APPLICATION OF DRIP IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY FOR

SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) PRODUCTION

CURLS VINCENT F. AGANON

An Undergraduate Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the Department of Agricultural

Engineering, College of Engineering, Central Luzon State University,
Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement
Of the Degree of

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS

ENGINEERING
(AB Land and Water Resource Engineering)

DECEMBER 2022
 ACCEPTANCE SHEET

This undergraduate thesis entitled “APPLICATION OF DRIP IRRIGATION

TECHNOLOGY FOR SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.).” prepared and
submitted by CURLS VINCENT F. AGANON, in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL
AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGIEERING (LAND AND WATER RESOURCE
ENGINEERING, is hereby accepted:

MARVIN M. CINENSE, Ph.D GLORIA N. RAMOS, Ms.C

Member, Advisory committee Member, Advisory Committee

______________________ ______________________
Date Signed Date Signed

ROLDAN T. QUITOS, Ms.C

Chair, Advisory Committee

_____________________
Date Signed

Accepted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS
ENGINEERING (AB LAND AND WATER RESOURCE ENGINEERING:

ELMAR M. VILLOTA, Ph.D

Chair, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

____________________
Date Signed

THEODY B. SAYCO, Ph.D

______________________
Date Signed
 INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is a member of the family Asteraceae that

include daisies and chamomile. It is locally known as “Mirasol”. The varieties mostly

used in the country are the orange sunflower with black center and red sunflower. In the

year 2022, the total world production of sunflower seeds accounted for 56,072,746 MT.

Largest producers of sunflower include Russian Federation, Ukraine, Argentina, and

United States of America where Russian Federation and Ukraine accounted for about

50% of world’s total sunflower production (Atlas, 2022).

In the Philippines, sunflowers are introduced by Central Luzon State University

(CLSU) who is a leading institution that works on sunflower research and one of the

pioneers who spearheaded the research and development of production and management

practices of growing sunflowers. In fact, it was recently becoming very popular

especially on social media due to its magnificent scenery that is pleasing to the eye. In

2019, due to the burgeoning of sunflower research activities it eventually scored a

breakthrough in sunflower research and development.

Beyond the aesthetic sceneries that sunflower gardens provide lies the true economic values

of sunflowers. High quality edible oil can be extracted from sunflowers that contain linoleic

acid known as Omega-6 fatty that is essential for a healthy diet. Reviews also revealed that

sunflowers are also a good source of biomass for the production of biodiesel and fiber for

paper production. Sunflower meal can be processed into flour or a major source of protein in

preparation of feed in livestock and poultry and the leaves can be used as forage for animals.

The seeds can be processed into snack food and by-products can be used to make organic

fertilizer.
 An effective irrigation system will evenly distribute water to the soil and keep it

moist enough for plant growth and harvesting without wasting water, eroding the soil, or

affecting the water quality. Areas with limited water resources should strongly consider

water management. Water should be managed carefully, especially while growing crops,

to enhance productivity and net revenue (Water Resources Management Overview:

Development News, Research, Data, n.d.). Crop yield and production are greatly affected

by water application. A loss in agricultural yield and quality may result from improper

practice. It does not only provide a response to the question of when to irrigate, but also

provides an estimate of the amount of water that should be applied to maximize crop

potential (Martin, 2016).

A common method of water application is through drip irrigation technology and

it has recently gained popularity and acceptability. Since water is essential for achieving

desired yield levels, its application method and timing are crucial for boosting yield level.

It also aids in conserving water and allows greater efficiency of water use in location with

limited water supply. In line with the high value commercial and horticultural crops,

optimal irrigation levels with the right method would help in boosting the economic yield

as well as water usage efficiency in various field crops, including sunflower crop

(Kidasiddappa, 2019).

Drip irrigation technology offers a precise control that growers would need to

meet the market requirement and it has the potential to increase yield and ensure the

quality of sunflower plants, specifically the seeds. Drip irrigation in sunflower farming

has also been found to substantially increase plant height, stem diameter, head diameter,

leaves weight per plant, head weight per plant, seeds weight per head, seed yield, and

seed oil. Advance technique and technology would help to achieve optimum crop

productivity. Irrigation management plan is also highly required for improving the water
use efficiency and optimum performance of the sunflower (Ranjan et al., 2020).

