Method of promoting unrestricted flow of irrigation water through irrigation networks

Abstract

A biofilm reducing agent (BRA) and a mineral deposit distorting agent (MDDA) are admixed to irrigation water in amounts sufficient to substantially eliminate biofilm formation in the emitters ( 14 ) of an irrigation system ( 10 ) and produce amorphous mineral deposits in the emitters that are easily washed away by the irrigation water as it flows through the emitters ( 14 ). The BRA may be an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of chlorine, ozone, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxy peracitic acid, iodine, bromine, hydrogen dioxide, chlorate salts, chlorite salts and hypochlorite compounds and mixtures thereof. The MDDA is a phosphonate selected from the group comprising AMP, ATMP, HEDP, EDTMPA, HMDTMPA, DETPMPA, BHMPTMPA, PBTC, HPA, PCA, NTMP, and DTPMP.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of substantially providing unrestricted flow of irrigation water through an a drip irrigation network comprising intermittent water flow and designed to supply irrigation water and optional fertilizer and micronutrients to plants, wherein the drip irrigation network comprises irrigation water and discharge emitters, and conduits that deliver the irrigation water to the discharge emitters, the discharge emitters having small sized passageways susceptible to plugging, the method comprising the step steps of:
 flowing the irrigation water through a conduit in the drip irrigation network;  
 admixing a biofilm reducing agent (BRA) and a mineral deposit distorting agent (MDDA) with the irrigation water by introducing the BRA and the MDDA into the flowing irrigation water in the conduit, wherein the BRA comprises a chlorite salt, thereby increasing a concentration of mixed oxidants in the flowing irrigation water in the conduit, and the MDDA is selected from the group consisting of phosphonate compounds, phosphonic acid compounds, derivatives of phosphorus, blends of phosphonate and phosphorus derivatives, and phosphonic acid compounds, citric acid, acetic acid, mineral acid and mixtures thereof; 
 discharging the irrigation water having the mixed oxidants through the discharge emitters in the drip irrigation network; and 
 irrigating plants with the irrigation water having the mixed oxidants, wherein: 
 the BRA is an oxidizer that substantially eliminates biofilm formation; 
 wherein the MDDA causes mineral deposits to be amorphous; and 
 wherein the BRA and the MDDA are admixed with the irrigations water in amounts sufficient to substantially eliminate biofilm formation in the discharge emitters and produce amorphous mineral deposits in the discharge emitters that are washed away by the irrigation water as it the irrigation water flows through the discharge emitters; 
 the BRA and the MDDA are admixed with the irrigation water such that there is a slow release of chlorine dioxide and that this release continues throughout the full length of the irrigation network; 
 the BRA and the MDDA are admixed with the irrigation water such that a ratio Of mixed oxidants to chlorine dioxide in the irrigation water discharged from the emitters is 2:1 to 2.5:1;and  
 plugging of the discharge emitters is eliminated. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, ozone, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl peracetic acid, iodine, bromine, hydrogen dioxide, chlorate salts, chlorite salts, hypochlorite compounds and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the oxidizer is produced as a byproduct of a reaction between a chlorite salt and an acid. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the oxidizer is chlorine dioxide. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the MDDA is a phosphonate. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the phosphonate is selected from the group consisting of AMP, ATMP, HEDP, EDTMPA, HMDTMPA, DETPMPA, BHMPTMPA, PBTC, HPA, PCA, NTMP, and DTPMP. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  wherein the phosphonate is 2 phosphonobutane-1,2,4 tricarboxylic acid 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4,-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC). 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5  wherein the phosphonate is HEDP. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein the MDDA is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, acetic acid, mineral acid and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       10. A method comprising the steps of:
 providing an a drip irrigation network having comprising intermittent water flow and designed to supply irrigation water to plants, wherein the drip irrigation network comprises at least one conduit leading to at least one discharge emitter having a small sized passageway susceptible to plugging, wherein irrigation water is directed into and through the at least one conduit and into and through the at least one emitter; 
 introducing an oxidant a chlorite salt and a phosphonate into the irrigation water such that a ratio of mixed oxidants to chlorine dioxide in the irrigation water discharged from the at least one emitter is 2:1 to 2.5:1, thereby increasing a concentration of mixed oxidants in the irrigation water in the at least one conduit; and 
 controlling the amount of oxidant the chlorite salt and the phosphonate introduced into the irrigation water, such that biofilm formation is substantially eliminated and amorphous mineral deposits in the at least one discharge emitter in the drip irrigation network are washed away by the irrigation water having the mixed oxidants, wherein plugging of the at least one discharge emitter in the drip irrigation network is eliminated; 
 discharging the irrigation water in the at least one conduit through the at least one discharge emitter in the drip irrigation network; and 
 irrigating plants with the irrigation water having the mixed oxidants through the at least one discharge emitter in the drip irrigation network, wherein the mixed oxidants have a concentration higher than a concentration of chlorine dioxide in the irrigation water exiting the at least one discharge emitter. 
 
     
     
      
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the network is a stationary network. 
      
     
     
      
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein the network is a portable network. 
      
     
     
       13. The method of claim 1, wherein the irrigation water comprises chlorine dioxide, and a concentration of the chlorine dioxide in the irrigation water in the conduit is in the range of 0.5 ppm to 3 ppm. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 1, wherein the irrigation water comprises chlorine dioxide, and a concentration of the chlorine dioxide in the irrigation water in the conduit is in the range of 1.75 ppm to 3 ppm. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 1, wherein the irrigation water comprises chlorine dioxide, and a concentration of the chlorine dioxide in the irrigation water in the conduit is in the range of 2 ppm to 3 ppm. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 1, wherein a concentration of the mixed oxidants in the irrigation water in the conduit is in the range of 1 ppm to 6 ppm. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 1, wherein a concentration of the mixed oxidants in the irrigation water in the conduit is in the range of 3.5 ppm to 6 ppm. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 1, wherein a concentration of the mixed oxidants in the irrigation water in the conduit is in the range of 3.5 ppm to 7 ppm. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 1, wherein a concentration of the mixed oxidants in the irrigation water in the conduit is in the range of 4 ppm to 6 ppm. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 1, wherein a reaction between the chlorite salt and an acid in the conduit forms chlorine dioxide in the at least one conduit. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixed oxidants have a concentration higher than a concentration of chlorine dioxide in the irrigation water exiting the at least one discharge emitter. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 10, wherein the irrigation water comprises chlorine dioxide, and a concentration of the chlorine dioxide in the irrigation water in the at least one conduit is in the range of 0.5 ppm to 3 ppm. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 10, wherein the irrigation water comprises chlorine dioxide, and a concentration of the chlorine dioxide in the irrigation water in the at least one conduit is in the range of 2 ppm to 3 ppm. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 10, wherein a concentration of the mixed oxidants in the irrigation water in the at least one conduit is in the range of 1 ppm to 6 ppm. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 10, wherein a concentration of the mixed oxidants in the irrigation water in the conduit is in the range of 3.5 ppm to 7 ppm. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 10, wherein a concentration of the mixed oxidants in the irrigation water in the at least one conduit is in the range of 4 ppm to 6 ppm. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 10, wherein a reaction between the chlorite salt and an acid in the conduit forms chlorine dioxide in the at least one conduit.