Evaluation of the Influence of Labyrinth Channels on Sand Particles From the Perspective of Emitter Clogging

ABSTRACT Drip irrigation technology has obvious advantages in solving water shortages in agriculture. The sediment particles in the irrigation water not only hinder the proper functioning of the emitters but also sink into the soil with the water flow and change the soil gradation. Understanding the relationship between curved flow paths inside emitters and sediment particles is essential for sustainable agricultural practices and effective water management. Low‐quality sandy water sources with different concentrations (1.8, 2.8 and 3.8 g/L) and particle sizes (0–0.054 mm, 0.054–0.075 mm and 0.075–0.1 mm) were configured and used for drip irrigation tests to compare the composition, characteristic parameters and parameters of sediment output from emitters with those of sandy water sources under irrigation conditions. The effects of different curved flow paths on sediment were systematically investigated to assess the effectiveness of the drip irrigation system. The results revealed that the specific surface areas of E1, E2 and E3 were 12.3–17.3 mg/mm 2 , 2.3–9.7 mg/mm 2 and 4.5–8.1 mg/mm 2 , respectively. D 50 and D 90 increased from 18.1–27.11 μm and 75.5–160.4 μm to 22.2–30.5 μm and 95.1–201.9 μm. Owing to the flocculation effect of sediment aggregation and the screening and blocking effects of the emitters, the proportion of clay and sand particles decreased, and the proportion of powder particles increased. The characteristic structural parameters of the emitter flow channel and the external characteristic parameters significantly affect some of the output sediment characteristic parameters. In addition, through the application of fractal geometry, we provide a new approach to assess the effects of water flow modelling and sediment particle variations within emitters on resistance to clogging, providing valuable insights for optimising irrigation strategies and promoting soil health.