Statement of the problem

The most common issue and problem faced by sunflower farmers is water

shortage during production, since sunflowers are usually grown during the dry season.

Water may reduce crop yield and quality. Watts (2012) found that water shortage reduces

crop yield. Inefficient water use causes waste, preventing sustainable crop production

(Valdez, 2016). Unfortunately, many farmers misinterpret the benefits of irrigating

sunflowers and use excessive water. Such applications may cause plant lodging. We can't

grow sunflowers on irrigated land because it's for rice. With this, growers' labor costs and

farm inputs will rise, requiring a large investment, especially now that electric and fuel

like diesel are expensive.

Objective of the Study

The main objective of the study is to evaluate application effects of drip irrigation

technology in sunflower production. Specifically, it aims to:

1. Design and install drip irrigation system for sunflower production;

2. Evaluate the effect of drip irrigation technology on growth and yield parameters

in terms of physical properties such as plant height, number of leaves, sunflower

head diameter, sunflower head weight, and crop yield;

3. Evaluate the water productivity of drip irrigation system and conventional using

data logger.
 4. Perform simple profitability analysis of the technology.

Significance of the study

In the Philippines, sunflowers are mainly irrigated using a furrow and basin

irrigation method which is considered the oldest method of applying water on croplands.

However, these irrigation methods have the lowest water use efficiency compared to drip

irrigation technology. Drip irrigation is the most effective method for delivering nutrients

and water to crops. Each plant receives the accurate amount of water and nutrients

needed and delivered straight to the root zone of the plant at the right time for optimum

growth. Water applications are directly to the plant root zone which results in better weed

control and significant water saving. Drip irrigation enables the efficient use of limited

water with higher water use efficiency (Kidasiddappa, 2019).

When drip irrigation is used properly to grow sunflowers, it will help solve small

problems before they grow into bigger ones. Researchers and growers will save money
with less labor and operating cost in using drip irrigation technology without

compromising the quality and production of sunflower. Additional income will be

generated by efficiently using the water available with minimal losses during irrigation.

Scope and Limitation of the study

The study will primarily focus on the design, installation and use of drip irrigation

technology for sunflower production and will be based on the field layout and source of

water. The drip irrigation system will be evaluated by identifying the water productivity

and effects and response of sunflowers based on growth and yield parameters such as

plant height, number of leaves, sunflower head diameter, and sunflower head weight to

determine the water application efficiency. The variety of seeds that will be used is CL-

FS1 that is readily available at University Research Center-Central Luzon State

University (URC-CLSU). Soil analysis will be performed for the calibration of soil

moisture sensor as basis for the time when to irrigate.

Time and Place of the Study

The study will be conducted at the field laboratory of University Research Center-

Central Luzon State University (URC-CLSU) in December 2022 to February 2023 since

sunflowers were grown during this season. Data analysis will be performed and done at

Central Luzon State University, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Sunflower

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) that belongs to the family Asteraceae is an

important agricultural crop in most sunflower-growing countries. Sunflower is one of the

few crops species that originated in North America by the native American tribe who

domesticated the plant. The name Helianthus was derived from helios (The Sun) and

anthos (A Flower). Its name also implies its characteristics from the shape of the flower

head which looks like the sun or from the fact that the flower tends to move towards the

sun as the sun crosses the sky as cited by Fernández-Luqueño (2014).

A wide range of uses of sunflower have been reported throughout the world such

as ornamental plant, medicinal, alimentary, feedstock, fodder, dyes for textile industry,

body painting, decorations, and so on. Sunflower species are allelopathic in nature. On

the other hand, sunflower is well known by its phytoremediation potential, thus it can be

speculated that the good tolerance of sunflower towards pollutants coupled with an

increased accumulation/degradation capacity might contribute to an efficient removal of

pollutants from soil and water also reported by Fernández-Luqueño (2014).

The flower head of a sunflower possesses a large inflorescence or the

flowering head that is also often used to depict the sun. The plant is characterized by

having a rough and hairy stem, broad and rough leaves, and circular heads of flowers. It

grows to a height of about 5 to 12 feet and has coarsely broad leaves (World Atlas, 2017).

