Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of Plant Growth with Aerated Irrigation Water Using Venturi Pipe Part

  • Research Article - Civil Engineering
  • Published:
Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A venturi pipe part (VPP) allows air bubbles to be inserted into flowing water from air inlet holes and so increases dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in irrigation water. The DO helps the roots absorb nutrients at a faster rate, and can increase a plant’s growth rate by up to 30 %. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to evaluate design considerations and experimental results related to characteristics of VPP in air vacuum and aeration process. Optimal flow velocity in venturi inlet is determined between 1 and 4 m/s for aeration process. For starting of air vacuum process, minimum flow velocity is determined as 0.80 m/s. The ratio of the throat diameter of VPP to the inlet diameter of VPP equals to 0.5. Also, the ratio of the air vent diameter of VPP to the throat diameter of VPP equals to 0.3. Volumetric air flowrate decreases with increasing pipe length. In addition, the effect of aerated water on plant growth is tested with a case study. The case study is carried out on growth of the onion (Allium cepa) samples. In result of this test, aerated water is capable for plant growth of the onion (A. cepa) samples. However, it increased the plant’s growth rate by 27 %. Thus, irrigation projects can be planned with both VPP (AirJection Irrigation) and subsurface drip irrigation systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bhattarai, S.P.; Huber, S.; Midmore, D.J.: Aerated subsurface irrigation water gives growth and yield benefits to zucchini, vegetable soybean and cotton in heavy clay soils. Ann. Appl. Biol. 144, 285–298 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bhattarai, S.P.; Pendergast, L.; Midmore, D.J.: Root aeration improves yield and water use efficiency of tomato in heavy clay and saline soils. Sci. Hortic. 108, 278–288 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhu, J.; Miller, C.F.; Dong, C.: Aerator module development using venturi air injectors to improve aeration efficiency. Appl. Eng. Agric. 23, 661–667 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Busscher, W.J.: Improved growing conditions through soil aeration. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 13(5), 401–409 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. American Public Health Association (APHA): Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. American Public Health Association, Washington (1980)

  6. Benson, B.B.; Krause, D.: The concentration and isotopic fractionation of oxygen dissolved in freshwater and seawater in equilibrium with the atmosphere. Limnol. Oceanogr. 29, 620–632 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Vogelaar, J.C.; Klapwijk, T.A.; Lier, J.B.; Rulkens, W.: Temperature effects on the oxygen transfer rate between 20 and 55C. Water Res. 34, 1037–1041 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gulliver, J.S.; Thene, J.R.; Rindels, A.J.: Indexing gas transfer in self-aerated flows. J. Environ. Eng. ASCE 116(3), 503–523 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Daugherty, R.L.; Franzini, J.B.; Finnemore, E.J.: Fluid Mechanics with Engineering Applications. McGraw-Hill Inc., New York (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  10. White, M.F.: Fluid Mechanics. McGraw-Hill, New York (1979)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  11. Bagatur, T.: Technical note: minimal conditions for venturi aeration of water flows. Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Water Manag. 158(WM3), 127–130 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Baylar, A.; Emiroglu, M.E.: Air entrainment and oxygen transfer in a venturi. Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Water Marit. Energy 156(WM3), 249–255 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Emiroglu, M.E.; Baylar, A.: Study of the influence of air holes along length of convergent–divergent passage of a venturi device on aeration. J. Hydraul. Res. 41(5), 513–520 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Baylar, A.; Ozkan, F.; Ozturk, M.: Influence of venturi cone angles on jet aeration systems. Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Water Manag. 158(WM1), 9–16 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ozkan, F.; Ozturk, M.; Baylar, A.: Experimental investigations of air and liquid injection by venturi tubes. Water Environ. J. 20(3), 114–122 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Baylar, A.; Ozkan, F.: Applications of venturi principle to water aeration systems. Environ. Fluid Mech. 6(4), 341–357 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Baylar, A.; Ozkan, F.; Unsal, M.: On the use of venturi tubes in aeration. CLEAN Soil Air Water 35(2), 183–185 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Baylar, A.; Unsal, M.; Ozkan, F.: Determination of the optimal location of the air hole in venturi aerators. CLEAN Soil Air Water 35(3), 246–249 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Baylar, A.; Ozkan, F.; Unsal, M.: Effect of air inlet hole diameter of venturi tube on air injection rate. KSCE J. Civ. Eng. 14(4), 489–492 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Bhattarai, S.P.; Su, N.; Midmore, D.J.: Oxygation unlocks yield potentials of crops in oxygen-limited soil environments. Adv. Argon. 88, 313–377 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Goorahoo, D.; Carstensen, G.; Zoldoske, D.F.; Norum, E.; Mazzei, A.: Using air in subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) to increase yields in bell peppers. Int. Water Irrig. 22, 39–42 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil Engineering Department, Dicle University, 21280, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Tamer Bagatur

Authors
  1. Tamer Bagatur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tamer Bagatur.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bagatur, T. Evaluation of Plant Growth with Aerated Irrigation Water Using Venturi Pipe Part. Arab J Sci Eng 39, 2525–2533 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-013-0895-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-013-0895-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation