Wallaces Farmer

Capturing water from tile drainage systems for irrigation has benefits.

June 17, 2019

2 Min Read
stream running through farm field
RECYCLE NUTRIENTS: In addition to the irrigation value, drainage water recycling reduces nitrogen and phosphorus loss by reusing the water in the field.

Drainage water recycling is the topic for this month’s Iowa Learning Farms webinar. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to tune in at noon June 19 to learn more about this emerging conservation practice.

Drainage water recycling is accomplished by capturing subsurface drainage water from fields for use as supplemental irrigation water in the summer. In addition to the irrigation benefit, drainage water recycling reduces nitrogen and phosphorus loss by reusing the water in the field.

Chris Hay, senior environmental scientist at the Iowa Soybean Association, will discuss current drainage water recycling research that’s taking place as part of the multistate “Transforming Drainage” project, modeling work in Iowa and field research projects that are beginning in Iowa.

Emerging conservation practice

“Drainage water recycling is a practice with multiple potential win-wins: crop production and downstream water quality, nitrogen and phosphorus loss reduction, water quality and water quantity,” Hay says.

His research and outreach focuses on agricultural water management and water quality, with a primary focus on edge-of-field practices. He hopes that webinar attendees will understand that drainage water has exciting potential for both crop production and water quality, but that more research is needed, especially on the economics, before widespread implementation is realistic.

A continuing education unit (CEU) has been applied for and is pending Certified Crop Advisor board approval. For crop advisers who are able to watch the live webinar, information for submitting your CCA, CPAg, CPSS or CPSC number to earn the (pending) credit will be provided at the end of the presentation.

To watch, go to iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars and click the link to join the webinar shortly before noon June 19 to download the Zoom software and log in option.

Source: ILF, which is responsible for information provided and is wholly owned by source. Informa Business Media and its subsidiaries aren’t responsible for any content in this information asset.

 

 

 

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like