It is grown for its edible oil and fruits both for human and livestock consumption.
Sunflower is a crop of choice for farmers due to its wider adaptability, high yield

potential, shorter duration and profitability (Boras, 2016).

Among the sunflower germplasm in Central Luzon State University (CLSU), CL-

SF1 is yellow in color and has the largest head diameter measuring 32.33 cm (Aquino,

2021). Aquino also reported that the head length in diameter had the highest and positive

direct effect with yield per kilogram per plant and a good parameter for selection in

sunflower crop improvement. Morphological characteristics traits of CL-SF1 have leaf

wing (none or very weakly expressed), stem color (green), the shape of seeds (broad

ovoid), and hairy structure (strongly expressed).

Cultural Practices on Sunflower

All cultural practices that are guided and recommended by region using the

Central Luzon State University (CLSU) sunflower production are followed to reach the

optimum quality of the crop.

Hybrid/Seed Selection

Growers must choose sunflower hybrids each season. Each producer should

choose hybrids that thrive in their region. Yield, maturity, dry down, standability,

herbicide tolerance, and pest and disease resistance should be considered. CL-SF1

sunflower seeds from URC-CLSU will be used in this study (URC-CLSU).

Seedbed Preparation and Planting

The location of the testing area will be at University Research Center-Central

Luzon State University (URC-CLSU) in the corner of I.N Apostol Street and S.H

Escudero Street. The land will be thoroughly prepared using a four-wheel tractor attached

with a rotavator to pulverize and obtain good soil tilth. Furrowing will be done using the

furrower attached to the tractor set to 0.6 meters distance.

Weed Control

Thinning and grass removal will be done daily to remove unnecessary plants to

make room for the growth of sunflowers using rot-ridger depending on the height of the

weeds.

Installation of Mulching

Polyethylene plastic mulch will be installed in each hill and will be then covered

by soil at the edge of mulch to avoid removal from attachment.

Mulch Holing

Improvised empty sardines can be utilized in making holes in the mulch with a

distance of 12 inches.

Planting of Sunflower
 Direct seeding will be used in the study. Each hole will be sowed with 2-3

sunflower seeds and will be tined to one plant afterwards. An initial irrigation will be

done after the seed sowing. The distance will be 12 inches per crop.

Fertilization Application

Fertilizer application will be done during the first and second irrigation.

Recommended rate of fertilizer composed of 120-60-30 will be applied on both

conventional and drip irrigation systems.

Pest Management

Appropriate control measures will be used to manage insect and pest

manifestations. Application of pesticide will only be done once there is a sign of pest

infestation on the plant.

Harvesting, Drying, and Threshing

Harvesting will be done when the sunflowers receptacle head turned into

brownish-yellow or when the flower reached its post-harvest maturity. It will be done by

cutting the sunflower head using sharp pruning shear. The heads afterwards will be

sundried for 2-3 days before threshing. Threshing will be done by rubbing the heads with

an improvised tool.

Crop Water Use Efficiency

Since water is the life line for accruing desired yield levels, its time and

application and method of application plays an important role in increasing the yield

levels besides saving water. Abdul et al., (2015) studied the effect of drip and furrow

irrigation systems on sunflower yield and water use efficiency in dry areas of Pakistan
and found drip irrigation to produce 26% more yield with 56% less water and thus water

use efficiency 3 times higher over furrow irrigation. Elijah et al., (2019) discovered that

growth parameters decreased with a decrease in applied irrigation water. Crop water use

efficiency is the measure of a crop system's capacity to convert water into plant biomass.

Crop Water Productivity

Water productivity has been given different definitions by different authors, often

according to the scale of the plant, plot of land or watershed they were investigating or

the purpose of their study. Laza (2017) defined water productivity as the physical mass of

production or the economic value of production measured against gross inflow, net

inflow, depleted water, process depleted water, or available water. In a broader sense,

productivity is a ratio between a unit of output and a unit of input. Here, the term water

productivity is used exclusively to denote the amount or value of product over volume or

value of water depleted or diverted. The value of the product might be expressed in

different terms (biomass, grain, money). Water productivity is usually estimated as the

amount of agricultural output produced per unit of water consumed in Tiruye, (2022).
 Measured amount of irrigation water and rainfall (if there is) and that would be

the total water input.

Crop Water Requirement

Productivity of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is strongly regulated by the

availability of water and greatest yield losses occur when water shortage occurs at

flowering. Sunflowers have deep roots and extract water from depths not reached by most

other crops. Sunflower has an effective root depth around 4 feet. Research found out that

sunflower is much more capable of extracting water than corn from equal root zone

volume. Seasonal water used by sunflowers averages about 19 inches under irrigated

conditions. Sunflowers produce moderate yields with as little as 300 mm of rain per year,

while 500-700 mm are required for better yields (FAO, n.d.)

Water Scarcity

Water scarcity can broadly be understood as the lack of access to adequate

quantities of water for human and environmental uses. It is increasingly being recognized

in many countries as a serious and growing concern. Before, the issue of water scarcity

was considered as one of the suite issues that make up climate change. However, in the

present, just like carbon emission, it is fast acquiring its own identity and demanding

serious attention from risk to the people and environment UNICEF (2022).
 Raymundo (2015) explained that one of the most important life sustaining natural

resources that a country should continually protect, preserve and enhance is water. All

forms of life depend on water. The production of food and raw materials by the

agricultural sector require huge amounts of water as a major input. A severe water

shortage will lead to a deterioration in the quality of life as well as economic losses for

firms heavily dependent on water as a major input for production.

According to a study by Inocencio & Barker (2018), much has been written about

the emerging water crisis in the Philippines. There are many who believe that the solution

to the problem lies in improving the efficiency of water management in agriculture. There

is a good reason to believe this as agriculture accounts for more than 80% of the total

water use. The key issues now facing agricultural water development in the Philippines

are water scarcity, how to increase the productivity of existing water resources, and how

to respond to climate change. The Philippines as a country has been marked by extreme

weather. The farming community knows this well.

Agriculture in particular accounts for 70% water withdrawals in the and is

foreseen to be endangered being one of the main sectors that uses fresh water the most

(Randa, 2015).

Data Logger

The data logger is an essential instrument for collecting and analyzing

experimental data, with sensors and probes that may respond to factors outside the range
of most traditional equipment. Badhiye (2011). Data loggers will measure water

productivity in this study. This device will ease sunflower producers' manual data

collection.

Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is the slow but frequent application of small amounts of water

cited by (Zhu et al., 2013). Among irrigation methods, drip irrigation is receiving better

appreciation, acceptance, adaptation, and plays an important role in saving water in water

scarce areas. It enables the efficient use of limited water with higher water use efficiency.

Optimum irrigation levels with suitable methods would help in enhancing the economic

yield as well as water use efficiency in many field crops including sunflower crop in line

with high value commercial and horticultural crops (Abdul, 2015 and Malamasuri et al.,

2019). Water is delivered at or near the root zone of plants, drop by drop. It is a very

efficient method of applying water and nutrients to the crocs. For many crops, the

conversion from sprinkler to drip irrigation can reduce water usage by 50% (Lamon Jr., et

al., 2012). If managed properly, this method can be the most water efficient irrigation

method, drip irrigation is often combined with plastic mulch, further reducing

evaporation, and is also a means of delivery of fertilizer. This process is known as

fertigation.

Drip irrigation System Design Procedure

 Agulto, 2015 enumerated the basic drip irrigation system design procedure

including its design requirements and equation to be used.

Requirements:

1. Field Size: Length and Width

2. Location of Water Source

3. Field Slope

4. System Layout

5. Lateral: Length and Diameter

6. Manifold: Length and Diameter

7. Mainline: Length and Diameter

8. Dripper: Type, Average discharge and average operating pressure

Equations to be used:

1. Water Productivity

𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑌𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑, 𝑘𝑔

(1)
𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑, 𝑚3

2. Water Saving (%)

(𝑊 − 𝑊 )
𝑓 𝑑 × 100 (2)
𝑊𝑆 (%) = 𝑊

𝑓
 where:

WS(%) = Water Saving (%)

3 −1
Wf = Total water used in conventional method of irrigation (𝑚 ℎ𝑎 )

