Agricultural Drainage can give higher crop yields due to the following:
Soil Aeration
Drainage aerates the soil, thus improving the release of nitrogen from organic matter. Aeration is improved by frost action, which penetrates deeper in well drained soil, particularly over tile lines. The soil also warms up quicker, allowing earlier seed germination.
Lower Water Table
Drainage lowers the water table and increases the percentage of large pores for holding water to use by plants. Only excess water is removed. Root depth is increased.
Drought Protection
More water-holding pores leaves more moisture for plant use. Deeper initial root penetration to the lower water level helps plants survive dry periods.
Higher Crop Quality
Better root development supports healthier plants. Drainage directly effects root growth. Good drainage promotes good crop quality.
More Crop Variety
There is more choice of crops available to the well-drained soil manager. Drainage improves odd for specialty crops as operations can be carried out at more optimum periods.
Reduced Soil Damage
Working the field too wet reduces yields on heavy soils. Ruts in the fields and mired machinery can cause costly repairs and waste precious time.
Longer Growing Season
Wet fields reduce the number of planting and harvesting days. With less time available, the farmer needs larger and higher powered equipment and a higher machinery investment to get the job done.
Increased Fertilizer Efficiency
Good drainage makes any fertilizer applied more useful, but since fertilizer is not an alternative to good drainage, they must be used together.
Minimum Tillage
Leaving wet spots to work later takes more time and higher labor costs. Reduced cultivation can increase profitability.
Erosion Control
Drainage allows the soil to have more water-holding capability, thus allowing more soaking action and less surface runoff.