The simulation model of rainwater utilization management to fulfill the water requirement of corn feed plants in the slope area of hills: A Case study of corn feed cultivation for the planting period from March to June in Benteng Gajah village, South Sulawesi, East Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract Water is a basic need of living things. When its population increased, its water needs also increased. The purpose of this research was to construct an optimal model of rainwater utilization management (RWUM) in the slope area of hills: Case study at corn feed (Zea mays L.) plants (CFP) in Benteng Gajah village, South Sulawesi, Eastern Indonesia with simulation method. The data supported in this simulation were: Water need of the CFP during May to June 2019; The average yearly rainfall data of the village; The topography data of the CFP sample location. There were three simulation scenarios of the RWUM model. Those scenarios were differentiated by altitude zones. The first scenario located in the lower zone, the second scenario located in the middle zone, and the third located in the upper zone. The study showed that the optimal RWUM model was the third scenarios. The cost differences of the scenarios mainly lied on the operational cost of pumping, the RWUM infrastructure maintenance, number of employee working hours, and fuel cost of pumping. The ratio of the estimated operational cost among scenario I, scenario II, and scenario III respectively were 9:5:1.