Abstract
A study has been undertaken to compare the performance of locally manufactured alkatheline emitters with the imported alkatheline emitters in order to assess their use in drip irrigation system. All the emitters were tested at pressure of 63, 84, 105, 126 and 147 kPa with four replications of each emitter and the corresponding discharges were measured volumetrically. The discharge of the two local and one imported emitters were 2.7, 6.5 and 3.84 Iph, respectively at standard pressure of 105 kPa fulfilling the required criteria. The coefficient of manufacturing variation, emission uniformity and coefficient of uniformity for local and imported emitters were 2.5, 91.5, 97.6 and 2.1, 93.6 and 93.9%, respectively. The results depict that the locally manufactured emitters Iulfill the standard criteria of fitness and are considered suitable for use in drip irrigation system. The locally manufactured emitters are 90% cheaper than the imported ones.
