaimed water Agricultural Water Management Emitter clogging Biofouling Biofilm distribution Industrial computed tomography |
| title | Biofilm dynamic changes in drip irrigation emitter flow channels using reclaimed water |
| title_full | Biofilm dynamic changes in drip irrigation emitter flow channels using reclaimed water |
| title_fullStr | Biofilm dynamic changes in drip irrigation emitter flow channels using reclaimed water |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biofilm dynamic changes in drip irrigation emitter flow channels using reclaimed water |
| title_short | Biofilm dynamic changes in drip irrigation emitter flow channels using reclaimed water |
| title_sort | biofilm dynamic changes in drip irrigation emitter flow channels using reclaimed water |
| topic | Emitter clogging Biofouling Biofilm distribution Industrial computed tomography |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377423004894 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT changjianma biofilmdynamicchangesindripirrigationemitterflowchannelsusingreclaimedwater AT mengyaoli biofilmdynamicchangesindripirrigationemitterflowchannelsusingreclaimedwater AT penghou biofilmdynamicchangesindripirrigationemitterflowchannelsusingreclaimedwater AT xuejunwang biofilmdynamicchangesindripirrigationemitterflowchannelsusingreclaimedwater AT zeqiangsun biofilmdynamicchangesindripirrigationemitterflowchannelsusingreclaimedwater AT yanli biofilmdynamicchangesindripirrigationemitterflowchannelsusingreclaimedwater AT yangxiao biofilmdynamicchangesindripirrigationemitterflowchannelsusingreclaimedwater AT yunkaili biofilmdynamicchangesindripirrigationemitterflowchannelsusingreclaimedwater |