3 −1
Wd = Total water used in drip irrigation method (𝑚 ℎ𝑎 )

3. Friction loss in Mainlines

10 𝑄
1.852 (3)
𝐻 =
𝑓 1.21×10 𝐿(
𝑐)
4.87
�
�

where:

Hf = total friction loss in pipe with the same flow throughout, m

L = length of pipe, m

Q = total discharge, L/s

C = pipe roughness coefficient

145 to 150 for plastic pipe 120 for aluminum pipe with couplers and new or

coated steel pipe

D = inside diameter of pipe, mm

4. Friction Loss in Laterals and Manifolds

ℎ𝑓 = 𝐻𝑓 × 𝐹 (4)
 where:

hf = friction loss in the lateral, m

Hf = total friction loss in pipe with the same flow throughout, m

F = correction factor depending on the number of outlets in the lateral or manifold

5. Pump and Power Selection

𝑄× (5)
𝑃 =
𝑇𝐷𝐻
360 ×
𝐸𝑝
 where:

P = power requirement,

kW Q = system capacity,

m3 /h

TDH = total dynamic head against which the pump is working, m

Ep = pump efficiency from the pump performance chart

Advantages of Drip Irrigation

1. Lower volume water source can be used because trickle irrigation may require

less than half of the water needed for sprinkler irrigation.

2. Lower operating pressures mean reduced energy costs for pumping.

3. High levels of water use efficiency are achieved because plants can be supplied

with more precise amounts of water.

4. Disease pressure may be less because plant foliage remains dry.

5. Labor and operating costs are generally less, and extensive automation is possible.

6. Water applications are made directly to the plant root zone. No applications are

made between row or other nonproductive areas, resulting in better weed control

and significant water saving.

7. Field operations, such as harvesting, can continue during irrigation because the

areas between rows remain dry.

8. Fertilizers can be applied efficiently through the drip system.

9. Irrigation can be done under wide range of field conditions.

10. Compared to sprinkler irrigation, soil erosion and nutrients leaching can be

reduced.
Disadvantages of Drip Irrigation

1. Initial investments costs per hectare may be higher than those of other irrigation

options.

2. Management requirements are somewhat higher. Delaying critical decisions may

cause irreversible crop damage.

3. Rodent, insect, and human damage to drip lines are potential sources of leaks.

4. Water filtration is necessary to prevent clogging of the small emitter holes.

5. Compared to sprinkler irrigation, water distribution in the soil is restricted.

METHODOLOGY

Conceptualization of the Study

Farmers worldwide are facing increasing pressure to utilize resources, particularly

water, more efficiently. Often, irrigating or placing water directly into the root zone of

the crop and minimizing evaporation is the goal of drip irrigation systems. Drip

irrigation will aid the use of water efficiently and increase the yield and quality of the

crop at the same time. The design for the drip irrigation system that will be used in the

study is based on the field layout and source of water along with the installation of the

system. Soil analysis by means of gravimetric method will be performed for the

calibration of soil 50% TAW as the basis on the time of irrigation. The materials needed

to establish the design for the drip irrigation system are locally available. By using drip

irrigation technology, we will be able to identify the response of sunflower production as

well as its effect on the yield parameters and with this we can compare the feasibility of

drip irrigation drip irrigation. As such, this will create a window of opportunity for

farmers to generate more product coming from sunflowers at a given short period of time

and make profit out of it.

 A simple profitability analysis will be performed to determine whether the drip

irrigation technology system is economically viable to the farmers and other stakeholders

who will be utilizing the system in the future. The conceptual framework of the study is

shown in Figure 1.

Conceptual Framework

This section introduces the study's conceptual framework as a guide in the

conduct of the study. The conceptual framework revolves around variables and their

relationships. Figure 1 shows the goal-achieving activities.

Figure 1. Conceptual framework of the Study

Flowchart of the Activities

 Figure 2. Flowchart of the Activities

Variety

The CL-SF1 variety recommended by the URC will be used in this study. It is

yellow in color and has the largest head diameter among other varieties measuring 22.33

cm (Aquino, 2021). Aquino also reported that the head length in diameter had the highest

and positive direct effect with yield per kilogram per plant and a good parameter for

selection in sunflower crop improvement. Morphological characteristics traits of CL-FS1

have leaf wing (none or very weakly expressed), stem color (green), the shape of seeds

(broad ovoid), and hairy structure (strongly expressed).

