Academic literature on the topic 'Subsurface tile drain detection'

Animal agriculture and the use of manure as a soil amendment can lead to enteric pathogens entering water used for drinking, irrigation, and recreation. The presence of Escherichia coli in water is commonly used as an indicator of recent fecal contamination; however, a few recent studies suggest some E. coli populations are able to survive for extended time periods in agricultural soils. This important finding needs to be further assessed with field-scale studies. To this end, we conducted a 1-yr study within a 9.6-ha field that had received fertilizer and semi-solid dairy cattle manure annually for the past decade. Escherichia coli concentrations were monitored throughout the year (before and after manure application) in the effluent from tile drains (at approximately 80 cm depth) and in 5- to 8-m-deep groundwater wells. Escherichia coli was detected in both groundwater and tile drain effluent at concentrations exceeding irrigation and recreational water-quality guidelines. Within two of the monitoring wells, concentrations of E. coli, and frequency of detections, were greatest several months after the manure application. In two monitoring wells and one tile drain the frequency of E. coli detections was higher before manure was applied than after. This suggests the presence and abundance of E. coli was not strongly related to the timing of manure application. A laboratory study using naladixic acid resistant E. coli showed the bacteria could survive at least two times longer in soil samples collected from the study field than in soil from the adjacent riparian area, which had not received manure applications. Together, field and lab results suggest that a consistent source of E. coli exists within the field, which may include “naturalized” strains of E. coli. Further studies are required to determine the specific source of E. coli detected in tile drainage water and shallow groundwater. If the E. coli recovered in subsurface water is primarily mobilized from naturalized populations residing within the soil profile, this indicator organism would have little value as an indicator of recent fecal contamination. Key words: Bacterial survival, naturalized Escherichia coli, groundwater, tile drainage

Tile drainage is a widely adopted water management practice in the eastern Canadian provinces of Québec and Ontario. It aims to improve the productivity of poorly drained agricultural fields. Nevertheless, studies have also shown that subsurface drainage is a significant pollution pathway to surface water. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of tile drain spacing on surface runoff, subsurface drainage flows, and phosphorus (P) loss from two tile-drained agricultural fields located near Bedford, Québec. Field data were used with the DRAINMOD model, and in developed regression models in order to perform the analysis. Both DRAINMOD and the regression models showed good performance. Simulation results indicated that when lateral tile drain spacing is increased, the volume of subsurface drain flow decreases, and the volume of surface runoff increases, at sites with sandy and clay loam soils. For every 5 m increase in drain spacing, total phosphorus (TP) loads in subsurface drainage decreased by 6% at a site with sandy loam soil, and increased by 20% at a site with clay loam soil. TP loads in surface runoff increased as a result of increased drain spacing.

Abstract. Claypan soils with less than 1% slope are poorly drained because of an argillic claypan layer 45 to 60 cm below the soil surface. Field research was conducted near Bethel, Missouri, to evaluate soybean ( [L.] Merr.) grain yields and plant populations above subsurface drain tile lines and 3.1 m distances from the tile lines of laterals installed at 6.1 and 12.2 m wide spacings for drainage (DO) or drainage plus subirrigation (DSI). The site was arranged as a split-plot design with four replications. In some years, sub-sub-plots included multiple cultivars or fungicide/insecticide management systems. This resulted in 30 year-cultivar-management (YCM) treatments from 2002 to 2015. Averaged over all of the 30 YCM systems, the highest yields (4,050 kg/ha) were observed above the 6.1 m DSI drainage tile line. Subsurface drainage tile spacings (6.1 and 12.2 m) and distances from the tile lines for DO or DSI yielded 11% to 21% greater than the ND control. Due to extreme weather events among YCM systems, data were separated into low (LYE, <3,360 kg/ha) and high (HYE, >3,360 kg/ha) yield environments. In LYEs, yields were more variable above the tile line and generally decreased as the distance from the subsurface tile lines increased for DSI, but yields were greater and more variable between the tile lines for DO. In HYEs, yields were greatest and more variable between the 6.1 or 12.2 m spaced DO treatments, while yields were greatest above the drain tiles with lower variability compared to between the tile lines with DSI. A narrower drain tile spacing may be needed to reduce yield variability in LYEs, but this was less evident in HYEs. Keywords: Claypan, Drain tile spacing, Drainage, Subirrigation, Water management.

