Assessment of suspended solids dynamics and their effect in the irrigation networks in the Northern Jordan Valley

This study aims to assess the suspended solids dynamics of the irrigation water, through total Suspended Solids (TSS) measures and field observations. Assessment is conducted along the distribution system in the Northern Jordan Valley. This study followed the water’s TSS conditions in the study area along its travel in King Abdullah Canal (KAC), in the pumping station (with all of its components) and in the delivery networks from the pumping station up to the farm units. TSS of the water in KAC fluctuates temporally and spatially. Pumping stations components performance with respect to TSS such as the bar rack, the static and the traveling screens, the settling basins and the well were evaluated. The design of settling basins showed acceptable specifications of the existing structure; however, management and operation conditions are the main concerns affecting their performance. This study showed the screens work with low efficiency because of operation faults and lack of maintenance especially for the traveling screen. Distribution network affects adversely the water’s TSS because of lack of flushing which enables sediments removal from the network, and prevents suspension process for the piled up sediments inside the network pipes. This study suggested using special points of low elevations in the network to flush piled up sediment out of the network. Finally, this study showed the flushing procedure the Jordan Valley Authority staff should take for cleaning the distribution network.     

Modeling a Rotation Supply System in a Pilot Pressurized Irrigation Network in the Jordan Valley, Jordan

Many farmers in the Jordan Valley have switchedfrom traditional surface irrigationto pressurized irrigation systems. Inorder for these pressurized irrigationmethods to be effective, farmers must have adequate flow andpressure at each FarmTurnout Assembly (FTA). No on-demandirrigation concept has yet been implemented inthe Jordan Valley, and the rotation concept is still in use today. The JordanValley Authority (JVA) is the agency responsiblefor the distribution of water to farmers in the Valley. JVA engineers wereused to implement the irrigation rotationschedule, without any attention being paid to itseffect on the pressure in the network. Using MS Excel, a computer spreadsheet model was createdto examine the effect of selected rotation on thepressure in the network. This model was called theTurnout Pressure Simulation Program (TPSP).The TPSP model was used to map and identifyfarms that will incur pressure problems with any of the selected rotation schedules. This modelwas tested in the northern part of a pilotpressurized irrigation network known as TO2,and included 131 irrigated farm units (400 ha)located in Adassiyeh at the northern end of the Jordan Valley. The TPSP model was also usedto study illegal openings and the effect of these on the pressure in the network. The effect of four, eight, and 12 illegal openings was studied for a selectedrotation schedule, and an average reduction in pressure of 12%, 30%, and 44% was noted compared to when there were no illegal openings.     

Chitosan Coatings Containing Mentha spicata Essential Oil and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle for Shelf Life Extension of Rainbow Trout Fillets

ABSTRACT

The objective of the current study was to determine the effects of chitosan (CH) coatings containing Mentha spicata essential oil (MSO; 0.2 and 0.4%) and zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO; 0.2 and 0.4%) on chemical (total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and peroxide value (PV)), microbial (total viable count, psychrotrophic count, Pseudomonas spp., and Enterobacteriaceae) and sensory (odor, color, and overall acceptability) properties of raw rainbow trout fillets during 14 days of refrigerated storage. Final microbial population of CH + MSO 0.4% + ZnO 0.4% and CH + MSO 0.4% + ZnO 0.2% retarded approximately 3–5 log CFU/g as compared to control groups (P < 0.05). At the end of storage time in control samples, TVB-N, TBARS, and PV reached 49.3 mg N/100 g, 3.31 mg malonaldehyde/kg, and 2.04 meq peroxide/kg lipid, while the values for the treated samples with MSO (0.2 and 0.4%) in combination with ZnO (0.2 and 0.4%) remained lower than 25 mg N/100 g, 2 mg malonaldehyde/kg, and 1.1 meq peroxide/kg lipid, respectively. The results indicate a potential use of CH coating containing MSO and ZnO as an effective type of antimicrobial packaging to maintain quality of rainbow trout fillets.