What is drainage water management?
Drainage water management is the practice of using a water control structure in a main, submain, or lateral drain to vary the depth of the drainage outlet. The water table must rise above the outlet depth for drainage to occur, as illustrated at right. The outlet depth, as determined by the control structure, is: –Raised after harvest to limit drainage outflow and reduce the delivery of nitrate to ditches and streams during the off-season. –Lowered in early spring and again in the fall so the drain can flow freely before field operations such as planting or harvest. –Raised again after planting and spring field operations to create a potential to store water for the crop to use in midsummer.
