Forecast of the outlet turbidity and filtered volume in different microirrigation filters and filtration media by using machine learning techniques

The Mathematics Department at the University of Oviedo provided computational assistance, and grants AGL2015- 63750-R and RTI2018-094798-B-100 were provided by the Spanish Research Agency and the European Regional Development Fund respectively

Prediction of outlet dissolved oxygen in micro-irrigation sand media filters using a Gaussian process regression

Authors wish to acknowledge the computational support provided by the Department of Mathematics at University of Oviedo as well as financial support of the Spanish Research Agency through grants AGL2015-63750-R and RTI2018-094798-B-100

EVALUACIÓN DE LA UNIFORMIDAD DE DISTRIBUCIÓN EN CAMPO EN RIEGO POR GOTEO CON AGUAS REGENERADAS: COMPARACIÓN Y PROPUESTA DE UN NUEVO MÉTODO

[EN] Flow distribution uniformity is a parameter used for micro-irrigation evaluation. Different methods describe how to collect data and to calculate the distribution uniformity, such as the procedures developed by Merriam and Keller (1978), ASAE (1998) and Burt (2004). The main difference between these methods is the number and location of the drip emitters used for calculating the distribution uniformity. Nowadays, with increasing use of precision technologies, an alternative method is proposed to estimate distribution uniformity in real time and without using the manpower required by this time-consuming task. This method consists in using flow and pressure data collected by the devices installed in the drip irrigation unit. The proposed procedure will also allow to evaluate subsurface drip irrigation systems, which distribution uniformity otherwise would be very difficult to determine frequently. The evolution of the results obtained by the proposed method according to the irrigation time is more similar with that obtained by Burt’s (2004) method than that obtained following Merriam and Keller’s (1978) method.[ES] La uniformidad de distribución de caudales es una medida de evaluación de los sistemas de riego por goteo. Existen distintos métodos de evaluación de campo descritos para su determinación, entre los cuales destacan los de Merriam y Keller (1978), ASAE (1998) y Burt (2004). La principal diferencia entre estos métodos está en la localización y cantidad de emisores que se utilizan para el cálculo de la uniformidad. En la situación actual de aumento de la utilización de tecnologías de precisión, se propone una alternativa a los métodos existentes consistente en la utilización de registros de caudal y presión proporcionados por distintos medidores instalados en la subunidad de riego, permitiendo estimar la uniformidad de distribución de caudales en tiempo real y sin necesidad de utilización de mano de obra para esta laboriosa tarea. La nueva metodología permitiría, además, evaluar instalaciones de goteo enterrado que de otra manera sería complicado de medir frecuentemente. La evolución de los resultados obtenidos en función de las horas de riego con el método presentado es más parecida a la que se consigue con el método de Burt (2004) que a la obtenida con el método de Merriam y Keller (1978).Duran-Ros, M.; Arbat, G.; Pujol, J.; Barragán, J.; Ramírez De Cartagena, F.; Puig-Bargués, J. (2015). EVALUACIÓN DE LA UNIFORMIDAD DE DISTRIBUCIÓN EN CAMPO EN RIEGO POR GOTEO CON AGUAS REGENERADAS: COMPARACIÓN Y PROPUESTA DE UN NUEVO MÉTODO. En XXXIII CONGRESO NACIONAL DE RIEGOS. Valencia 16-18 junio de 2015. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/CNRiegos.2015.1526OC

