Biological Clogging of Emitters in Drip Irrigation Using Reclaimed Water: A Review

Drip irrigation has been increasingly used not only for watering cash crops but also for stable crops in water-scarcity regions. One common problem in drip irrigation is emitter clogging, especially when using reclaimed water which is rich in nutrients and microbes. This paper reviews the recent development in biological clogging of the emitters, including its cause and mitigation. It is based on literature review of the extensive publications over the past decades. We review the current research situation both nationally and internationally and outline the cause of the clogging when using reclaimed water for irrigation, especially the underlying mechanisms. We also review the measures for anti-clogging the emitters. From these, we discuss the potential development in this area, including remediation of biological clogging using chlorination, adjusting flow rate and drip irrigation frequency, and the applications of these specific measures to different regions and situations.