Metadata
Rainfall irregularity and extremes pose a
critical challenge for farmers. Installing subsurface drainage can be an effective means of
reducing excess water from the soil caused by
rainfall during critical periods of field operations.
In places like Delta, BC, drainage is particularly
important in the production shoulder seasons: in
the spring during field preparation and in the fall
during harvest. While tile drains are known to be
effective for improving the number of days, days
when the soil is dry enough to be workable
without heavy equipment causing compaction, it
is unclear if current spacing recommendations
are likely to be effective if rainfall increases
according to climate change projections for the
region. DRAINMOD is a computer model
designed to simulate the hydrology of farm fields,
and can predict the effects of drainage
management. In this study DRAINMOD was
used to forecast soil water content to explore
various drainage spacing options under current
and future climate scenarios.
critical challenge for farmers. Installing subsurface drainage can be an effective means of
reducing excess water from the soil caused by
rainfall during critical periods of field operations.
In places like Delta, BC, drainage is particularly
important in the production shoulder seasons: in
the spring during field preparation and in the fall
during harvest. While tile drains are known to be
effective for improving the number of days, days
when the soil is dry enough to be workable
without heavy equipment causing compaction, it
is unclear if current spacing recommendations
are likely to be effective if rainfall increases
according to climate change projections for the
region. DRAINMOD is a computer model
designed to simulate the hydrology of farm fields,
and can predict the effects of drainage
management. In this study DRAINMOD was
used to forecast soil water content to explore
various drainage spacing options under current
and future climate scenarios.
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