Abstract Controlled subsurface drainage irrigation systems promote crop productivity; however, these land management systems also allow an efficient pathway for the transport of elements from soils to surface water resources. The nitrate and macro-element effluent concentrations from tile-drainage involving a 40 ha controlled subsurface drainage irrigation system are described and compared to soil nitrate availability. Soil nitrate concentrations generally show an increase immediately after soil nitrogen fertilization practices and are sufficiently abundant to promote their transport from the soil resource to the tile-drain effluent waters. The data indicates that: (1) the transport of nitrate-N in tile-drain effluent waters is appreciable; (2) denitrification pathways effectively reduce a portion of the soil nitrate-N when the controlled drainage system establishes winter-early spring anoxic soil conditions, and (3) the best strategy for reducing nitrate-N concentrations in tile-drain effluent waters is adjusting N fertilization rates and the timing of their application. The development of bioreactors for simulating wetland conditions may further limit nitrate concentrations in surface waters because of soil drainage.

Abstract This study focuses on the performance of the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) for corn production in southern Ontario. The model was used to simulate the amount of subsurface tile drainage, residual soil nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), NO3-N in subsurface drainage water, and crop yield. A precalibration sensitivity analysis of the model was conducted for several key parameters using field data collected at the study site. The RZWQM's hydrology component was most sensitive to the Brooks and Corey fitting parameters and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), while the tile drain flow and the water table depth were sensitive to the Brooks and Corey fitting parameters of bubbling pressure (ψbp) and pore-size-distribution index (λ). The fraction of dead-end pores had relatively little effect on tile drain N loss. The crop yield is most affected by N uptake, age, and evapotranspiration rate. RZWQM simulated evapotranspiration was within the range (568 ± 55 mm) of the observed evapotranspiration. The model simulated corn yield very well (-0.1% difference) at the calibration site; however, it underestimated yield (-14.1%) at the validation site. Overall, the RZWQM simulated tile drain flow, NO3-N loss to tile drainage water, and crop yield with reasonable accuracy, but tended to underestimate the amount of soil NO3-N (mean deviation, -0.971). The inability of the model to handle the spatial and temporal variability of the soil may have affected its prediction accuracy. The model also needs improvement in simulating early spring snowmelt hydrology.

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical tool designed for subsurface probing of materials with contrasting dielectric properties. The applicability of this technique to locate agricultural drain tiles or tubes under some soil types and moisture conditions found in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia was evaluated. A method using GPR graphical outputs from adjacent, paired parallel traverses was developed to verify tile drain signatures. Over 50 drains, installed from 1 to 50 years ago, in soils developed in morainal till, glaciofluvial, and glaciomarine deposits were detected with the GPR system and confirmed by excavation. These included both clay and plastic drains. With experience, reliability was found to be close to 100%. The possibility of using the system for determining depth to the drain is also discussed briefly. Key words: Ground-penetrating radar, tube drain location, apparent dielectric constant, propagation time, electromagnetic wave, propagation velocity

Agricultural land is a major source of phosphorus (P) loss, and artificial drainage is one of the pathways for phosphorus transport. In this paper, we reviewed the methods and equations related to phosphorus loss through subsurface tile drain in water quality models. This review is presented through three topics: subsurface hydrology, fate and transport of phosphorus in soil, and phosphorus transport into tile drains. Major simulation methods and some recent updates are reviewed, and calculations in specific models are presented. Nine existing water quality models (ADAPT, ANIMO, APEX, EPIC, HYDRUS, ICECREAM, MACRO, PLEASE, SWAP) can be used to simulate P transport to tile drainage, where three of them (HYDRUS, MACRO, SWAP) do not have a specific phosphorus module but P can be simulated using a general chemical module. Models that are not suitable for simulating fate and transport of P to tile drains under their current status, for example, AnnAGNPS, DRAINMOD, GLEAMS, RZWQM2, SurPhos, SWAT, are also reviewed due to their strength in one of the aspects: subsurface drainage or P dynamics. Based on the methods used in those models, ICECREAM could be the most current comprehensive model for P loss through tile drains from agricultural fields.

