Effect of Drainage System on ET and Drainage Flows

The effects of drainage system on evapotranspiration and drainage flows are studied. Data from drainage field experiment at Castalia in North Central Branch, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center were used in this study. A water table management model, ADATP (Agricultural Drainage and Pesticide Transport), which was developed by combining the GLEAMS and the subsurface drainage part of the DRAINMOD model with several modifications, was evaluated and used to predict hydrologic components. The ET is very much affected by the presence of tile drainage system but not significantly affected by the surface drainage system. The combined surface and subsurface drainage system gives the largest total outflow values while the surface drainage only system gives the smallest. Comparisons of model predicted and measured values of surface runoff only, subsurface drainage only, and combined surface runoff and subsurface drainage system are in satisfactory agreement. The model predicted values are within the range of the variations of the observed replications in general. Based on the results of the model evaluation study, it is concluded that ADAPT model can be used to design water table management systems.