Evaluation of the Hydraulic Performance of a Medi-Emitter in a Moringa oleifera –Treated Wastewater
A. Y. Arku *
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Resources Engineering, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A medical infusion set (referred to as 'medi-emitter') was connected to a lateral for drip irrigation of Amaranthus hybridus (Amaranthus) and Rosa sinensis (Hibiscus) and hydraulic performance was evaluated using Moringa oleifera-treated wastewater. Discharges at respective emitters showed good performance and the calculated emitter discharge variations (qvar) within acceptable limits of 30%. The highest discharge variation was 2.50% while the lowest is 0.80%. Similarly, the Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CUC) values showed good performance. Maximum emitter application efficiency of 98% was achieved for the 4-h daily irrigation time considered. This system could be redesigned for a number of lateral lengths and diameters combinations. Discharge rate variations were damped out by adjusting the emitters to deliver same pre-calculated discharges. This regulatory advantage implies that any cheap and locally available conduit could be adopted to serve as lateral pipes.
Keywords: Moringa oleifera, evaluation, hydraulic performance, Amaranthus hybridus, Rosa sinensis, medi-emitter, discharge.