Diseño de una nueva crepina para reducir la caida de presión en filtros de arena

La filtración es necesaria para evitar la obturación de los emisores, que es el principal problema del riego por goteo. Sin embargo, los filtros necesitan presiones elevadas que están relacionadas con un mayor consumo energético. Estudios anteriores han mostrado que la caída de presión en los filtros de arena, considerados como los estándares en riego por goteo, se localiza principalmente en el drenaje. El principal objetivo del trabajo fue diseñar un nuevo modelo de crepina que redujera la caída de presión en el filtro. Esta nueva crepina tiene mayores pasajes a la salida del drenaje, está rodeada con un medio granular de mayor conductividad hidráulica y modifica la curvatura del flujo por encima de la crepina. La nueva crepina fue construida y ensayada en condiciones de filtrado y contralavado, con y sin medio filtrante, en un filtro de laboratorio escalado a partir de un filtro comercial. Esta nueva crepina redujo considerablemente la caída de presión con respecto el diseño comercial. Se desarrolló también un modelo CFD para analizar con detalle las zonas donde se consigue la reducción observada.Filtration is mandatory for preventing emitter clogging, which is the main drawback of microirrigation. However, microirrigation filters have high pressure requirements, which in turn are related to higher energy consumption. Previous studies have shown that pressure loss in sand media filters, which are usually considered the standard for microirrigation, are mainly located in the filter underdrain. The main objective was to design a new underdrain that could reduce sand media filter pressure drop. The new underdrain has wider passages to the underdrain outlet, is surrounded with a granular medium with higher hydraulic conductivity and it modifies the flow curvature above the underdrain. The new underdrain was built and tested under filtration and backwashing conditions and with and without filter bed using a laboratory filter which was scaled from a commercial filter. The new underdrain considerably reduced pressure loss compared with a commercial filter. A CFD model was developed for further study those filter areas where the underdrain achieved a higher reduction of pressure drop

Innovative irrigation strategies for rice in the Mediterranean areas

Rice is the world's most important food crop, as it is a staple food for more than half of the world's population, and the global demand for rice is expected to increase. More than 1,000,000 hectares in the Mediterranean basin are devoted to rice cultivation. The most important producing countries are Italy (IT) and Spain (SP) in Europe (over 310,000 ha), and Egypt (EG) and Turkey (TR) among non-EU countries (over 600,000 ha). In the Mediterranean region, rice production is of great socio-economic and environmental importance, as rice is often a crucial product for internal consumption and export, especially in Egypt, where it is considered strategic for food security. Despite of this, the peculiar flooding conditions in which rice is traditionally grown lead to the use of huge water volumes, as well as to the potential release of greenhouse gases and pesticides into the environment. For this reason, the introduction of water-saving irrigation strategies could reduce water consumption and decrease the harmful environmental impacts associated with rice flooding, while maintaining yield and rice grain quality. In the context of the MEDWATERICE project (https://www.medwaterice.org/; PRIMA-2018), alternative irrigation methods to WFL were tested in case studies implemented in five Mediterranean countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Egypt). Irrigation strategies for each CS were selected with the support of local Stake-Holder groups and applied in experimental fields measuring/estimating all the water balance terms on a daily basis. Wet seeding and alternate wetting and drying (AWD), dry seeding and delayed flooding (DFL), reduction of inlet/outlet discharges (WIR), a better control of ponding water level irrigation (SDI) were implemented for at least two years in the period 2019-2021 alongside the traditional WFL, to investigate their environmental and economic sustainability and social acceptability. through automated gates (DFL-aut), hybrid irrigation (HYBRID), sprinkler irrigation (SPRINKLER), surface drip (DRIP) and subsurface dri

Irrigation strategies alternative to continuous flooding to decrease water use and increase water productivity in Mediterranean rice-based agroecosystems

