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Development of a Self-regulated Bubble Irrigation System to Control the Size and Shape of Wetting Fronts

Yasir Layth Alrubaye, Badronnisa Yusuf and Safaa Noori Hamad

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, Volume 28, Issue 4, October 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjst.28.4.09

Keywords: Air-water exchange, bubble irrigation, plastic bottle, soil-water, uniformity and efficiency

Published on: 21 October 2020

The main objectives of this study were to introduce a bubble irrigation system, compare the wetting fronts created by the bubble and free-flow systems, and test the viability of a bubble irrigation system. Two laboratory experiments were conducted using 2D flow to measure the wetting fronts. The first experiment measured the free-flow infiltration using an inverted, open plastic bottle. The second experiment tested the bubble-flow technique using an inverted, closed plastic bottle (ICPB). The results showed that the bubble-flow system created a larger width of wetting fronts at the beginning of the infiltration and then expanded less than that of the free-flow system. In contrast, the infiltration depth of the wetting fronts created by the bubble-flow system was much lower than that of the free-flow system. In conclusion, the wetting front width and depth in the bubble-flow system were slightly smaller than those in the free-flow system. In addition, the wetting fronts created by the ICPB were not moved upwards significantly, which proves the ability of specific distribution of the bubble-flow system on the wetting fronts. Therefore, the bubble irrigation system can be used as an alternative for distributing the moisture content in soil profiles.

ISSN 0128-7680

e-ISSN 2231-8526

Article ID

JST-2007-2020

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