Water quality is a major concern in the management of microirrigation systems. Emitters have small openings which make them vulnerable to clogging by particulate matter, organic growth or chemical precipitate from the irrigation water. Algal and bacterial growth is a potential problem associated with the use of surface water, and high levels of minerals that can precipitate and form scale are present in groundwater. Therefore, effective and reliable water filtration and chemical injection into irrigation systems must be considered for proper maintenance and successful irrigation operation. The following sections provide information on potential emitter-clogging problems and maintenance procedures that should be taken.
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