EFFECTS OF ORGANIC ACIDS ON SALT PRECIPITATION IN DRIP EMITTERS AND SOIL
Three organic acid compounds were evaluated for preventing precipitation of salts and/or removing salts in 
drip irrigation systems and soils. Three experiments were conducted to measure drip emitter clogging, ponded infiltration 
and soil salinity change. All acid compounds included maleic acid, a form of dicarboxylic acid. The first organic acid was 
composed of polymaleic acid, maleic acid, surfactant blend, and inert ingredients. The second was an anionic polymer 
with maleic acid as the organic acid. The third included a soap and was a 1:1 stoichiometric equivalent of an organic 
carboxylic acid and an amine base. The first and third organic acid significantly reduced drip emitter clogging compared 
to a water-only treatment. The third organic acid was significantly better than the first for reducing clogging. The third 
organic acid and water-only treatments significantly reduced soil sodicity below the drip irrigation laterals during the 
study. Ponded infiltration tests with organic acid in water were also conducted. All three organic acid treatments produced 
significantly lower infiltration rates than the water-only treatment. This may have occurred because salt precipitates in 
the soil were removed and pores were clogged.