A study was carried out (Reciclean) to evaluate the efficiency of using the phosphoric acid, sodium hypochlorite, a commercial product and mechanical impact for cleaning the drippers in which the clogging was due to the presence of high iron content in water. The experiment was set up in the Vista Alegre Farm, located in Jaboticatubas County - Minas Gerais State. A drip irrigation system was adopted for the accomplishment of the tests. Eight treatments were tested, of which, seven with application of chemical products and one with mechanical impact. In accomplishing the chemical treatments, the phosphoric acid was used at pH 2 and 3, sodium hypochlorite at 100, 50 and 25 mg L-1 chlorine and Reciclean at 50 and 25 mg L-1. According to the results, the following conclusions were drawn: the treatment using the phosphoric acid at pH 2 provided the best results, when evaluating the improvement of uniformity in the irrigation system, since it showed the highest increase in the values of uniformity coefficients (CUD and CUC); however, it is an expensive treatment. The treatment with 25 mg L-1 chlorine presented the best benefit/cost relation, since it showed to be the cheapest besides being the second best in improving the uniformity of the irrigation system. The mechanical impact is a good alternative to recover the drip irrigation systems, principally under organic farming.
drip irrigation; unclogging; water application uniformity
