Integrated Soil, Crop and Water Management System to Abate Herbicide and Nitrate Contamination of the Great Lakes

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-5) ◽  
pp. 497-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Tan ◽  
C. F. Drury ◽  
J. D. Gaynor ◽  
T. W. Welacky
Keyword(s):  
Water Table ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Management System ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Tile Drainage ◽  
Nitrate Contamination ◽  
Runoff Water ◽  
Runoff Events ◽  
Water Table Control

Corn management practices, incorporating annual ryegrass intercrop, conservation tillage and water table management, were evaluated to reduce herbicide and N0−3 losses through surface runoff and tile drainage. The integrated management system being developed at Harrow in S.W. Ontario reduced herbicide input 50% by banding the chemical over the seed row. Runoff events close to herbicide application contained high concentrations of atrazine, metribuzin and metolachlor. However, the volume of runoff was low during the 1991 growing season, therefore herbicide loss was low (<2% of applied). The three herbicides rapidly dissipated in the soil so that subsequent runoff events transported little herbicide in the runoff water. The total quantity of de-ethyl atrazine loss was lower from soil saver than moldboard plow. No water table control or intercrop effects were found in 1991 for herbicide loss because of the drought Tile drainage resulted in a greater volume of water and loss of N0−3 than with surface runoff. Consequently, over 97% of the total N0−3 loss occurred through tile drainage. The flow weighted N0−3 concentration in tile drainage water was 22.5 mg N L−1 for the drainage treatments and 15.1 mg N L−1 for the water table control treatments from Nov. 1, 1991 till April 30, 1992. During this time period, N0−3 loss through tile drainage was 57.8 kg N ha−1 from the drainage treatments and 36.3 kg N ha−1 from the water table control treatments. Therefore, the water table control treatment reduced the flow weighted N0−3 concentration in tile drainage water by 33% and total N0−3 loss by 37%. The water table control treatments combined with soil saver tillage resulted in lower concentrations and losses of N0−3 than with any other treatments.

Dissolved Phosphorus Losses in Tile Drainage under Subirrigation

2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Stämpfli ◽  
Chandra A. Madramootoo
Keyword(s):  
Water Table ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
Surface Water Quality ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Quality Standard ◽  
Tile Drainage ◽  
Agricultural Field ◽  
Shallow Water Table ◽  
Dissolved Phosphorus ◽  
Water Table Control

Abstract Recent studies have shown subirrigation (SI) to be effective in reducing nitrate losses from agricultural tile drainage systems. A field study was conducted from 2001 to 2002 in southwestern Québec to evaluate the effect of SI on total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) losses in tile drainage. In an agricultural field with drains installed at a 1-m depth, a SI system with a design water table depth (WTD) of 0.6 m below the soil surface was compared with conventional free drainage (FD). Subirrigation increased drainage outflow volumes in the autumn, when drains were opened and water table control was interrupted for the winter in the SI plots. Outflows were otherwise similar for both treatments. Throughout the study, the TDP concentrations in tile drainage were significantly higher with SI than with FD for seven out of 17 of the sampling dates for which data could be analyzed statistically, and they were never found to be lower for plots under SI than for plots under FD. Of the seven dates for which the increase was significant, six fell in the period during which water table control was not implemented (27 September 2001 to 24 June 2002). Hence, it appears that SI tended to increase TDP concentrations compared with FD, and that it also had a residual effect between growing seasons. Almost one-third of all samples from the plots under SI exceeded Québec's surface water quality standard (0.03 mg TDP L-1), whereas concentrations in plots under FD were all below the standard. Possible causes of the increase in TDP concentrations in tile drainage with SI are high TDP concentrations found in the well water used for SI and a higher P solubility caused by the shallow water table.