Land preparation

The field will be thoroughly prepared using a four-wheel tractor attached with a

rotavator to pulverize and obtain good soil tilth. Furrowing was done using the furrower

attached to the tractor set to 0.6 meters distance.

Planting

Direct seeding will be carried out in the study. Each hole will be sowed with 2-3

sunflower seeds and will be turned to one plant afterwards. The initial irrigation was done

after the seed sowing. The distance was 12 inches per crop.

Irrigation

Irrigation will be done based on the soil analysis . If the soil moisture reaches

50% total allowable water it is the time when to irrigate. It will be measured by the data

logger which will be installed on the conventional and drip irrigation system.

Fertilizer
 Fertilizer application was done manually by putting the fertilizer not so close on

the root of the sunflower. Recommended fertilizer formula, 120-60-30 by URC was used

in the study. Fertilizer application was done during the first and second irrigation.

Weed Control

Thinning and grass removal was done daily to remove unnecessary plants to make

room for the growth of sunflowers using rot-ridger depending on the height of the weeds.

Pest Management

Appropriate control measures were used to manage insect and pest

manifestations. Application of insecticide/pesticide was only done once there is a sign of

pest infestation on the plant.

Harvesting, Drying, and Threshing

Harvesting was done when the sunflowers receptacle head turned into brownish-

yellow or when the flower reached its post-harvest maturity. It was done by cutting the

sunflower head using sharp pruning shear. The heads afterwards were sundried for 2-3

days before threshing. Threshing was done by rubbing the heads with an improvised tool.

Data to be Gathered
 The study will also be focusing on sub-treatments wish are the effects of with

mulch and without mulch in the production of sunflower for both drip irrigation and

conventional practice.

Some of the growth and yield parameters to be measured and recorded were the

following:

Plant height and Number of leaves

Plant height and number of leaves were measured weekly starting from the day

after transplant until approximately one week before the harvest on both conventional and

drip irrigation systems. Number of leaves was manually counted and recorded weekly

Sunflower Head Diameter and Head Weight

Sunflower head diameter and head weight was measured right after the harvesting

using a tape measure for the head diameter and digital weighing scale for head weight on

both conventional and drip irrigation systems.

Crop yield

Crop yield was determined after the harvest of sunflower on both conventional

and drip irrigation systems. Average yield per hectare was calculated by multiplying the

average yield per square meter by conversion factor.

Irrigation Data

Depth and Volume of water to be applied

 The depth of water to be applied will be calculated and will be based on the root

zone depth of the sunflower. The volume of water to be applied will be monitored with

the help of a data logger. The summation of water used in the study will be calculated.

Data logger will be installed to monitor the water supplied in crops.

50% Total Allowable Water

The total allowable water in the soil will be measured using the parameters

include field capacity, wilting point, and root zone depth of sunflower.

Water productivity

The water productivity will be computed based on the crop yield in kilogram after

harvesting over the amount of water supplied in cubic meter for the whole production for

both drip irrigation system and conventional.

Water use efficiency

The main purpose of this is to assess the influence of the irrigation method and

the amount of water supplied on the sunflower yield and productivity. This will be

determined by yield of sunflower plant product per unit of irrigation water use

for both drip irrigation system and conventional.

Water saving

The water saving is the comparison of both drip irrigation system and

conventional based on how much water supplied on sunflower for the whole production.

Experimental Design Set-up

 The study will be composed of two (2) irrigation treatments as the main factor and

(2) sub-treatment with three (3) replicates provided in each treatment. Complete

Randomized Designed will be applied in the study. Nine (9) plots with dimensions of 1m

(width) by 6 m (length) will serve as the experimental unit for the study.

