|
Central Illinois crop production began mid-1800s as settlers
started draining the swampy prairie land. They were not able to
grow crops due to excess water in the soils. As drainage tile
installation methods improved, more and more land was drained.
Over time, however, original drainage systems can deteriorate
and new drainage technologies can offer added benefit.
University of Illinois Extension Farm Business Management and
Marketing Educator Kevin Brooks is working on a farm drainage
case study research project to help farmers and landowners make
informed decisions on potential improvements to their aging
drainage systems.
“If a field has excess water, we know plant roots are going to
be effected and thus so will the potential yield,” Brooks
explained. “In this case study, I looked at data from nine farm
fields, examining yield results before and after new tiles were
installed (both large main tiles and the smaller lateral tiles)
and comparing the case study farms against county averages.”
The data comparison shows the study farms have substantially
improved yields. “Corn averaged over 10 percent higher yields
during the first three years following the drainage
improvements. However, the fourth year resulted in improvements
from 20 to 35 percent on corn. In the end, it appears that corn
yield improvements are more substantial when higher levels of
management are added to the equation, including more minute
improvements to drainage and possibly tillage methods to improve
soil health. We will be studying this project over time to
achieve more concrete conclusions. We weren’t expecting this
large of an increase. What is apparent is drainage can have a
big positive impact on profitability.”
The results were checked against nearby fields. Though soybean
yield improvements were slightly less dramatic, soybean yields
in controlled check soybean fields didn’t show as much
consistency.
[to top of second column] |
Installing drain tiles in a field comes with initial expense, but data shows
that the improved crop yield can pay for the project in a short period of time.
Kevin Brooks, Farm Business Manager and Marketing educator is working on a farm
drainage case study to present the data representing local farm operations.
“The research continues as I analyze 25 years of yield data, as
well as take into account the data we will get on future crop
production,” Brooks continued. “Other variables that come into
play in a research study like this one include rainfall patterns
and the timing of planting. We also need to dive more deeply
into the local effect on area soybean fields not located in the
watershed drained by the tile.”
The results of this initial case study are similar to recent
findings by Purdue University with significant yield improvement
in corn and lesser impact in soybeans. This ongoing study will
help landowners and farmers make informed decisions on investing
in drainage tile in Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell
counties.
[Kevin Brooks
Farm Business Management and Marketing Educator for University
of Illinois Extension] |