Secondary salinization of irrigated lands in drylands is often caused by rising groundwater levels. Open drainage is widely employed to control groundwater. However, salinity levels tend to remain high under malfunctioning drainage conditions. Shallow subsurface drainage may be a possible solution to prevent salt accumulation, although it is difficult for farmers to apply conventional tile drainage systems owing to construction costs. In this regard, we proposed a low-cost shallow subsurface drainage system used in combination with a new mole-drain drilling technology (cut-drain) developed in Japan, whose drainage capacity is similar to tile drain. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the proposed system. The system was installed in a farmland, Uzbekistan. The experimental field was set with/without the system to observe the differences in the balance of water and salt. The results revealed that the remaining infiltrated water in the field decreased by approximately 26% and the removed net mass of salt was 14 Mg ha−1. The direction of salt movement changed from the deeper zone or surrounding field to the open drainage. Therefore, the proposed system can enhance salt removal from fields.

HighlightsA modeling framework for drainage water recycling (DWR) was developed to estimate irrigation and water quality benefits.Global sensitivity analysis was used to identify most and least influential input parameters affecting model outputs.Parameters controlling total available water had the most influence on applied irrigation and captured tile drain flow.The modeling framework and sensitivity results were used to develop an open-source, online tool for evaluating DWR.Abstract. The U.S. Midwest is experiencing growth in both irrigation and subsurface (tile) drainage. Capturing, storing, and reusing tile drain water, a practice called drainage water recycling (DWR), represents a strategy for supporting supplemental irrigation while also reducing nutrient loads in tile-drained landscapes. This article describes the development and testing of an open-source online tool, Evaluating Drainage Water Recycling Decisions (EDWRD), which integrates soil and reservoir water balances for a tile-drained field and estimates potential benefits of DWR systems across multiple reservoir sizes. Irrigation benefits are quantified by applied irrigation and its relation to the irrigation demand, while water quality benefits are quantified by the amount and percentage of tile drain flow captured by the reservoir. Global sensitivity analysis identified input parameters affecting total available water as the most influential factors in estimating outputs. Initial and mid-season crop coefficients, irrigation management, and reservoir seepage rates were also influential. Curve number, fraction of wetted surface during irrigation, crop coefficients for the end of crop growth and frozen soil conditions, and the non-growing season residue amount were identified as low-sensitivity parameters. Results from the sensitivity analysis were used to prioritize and simplify user interaction with the tool. EDWRD represents the first open-source tool capable of evaluating DWR systems and can be used by multiple user groups to estimate the potential irrigation and water quality benefits of this innovative practice. Keywords: Drainage water recycling, Dual crop coefficient, Open-source model, Sensitivity analysis, Subsurface drainage, Supplemental irrigation.

