COMPOSITION OF CLAY AND SAND IN POROUS CERAMIC EMITTERS FOR DRIP LINE OF SUBSURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM
This research objective was to develop the best composition of clay and sand for prous ceramic emitter by considering its wetting pattern characteristic. This research had done at Hangar of Soil and Water Laboratory, Agricultural Engineering Study Program, Agricultural Faculty of Sriwijaya University. The main ingredients for ceramic emitter are mixture of sand and clay in this study. Clay material has function as cementing agent, whereas sand has function as strengthening agent. Randomized Block Design had used in this research. Clay and sand composition are as follows: P1 (1.5 part of clay and 1 part of sand), P2 (1.25 part of clay and 1 part of sand), P3 (1 part of clay and 1 part of sand), P4 (1 part of clay and 1.25 part of sand) and P5 (1 part of clay and 1.5 part of sand). Each treatment has three replications. Clay and sand composition for developing porous ceramic emitter has effect on horizontal wetting direction (H), vertical direction (Va and Vb) and wetting ration below drip line (H/Vb). Emitter with 1 part of clay and 1.5 part of sand composition (P5) showed the highest distance in term of horizontal direction wetting, vertical wetting above drip line and below drip line with magnitude 13.95 cm, 10.52 cm and 13.21 cm respectively. However, it had the lowest ratio of horizontal wetting distance toward wetting distance below drip line (H/Vb) with average value of 1.06. The increase of sand composition only had effect on wetting ration below drip line (H/Vb). Results of simulation showed that all treatments had horizontal wetting toward vertical wetting higher than 1.0 as one of criteria to indicate relatively good wetting pattern. In term of wetting width in horizontal direction, the best treatment is (P5) having composition 1 part of clay and 1.5 part of sand.
Ceramic Emitter, Drip Line, Horizontal Wetting, Vertical Wetting, Vertical Wetting Ratio.