Increasing Soybean Field Drainage Systems to Allow Farming Operations Earlier in Wet Springs and Reduce Nutrients and Soil Losses
Investigators
Objectives
Determine cost-effective drainage system design, and best management practices to increase existing drainage tiles efficiency, reduce runoff and loss of soil and nutrients, improve soil infiltration and water holding capacity, and surface water harvest. Apply hydrology and agroecosystem models, in conjunction with commercial farm field trials in Objective 1, to determine optimal drainage system/production/management options for consistent and high soybean yield across typical MS weather conditions and in dominant soil types based on 100-year daily weather records and on predicted daily weather in future 50 years. Conduct economic analysis using results of field trials (Objective 1) and simulation studies (Objective 2) to compare the cost and return of using drainage systems, soil organic amendments or/and cover crop in comparison with conventional management practices. The goal is to help soybean growers in different MS environments determine the long-term profit-maximizing management practices for given soil types, topography, precipitation patterns, and other climate conditions found on their farms.
Expected End Results
Recommendations of cost-effective drainage system and layout/design, and their soil-specific management options to improve drainage efficiency, nutrients and water productivity, and soil health, which enable optimal soybean yields with maximum economic returns for dominant soil types under wet, normal and dry years in MS.