Benefits of Tile Drainage

With an accurately designed and installed tile drainage system, you can bring your crop management to a whole new level. Improve yields, improve your soil, and improve the environment around you. It's a good deal for everyone.  You can hire in a professional, or you can do it yourself with great benefits.

Benefits of Tile Drainage

Installing tile drains on your farm will bring you numerous benefits.

Better Yields.

Tile drainage has been proven over and over again to increase crop yields significantly. By enabling the plant root to access sufficient oxygen, roots thrive instead of becoming stunted. The result is a stronger, healthier plant, capable of higher yields and better quality.

Earliness.

In most years, tile drainage will help you get on the field sooner. Not only will this have a direct impact on yield, it helps spread out your workload to use your equipment more efficiently.

Less Risk.

One of the key benefits of tile drainage is reducing your risk of crop losses in the event of excess moisture. In some cases tile drainage has paid for itself in as little as one crop because of this.

More efficient use of nitrogen.

When soils become saturated, nitrogen begins to denitrify. Tile drainage will reduce or eliminate this problem be keeping the water table from rising into areas of high N concentration.

Timelier field operations.

A tiled field will dry off sooner and allow you to get back in to perform your important work earlier. Soils with less moisture absorb heat much quicker than moist soils.  Get in to spray fungicide sooner, cultivate quicker, or bring in the crop without dropping out of sight.

Better soil health.

More oxygen in the soil increases microbial activity. Long overlooked, soil biology has a significant impact on crop growth and long term productivity.

Now you may ask, am I capable of performing the design, and installation of your tile drainage system?  Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself.

Equipment.

First thing you will need is tractors, most pull type tile plows require 300hp to pull them.  I personally recommend having a second large frame tractor available, or pre-trenching in heavier ground.

Precision Data.

Do you currently use RTK corrections in your everyday operations?  Don’t worry you can have your local independent precision dealer complete a topographical map for you.  If you already have precision AgGPS systems you can look into upgrading to RTK corrections for mapping of your lands, since the increased accuracy levels can be used on your farm during the entire year.

Tile Plow.

Many manufacturers produce quality pull type tile plows, speak to your local precision specialist for any advice on locating new or used tile plows in your area.

Computer.

Self-designing mapping software is very easily operated, many precision dealers can provide training on what the requirements are.

If you are unsure about performing the tile installation yourself contact your local licensed drainage contractor.

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Paul Smith is the owner of Northern Equipment Solutions and based in Central Ontario, Canada. Providing Quality Potato Equipment, Precision Agriculture and Other Advanced Equipment, Northern Equipment Solutions ensures that your profits and yields are maximized. www.northernequipment.ca or sales@northernequipment.ca