scholarly journals Inundation Patterns of Farmed Pothole Depressions with Varying Subsurface Drainage

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 1579-1590
Author(s):  
Alexander Martin ◽  
Amy L. Kaleita ◽  
Michelle L. Soupir
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Subsurface Drainage ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Prairie Pothole ◽  
Des Moines Lobe ◽  
Row Crops ◽  
Surface Water Hydrology ◽  
South Central ◽  
Des Moines

HighlightsFarmed pothole depressions in the Des Moines Lobe were observed to fill due to runoff and shallow subsurface flow.Six of the eight observed potholes flooded for five or more days some time during the two years of observation.Subsurface drainage and surface inlets reduced but did not prevent yield-limiting flooding in the observed potholes. Abstract. The prairie pothole region (PPR) ranges from central Iowa to the northwest into Montana and south central Canada, totaling around 700,000 km2. This area contains millions of potholes, or enclosed topographical depressions, which often inundate with rainfall. Many are located in areas that have been converted to arable agricultural land through installation of artificial drainage. However, even with drainage, potholes will pond or have saturated soil conditions during and after significant rain events. The portion of the PPR that extends into Iowa is known as the Des Moines Lobe. In this two-year study, surface water depth data were collected hourly from eight prairie potholes in the Des Moines Lobe in central Iowa to determine the surface water hydrology. These potholes included surface and subsurface drained row crops and undrained retired land, allowing for drainage comparisons. Inundation lasted five or more days at least once at six of the eight potholes, including four potholes with surface inlets and subsurface drainage, which resulted in four of fourteen growing seasons not producing a yield in part of the pothole. Water balances of four different drainage intensities showed increased infiltration due to subsurface drainage and up to 78% of outflow due to surface inlet drainage. Overall, drainage decreased the number of average inundation days, but heavy precipitation events still caused lengthy inundation periods that resulted in crop loss. Keywords: Farmed wetlands, Prairie pothole, Tile drainage, Water balance.

scholarly journals Seasonal and Intra-Event Nutrient Levels in Farmed Prairie Potholes of the Des Moines Lobe

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 1607-1617
Author(s):  
Alexander R. Martin ◽  
Michelle L. Soupir ◽  
Amy L. Kaleita
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Total Suspended Solids ◽  
Prairie Pothole ◽  
Des Moines Lobe ◽  
South Central ◽  
Des Moines ◽  
Field Management ◽  
Concentration Changes ◽  
Total P

HighlightsNitrogen, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids concentrations were higher in early season inundation.Nitrate concentrations in farmed potholes decreased with multiday ponding.Farmed potholes act as hotspots, contributing P to drainage through surface intakes.Abstract. The prairie pothole region ranges from central Iowa to the northwest into Montana and south-central Canada, totaling around 700,000 km2. This area contains millions of potholes, or enclosed topographical depressions, which often inundate with rainfall. Many are located in areas that have been converted to agricultural land through installation of artificial drainage. However, even with drainage, potholes pond or remain saturated during and after significant rain events. In this two-year study, surface water depth was collected hourly (typically from after planting through harvest) from eight farmed potholes (drained and under corn-soybean rotation) on the Des Moines Lobe in central Iowa. Nutrient data were collected daily and tested for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) when inundation depth exceeded 10 cm. The data were analyzed in two ways. First, seasonal differences were investigated using samples from the first day of each inundation event. Surface water concentrations were higher in the early growing season than late season for total N (TN), NO3-N, NH3-N, total P (TP), and total suspended solids (TSS). Secondly, average event concentration changes were determined. Nitrate reductions occurred in 85% of multiday events, but these reductions were offset by increases in P. Total P and dissolved reactive P (DRP) had significant increases that averaged 0.51 and 0.46 mg L-1 per event, respectively, with event lengths of 2 to 19 days. This study demonstrates that inundated farmed potholes reduce NO3-N but serve as in-field hotspots, contributing elevated TP and DRP to drainage waters. When a surface intake directly connects inundated farmed potholes to drainage, new strategies, such as field management or engineered technologies, are needed to mitigate P export. This study is useful in informing policy regarding field management and conservation of farmed potholes. Keywords: Farmed wetland, Nitrogen, Nutrients, Phosphorus, Prairie pothole.

scholarly journals Assessment of a Large Subsurface Controlled Drainage and Irrigation System: III. Water chemistry of the tile effluent and its potential impact on surface water resources

2010 ◽  
Vol 44-45 (2010-2011) ◽  
pp. 11-17
Author(s):  
Michael Aide ◽  
Indi Braden ◽  
Neil Hermann ◽  
David Mauk ◽  
Wesley Mueller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Subsurface Drainage ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Controlled Drainage ◽  
Surface Water Resources ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Nitrate Concentrations

