Controlled or Managed Drainage SystemsControlled or Managed Drainage Systems. Golden Rule of...

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Gary R. SandsProfessor & Extension Engineer

grsands@umn.edu@UoMExtWater

for production and the environment

Controlled or ManagedDrainage Systems

Golden Rule of DrainageDrain only what is necessary for good soil conditions and

crop growth – and not a drop more

Production Environment

World Hypoxic Coastal AreasIncidents of hypoxia have increased 30-fold since 1960

Selman et al, 2008, World Resources Institute

MarFeb May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct NovJan DecApr

DrainWatertable

Drainage

Outflow

(% change)

Nitrate Load

(% change)

Crop Yield

(% change)

-35 -34 1

Simulated conventional drainage and DWM at each site and computed change in nitrate loss.

Thorp et al., 2008

Computed fraction of cropland that is probably drained and suitable for DWM (slopes < 0.5%) using 1992 National Land Cover Data and STATSGO soils data.

Courtesy of Dan Jaynes, USDA-ARS, Ames, IA

… Water Management Zones

MgmtZone 1

MgmtZone 2

MgmtZone 3

MgmtZone 4

ELEV

INTERVAL

ZONE

Area?Area?

?

?

DWM Design Goals:

Large ZonesLess Expensive

But perhaps less effective

Small EIMore EffectiveBut smaller &

more zones ($$)

Topography can be our friend … or foe!

Image courtesy of Agri Drain Corp.

Image courtesy of Agri Drain Corp.

Image courtesy of Agri Drain Corp.

Image courtesy of Agri Drain Corp.

Image courtesy of Agri Drain Corp.

1 ft

Design with DWM in mind, so the practice can be implemented at some time

in the future….

Otherwise, the opportunity is lost forever!

No Opportunity to Manage DWM Capability

Tiling on the Coutours

ManagementZone 1

ManagementZone 2

• Each “zone” is served by a control structure.

• Think of the structure as the “outlet” for the zone.

CONTROL

ZONE 1

CONTROL

ZONE 2

CONTROL ZONE 1

CONTROL ZONE 2

CONTROL ZONE 1

CONTROL ZONE 2

Mgmt

Zone 1

Mgmt

Zone 2

Mgmt

Zone 3

Mgmt

Zone 4

Mgmt

Zone 1

Mgmt

Zone 2

Mgmt

Zone 3

Mgmt

Zone 1

Mgmt

Zone 2

2 Zones?

Mgmt

Zone 1

Mgmt

Zone 2

Mgmt

Zone 3

3 Zones?

Mgmt

Zone 1

Mgmt

Zone 2

Mgmt

Zone 3

Mgmt

Zone 4

4 Zones?

0 f

t.2

00

ft.

40

0 f

t.6

00

ft.

80

0 f

t.

To

po

gra

ph

y o

f D

rain

ag

e A

rea

0 ft. 500 ft. 1000 ft. 1500 ft. 2000 ft.

Iowa Drainage Example

53.0

54.0

55.0

90.0

OUTLET

0.5-ft contours

WM Zone = ____ ft

Number of Structures = ____Retrofit Design A

10

00

ft

1300 ft

52

53

OUTLET

0.5-ft contours

WM Zone = ____ ft

Number of Structures = ____Retrofit Design B

10

00

ft

1300 ft

56

57

58

OUTLET0.5-ft contours

WM Zone = ____ ft

Number of Structures = ____

10

00

ft

1300 ft

DWM Design

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

DWM in Summary…• DWM increases # of design considerations

– Yield, WQ, hydrology, management

• Field zoning is the major difference from conventional design

• Management becomes a consideration

• Design with DWM in mind so practice can be retrofit later!!

• Subirrigation is the next step, when irrigation may be needed & water supply is available

Drainage PublicationsUniversity of Minnesota Extension

www.DrainageOutlet.umn.edu

Questions?

Gary R. SandsProfessor, Bioproducts & Biosystems Engr.

grsands@umn.eduiMessage: grsands56@gmail.com

@UoMExtWater(612) 625-4756

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