How to evaluate the usefulness of a recursive algorithm in Java?

BACKGROUND:

I am trying to learn algorithms and java. Running a 320x320 mesh, 100 samples runs 5 times faster than the non-recursive Quick-Union implementation. However, above the grid above about 400x400 (160,000 sites), I have errors.

I understand that java is not optimized for tail-recursion (not to mention recursion without a tail). However, I believe that there are times when a recursive algorithm can be selected from a non-recursive version, since it can be faster and safer.

Please keep in mind, I am just studying this stuff and my code may not be optimal. However, I turn it on to better understand my question.

QUESTION

What is the evaluation process when a recursive algorithm can be safely used in a Java application (given that it works faster than a non-recursive alternative)?

UNION RECOURSE STATISTICS

(note: 2x Ratio is simply the previous current execution time divided by the previous duration)

|-----------|-----------|------------|-------------|-------------|
|     N     | Recursive | Recursive  | Quick-Union | Quick-Union |
|  (sites)  |    time   |  2x Ratio  |    time     |  2x Ratio   |
|===========|===========|============|=============|=============|
|     196   |      35   |            |      42     |             |
|     400   |      25   |    0.71    |      44     |     1.05    |
|     784   |      45   |    1.80    |      46     |     1.05    |
|    1600   |     107   |    2.38    |      86     |     1.87    |
|    3136   |      48   |    0.45    |     113     |     1.31    |
|    6400   |      75   |    1.56    |     303     |     2.68    |
|   12769   |     183   |    2.44    |     858     |     2.83    |
|   25600   |     479   |    2.62    |    2682     |     3.13    |
|   51076   |    1253   |    2.62    |    8521     |     3.18    |
|  102400   |    4730   |    3.77    |   27256     |     3.20    |
|-----------|-----------|------------|-------------|-------------|

RECURSION CLASS

public class PercolateRecur implements Percolation {
  // the site has been opened for percolation but is not connected
  private final int OPEN = 0;
  // the site is not open for percolation (default state)
  private final int BLOCKED = -1;
  // the matrix that will be percolated. Values default to `BLOCKED = -1`
  // two sites that are connected together share the same value.
  private int[][] matrix;
  // the size of the sides of the matrix (1 to n)
  private int size;
  // whether water can flow from top to bottom of the matrix
  private boolean percolated;

  public PercolateRecur(int N) {
    percolated = false;
    size = N;
    initMatrix();
  }

  /**
   * initializes the matrix to default values
   */
  private void initMatrix() {
    matrix = new int[size+1][size+1];
    // open up the top of the matrix
    for (int x = 1; x < size+1; x++)
      matrix[x][0] = x;

    // set all values in matrix to closed
    for (int x = 1; x < size+1; x++)
      for (int y = 1; y < size+1; y++)
        matrix[x][y] = BLOCKED;
  }

  /**
   * indicates site (x,y) is a valid coordinate
   * @param x x-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param y y-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @return boolean
   */
  private boolean isValid(int x, int y) {
    return x > 0 && x < size+1 && y > 0 && y < size+1;
  }

  /**
   * returns value of site above (x,y)
   * @param x x-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param y y-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @return int value
   */
  private int above(int x, int y) {
    if (y <= 0)
      return BLOCKED;
    else
      return matrix[x][y-1];
  }

  /**
   * returns value of site below (x,y)
   * @param x x-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param y y-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @return int value
   */
  private int below(int x, int y) {
    if (y >= size)
      return BLOCKED;
    else
      return matrix[x][y+1];
  }

  /**
   * returns value of site left of (x,y)
   * @param x x-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param y y-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @return int value
   */
  private int left(int x, int y) {
    if (x <= 0)
      return BLOCKED;
    return matrix[x-1][y];
  }

  /**
   * returns value of site right of (x,y)
   * @param x x-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param y y-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @return int value
   */
  private int right(int x, int y) {
    if (x >= size)
      return BLOCKED;
    else
      return matrix[x+1][y];
  }

  /**
   * connects (x,y) to open adjacent sites
   * @param x x-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param y y-portion of x/y coordinate
   */
  private void connect(int x, int y) {
    if (isFull(x,y))
      return;
    if (above(x,y) > OPEN)
      matrix[x][y] = above(x, y);
    else if (below(x, y) > OPEN)
      matrix[x][y] = below(x, y);
    else if (left(x, y) > OPEN)
      matrix[x][y] = left(x, y);
    else if (right(x, y) > OPEN)
      matrix[x][y] = right(x, y);
    else if (matrix[x][y] == BLOCKED)
      matrix[x][y] = OPEN;
  }

  /**
   * recursively connects open sites in same group as (x,y)
   * @param x x-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param y y-portion of x/y coordinate
   */
  private void expand(int x, int y) {
    if (!isFull(x, y))
      return;
    if (above(x,y) == OPEN)
      openWith(x,y-1, matrix[x][y]);
    if (below(x,y) == OPEN)
      openWith(x,y+1, matrix[x][y]);
    if (left(x,y) == OPEN)
      openWith(x-1,y, matrix[x][y]);
    if (right(x,y) == OPEN)
      openWith(x+1,y, matrix[x][y]);
  }

  /**
   * opens a site (x,y) on the matrix
   * @param x x-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param y y-portion of x/y coordinate
   */
  public void open(int x, int y) {
    if (percolated || !isValid(x, y))
      return;
    connect(x, y);
    expand(x, y);
  }

  /**
   * opens a site with given value
   * @param x x-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param y y-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param val value of point
   */
  private void openWith(int x, int y, int val) {
    matrix[x][y] = val;
    open(x, y);
  }

  /**
   * Returns whether site (x,y) is open
   * @param x x-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param y y-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @return true if not blocked
   */
    public boolean isOpen(int x, int y) {
    return matrix[x][y] > BLOCKED;
  }

  /**
   * Returns whether site (x,y) is full (connected to the top)
   * @param x x-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param y y-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @return true if is full
   */
  public boolean isFull(int x, int y) {
    return matrix[x][y] > OPEN;
  }

  /**
   * indicates whether site is blocked (not open)
   * @param x x-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @param y y-portion of x/y coordinate
   * @return true if blocked
   */
  public boolean isBlocked(int x, int y) {
    return matrix[x][y] == BLOCKED;
  }

  /**
   * indicates whether water can flow from top to bottom of matrix
   * @return true if matrix is percolated
   */
  public boolean percolates() {
    for (int x = 1; x <= size; x++)
      if (matrix[x][size] > OPEN)
        percolated = true;
    return percolated;
  }

  /**
   * prints the matrix to the command line
   */
  public void print() {
    for (int y = 1; y < size+1; y++) {
      System.out.println();
      for (int x = 1; x < size+1; x++) {
        if (matrix[x][y] == BLOCKED)
          System.out.print("XX ");
        else if (matrix[x][y] < 10)
          System.out.print(matrix[x][y] + "  ");
        else
          System.out.print(matrix[x][y] + " ");
      }
    }
    System.out.println();
  }
}