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Managing Agricultural Drainage SystemsFor Water Quality Improvements
in the Midwest:
Addressing Nitrate Leaching and Liquid Manure Application on Drained Cropland
Dr. Larry C. BrownProfessor, Extension Agricultural Engineer
Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological EngineeringCollege of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
The Ohio State University
USGS
Source Areas of Nitrogen to Gulf of Mexico and
Great Lakes
Water Table Management
• Conventional Drainage
• Controlled Drainage
• Subirrigation
Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Webcast Series April 17, 2015
This presentation is archived at: http://www.extension.org/pages/21819/chronological-webcast-archive
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Drainage Water Management
USDA-NRCS Practice Code 554
• Drainage Water Management
• National Standard
• Primary focus has been Midwest for improving water quality by reducing nitrate loads
• Very good practice with manure application standard
• Ohio 554 practice is EQIP-eligible practice
Drainage Water Management
Managing the Outlet Elevation – not Plugging the Outlet
NRCS Practice Standard
554
We recommend artificially Raising the Outlet Elevation
We do NOT recommend Plugging the Outlet!
Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Webcast Series April 17, 2015
This presentation is archived at: http://www.extension.org/pages/21819/chronological-webcast-archive
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From Ghane, Gunn, Shang, Shedekar, Wahl, Brown, Fausey, FABE/OSU, USDA-ARS
Water control tructures
Two management zones
Water Quality and Quantity Impact
On appropriate landscapes, we expect up to a 50% reduction in Annual Nitrate Loads, on average, by Managing Agricultural Drainage
Systems on appropriate sites in Ohio
“Change in Outflow Volume leads to a similar Change in Nitrate-Nitrogen Load”
Minimal change in Nitrate Concentration
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/WQ/WQ-44.pdf
Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Webcast Series April 17, 2015
This presentation is archived at: http://www.extension.org/pages/21819/chronological-webcast-archive
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Controlled Drainage Drainage Water Management NRCS
Code 554
Benefits
1. Drainage Water Conservation2. Potential Water for Crop Use; Thus potential for
Improvement in Crop Yields3. Water Quality Improvement in Drainage Discharge4. Cost Share Opportunities (EQIP, others)5. Potential Improvement in Riparian Channel Baseflow6. Potential Improvement in Recharge7. Excellent Application for Manure Application on Drained
Cropland8. Others
Controlled Drainage (Drainage Water Management NRCS Code 554
Potential Negative Aspects
These result primarily from Poor Management, Poor Construction, or Combination of Both!
1. Increased Runoff and Soil Erosion2. Limited or No Supplemental Water for Crop Use 3. Reduced Crop Yields4. Poor or No Water Quality Benefit5. Cost Share $ (if used) Wasted; or Your $ Wasted!6. Others?
Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Webcast Series April 17, 2015
This presentation is archived at: http://www.extension.org/pages/21819/chronological-webcast-archive
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From Justin McBride, NW
Ohio
From Justin McBride, NW Ohio
•Structure should be placed on solid, undisturbed earth (no gravel)
•Use anti-seep collar
•Hand backfill; Do not backfill or compact by machine
•Use recommended fittings and pipe; Joints should be water tight
•Use non-perforated pipe on both sides of structure, approx. 20’; no gravel or sand
• Minimal maintenance, but check gaskets on flashboards regularly; Replace gaskets if worn; Grease tracks; Keep flashboards and tool available
Proper Installation and Maintenance is Important
Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Webcast Series April 17, 2015
This presentation is archived at: http://www.extension.org/pages/21819/chronological-webcast-archive
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From NRCS, with revisions by Dr. Norman Fausey, USDA-ARS Soil Drainage Research Unit,
Columbus
Controlled Drainage Applications (Drainage Water Management) on Sites where Liquid Manure
and Milking Center Wastewater are applied on Subsurface
Drained Cropland
Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Webcast Series April 17, 2015
This presentation is archived at: http://www.extension.org/pages/21819/chronological-webcast-archive
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Structure placed on solid, undisturbed earth (no gravel)
Use anti-seep collar
Hand backfill; Do not backfill or compact by machine
Use recommended fittings and pipe; Joints water tight
Use non-perforated pipe on both sides of structure, approx. 20’; no gravel or sand
Minimal maintenance; Check gaskets on flashboards regularly; Replace gaskets if worn; Grease tracks; Keep flashboards and tool available
Follow NRCS design recommendations for observation and pump out storage
For Land Application of Liquid Manure using Drainage Water Management, Proper Installation and Maintenance are even more Important!
Anti-seep collar
From Nic Stacey, NW Ohio
Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Webcast Series April 17, 2015
This presentation is archived at: http://www.extension.org/pages/21819/chronological-webcast-archive
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Structure Installed Too Close to Bank
Edge
No Anti-Seep Collar; Thus Leakage, and
Potential Failure
Locate Structure to avoid Machinery Operations; Take Advantage of Buffer Areas
Poor Installation; Structure and Pipe
Connections improperly sealed; Gravel Layer
Placed Below the Outlet Pipe and Structure –
Thus Leaks Excessively.
Poor Installation Led to an Illicit Discharge
and Fines to Landowner
For situations where applied liquid reaches control structure at outlet too quickly, consider adding detention at
outlet, with port holes to pump out liquid, then reapply. Ohio NRCS can provide design aspects (see next slide).
Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Webcast Series April 17, 2015
This presentation is archived at: http://www.extension.org/pages/21819/chronological-webcast-archive
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Dr. Larry C. BrownProfessor, Extension Agricultural Engineer
Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological EngineeringCollege of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
The Ohio State University
Agricultural Water Management
Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Webcast Series April 17, 2015
This presentation is archived at: http://www.extension.org/pages/21819/chronological-webcast-archive