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Reusable waste plastic drip chamber of infusion sets were retrofitted and evaluated for drip irrigation applications. The drip chambers were carefully collected from local hospitals in Abeokuta, sorted and sterilized in hydrogen peroxide solution for 24 h and were evaluated for its systems characteristics and applicability for drip irrigation on the field using an extra early cultivar (NHAe47-4) of Okro (Abelmoschus esculentus) as a test crop. The study revealed that the emitter has a mean discharge, emission uniformity (Eu), Manufacturers’ Coefficient of Variation (Cv), Christiansen’s Uniformity Coefficient (CUC), Distribution Uniformity (DU) and Statistical Uniformity (SU) of 1.83 l h-1, 88.12%, 0.06, 96.71%, 95.73% and 95.87% respectively at an operating pressure of 65.6 mbar, which implied that it performed creditably well in conformity to international drip irrigation standards. The system delivered the daily water requirement for okro in 14.3 min. Mean plant height, leaf area index and mean fresh fruit weight of okro at 76 days after sowing (DAS) was 1.12 m, 0.96 and 0.68 g per plant stand respectively. Crop yield of 15.1 tons ha-1 obtained indicates that the system performance is very satisfactory in comparison to okro yield in the region, while the low system cost of $1.4/m2 is very cheap for Sub-Saharan Africa. The system is recommended for use to maximize water use, enhance crop production and reduce hospital solid waste. However, for health reasons, only those drip chambers used to deliver dextrose in hospitals are recommended for reuse after sterilization. |
