Conservation tillage practices improve soil health but it has been a challenge for growers to adopt no-till or strip till for field with high clay soil series like, Fargo Clay. Subsurface-tile drainage system favors excess soil moisture drainage and offers an opportunity to adopt conservation tillage practices. However, tile drain leads to loss of nutrients depending on tile spacing and depth. We are conducting two tile-drain experiments to determine, (1) whether we can adopt conservation tillage practices like, no-till/strip-till after tile installation and (2) how tile depth and spacing influence soybean yield and nutrient loss through tile.
In our 1st experiment, we are comparing the effects of (i) chisel-, (ii) strip-, and (iii) no-tillage practices on soybean yield and soil health with and without tile drain condition.
The second experiment will examine how selection of tile spacing and depth influences soybean yield and soil nutrient loss through tile drains. Three tile spacing, 30-, 40-, and 50-feet and two tile depths, 3- and 4-feet (at each level of tile spacing) on.

Update:
Tillage and water management practices are important factor of soybean production. Water logging has potential to cause yield loss, so installing subsurface tile drainage is a common proactive. Under high clay soils, tile drainage also offers the opportunity to follow conservation tillage practices. Integration of tile drainage and no-tillage practices can improve soil health and soybean yield. Extent of tile benefit depends on its design, depth of tile and spacing in between tile.

We are conducting an on farm long-term experiment to determine the effects of (i) tile drainage and tillage interactions and (ii) tile depth and spacing combinations on soybean production. This experiment is located at Ron Holiday farm near Casselton, ND. For the first objective, tillage practices, (i) chisel (CH), (ii) strip-tillage (ST), and (iii) no tillage (NT), are compared for soybean production under only surface-drainage condition (check), open tile and control-tile drained conditions.

In 2016, strip till under open-tile drained treatment had the lowest yield of 51.84 Bu/ac and chisel till under control-tile drained treatment had the highest yield of 58.60 Bu/ac. Tillage shows significant effect on soybean yield, chisel till produced the highest yield followed by no till and strip till. In addition, control tile was superior over surface drainage and open tile in terms of soybean yield.

For the second objective, combination of three tile spacing, 30-, 40-, and 50-feet and two tile depths, 3 feet and 4 feet, are evaluated for soybean production. In 2016 growing season, the highest soybean yield of 57.5 Bu/ac was found under surface drained and the lowest yield of 42.8 Bu/ac was observed under 40 feet spacing and 3 feet depth. For 2016 growing season, tile had no effect on soybean yield indicating benefit of tile depends on rainfall intensity and distribution.

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Executive Summary

Soil and Water Management for soybean production under Fargo Clay

Principal Investigators: Dr. A. Chatterjee, Dr. A. Daigh, Soil Science, NDSU

Tillage and water management practices are critical factors of soybean production. Water logging has potential to cause yield loss, so installing subsurface tile drainage is a common proactive. Under high clay soils, tile drainage also offers the opportunity to follow conservation tillage practices. Integration of tile drainage and no-tillage practices can improve soil health and soybean yield. The extent of tile benefit depends on its design, depth of tile and spacing in between tile lines.

We are conducting an on-farm long-term experiment to determine the effects of (i) tile drainage and tillage interactions and (ii) tile depth and spacing combinations on soybean production. This experiment is located at Ron Holiday farm near Casselton, ND. For the first objective, tillage practices, (i) chisel (CH), (ii) Strip-tillage (ST), and (iii) no tillage (NT), are compared for soybean production under only surface-drainage condition (check), open tile and control-tile drained conditions.

In 2016, Strip-till under open-tile drained treatment had the lowest yield of 51.84 Bu/ac and chisel till under control-tile drained treatment had the highest yield of 58.60 Bu/ac (Figure 1). Tillage showed a significant effect on soybean yield, chisel till produced the highest yield followed by no-till and strip till. Also, control tile was superior over surface drainage and open tile regarding soybean yield.

For the second objective, a combination of three-tile spacing, 30-, 40-, and 50-feet and two tile depths, 3 feet and 4 feet, are evaluated for soybean production. In 2016 growing season, the highest soybean yield of 57.5 Bu/ac was found under the surface drained, and the lowest yield of 42.8 Bu/ac was observed under 40 feet spacing and 3 feet depth (Figure 2). For 2016 growing season, tile had no effect on soybean yield indicating the benefit of tile depends on rainfall intensity and distribution.