Bacterial application increased the flow rate of CaCO3-clogged emitters of drip irrigation system

CaCO3 is one of the most common emitter clogging factors among chemical precipitates in drip irrigation systems. Continuous acid application as a classical approach to prevent CaCO3 clogging can be tricky, expensive and hazardous for soil. In order to develop an environmentally friendly method to address the problem, two bacterial strains, one renowned as a PGPR and the other having extensive CaCO3 dissolving capacity, were used in treatments of artificially clogged drip irrigation emitters. Results showed the flow rates of clogged emitters significantly increased in drip lines which were treated with bacterial suspensions but no increase was observed in control drip lines which were treated with sterile nutrient broth. Furthermore, scanning electron and florescence microscopies were used to examine residual CaCO3 precipitates. Thus, in consideration of its extensively studied PGPR characteristics, microbial treatment with Bacillus subtilis OSU-142 was shown to be promising for field applications as a novel and environmentally friendly treatment for clogged emitters of drip irrigation systems.

► We aimed to develop a solution for chemically clogged drip irrigation systems.
► We artificially clogged driplines with CaCO3 suspension.
► Two different bacterial strains were used in treatments to unclog the driplines.
► Flow rates increased after treatments with bacterial suspensions.
► Bacterial application is promising for the treatment of chemically clogged driplines.