NCR207 Multi-State Research Committee:

Drainage Design and Management Practices to Improve Water Quality 

Objectives

1. Evaluate the effectiveness of alternative drainage design and operational practices, to reduce nitrate-N losses from drained agricultural lands.

Research in many of the North Central states is currently underway to develop and test different drainage design and management systems. There is a critical need for researchers from the different states to meet regularly and exchange information about the research and results. Research should be coordinated where possible, so that unnecessary duplication is avoided and the appropriate variables are measured to allow comprehensive comparisons across the corn belt.

2. Assess the impact of various soil and crop management practices on reducing nitrate-N loadings to subsurface drains.

Research is being conducted on tile-drained fields, to evaluate different in-field management practices for reduction of nitrate-N losses into tiles, including use of cover crops, fertilizer practices, tillage and rotation, etc. This objective is specifically related to reducing nitrate-N leaching into tile drains, and thus does not overlap significantly with the NC-218 objectives for soil N mineralization and diagnostic criteria for N rates for crops. Discussion of comparative studies conducted in the different soils and climates within the region, are important for understanding and improving management on these drained lands.

3. Assess the need for further research in other aspects of water quality from drained agricultural lands, including the emerging issues of pathogens and phosphorus from manure applications.

Although the main emphasis of the committee will be on nitrate-N leaching into tile drains, there are other issues that the committee thinks need to be kept in mind while trying to "solve the N problem." Subsurface drainage usually reduces the losses via surface runoff of sediment, pesticides, and phosphorus, and so management practices designed to reduce nitrate leaching should also evaluate the potential negative impacts on these other components. An emerging area of concern is movement of pathogens, pharmaceuticals, and phosphorus via preferential flow into tile drains in manured fields. The committee will facilitate the exchange of information on these emerging issues and help coordinate new research on these topics.

4. Develop drainage guides and other extension materials, and work with state and federal action agencies, to assist in implementation of improved design and management practices for subsurface drainage systems.

The committee will include extension personnel and an NRCS representative, and will coordinate the development of educational materials for drainage design and management for improved water quality. The committee will work with the Agricultural Drainage Management Systems Task Force (ADMSTF) to assess needs for technical bulletins and other educational material. Many of the representatives on the NCR committee are also participating in meetings of the ADMSTF, which will facilitate communication and coordination between the groups.