The Importance of Drainage for Soil Health and Productivity
Most farmers obsess over two questions. “How do I get a bigger harvest this year?” and “How do I get a bigger harvest in the future?”. One of the best ways to improve crop yield immediately AND for years to come WITHOUT chemical fertilizers is with the proper installation of subdrain.
Most plants will only grow roots where they can access oxygen. By getting oxygen into your soil faster and deeper, your plants can establish a healthier route system. Resulting in a more nutrient rich soil for the future. Improved farm drainage creates significant benefits for your soil health, environmental impact, and increased crop yield. Subdrain, also known as Weeping Tile, Drainage Tile, or Big ‘O’ Pipe is proven to improve the health of your crops through the following methods.
Most plants will only grow roots where they can access oxygen. By getting oxygen into your soil faster and deeper, your plants can establish a healthier route system. Resulting in a more nutrient rich soil for the future. Improved farm drainage creates significant benefits for your soil health, environmental impact, and increased crop yield. Subdrain, also known as Weeping Tile, Drainage Tile, or Big ‘O’ Pipe is proven to improve the health of your crops through the following methods.
Crop Health Improvements
1. Effective subsurface drainage removes excess soil water in the root zone, allowing for improved soil aeration. Prolonged exposure to saturated conditions and poor soil aeration can stress the crop, reducing yield.
2. Drainage improves field trafficability, allowing more reliable field access while reducing compaction. Drier soils are less susceptible to compaction than wetter soils.
3. Drainage enables crops to establish deeper root systems in fields, allowing greater access to nutrients and soil water.
4. Drainage also reduces the year-to-year variability in yields from poorly drained fields. Increasing nitrification (the conversion of ammonia to nitrate) in most soils, providing more nitrate for plant uptake.
2. Drainage improves field trafficability, allowing more reliable field access while reducing compaction. Drier soils are less susceptible to compaction than wetter soils.
3. Drainage enables crops to establish deeper root systems in fields, allowing greater access to nutrients and soil water.
4. Drainage also reduces the year-to-year variability in yields from poorly drained fields. Increasing nitrification (the conversion of ammonia to nitrate) in most soils, providing more nitrate for plant uptake.
Soil Health Improvements
1. Reduces Excess Water: Subsurface drainage redirects water away from areas with a high water table. This is critical for areas with frequent flooding and soil saturation that can negatively impact crop health.
2. Increases Drought Tolerance: In areas where drought is a challenge, subdrain systems can be used to improve water retention in the soil, or divert excess rainwater to holding ponds for future use.
3. Minimizes Erosion: Soil erosion and degradation can be caused by excess rainfall, resulting in loss of soil volume. This can be magnified by traditional plowing methods. Improved drainage can reduce the impact of heavy rainfalls, helping to preserve soil nutrients and the surrounding areas of your property that can be affected by erosion.
4. Lowers Environmental Impact: Agricultural runoff can be high in dissolved minerals and organic compounds, which can cause issues for neighbouring water supply. A drainage system will ensure that this runoff is redirected to avoid local rivers and ponds, protecting the local ecosystem.
2. Increases Drought Tolerance: In areas where drought is a challenge, subdrain systems can be used to improve water retention in the soil, or divert excess rainwater to holding ponds for future use.
3. Minimizes Erosion: Soil erosion and degradation can be caused by excess rainfall, resulting in loss of soil volume. This can be magnified by traditional plowing methods. Improved drainage can reduce the impact of heavy rainfalls, helping to preserve soil nutrients and the surrounding areas of your property that can be affected by erosion.
4. Lowers Environmental Impact: Agricultural runoff can be high in dissolved minerals and organic compounds, which can cause issues for neighbouring water supply. A drainage system will ensure that this runoff is redirected to avoid local rivers and ponds, protecting the local ecosystem.
What Our Experience Shows Us
The farmers we’ve worked with over the years have seen an immediate 10 – 20% increase in crop yield after investing in proper drainage. The most common thing farmers say to our Technical Sales Manager Kyle is “Why didn’t I do this years ago.” Check out these before and after images taken 16 hours apart to showcase the efficiency and impact that proper subdrain installation can have on your field. These are taken from Kyle’s Southern Ontario farm in early April.
If you’re a farmer looking to improve and maintain your crop yield for years to come WITHOUT increasing your annual input costs, field drainage is the sustainable long-term solution you’re searching for. Reach out to our Technical Sales Manager Kyle for customized advice or to get a quote. He can be reached by phone at (905) 386-1744 or by email at sales@ontarioagra.ca.
If you’re a farmer looking to improve and maintain your crop yield for years to come WITHOUT increasing your annual input costs, field drainage is the sustainable long-term solution you’re searching for. Reach out to our Technical Sales Manager Kyle for customized advice or to get a quote. He can be reached by phone at (905) 386-1744 or by email at sales@ontarioagra.ca.
