Corn yield response to subsurface drainage water recycling in the midwestern United States

Abstract

Drainage water recycling (DWR) involves capture, storage, and reuse of surface and subsurface drainage water as irrigation to enhance crop production during critical times of the growing season. Our objectives were to synthesize 53 site-years of data from 1996 to 2017 in the midwestern United States to determine the effect of DWR using primarily subirrigation on corn (Zea mays L.) grain yield and yield variability and to identify precipitation factors at key stages of corn development (V1-V8, V9-VT, R1-R2, R3-R4, and R5-R6) that correlated to an increase in yield with DWR. A generalized additive model was used to quantify and characterize the relationship between precipitation and corn grain yield during corn development stages and to determine if that relationship differed between DWR and free drainage (FD). Corn yield response to precipitation was generally similar between DWR and FD, except during the critical period of V9-R2, in which DWR was more resilient to precipitation extremes than FD. Drainage water recycling was generally more responsive than FD in years with low and normal precipitation (<181 mm). When precipitation was low (27-85 mm) from V9 to R2, DWR had higher yields (77% of the site-years evaluated), with an average yield increase of 3.6 Mg ha −1 (1.2-7.5 Mg ha −1 ). Overall, FD had 28% greater yield variability than DWR. Additional research is needed on DWR impacts on different soils and locations throughout this region to improve the stability of corn yields and to develop automated DWR systems for enhancing efficiency of water management with increasing climate variability.

Frontier: Drainage Water Recycling in the Humid Regions of the U.S.: Challenges and Opportunities

“…Rainfed yields are commonly 50% or less of yield potential, whereas irrigated yields approach 80% of yield potential (Lobell et al, 2009). Supplemental irrigation from DWR can help reduce yield reductions from water limitations and improve yield stability (Willison et al, 2021). While there is extensive knowledge of irrigation management in arid and semi-arid regions (Hoffman et al, 2007;Lascano and Sojka, 2007), managing irrigation on poorly drained soils in humid regions remains a challenge because of precipitation uncertainty and upward flux from shallow water tables.…”

Subsurface drainage and subirrigation for increased corn production in riverbottom soils

“…Water stress during reproductive stages of corn growth has been attributed to dramatically lower corn yields (Bai et al, 2006;Grant et al, 1989). For instance, Willison et al (2021) reported the V9-R2 stage of corn development as a critical period of supplemental irrigation when subirrigation was the primary irrigation system. During this period, late vegetative stage, pollination, fertilization, and early grain fill occur where the corn crop is susceptible to biotic (root activity) and abiotic (e.g., wetting and drying cycles) water stress factors.…”

“…Corn ( Zea mays L.) grain yields are commonly affected by growing conditions including weather variability and water management. However, the magnitude of influence from these factors depends on the crop growth stage (Willison et al., 2021). Soil moisture availability can have a positive or negative impact on crop growth depending on when extreme events are experienced by the crop.…”

Evaluating drainage water recycling in Central Iowa: Long-term yield and financial implications

“…This source of nutrient loading has also impacted water quality within the state , and in at least one case, caused legal action between producers and their neighbors University Science Team, 2013). One lesser studied practice, drainage water recycling, has been shown to reduce downstream nutrient loading and shows potential to increase yields (Willison et al, 2020), which may be an economic incentive.…”

“…Secondly, lack of financial incentive has been identified as a barrier to nutrient reduction actions (EPA Science Advisory Board, 2007). Drainage water recycling has been shown to increase row crop yields in the US Corn Belt Willison et al, 2020), showing there may be an economic incentive to adopt the practice. This will be further examined in Chapter 3 of this thesis.…”