Reducing Phosphorus Loss in Tile Drainage Water with Managed Drainage in a Bottomland Soil.

Installing subsurface tile drain systems in claypan soils to improve corn (Zea mays L.) yields could have a relatively large environmental impact with regard to P loading of surface waters because without artificial drainage the potential for leaching is low. The objectives of the study were to: 1) quantify the average concentration and loss of ortho-P in tile drain water from a claypan soil, and 2) determine whether managed subsurface drainage (MD) could reduce ortho-P loss in tile water compared to free subsurface drainage (FD). Data is currently being analyzed at this time.