Enhancing the anti-clogging performance of emitters in drip irrigation systems based on Bacillus subtilis strain DSM 10 and controlled replacement cycles

Abstract

Drip irrigation with slightly saline water is increasingly receiving attention in areas facing water scarcity worldwide. However, the high salt content can easily cause chemical clogging of emitters within the drip irrigation system. Resolving the clogging issue of emitters in drip irrigation systems using slightly saline water is essential for achieving the widespread adoption of such systems. This study involves the addition of Bacillus subtilis strain DSM 10 to the slightly saline water drip irrigation system, employing five different microbial agent replacement cycles (3d, 5d, 10d, 15d, and 20d), as well as a control group without microbial agents (CK). The study examined the effects of microbial agents on changes in water quality, alterations in the content of clogging substances, and the extent of clogging in emitters within the slightly saline water drip irrigation system. The results demonstrated that compared with the CK treatment, the addition of B. subtilis strain DSM 10 microbial inoculum with a longer replacement cycles (20 days) led to a significant reduction in the pH and EC of slightly saline water, and a significant enhancement in the solubility of the chemical clogging substances. The dry weight of clogging was reduced by 56.87%, with a 6.90% decrease specifically in CaCO₃, resulting in a substantial improvement in the anti-clogging performance of the slightly saline water drip irrigation system by 57.27%. In general, the application of B. subtilis strain DSM 10 represents a biotechnological approach to enhancing the anti-clogging performance of slightly saline water drip irrigation systems.