Clogging, Scale & Biofilm: Keeping the Line Open
The three occlusion mechanisms (mineral scale, biofilm, particulate), why silica and Part-A/Part-B precipitation clog emitters, filtration and line-flush practice, and a dripline maintenance SOP that protects the uniformity you just measured.
A clog is a uniformity failure in slow motion
Distribution uniformity is not a fixed number — it decays across a crop as emitters partially occlude. A zone that tested at 0.92 DU at transplant can drift below 0.80 by mid-flower purely from scale and biofilm, and because it happens gradually you will not see it until plants diverge. Understanding the three occlusion mechanisms lets you prevent the decay instead of chasing ragged canopies.
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