Prediction of phosphorus concentration in tile-drainage water from the Montreal Lowlands soils

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Beauchemin ◽  
R. R. Simard ◽  
M. A. Bolinder ◽  
M. C. Nolin ◽  
D. Cluis
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Tile Drainage ◽  
Phosphorus Concentration ◽  
Surface Soils ◽  
Drainage Systems ◽  
Soil P ◽  
P Concentration ◽  
Soil Units ◽  
Total P

Subsurface drainage systems can be a significant pathway for P transfer from some soils to surface waters. The objective of the study was to determine P concentration in tile-drainage water and its relationship to P status in surface soils (A horizons) from an intensively cultivated area in the Montreal Lowlands. The profiles of 43 soil units were characterized for their P contents and pedogenic properties. Tile-drainage water P concentrations were monitored over a 3-y r period on a weekly basis on 10 soil units, and four times during each growing season for the other 33 units. The soil units were grouped into lower and higher P sorbing soils using multiple discriminant equations developed in an earlier related study. The A horizons of the lower P sorbing soils had an elevated P saturation degree [mean Mehlich(III) P/Al = 17%] associated with total P concentrations in tile-drainage water consistently greater than the surface water quality standard of 0.03 mg total P L-1. Conversely, low P concentrations in tile-drainage waters (< 0.03 mg L-1) and a moderate mean Mehlich(III) P/Al ratio of 8% were observed in the higher P sorbing soil group. Total P concentrations in drainage systems were significantly related to soil P status in surface soils. Grouping soils according to their P sorption capacities increased the power of prediction based on only one soil variable. However, accurate predictions in terms of drain P concentration can hardly be obtained unless large dataset and other factors related to field management practices and hydrology of the sites are also considered. Therefore, a better alternative to predict the risk of P leaching is to work in terms of risk classes and rely on a multiple factor index. Key words: Tile-drainage water, phosphorus, P transfer, P loss, degree of soil P saturation, phosphorus index

scholarly journals Topography Impacts Hydrology in the Sub-Humid Ethiopian Highlands

Water ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 196
Author(s):  
Demesew A. Mhiret ◽  
Minychl G. Dersseh ◽  
Christian D. Guzman ◽  
Dessalegn C. Dagnew ◽  
Wubneh B. Abebe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Table ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Watershed Hydrology ◽  
Ethiopian Highlands ◽  
Topographic Position ◽  
Tropical Highlands ◽  
Average Water ◽  
The Relationship

Understanding the relationship between topography, hydrological processes, and runoff source areas is essential in engineering design, such as predicting floods and implementing effective watershed management practices. This relationship is not well defined in the highlands with a monsoon climate and needs further study. The objective of this study is to relate topographic position and hydrological response in tropical highlands. The research was conducted in the Debre Mawi watershed in the northwest sub-humid Ethiopian highlands. In the monsoon rain phase of 2017 and 2018, groundwater depth, infiltration rate, and surface runoff were monitored at the upslope, midslope, and downslope positions. Surface runoff rates were measured in farmer fields through distributed V-notch weirs as estimates of positional runoff. Average water table depths were 30 cm deep in the downslope regions and 95 cm in the upslope position. The water table depth affected the steady-state infiltration rate in the rain phase. It was high upslope (350 mm h−1), low midslope (49 mm h−1), and zero downslope. In 2017, the average runoff coefficients were 0.29 for the upslope and midslope and 0.73 downslope. Thus, topographic position affects all aspects of the watershed hydrology in the humid highlands and is critical in determining runoff response.

scholarly journals AUTOMATED CONTROL OF WATER TABLE LEVELS FOR SUBIRRIGATED TOMATO PRODUCTION USING THE FULLY ENCLOSED SEEPAGE SYSTEM

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 643f-643
Author(s):  
C. D. Stanley ◽  
G. A. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Fresh Market ◽  
Automated Control ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Automated Control System ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Total Elimination ◽  
Water Table Control

The use of the recently developed fully-enclosed seepage subirrigation system for fresh market tomato production has demonstrated an improved ability to maintain a water table at a desired level (when compared to conventional ditch-conveyed seepage subirrigation) by means of more precisely controlled application and a greater uniformity throughout the field. This is achieved through use of microirrigation tubing rather than open ditches to convey water to raise the water table to desired levels. When manually controlled, the system has shown to save 30-40% in irrigation amounts primarily due to almost total elimination of surface runoff. An automated control system was designed and evaluated with respect to practicality, durability, and performance of various designs of level-sensing switches. The advantages and limitations of the designs in relation to water table control for tomato production will be presented.

