drainage water management - usda · drainage water management the concept is to drain only what is...
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Drainage Water Management
Dr. Jane FrankenbergerPurdue University
Agricultural & Biological Engineering
USDA Agricultural Outlook ForumFebruary 22, 2013
Photo: Dan Jaynes
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Our drainage infrastructure
Subsurface “tile” drainage Surface drainage
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Drainage is required to provide aeration to crops
Photo: R.W. Skaggs
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Drainage is required to provide trafficable conditions for field operations
Photo: R.W. Skaggs
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Once drained, wet soils are among the most productive in the world
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The drainage infrastructure is extensive, underlying much of the agricultural land in the Midwest.
Photo from Gary Sands
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Drainage is still being installed, and at rates higher than ever in recent years
Yield monitors on combines make the effects of drainage more easily recognizable
High crop prices makes additional drainage pay
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Drainage is concentrated in central and eastern U.S.
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Subsurface “tile” drainage is concentrated in the Midwest.
Source: Zachary Sugg, World Resources Institute
Percent of acres tile drained
0-1%
>55%
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Intended effects of tile drainage
Photo from Dan Jaynes
Increased yieldsDecreased surface runoff, soil erosion, and
loss of nutrients through overland flow and erosion
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Unintended effects of tile drainage
Photo from Dan Jaynes
Greatly increases loss of nitrate to streams
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=12-55 kg/ha
• Source: Alexander, R.B., R.A. Smith, G.E. Schwarz, E.W. Boyer, J.V. Nolan, and J.W. Brakebill, 2008. Differences in Phosphorus and Nitrogen Delivery to the Gulf of Mexico From the Mississippi River Basin. Environmental Science and Technology 42:822-830.
• Image from: Robertson et al., 2009 (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122278544/issue)
Nitrogen delivered to the Gulf of Mexico, by watershed
PhosphorusNitrogen
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Drainage Water Management
The concept is to drain only what is needed for crop productionDrainage needed is not the same
throughout the year. – In winter, drainage is not needed.– In spring, maximum drainage is needed
to get into the field– Holding back water in the summer can
help the crop
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Drainage Water ManagementConventional Drainage Mode
Illustration Courtesy of Dr. Jane FrankenbergerPurdue Extension
Tile drain
Water control structure
Saturated soil
Drainage to ditch
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Drainage Water ManagementWinter Conservation Mode
Illustration Courtesy of Dr. Jane FrankenbergerPurdue Extension
Drainage outlet is raised
Water table rises, when drainage is not needed
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Drainage Water ManagementLowered before planting
Illustration Courtesy of Dr. Jane FrankenbergerPurdue Extension
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Drainage Water ManagementSummer Conservation Mode
Illustration Courtesy of Dr. Jane FrankenbergerPurdue Extension
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Drainage Water ManagementLowered before harvest
Illustration Courtesy of Dr. Jane FrankenbergerPurdue Extension
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Drainage Water ManagementWinter Conservation Mode
Illustration Courtesy of Dr. Jane FrankenbergerPurdue Extension
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First used for water quality benefits in North Carolina about 40 years ago
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Promoted in the Midwest for about a decade
Control structures placed in main drain lines.
Automated structures have also been developed.
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Drainage Water Management Frankenberger: Implementation activities and
barriers Skaggs: Development of the practice; published
work on yields and nitrogen reductions Hicks: A farmer’s perspective
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Needed for implementation Solid research base Efficient technology Education of producers, who make the decisions Education of contractors, who design and install
systems as Technical Service Providers Education of agency staff, to manage the
programs efficiently Effective incentives (financial and/or other)
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Research has been and is addressing key questions
How much yield benefit can we expect?How much nitrate reduction?Could drainage water management have a
negative effect on soil health?– Earthworms– Soil bulk density (compaction)
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Multi-state project to assess potential for drainage water management
USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant 4 sites in each of 5 states (Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio) Industry managed (Agricultural Drainage
Management Coalition)
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Field-scale research in each state
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Does drainage water management affect soil health?
Effect would likely be negative
Did not significantly reduce earthworm populations
Did not significantly increase bulk density or penetration resistance
Photo: NRCS
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Efficient engineering design and technology for installation
Most effective if drainage is installed on the contour
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Designing a drainage
system for drainage
water management
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CONTROL ZONE 1
CONTROL ZONE 2
Designing a drainage
system for drainage
water management
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Photo: Gary Sands
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Education of producers who make decisions
Field daysTalks around the statePublications
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Education of contractors, who design and install systems
Agricultural Drainage Water Management Coalition has trained approximately 100 Technical Service ProvidersGoal is 600, or approximately 60 per state.
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Education of agency staff, to manage the programs efficiently
NRCS has created the Ag Water Management Team, who coordinates program implementation, technical aspects, and training– Led by Paul Sweeney– Approximately 30 other people– Advisors from outside the agency
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Effective incentives
The USDA NRCS may provide payment for the following practices:– 554 Drainage Water Management– 587 Structure for Water Control.
For example, in Indiana EQIP payments were up to $40/acre/year in Indiana, but end after 3 years.
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Despite all these activities, adoption is low, especially compared to the amount
of drained land
Drainage is invisible. Nitrate is completely invisible.
The current, “conventional” drainage system is working remarkably well for producers.
People downstream are asking the agricultural community to do more. Perhaps financial incentives alone are not enough.
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More intensive drainage calls for more intensive effort to reduce nitrate loss.
The problem is clearA technology exists to address it.Will we accept the challenge to do more?