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Micro Drainage Benefits
for Strip-Till Farming
- Are you concerned with water drainage issues in your fields?
- Are you losing valuable crops due to over-saturation?
- Are you sometimes unable to use your machinery because the ground is too wet?
- Are you interested in increasing the health of your soil?
- Are you interested in increasing your crop yields without destroying your soil in the process
Who We Are...
Drawing from years of study, we combine drainage solutions with soil biology concepts in order to achieve the best crop yield possible. Our micro drainage concepts paired with proven soil health strategies equals a winning formula for increased performance.
How We Accomplish This
Surface Drainage
Surface drainage is the removal of surface water by utilizing slope as well as a series of shallow ditches to route the water away. Using RTK topography data is used to determine where water is currently flowing and where the depression pockets are. Specialized 3D software can determine how to grade the land in order to achieve optimal positive grade of the field. Then water can travel down the grade and into the ditches to be carried away from the field.
Sub-Surface Drainage
Sub-Surface drainage is the removal of water from the root zone, as opposed to on the surface. It can be accomplished by either deep open drains or pipe drains. Deep open drains use land that could otherwise be used for crops and they restrict the use of machines. They also require bridges and culverts for road crossing and access to the fields. Pipe drains are pipes installed beneath the ground surface to collect and convey excess water. The Micro Drainage System uses pipe drains and is successful because of 3 main things:
1. Narrow pipe – Narrow 2” diameter pipe is less likely to become clogged by silt because of more velocity, is less expensive to purchase, and is easier to install.
2. Shallow depth – The pipe is installed at a shallow depth, typically about 24” down. This greatly reduces the disturbance of the nutrients in the soil. It also allows for quicker drainage in a shorter time frame as the water intercepts the tile at much higher rates.
3. Closer lateral spacing – By keeping the rows spaced 15-20’ across, this increases drainage capability. This means that crops located in the middle of drainage rows are less likely to be lost due to long periods of over-saturation, which is a problem which occurs with wider spacing distances.
The Importance of Soil Biology
Strip-till or no-till farming goes hand in hand with micro drainage. Using these two concepts together will naturally increase the amount of water that infiltrates the soil. It will also drain excess water away for more aerobic environment in higher rainfall areas. This will help yield a healthier crop and ensure you get the most out of the season. It will also significantly increase the soil’s retention of organic matter naturally found in the soil, along with the recycling of nutrients.
- Strip-Till is a combination of conventional tillage and no-till methods of growing crops and produces a set of benefits derived from each method. In strip-tilling you are only disturbing the portion of the soil that is to contain the seed row – about 6” wide and 4-8” deep. Its soil drying and warming benefits allows for earlier planting and reduced disease pressure to small seedlings. Its lessened disturbing of the soil reduces loss of nutrients and greater erosion control.
- No-Till is a way to crow crops each year without disturbing the soil through tillage or plowing. A plow flips over the top layer of soil and relies on natural processes to break down the residue from the previous crop. This leads to retention of organic matter and nutrients and minimizes soil erosion. It also reduces fuel, labor, and equipment costs.
With the use of Strip-Till farming, you can significantly improve the drainage of your growing areas and decrease soil erosion. Residue-free strips about six inches wide are tilled before the planting of crops to have warmer and drier zones when the crops are being planted. After strip-tillage in the fall, a small mound of soil is left, this helps limit erosion. Also, the crop residue between the rows is undisturbed. This allows improved soil drainage and biological health of the soil.
In correcting the soil health with strip-till farming, you are now optimally allowing water to infiltrate the soil, and in turn are getting perfect conditions for crop growth. How so? Strip-till farming is the perfect combination of no-till and conventional farming, and it gets the best of both worlds. It allows for great soil drainage, air flow, and biological health of the soil. All while getting very high yields possible.
Ground Cover Crops...
An additional tool to create a healthy soil environment is the use of ground cover crops (keeping a living root growing throughout the year) to help maintain soil for crops, prevent runoff into water systems and maximize proper water infiltration. Cover crops helps you build organic matter by introducing diverse root systems, which lead to microbial diversity, which in turn produces more diverse nutrients and helps with insect and disease control. When you are not able to grow a crop year-round due to climate, at minimum keep the soil covered with organic matter such as mulch or other crop residue.
IS THIS FINANCIALLY BENEFICIAL?
Greater crop production does not have to deplete your soil or drain your bank account. In fact, according to 25 years of field studies at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, for every $1 spent on drainage technology, producers get $3 to $4 back in corn and soybean profits. Healthier soil and better drainage lead to increased performance. The cost of doing nothing to remedy drainage and soil issues could far outweigh the cost of installation.
How Do I Learn More?
Please browse through the resources on our website and feel free to contact us for more information. You can call us at (419) 908-5696 or send us a message through the form below. We look forward to hearing from you!