Etum, Samuel2026-06-232026-06-232026Etum S.(2026). Comparative Assessment of Emitter Clogging under Fishpond and Swamp Water Sources for Smallholder Drip Irrigation Systems. A Case Study of Limoto Wetland Restoration Site, Pallisa District, Uganda. Busitema Universityhttps://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/6537Research DissertationEmitter clogging is the leading operational constraint of drip irrigation systems when low-quality surface water is used. At the Limoto Wetland Restoration Site, Pallisa District, Uganda, fishpond water (FW) and swamp water (SW) are alternately supplied through a solar-powered drip system serving smallholder vegetable farmers. This study comparatively assessed emitter clogging under both sources over a 90-day field experiment, addressing water quality characterization, emitter discharge performance, deposit characterization, and source-specific engineering mitigation. FW posed Severe clogging risk across all parameter categories: total suspended solids (185 mg/L), turbidity (126 NTU), iron (1.66 mg/L), calcium (82 mg/L), phosphate (6 mg/L), total coliforms (1.6 × 10⁶ CFU/100 mL), and algal biomass (85 µg/L), all substantially exceeding SW values and FAO risk thresholds. Field monitoring revealed a clear divergence: FW emitter discharge declined from 1.599 L/h to 1.025 L/h, yielding a clogging rate of 35.90% surpassing the ISO failure threshold of 25%. SW emitters recorded only 20.64% clogging, remaining within acceptable operational limits throughout. Welch's t-test confirmed highly significant differences at every monitoring interval (t = 29.07, df = 12, p = 1.71 × 10⁻¹²). Deposit characterization via SEM, loss on ignition, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry revealed contrasting clogging regimes. FW deposits were dominated by a biological fraction (48%), driven by a synergistic EPS-iron hydroxide ochre biofilm. SW deposits were predominantly physical (54%), comprising porous granular silt despite greater deposit mass a phenomenon termed the "Clogging Paradox." The standard 130-µm disc filter was found inadequate for both sources. Recommended mitigation includes sand media filtration with periodic shock chlorination (10-20 mg/L) and acid injection for FW, and sedimentation basins with bi-weekly lateral flushing for SW. These findings provide actionable, context-specific engineering guidance for improving smallholder drip irrigation sustainability at Limoto Wetland Restoration Site.enOther