Flushing is an important maintenance task that removes accumulated particles in microirrigation laterals that can help to reduce clogging problems. The effect of three dripline flushing frequency treatments (no flushing, one flushing at the end of each irrigation period, and a monthly flushing during the irrigation period) was studied in surface and subsurface drip irrigation systems that operated using a wastewater treatment plant effluent for three irrigation periods of 540 h each. The irrigation systems had two different emitters, one pressure compensating and the other not, both molded and welded onto the interior dripline wall, placed in laterals 87 meters long. Dripline flow of the pressure compensating emitter increased 8% over time, while in the nonpressure compensating emitter, dripline flow increased 25% in the surface driplines and decreased 3% in the subsurface driplines by the emitter clogging. Emitter clogging was affected primarily by the interactions between emitter location, emitter type, and flushing frequency treatment. The number of completely clogged emitters was affected by the interaction between irrigation system and emitter type. There was an average of 3.7% less totally clogged emitters in flushed surface driplines with the pressurecompensating emitter as compared to flushed subsurface laterals with the nonpressure compensating emitte

An environmental friendly superabsorbent composite (SAC) based on rice, (Oriza sativa L.), husk was created by the scientific group at Faculty of Science, Tanta University, and City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Egypt. SAC was tested for its ability to improve soil water retention, control the release of urea, and its biodegradability in soil. The effect of SAC on sweet pepper, Capsicum annuum, productivity under severe deficit irrigation conditions was studied. Doses of irrigation water representing percentage ∼16.7, 11.9, 7.1, and 2.4 of the actual crop water requirements (CWR) were tested in soil treated with 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 wt% SAC. The tested SAC lost ∼60% of its weight in 150 days. Soil water retention and urea release rates were improved plant growth in response to the addition of SAC. Application of ∼11.9% of CWR with 1.00 wt% SAC resulted in significantly better crop production than other treatments without SAC. This could annually save about 154.44 million cubic meters (MCM) to be directed for horizontal expansion and improve food security.