college of food, agricultural, and environmental sciences … · 2019-03-05 · • controlled...

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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

[email protected]

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!



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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



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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?



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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



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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



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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



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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).



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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

[email protected]

Agricultural Water Management



college of food, agricultural, and environmental sciences … · 2019-03-05 · • controlled...

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