OptiSurface Newsletter – 2016 July

From @danbloomer1
Looks like prime case for @OptiSurface precision surface drainage design. Minimal earth movement for max effect

Optimizing drainage in the Netherlands using OptiSurface.

This field typically grows corn and beans. There are some large depressions causing drainage problems but mini furrows are also created by the planter. These mini furrows impedes water movement and produce minor ponding issues that do reduce yield in wet years.

OptiSurface 2Way was used and furrow direction was changed to go E-W reducing the earthworks.  Ridges and valleys (cross drain) were added to direct water flow.

Earthworks ended up at 96 yd3/ac.

Overview:  The Drainage Analysis functionality allows you to calculate various useful drainage characteristics such as:

• Ponding Depth Map,
• Flow Paths

This analysis assumes enough rainfall occurs to overflow all depressions in the field.  Ponding is the water that cannot drain away by flowing along the ground surface, so it needs to infiltrate or evaporate to be removed.

Displayed by:
Menu: Tools > Drainage Analysis

Appearance:

Topography

Surface:  Select the surface the calculation will be based:  Existing Surface or Proposed Surface

Calculation Grid:  The cell spacing of the grid that the drainage analysis is calculated on. 10m or 30ft is a typical useful value.

Furrows or Beds

Furrow or Beds Restrict Water Flow Direction:  If furrows or beds exist tick this ON.

Furrow/Beds Height (m):  The height of the intended furrows in the field.  The water will build up any depressions and then spill across the furrow.  The Ponding Depth Map shows water depths in the furrows, not on the beds.

Furrow/Beds Bearing (deg):  The direction of the furrows relative to North.  Use the ‘Pick’ button to click two points to define the direction or type a number in.  Currently, only straight furrows/beds are handled.

Cost Analysis

Typical Gross Income ($/ha/yr or $/ac/yr):  Insert the gross income per hectare (or per acre) per year.

Loss in Ponded Areas (%):  The loss of crop yield in the areas that pond water in an average year from water logging, weeds and disease.

Loss in Non-Ponded Areas (%):  This is to account the losses in timeliness of operations; i.e. planting, spraying and harversting can be delayed waiting for ponded areas to dry out.  That waiting reduced the yield for the rest of the field.  This loss in production is often overlooked but it can be quite significant.

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