Jacki Langlois Used in ancient Babylonia and Egypt

Jacki Langlois

� Used in ancient Babylonia and Egypt � First introduced in the United States in 1838 � Johnston brought the practice from Scotland � His farm was near springs and had abundant wet soil

� He ordered clay tiles to be made � When he retired he had laid 72 miles of tile on 320 acres � Increased his wheat yield from 12 bushels to 60 bushels per acre

� Many states offered government incentives to improve land for farming � Indiana prompted an Act of Congress in 1850 �Swamplands would be sold at discount if farmer drain the land & bring it into productivity � 1930 s: Civilian Conservation Corps started to establish the tile network throughout the Midwest �Much is still in use today

� Many fields have low spots or depressions where water ponds. � Subsurface drainage removes excess water from the soil profile � Excess water causes decreased oxygen in soil � Low oxygen is bad for roots � 25% reduction in yield after corn roots have been submerged for just 2 days � 45% loss after 5 days � 80% after 7 days

� Improve the soil environment for: �vegetative growth, reduce erosion, and improve water quality Regulating water table and ground water flows Intercepting and preventing water movement into a wet area Removing surface runoff Leaching of saline and sodic soils � Drainage is primarily a concern in the periods prior to the growing season �January to April � Optimum April 15 planting time for Corn in IL is

This photo was taken 12 hours after a 2" rainfall. The tile lines are clearly visible and the field is quickly recovering from the excess moisture.

� To maximize benefits, need management system: �Proper fertilization �Improved crop varieties �Higher plant populations �Earlier planting �Weed and insect control �Improved harvesting methods

� Need a topographical survey of field � Ideal soils for subsurface drainage are medium textured and well structured (large and small pores) �Water is removed from large pores �Small pores hold and store water for plant use � Clay soils restrict movement of water and require close drain-line spacing � Sandy soils allow wide drain-line spacing but may lack fine pores for water storage

� Soil permeability measured by how well water or air moves through the soil � Measured in inches per hour � 0. 2 -0. 6 in for slow permeable soils � 0. 6 -2. 0 in for moderately permeable soils

� Select the pattern best fit to the topography �Random: suitable for rolling land with isolated wet areas (glacial till soils) �Parallel: used on flat, regularly shaped fields and on uniform soil �Herringbone: for less permeable soils found in narrow depressions �Double main: this pattern is sometimes chosen where the depression area is wet because of seepage coming from higher ground.

� Tiles are made of clay, concrete, and corrugated plastic tubing � Tiles need to be placed 2 – 4 feet deep � There are multiple types to tile plows available: �Small 3 pt. Tile plow �Large 3 pt. Tile plow �‘Walking Beam’ Large Pull type with tandem axle

� Lays 3”-4” tile � Pulled by a 2 wd tractor � inexpensive

� Pulled by 4 wd tractor � Inexpensive � Easier to use on short tile runs

� Best grade control

� http: //www. tileplow. com/movie. htm

� For the $200/A investment, IRR ranges from 10 -27% and the payback period from 3. 5 -7 yr �Contractor installed Self installed

� Loss of wetlands �Species � Nitrate population decline leaching into tile drains � Pesticides – usually in low concentrations � Downstream water temperatures

� Problems �Leach � Relieve �Soils with salinity? it out using tile drainage system iron-deficiency chlorosis in soybeans warm faster and are drier � Increase �Keeps nitrogen fixation by soybeans soil pores open for N gas in soil

� Crop production potential increases � Less soil runoff & Better soil structure � Better root development � Tiled land values increase � Higher soil temperatures � Opportunities for no-till or strip till systems � External benefits that can be attributed is more that $15 per acre � Water quality: less surface runoff, erosion, and phosphorus losses

� There are many patterns to tile drainage � The benefits of tile drainage out weigh the disadvantages �A drier, warmer soil allows for timelier planting, better root growth, and in turn higher yields

Thanks!