DRAINAGE WATER MANAGEMENT TO MEET PRODUCTION AND WATER QUALITY GOALS IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA

In order to sustain the high productivity of agricultural lands, extensive agricultural areas in the Midwest, including Minnesota, require subsurface drainage systems in order to improve the aeration of the soil due to slow internal drainage. This experiment was designed to evaluate two drainage water management system approaches and their impact on drainage discharge and nitrogen and phosphorus losses to surface water under Minnesota conditions. Drainage water management is the practice of using a water level control structure to manage the depth of the drainage system outlet.