By Scout Nelson
Lindsay Pease, an Extension nutrient management specialist, spearheaded a research project in October 2019 at the Northwest Research & Outreach Center in Crookston, Minnesota. The project, titled “Minnesota’s Coolest* Drainage Plots” (*by annual average temperature), investigates the impacts of subsurface drainage systems in the region, both short-term and long-term.
This research was partly motivated by Aaron Frankl’s graduate studies in Land and Atmospheric Science. Frankl recognized a gap in understanding how soil properties evolve over time in subsurface-drained fields. To address this, he collaborated with Pease on a project, supported by the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council and AFREC – Minnesota’s Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council.
The study involved examining six subsurface-drained fields in northwest Minnesota, categorized into two groups based on the age of their drainage systems – over 15 years and under five years. An undrained field served as a control. The team assessed various soil physical and biological properties to discern differences between the older and newer drainage sites.
Findings indicated a significant evolution of soil properties over time. Older drained fields showed higher saturated hydraulic conductivity, suggesting that soil structure takes time to recover post-installation of drainage systems. These fields exhibited increased levels of water-extractable organic nitrogen and carbon, indicating more nutrients available for microbial consumption.
This study highlights that the impact of subsurface drainage on soil is not a binary condition but a dynamic process with generally positive outcomes for soil health over time. The team plans to continue monitoring the newly installed drainage system at NWROC, further validating these findings as the system ages and evolves.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-songdech17
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Corn, Education, General