Main treatment - Irrigation (Drip Irrigation and Conventional)

Sub-treatment - Mulching (M1 will be the plot with mulch and M2 will be the plot

without mulch)

Replication - 3 replications

Irrigation treatments for the study are the following:

Where:

I1: Drip Irrigation at 50% TAW

This irrigation treatment is the application of drip irrigation technology in sunflower

production. Irrigation will be carried out based on the computed gravimetric method on soil
sample. It will be monitored by the installed data logger under drip irrigation system. If the
reading of the sensor of the data logger will be at 50% it is the time to replenish water in
the field.

I2: Control (Farmer’s practice)

It is the irrigation treatment under conventional or farmers practice. The common

method by the local farmers and growers is to dig at 2 inches deep to determine the time

of irrigation. If the soil is at 2 inches depth dry, it is the time to irrigate and replenish

water in the field.

Drip System Design

The design of the drip irrigation system will be based on the field layout and

source of water which is a solar powered pump. Drip irrigation system main line which
will be used in the study is HDPE pipe with 32 mm diameter and will be laid along the

length of experimental plots. The diameter of sub-lateral lines will be 25 mm and will be

placed perpendicular with the main line. The emitter spacing of the drip lines will be 50

cm following the plant spacing of sunflowers.

Figure 3. Drip System Design

Discharge

The discharge for the drip irrigation system was determined by placing three cups

(8oz) under the selected emitters and measuring the time to fill up each cup using a

stopwatch. The procedure will be repeated in every experimental plot. The volume of the

cup will be divided by the average time to obtain the average discharge of the system.

The average discharge for the farmers practice will be quantified by filling up 200 liters

of plastic container (repeated 3 times) while measuring the time to fill up. The volume of

the container will be divided by the average time to obtain the average discharge of the
system.

Profitability Analysis of Drip Irrigation Technology

The profitability of the drip irrigation technology will be evaluated using cost

benefit analysis (CBA). The installation of the drip irrigation system will involve

gathering input along with the associated costs of the system construction including

labor, supplies, repairs, as well as variable costs like fertilizer and other expenses. To

estimate the changes in the farmers income and expenses as a result of utilizing the tool,

partial budgeting will also be used.

For the systems cost analysis, the fixed and variable costs will be determined. The

sum of the sorters component costs is used to compute the investment cost.

Fixed costs are expenses that are not affected by the volume. Interest and

depreciation on utility costs and investments are fixed costs.

Consideration

𝐴𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 = 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 (ℎ𝑎)

ℎ𝑟/ℎ𝑎
× 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟

Computation for Fixed Cost

a. Depreciation Cost

𝐷 = 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 − 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

𝑈𝑠𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑥 𝐴𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐻𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠
 b. Interest on Investment

𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 + 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡

𝐼= ( 2 )(
𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙 )
ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠

c. Total Fixed Cost

(8)

𝑇𝐹𝐶 = 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 + 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝐼𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

Computation for Variable Cost

a. Repair and Maintenance

𝑅𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 (10%)

𝑅𝑀 = 𝐼𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 (𝑃ℎ𝑝) × 100

(9)

(10)
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
b. Fertilizer 𝑜𝑓
𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛
c. Operator 𝑂𝐶 = 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑑 × 𝑤𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑔 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦
Cost
(11)

d. Total Variable Cost (Php/hr) Total

cost of
Drip
𝑇𝐶𝑂 = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 + 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 Irrigatio
n
Technol
 ogy

𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑇𝐶𝑂 = ×
(12) (13)
ℎ𝑎 ℎ𝑟 𝑁𝑒
𝑅𝑂𝐼 (%) = × 100
𝑇𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔
𝑇𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑜

Return of Investment

(14)

Payback Period

𝑃𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 = 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡

𝑁𝑒𝑡 𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒
(15)
 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

This study will test the efficiency of the drip irrigation technology in sunflower

production by comparing the sunflower plant height, number of leaves, head diameter,

sunflower head weight, and crop yield on both conventional and drip irrigation systems.

Complete randomized design will be used in this study.

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATION

SUMMARY

The summary of this study that includes the introduction, methodology, and

results of the study will be discussed in this section.

CONCLUSIONS

The results/findings of this study including all the conclusions that can be

obtained from the experiment will be analyzed and stated in this section. Moreover, this

section shall answer the objectives of the study.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The researcher shall state recommendations upon the course of the study to

further develop its content for future studies.

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