It is projected that future climate in the Midwest will be characterized by wetter and warmer winters and springs, and hotter and drier summers. In response to heavier precipitation events, many producers are favoring narrower tile drain spacing…but will this lead to over-drainage when wet springs give way to dry summers?
A new experiment at OSU’s Northwest Agricultural Research Station in Hoytville, OH will compare 40-foot drain spacing to 25-foot spacing, across various treatments including three tillage treatments, cover crops, and a corn-soybean rotation. The study will look at the effects of these treatments on trafficability, soil moisture, soil health, crop stress, crop yield, and economics.
Read the full article in OSU Extension’s C.O.R.N. Newsletter