Modeling the impact of alternative drainage practices in the northern Corn-belt with DRAINMOD-NII

Using AnnAGNPS to Predict the Effects of Tile Drainage Control on Nutrient and Sediment Loads for a River Basin

“…We would expect that full discharge assessments (including baseflow) could document even greater degrees of reduction because tile drainage can contribute to baseflow (Sunohara et al, 2014;Sunohara et al, unpublished data, 2014); however, we consider the direct runoff approach taken by AnnAGNPS for river basin-scale efforts herein pragmatic and parsimonious. From a modeling perspective, previous watershed modeling studies found that drainage water management reduced nitrate or total N by roughly 6 to 50% over a given year (many studies simulate winter CTD abatement) (Thorp et al, 2008;Luo et al, 2010;Jaynes et al, 2010;Yuan et al, 2011;Ale et al, 2012). This study also found, on average, net reductions in total and dissolved N loads, which is consistent with these modeling and experimental data.…”

“…A majority of the modeling studies that examine the implication of tile drainage control at watershed scales focus on nitrogen (N) (Thorp et al, 2008;Jaynes et al, 2010;Luo et al, 2010;Yuan et al, 2011;Ale et al, 2012), and some have addressed phosphorus (P) (Deal et al, 1986). Moreover, due to a variety of pragmatic and socio-economic factors that have limited the degree of CTD intervention in tile-drained landscapes, many modeling efforts are not fully supported by, or compared with, watershed-scale experimental data that contrast pollution loading among conventional and CTD systems.…”

Effects of Subsurface Drainage Systems on Water and Nitrogen Footprints Simulated with RZWQM2

“…The simulated average annual percent reduction in tile drainage volume over the 45 years was 18% for CD and 48% for SD (table 11), while the average annual percent reduction in NO 3 -N loss in tile drainage was 26% for CD and 40% for SD (table 12). These reductions are in good agreement with other simulation studies, such as simulations of 20% to 30% reductions in annual drainage NO 3 -N loss in CD and SD systems in south-central Minnesota by Luo et al (2010) and a simulated 30% reduction with CD by Ma et al (2007b). The simulated reductions in volume are lower than the reductions found in field studies Schott et al, 2015), mostly due to underprediction of drainage volume in the DD system and overprediction of drainage volume in the CD system.…”

“…Early drainage simulation studies found comparable results to field-based monitoring, including NO 3 -N loss reduction and increased denitrification with drainage systems (Skaggs and Gilliam, 1981;Wright et al, 1992). Simulation studies for both controlled drainage and shallow drainage have been successful in correctly predicting the reduction in drainage as well as excess water stress from higher water tables, which can generate yield loss in some soils and climates (Luo et al, 2010;Singh et al, 2006). The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) (Ahuja et al, 2000a) has proven successful in simulating crop rotation and yield, daily and annual drainage volume, as well as nitrogen (N) dynamics, such as NO 3 -N loss in artificial subsurface drain flow (Ma et al, 2007b;Qi et al, 2011).…”

Regional Climate Change and Drainage Systems: Effects on Corn Productivity and Profitability in Campinas, Brazil

“…Brevé et al (1998) used the DRAINMOD-N model to study the effects of drainage system design and management on crop productivity, profitability, and nitrate losses in drainage water. Other studies have analyzed the effects of drainage systems on crop production (Skaggs et al, 1995;Luo et al, 2010;Singh et al, 2006;Singh et al, 2013). Within this context, the SISDRENA model simulates the performance of one-dimensional drainage systems (Miranda et al, 1998).…”