Nutrient loss from floodplain soil with controlled subsurface drainage under forage production

Expansion of subsurface drainage into forage production may have a deleterious effect on surface waters due to increased nitrogen and phosphorus loading. The impact of controlled subsurface drainage (CD) on nitrogen and phosphorus loss compared with free subsurface drainage (FD) in tile drainage water has been explored to a lesser extent from forage production systems. This study quantifies the effects of CD and FD on average seasonal concentrations and cumulative loads of the total suspended solids (TSS), nitrate nitrogen (NO3–N), and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in subsurface drainage water from a poorly drained floodplain soil in a cereal rye (Secale cereale L.)–sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] rotation with rotational cattle grazing. During all crop seasons of sorghum production (2010–2013), CD had 6.03–9.63 mg L−1 less NO3–N than FD. Mean DRP concentration was significantly higher for CD than for FD during all seasons except for sorghum in 2012–2013. Average cumulative discharge was 38 and 314 m3 ha−1 less for CD than for FD during sorghum and cereal rye growing seasons, respectively. Controlled drainage had 0.68–6.14 kg ha−1 lower cumulative NO3–N loads than FD. The DRP loads were dependent on discharge. During sorghum growing seasons, TSS and DRP loads were 79–90% lower in CD compared with FD. The ability to reduce drainage water flow from tiles and subsequent nitrogen and phosphorus loading with CD compared with FD in a floodplain soil indicates that CD can be effective best management practice for forage production systems.