While digging through the old records, we just came across a July 1982 Newsletter by Mel Palmer, then OSU Drainage Extension Agricultural Engineer describes “Twenty Benefits of Drainage”. It is so well written that most of these benefits still hold true 40 years later! Here is a copy of the original article.

Here is a list of benefits from Palmer’s article:

1. Better soil aeration,
2. Better soil moisture,
3. Better soil structure,
4. Soil warm up quickly in spring
5. An increased supply of nitrogen from soil,
6. Longer growing season,
7. Certain toxic substances and disease organisms are removed from the soil,
8. Winds are less liable to uproot plants,
9. Soil erosion and sediment loss can be reduced,
10. Good drainage saves fuel,
11. Good drainage reduces winter crop damage,
12. Good drainage promotes earlier crop maturity and earlier fall harvests,
13. A greater variety of crops can be grown,
14. Weed control is easier with good drainage,
15. Well-drained grazing land supports more livestock,
16. Good drainage reduces diseases,
17. Valuable livestock water supplies can be obtained,
18. Plants are better able to withstand summer droughts,
19. Drainage is essential for salinity control, and
20. Overall, good drainage results in higher crop yields, improved crop quality, and reduced risk of crop loss.