Abstract Controlled subsurface drainage irrigation systems promote crop productivity; however, these land management systems also allow an efficient pathway for the transport of elements from soils to surface water resources. The nitrate and macro-element effluent concentrations from tile-drainage involving a 40 ha controlled subsurface drainage irrigation system are described and compared to soil nitrate availability. Soil nitrate concentrations generally show an increase immediately after soil nitrogen fertilization practices and are sufficiently abundant to promote their transport from the soil resource to the tile-drain effluent waters. The data indicates that: (1) the transport of nitrate-N in tile-drain effluent waters is appreciable; (2) denitrification pathways effectively reduce a portion of the soil nitrate-N when the controlled drainage system establishes winter-early spring anoxic soil conditions, and (3) the best strategy for reducing nitrate-N concentrations in tile-drain effluent waters is adjusting N fertilization rates and the timing of their application. The development of bioreactors for simulating wetland conditions may further limit nitrate concentrations in surface waters because of soil drainage.

scholarly journals Surface Water Hydrology Conditions in Alabio Polder for Irrigation

2004 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soewarno Soewarno
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Balance Study ◽  
Surface Water Hydrology ◽  
Drainage Canals ◽  
Main Canal ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Water Elevation

The Alabio polder irrigation which area of 6000 ha is situated at the Negara river basin in Kalimantan Selatan province, consist of agricultural land which major part is approximately used for paddy-fields (60%), swamp zone (30%), and other (10%). During rainy season are usually flooded, which water level of 0,50 – 1,50 m above the ground surface. The flooding is due to the slight slope of the Alabio, Panggang, and Negara river. During field investigatiton period from Desember 1989 to Pebruary 1990, inflow discharge measured in the Tabukan intake was 14,9 – 17,1 m3/det, which water elevation was 2,62 – 2,74 m MSL, in Mahar intake was 0,52 – 2,67 m3/det, which water elevation was 2,94 – 3,25 m MSL. The outflow discharge measured in the Kalumpang drainage main canal was 1,68 – 17,1 m3/det, and in the Luang drainage canal was 13,62 – 16,92 m3/det. The Alabio Polder outside slope was 0,00011 – 0,00025, the inside slope was 0,00002 – 0,00010. The difference of water level elevations for the various discharge in the Alabio canals network is due back water in the downstream Polder area. Sedimentation was accour in the intake and drainage canals. The chemical analyze show that surface water meet to the standard for irrigation. The hydrologycal optimation and water balance study should be necessary.

A Case Study Examining the Efficacy of Drainage Setbacks for Limiting Effects to Wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region, USA

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 513-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian A. Tangen ◽  
Raymond G. Finocchiaro
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Prairie Pothole Region ◽  
Wetland Hydrology ◽  
Subsurface Drainage ◽  
Prairie Pothole ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Drainage Systems ◽  
Model Simulations ◽  
Surface Areas

Abstract The enhancement of agricultural lands through the use of artificial drainage systems is a common practice throughout the United States, and recently the use of this practice has expanded in the Prairie Pothole Region. Many wetlands are afforded protection from the direct effects of drainage through regulation or legal agreements, and drainage setback distances typically are used to provide a buffer between wetlands and drainage systems. A field study was initiated to assess the potential for subsurface drainage to affect wetland surface-water characteristics through a reduction in precipitation runoff, and to examine the efficacy of current U.S. Department of Agriculture drainage setback distances for limiting these effects. Surface-water levels, along with primary components of the catchment water balance, were monitored over 3 y at four seasonal wetland catchments situated in a high-relief terrain (7–11% slopes). During the second year of the study, subsurface drainage systems were installed in two of the catchments using drainage setbacks, and the drainage discharge volumes were monitored. A catchment water-balance model was used to assess the potential effect of subsurface drainage on wetland hydrology and to assess the efficacy of drainage setbacks for mitigating these effects. Results suggest that overland precipitation runoff can be an important component of the seasonal water balance of Prairie Pothole Region wetlands, accounting on average for 34% (19–49%) or 45% (39–49%) of the annual (includes snowmelt runoff) or seasonal (does not include snowmelt) input volumes, respectively. Seasonal (2014–2015) discharge volumes from the localized drainage systems averaged 81 m3 (31–199 m3), and were small when compared with average combined inputs of 3,745 m3 (1,214–6,993 m3) from snowmelt runoff, direct precipitation, and precipitation runoff. Model simulations of reduced precipitation runoff volumes as a result of subsurface drainage systems showed that ponded wetland surface areas were reduced by an average of 590 m2 (141–1,787 m2), or 24% (3–46%), when no setbacks were used (drainage systems located directly adjacent to wetland). Likewise, wetland surface areas were reduced by an average of 141 m2 (23–464 m2), or 7% (1–28%), when drainage setbacks (buffer) were used. In totality, the field data and model simulations suggest that the drainage setbacks should reduce, but not eliminate, impacts to the water balance of the four wetlands monitored in this study that were located in a high-relief terrain. However, further study is required to assess the validity of these conclusions outside of the limited parameters (e.g., terrain, weather, soils) of this study and to examine potential ecological effects of altered wetland hydrology.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document