Page 27 - AWA Vol. 42-No.2 issue

iRRiGATiON

pilot facility adds flexibility to the R&D
process and was commissioned follow- 5 key factors to evaluate
ing rigorous sterility, sealing, and fer-
mentation tests, ensuring readiness for when selecting a cylindrical dripper
advanced development work.
Preparing For The Next Generation
Of Biosolutions In modern drip irrigation systems,
The fermentation plant supports the the cylindrical dripper plays a vital
development and scale-up of both new role in delivering precise and uniform
microorganism-based biosolutions and water flow to crops. Selecting the right
those already part of Rovensa Next’s dripper not only impacts irrigation
portfolio. These include products that efficiency but also affects long-term
improve nutrient-use efficiency, support system reliability and manufacturing
tolerance to abiotic stress, and enable consistency. Below are five key factors
biocontrol applications, areas where bi- to evaluate when choosing a cylindrical control, making compatibility with ad-
ological solutions increasingly comple- dripper for agricultural irrigation ap- vanced dripper insertion and inspec-
ment or replace conventional inputs. plications. tion systems increasingly important.
Current solutions include Phos’Up, 1. Flow Rate Accuracy and Consis- 4. Material Quality and Durability
which improves phosphorus availability tency Material selection directly affects the
in the soil, and Azzofix, a microbial seed Flow rate consistency is one of the service life of a cylindrical dripper.
treatment that enhances nitrogen-use most important performance indicators
efficiency in crops. The portfolio also in- of a cylindrical dripper. A high-quality High-quality polymers provide better
cludes Wiibio, a Bacillus-based biofer- dripper should maintain uniform dis- resistance to UV exposure, chemical
tilizer focused on soil regeneration, charge across long pipe lengths, ensur- fertilizers, and temperature fluctua-
and Biimore, a biostimulant designed to ing balanced irrigation even in large-s- tions, ensuring long-term durability in
deliver high performance at ultra-low cale agricultural fields. outdoor irrigation environments.
doses during key crop development Consistent material quality also sup-
stages. From a manufacturing perspective, ports stable performance during high-
precise flow paths and stable molding speed manufacturing, reducing defects
Bringing these new solutions from the quality are essential to achieve low
laboratory to industrial production often variation between individual drippers, and minimizing downtime in drip pipe
requires specific conditions that differ especially when integrated into high- production.
from those used for existing products. To speed drip irrigation production lines. 5. Compatibility with Drip Irriga-
address this, the pilot plant is designed tion Production Lines
to evolve, with future equipment such as 2. Clogging Resistance Beyond field performance, it is essen-
centrifuges, filters, and spray dryers to Clogging is a common challenge in tial to consider how well a cylindrical
achieve efficient scale-up and faster de- drip irrigation systems, particularly dripper integrates with automated drip
ployment. when water quality varies. Cylindrical irrigation production lines. Factors
“Internally, this gives us more effi- drippers with optimized internal lab- such as dimensional accuracy, insertion
ciency, quality and agility across our yrinth designs help reduce the risk of stability, and suitability for automatic
processes,” said Odacir Lameu, R&D blockage caused by sediments or im- screening, storage, and supply systems
Coordinator and head of the pilot plant. purities. significantly impact production effi-
“For growers, it means faster and more Drippers designed for automated ciency.
reliable responses to their needs for in- screening and quality control during Drippers designed for seamless in-
novative bio-inputs,” he added. production further improve reliability tegration with modern extrusion lines
Ultimately, the pilot plant reinforces by ensuring that only qualified units help manufacturers achieve higher out-
Rovensa Next's R&D and innovation ca- enter the drip pipe, enhancing overall put, lower waste rates, and more consis-
pabilities. By bridging laboratory sci- system stability. tent product quality.
ence with industrial production, it accel- 3. Pressure Performance Conclusion
erates innovation cycles and supports Pressure performance determines Selecting the right cylindrical dripper
the delivery of high-quality biosolutions how well a cylindrical dripper adapts requires balancing irrigation perfor-
at scale, contributing to a more sustain- to different terrain conditions. For ap- mance with manufacturing efficiency.
able agriculture. plications requiring uniform irrigation By evaluating flow rate accuracy, clog-
Picture, from left to right: Victor Son- on uneven land, pressure compensat- ging resistance, pressure performance,
zogno, Head of Brazil; Odacir Lameu, ing cylindrical drippers are preferred, material durability, and production
R&D Coordinator; José Nolasco, Global as they maintain consistent flow under compatibility, manufacturers and irri-
Head of R&D Bionutrition; and Johana varying inlet pressures. gation system designers can ensure re-
Perez, Global R&D Manager, during the Stable pressure performance also liable operation and long-term value in
inauguration of Rovensa Next’s new pilot places higher requirements on drip- drip irrigation projects.
fermentation plant in Brazil.
per precision and production process Circle 36 on enquiry card
Circle 35 on enquiry card
Vol. 42 No. 2 25