Tile pays for itself. Here's how.
INCREASED CROP YIELDS
Good drainage is an investment towards improved crop yields. Pattern tile installation lowers the water table, which improves root systems and inevitably the crop itself.
ENERGY SAVINGS
Well drained soils require less horsepower to work and smaller equipment operate with greater field efficiency when excess water does not have to be moved during field operations. In fact, it has been proven that the cost of drainage projects can often be recouped quickly in fuel savings and lower capital investment in equipment.
SOIL AERATION AND WARMING
Good drainage aerates the soil, providing several benefits. Release of nitrogen from organic matter is accelerated and soil warms up faster when heat is not required for surface evaporation. This allows earlier plantings and a longer growing season.
CROP QUALITY
Regardless of the crop, healthy roots support healthy plants and well drained soil is generally a poorer environment for plant disease pathogens than wet soil. There is also a direct relationship between drainage and root development. For example, most forage crops will yield about 15% more with a substantial increase in quality if the soil is well drained.
BETTER SOIL STRUCTURE
Good drainage prevents unnecessary soil damage such as compaction, smearing, and crusting. Working wet fields with heavy soils causes reduced yields and damage to soil structure, which may take years to reverse.
DROUGHT INSURANCE
Good drainage promotes root growth as plants reach for the capillary water in soil. In land that is not drained, capillary water is available only near the surface so root systems are shallow. When dry weather arrives, shallow roots cannot supply enough water to the plant to keep it healthy. Deep rooted crops also withstand wind and stand better at maturity as well.
