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Outline any factors considered when selecting a drainage method

      

Outline any factors considered when selecting a drainage method

  

Answers


Ruth
- Regulations
Because there are many regulations that govern artificial drainage systems, it is
critical that landowners (and whomever they might contract with to install or
maintain the drainage system) understand all the applicable laws.
- Easements and Rights of Way
An easement is the right to use the land of one person for a specific purpose to
benefit another’s interests. In drainage, this equates to the right (either inherent or
acquired) of an upstream landowner to discharge drainage water to a downstream
landowner. Before the natural drainage patterns are altered by a drainage system,
landowners may need to acquire an easement from the downstream landowner to
discharge the resulting altered flow.
- Soil Properties
Detailed information about specific soil properties (e.g., soil type and texture, the
existence of any soil layers that restrict water movement, the rate water moves in
the soil) must be known to properly design and manage a drainage system. For
example, clay soils generally conduct water much more slowly than sand.
- System Outlet
The location of the drainage system outlet is an important consideration and
should be determined before any design begins. Drains may discharge by gravity into natural streams or water bodies, constructed open ditches, or larger underground drainage mains.
- Topographic Assessment
The ultimate goal of a drainage system is to provide uniform drainage across a
field, thereby reducing yield variability. Thus, consideration of the field
topography (slope, slope length, and slope arrangement) must be considered in
any system design. Topography influences water movement and drainage within a
field.
- Economic Analysis
The economic benefit of a drainage system depends on several factors, including
the crops being grown, the drainage intensity, whether financing is required, and
the potential yield improvements from drainage.
- Cropping Strategies
Cropping strategies are important to consider because (as stated above) they can
change the economic payback period of any drainage system; higher yielding or
higher value crops will benefit more from drainage than lower yielding, lower
value crops.
- Maintenance Needs
Like any system, drainage systems require maintenance to perform correctly. The
maintenance required depends on the drainage system type; tile and ditch systems
have different maintenance needs. Developing a drainage system management
plan is a good first step to ensuring that a drainage system continues to function
correctly.
- Environmental Considerations
While drainage has clear benefits to crop production, there are also several
negative environmental consequences of drainage.
NatalieR answered the question on June 30, 2022 at 06:03


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