Subsurface tile drainage is a commonly used practice to lower the water table in poorly drained soils, and is often done to improve soil conditions for agricultural operations. Tile drainage has been shown to increase cash crop yield, allow for more timely field operations, and reduce erosion. However, few studies have evaluated the potential long-term changes in soil physical and chemical properties as a result of subsurface tile drainage. This study was conducted on a naturally poorly drained Clermont silt loam soil located at the Southeast Purdue Ag Center near Butlerville Indiana. The intent of this study was to characterize possible evolution of soil physical and chemical properties after 35 years of subsurface drainage. The field site was established in the spring of 1983 with tile drains installed in 2 blocks with tile spacings of 5, 10, 20, and 40m, with the 40-m spacing used as the undrained control. Soil samples were collected in May of 2018 to a depth of 1 meter and were analyzed for carbon and nitrogen content, aggregate stability, and fertility at depth increments of 0-5, 5-15, 15-30, 30-50, 50-75 and 75-100cm. In-field measurements were also taken in May of 2018 for vane shear resistance and in May of 2019 for cone penetration resistance. Total carbon content was found to be significantly higher in the 5-m tile spacing than the 40-m tile spacing in the 0-5cm and 5-15cm depths, with the 10-m and 20-m tile spacings being intermediate. Conversely, in the 75-100cm depth the inverse trend was observed, where the 40-m tile spacing was found to have significantly greater carbon content than narrower tile spacings. Trends observed with carbon stocks per depth increment closely followed trends observed with carbon content at the same depth. However, no significant differences were observed among treatments with the summation of carbon stocks to the 1-m depth. Tile spacing did not have a significant effect on aggregate stability at any depth. The soil fertility data showed some indication of the potential translocation of soil calcium from the soil surface to lower depths in the soil profile resulting in significantly higher soil pH in the 5-m tile spacing than the 40-m tile spacing in all depths below 30cm. No consistent differences related to treatment were found with the cone penetrometer or vane shear penetrometer measurements. After 35 years of drainage history, tile drain spacing did not have a significant effect on total carbon stocks to the 1-m depth, but rather seems to have had a significant effect on the vertical distribution of soil carbon content throughout the soil profile.

The extent of agricultural drainage has created concern for its potential undesirable effects on surface water quality. Land applications of liquid manure on tile drain fields have the potential to transport solutes and bacteria to the drains following precipitation or irrigation events and many times are directly sent to a surface water body, and have been documented as a source of contamination of surface waters. This study determined the potential for and magnitude of E. coli and solute migration to tile drains through the soil profile. Water from subsurface drains was analyzed for chemical and bacterial composition following tracer applications. Two sites were selected for the study to determine transport at large (field) and small (plot) scales. At the large-scale site, both tracers, bacteria (E. coli and Total Coliform) and Amino-G (a conservative tracer), were used to monitor the speed of transport from the surface to the tile drain following liquid manure applications, tracer applications and additionally precipitation events. The concentrations of E. coli were monitored every hour for 76 days during the spring. Both tracers, bacteria and Amino-G, were detected in the tile drainage shortly after precipitation events. The peak concentration of E. coli was observed to be 1.2 x 10⁶ CFU/l00mL. These elevated concentrations of E. coli might be attributed to the characteristics of the soil, high organic matter and well-structured clay soils. Both the rapid breakthrough of tracer to the tile drain and the peaks of tile water temperature during precipitation events provided evidence of macropore flow. Antecedent soil moisture and warmer temperatures appeared to provide ideal conditions for bacteria growth. The small-scale study site was selected for a more focused study. The purpose of this site was to quantify more accurately the percent mass of surface applied tracer that was transported to the tile drain, allowing mass balance calculations. Experiments were conducted during the summer to control the rate and total amount of irrigation. Amino-G readings were taken every 10 seconds for 125 hours of continuous irrigation. Tracer applications were conducted at runoff and non-runoff conditions. Both types of tracer applications had Amino-G breakthrough in less than 10 minutes after initiation of irrigation. Tracer applied at runoff rates resulted in 4 to 17 times more total tracer mass migrating to the tile drain than when applied at non-runoff rates. The total mass of Amino-G migrating to the tile drain during non-runoff conditions depended on the total volume of applied tracer, regardless of the tracer concentration. For an application of 5.6 mm at 12 mg/L, 5.7% of the total applied tracer migrated to the tile drain, whereas for an application of 1.9 mm at 27.7 mg/L only 2.8% of the total applied tracer migrated to the tile drain. Tile flow response to irrigation experiments appeared to be governed by soil moisture. Lysimeter samples were taken continuously every 4-8 hours until the 94th hour after tracer application. Tile water concentrations were consistently greater than concentrations found in the deeper suction lysimeters at corresponding times, providing further evidence of preferential flow. E. coli transported through the soil and into the drains were demonstrated to be event-driven by precipitation events and irrigation events. In addition, the characteristics of this type of soil - the high clay content, the well-defined structure, the high level of organic matter and rich biological activity has been known to enhance the preferential pathways and transport processes in the soil profile, resulting in rapid transport of surface applied solutes and effluents to tile drains.
Graduation date: 2003