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1st Int. Transborder Conf. of the Timor Island: Timor %u2013 Science without borderDili, 7-8 May 2025173Modeling Water Infiltration in Furrow Irrigation Using DRBEMMaria Lobo*, Petrus D.L. Moensaku and Waltrudis A. AsaFakultas Sains dan Teknik, Universitas Nusa Cendana, Jl. Adisucipto, Indonesia*Corresponding author: maria_lobo@staf.undana.ac.idAbstractThis study introduces a robust numerical approach for modeling water infiltration in furrow irrigation systems by applying the Dual Reciprocity Boundary Element Method (DRBEM). Specifically tailored for Pima clay loam soil%u2014characterized by low infiltration capacity and high capillarity%u2014this research addresses the pressing need for efficient water management strategies in arid regions such as East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The complex behavior of unsaturated flow in this type of soil makes it challenging for traditional methods like the Finite Difference or Finite Element Methods to provide accurate predictions. By transforming Richards' nonlinear equation into a modified Helmholtz equation, DRBEM allows for more efficient computation, emphasizing boundary discretization and reducing domain complexity. The model was implemented using MATLAB, simulating moisture content (%u03b8) at various spatial points with different levels of boundary discretization. Interior points were held constant while the number of boundary points (N) varied from 40 to 320. The results demonstrate a clear trend: increasing the number of boundary elements significantly enhances model precision by capturing subtle infiltration patterns. However, beyond N = 200%u2013320, improvements become marginal, indicating an optimal trade-off between computational efficiency and accuracy. Findings from multiple simulations and graphical evaluations confirm that DRBEM effectively models the gradual decrease of water content with soil depth and horizontal distance from the irrigation source. This nuanced understanding is crucial for developing optimized furrow designs and irrigation schedules. Ultimately, this study underscores the potential of DRBEM as a powerful tool in agricultural engineering, offering a scalable and accurate method for water infiltration modeling in challenging soil conditions and contributing to sustainable irrigation practices in waterscarce environments.Keywords: DRBEM, Furrow Irrigation, Numerical Simulation, Pima Clay Loam, Water Infiltration.