Reducing Nitrate Loss in Tile Drainage Water with Cover Crops and Water-Table Management Systems

2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 587-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. Drury ◽  
C. S. Tan ◽  
T. W. Welacky ◽  
W. D. Reynolds ◽  
T. Q. Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Table ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Tile Drainage ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Nitrate Loss ◽  
Water Table Management

Water table control, reuse and disposal of drainage water in Haryana

1988 ◽  
Vol 14 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 537-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.H. Boumans ◽  
J.W. van Hoorn ◽  
G.P. Kruseman ◽  
B.S. Tanwar
Keyword(s):  
Water Table ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Water Table Control

scholarly journals Stratified Soil Sampling Improves Predictions of P Concentration in Surface Runoff and Tile Discharge

Soil Systems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
William Osterholz ◽  
Kevin King ◽  
Mark Williams ◽  
Brittany Hanrahan ◽  
Emily Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Sampling ◽  
Stratified Sampling ◽  
Tile Drainage ◽  
Soil Horizon ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Sampling Depth ◽  
Soil Test P ◽  
Mean Square Errors

Phosphorus (P) stratification in agricultural soils has been proposed to increase the risk of P loss to surface waters. Stratified soil sampling that assesses soil test P (STP) in a shallow soil horizon may improve predictions of P concentrations in surface and subsurface discharge compared to single depth agronomic soil sampling. However, the utility of stratified sampling efforts for enhancing understanding of environmental P losses remains uncertain. In this study, we examined the potential benefit of integrating stratified sampling into existing agronomic soil testing efforts for predicting P concentrations in discharge from 39 crop fields in NW Ohio, USA. Edge-of-field (EoF) dissolved reactive P (DRP) and total P (TP) flow-weighted mean concentrations in surface runoff and tile drainage were positively related to soil test P (STP) measured in both the agronomic sampling depth (0–20 cm) and shallow sampling depth (0–5 cm). Tile and surface DRP and TP were more closely related to shallow depth STP than agronomic STP, as indicated by regression models with greater coefficients of determination (R2) and lesser root-mean square errors (RMSE). A multiple regression model including the agronomic STP and P stratification ratio (Pstrat) provided the best model fit for DRP in surface runoff and tile drainage and TP in tile drainage. Additionally, STP often varied significantly between soil sampling events at individual sites and these differences were only partially explained by management practices, highlighting the challenge of assessing STP at the field scale. Overall, the linkages between shallow STP and P transport persisted over time across agricultural fields and incorporating stratified soil sampling approaches showed potential for improving predictions of P concentrations in surface runoff and tile drainage.

scholarly journals Landscape Integrated Soil and Water Conservation (LISWC) System for Sloping Landscapes in Atlantic Canada

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 427
Author(s):  
Sheng Li
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Tile Drainage ◽  
Atlantic Canada ◽  
Landscape Restoration ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Soil Landscape ◽  
Soil And Water

Soil and water are fundamental and precious resources for agriculture. In Atlantic Canada (AC), intensive agricultural production systems have led to detrimental environmental effects such as soil erosion and the contamination of receiving waters, posing significant threats to the resilience and sustainability of the agro-ecosystem. Although many beneficial management practices (BMPs) have been developed, they all have their shortcomings and there are often trade-offs for each individual BMP. In this paper, a new paradigm is proposed for soil and water conservation—landscape integrated soil and water conservation (LISWC), a system designed to conserve and reuse soil and water within the landscape by integrating multiple BMPs based on an understanding of the landscape processes and knowledge about the BMPs. On a typical sloping field in AC, an LISWC system can be established by integrating BMPs such as diversion terraces and grassed waterways, tile drainage, water retention structures, supplemental irrigation, conservative tillage practices and soil–landscape restoration. Each individual BMP is designed to enhance one aspect of soil and water conservation but working on their own, they are all insufficient for the landscape as a whole and sometimes even have negative impacts. However, once integrated in the landscape, they complement each other: water erosion is reduced by diversion terraces and grassed waterway and conservative tillage, field drainage condition is enhanced by tile drainage, runoff and tile drained water is stored in the retention structure and reused for irrigation, and most eroded soil is returned to the soil loss area with soil–landscape restoration. This holistic landscape perspective can be used to develop LISWC systems for other landform types or applied at watershed or regional scales. Future studies are needed for the connections and interactions between individual BMPs, and analysis on the overall economic benefit of an LISWC system.

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