In the Mediterranean basin, rice is cultivated over an area of 1,300,000 hectares. The most important rice-producing countries are Italy and Spain in Europe (72% of the EU production; 345,000 ha), and Egypt and Turkey among the extra-EU countries (almost totality of the production; 789,000 ha). Traditionally, in these areas, rice is cultivated under continuous flooding; thus, it requires much more irrigation than non-ponded crops. On the other hand, rice is strategic for food security in some countries and its consumption in the whole Mediterranean basin is steadily increasing. The MEDWATERICE project (https://www.medwaterice.org/) includes 7 case studies (CSs) representative of different rice agroecosystems in 5 Mediterranean countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Egypt and Turkey). Innovative irrigation strategies alternative to the traditional wet-seeding and continuous flooding (WFL) were tested and tailored to local conditions in each CS, including: alternate wetting and drying (AWD), dry-seeding and delayed flooding (DFL), subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), surface drip irrigation (DRIP), reduction of water input (RWI), hybrid irrigation (HYBRID) and multi-nozzle sprinkler irrigation (SPRINKLER). In each CS, strategies were compared to WFL and field trials were carried out at least for two years during the period 2019-2021. A minimum dataset including agroclimatic data, soil physico-chemical properties, groundwater depth and salinity, irrigation water inflow and outflow, irrigation water salinity, grain yield and quality was collected and analyzed in all case studies. Results suggest that AWD and DFL might be sound alternatives to WFL in Lomellina (IT), Baix Ter (SP), Lower Mondego and Lis Valleys (PT), and Bafra Valley (TR), leading to an increase in water productivity up to 30%. SPRINKLER and HYBRID irrigation tested in the Nile Delta (EG) resulted in an increase in water productivity of about 50% in both cases. Surface and subsurface drip irrigation systems have a great potential in reducing water use, while maintaining yield production as demonstrated in the Nile Delta (EG), Bafra Valley (TK), and Baix Ter (ES), where water productivity increased from 40 to 100% compared to WFL. Nevertheless, when adopting drip irrigation techniques, special attention must be paid to the irrigation system design and management, by considering the site-specific soil hydraulic properties and agroclimatic conditions. This communication describes the main aspects affecting rice production in each area participating in the MEDWATERICE project, and quantifies the water use and the quantity and quality of the rice production achieved with the traditional irrigation method (WFL) and the innovative irrigation solutions tested in each CS

Acoustic properties of agroforestry waste orange pruning fibers reinforced polypropylene composites as an alternative to laminated gypsum boards

The present paper investigates the acoustic properties of natural fiber reinforced composites. Fibers from orange tree pruning were obtained and subject to different treatments in order to obtain mechanical, thermomechanical and chemi-thermomechanical pulps. These pulps were used as reinforcement for a polypropylene matrix. The obtained composite materials were submitted to acoustical tests in an impedance tubes device. The transmission losses obtained against the fiber content were obtained and discussed. Latter it was researched the influence of the fiber treatments on the soundproof characteristics. A numerical method was used to preview the acoustic insulation of the materials against the sound frequency. Finally the results were compared with that of the most usual lightweight soundproof solutions. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Reixach, R.; Rey Tormos, RMD.; Alba Fernández, J.; Arbat, G.; Espinach, FX.; Mutjé, P. (2015). Acoustic properties of agroforestry waste orange pruning fibers reinforced polypropylene composites as an alternative to laminated gypsum boards. Construction and Building Materials. 77:124-129. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.12.041S1241297

Eliminación de partículas de efluentes en filtros de sistemas de riego localizado

The aim of this work was to determine whether the filters used in microirrigation systems can remove potentially emitter-clogging particles. The particle size and volume distributions of different effluents and their filtrates were established, and the efficiency of the removal of these particles and total suspended solids by screen, disc and sand filters determined. In most of the effluents and filtrates, the number of particles with a diameter > 20 micro m was minimal. By analysing the particle volume distribution it was found that particles larger than the disc and screen filter pores appeared in the filtrates. However, the sand filter was able to retain particles larger than the pore size. The filtration efficiency depended more on the type of effluent than on the filter. It was also found that the particle size distribution followed a potential law. Analysis of the beta exponents showed that the filters did not significantly modify the particle size distribution of the effluents.La distribución del número y del volumen de partículas, y la eficiencia de eliminación de las partículas y los sólidos en suspensión de diferentes efluentes y sus filtrados, fueron analizadas para estudiar si los filtros más usuales en los sistemas de riego localizado eliminan las partículas que pueden obturar los goteros. En la mayoría de los efluentes y filtrados fue mínimo el número de partículas con diámetros superiores a 20 micro m. Sin embargo, al analizar la distribución del volumen de las partículas, en los filtrados aparecieron partículas de dimensiones superiores a la luz de los filtros de anillas y malla, siendo el filtro de arena el que retuvo las partículas de mayor diámetro. La eficiencia de los filtros para retener partículas se debió más al tipo de efluente que al filtro. Se verificó también que la distribución del número de partículas sigue una relación de tipo potencial. Analizando el exponente beta de la ley potencial, se halló que los filtros no modificaron significativamente la distribución del número de partículas de los efluentes