Tile Drainage

Precision Agriculture Soil 4213

Billie McKean

April 27, 2007

Tile drainage

Tile drainage is a practice for removing excess water from the subsurface of soil intended for agriculture.

Just the opposite of irrigation.

History of Drainage Tile Drainage tiles were

described by Cato as early as 200 B.C.

First introduced to the United States in 1838 by John Johnson

He was a native of Scotland and practiced tiling on his farm in Seneca County, NY

He laid 72 miles worth of clay tile on 320 acres and increased his wheat yield from 12 bushels/acre to 60 bushels/acre

History of Tile Drainage

The Mike Weaver Drain Tile Museum in the home of John Johnston is comprised of a collection of over 500 drain tiles ranging from 500 B.C to plastic tiles of recent times

The Need for Drainage

The Need for Drainage

Too much subsurface water can be counterproductive to agriculture by preventing root development, and inhibiting the growth of crops.

The Need for Drainage Too much water

can also limit access to the land, particularly by farm machinery

Operating machinery in excessively wet conditions may result in soil degradation due to excess soil compaction

Plumbing of Drain Tile A sort of “plumbing” is installed below the surface of

agricultural fields, consisting of a network of below-ground pipes that allow subsurface water to move out from between soil particles and into the tile line.

Ultimately, the water is deposited into lakes, streams, and rivers located at lower elevations.

Plumbing of Drainage Tile

Water enters the tile line either through the gaps between tile sections, in the case of older tile designs or through small perforations in modern plastic tile.

Positive Impacts of Drainage Helps soils warm up and dry out faster in the

spring Allows earlier field operations to occur Increased crop yields Reduces year to year variability in crop yields More crop uniformity Helps to bring soil moisture levels down to

levels optimum for crop growth Reduces sediment and phosphorous losses

Negative Impacts of Drainage

Increase nitrate-nitrogen losses Contributes to hypoxia in coastal ecosystems Potentially contaminates surface water

sources (fertilizers, eroded soil, agrochemicals, and other agricultural run-off pollutants)

Associated with loss of wetlands

References

http://d-outlet.coafes.umn.due http://www.fws.gov.midwest/EcosystemConservation/

water_issues.html http://www.agry.purdue.edu/water/fieldstn-WQFS.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tile_drainage http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/01-

063.htm. http://www.genevahistoricalsociety.com/Johnston.htm