|
Abstract
Insufficiency
of irrigation water has been a major constraint to crop production in
the Philippines especially when rainfall is below the 2,000 mm annual
average. Collection of rainfall in reservoirs of various sizes is a promising
option to minimize drought damage. However, evaporation rates of 287,280
and 655,280 liters per 1,000 sq. m. reservoir area per month in the rainy
and dry seasons, respectively, limit the economic value of reservoirs.
The use of evaporation suppressants can significantly improve the value
of reservoirs.
The
general objectives of this project were to:1)develop more effective evaporation
suppressants using locally available components such as coconut oil derivatives;
2) evaluate existing and newly developed evaporation suppressants in the
field; and 3) develop appropriate technology transfer packages for promoting
the use of the evaporation suppressant in reservoirs (including lowland
rice fields, fishponds, and potable water reservoirs.
Two
types of hydroxyethers from locally available coconut fatty alcohols and
hydrolyzed beef fat from animal sources were prepared in Study 1. The
two hydroxyethers were: a) cetyl monoether of ethylene glycol; and b)
stearyl monoether of glycerol.
Among
the evaporation suppressants tested in Study 2, monooctadecanoxy propanetriol
or glycerol monostearyl ether showed the best results in evaporation suppression
both in paste form and with ethanol form.
Under
Study 3, prototype extension materials of popular forms were made such
as brochures, comics and poster. Lecture video production of the evaporation
suppressant technology was also produced.
A
commercial version of the evaporation suppressant was produced in a related
project funded by the Department of Agriculture.
Further
research on evaporation suppressants was recommended.
Source:
Milagros M. Peralta; Moises A. Dorado; Maximo W. Baradas (deceased). Final
Report by the Philippine Rice Research Institute to PCARRD. January 2000.
For more
information, please contact PCARRD. |
