Tile drainage in Massachusetts cranberry production: Implementation and best management practices

Tile drainage in Massachusetts cranberry production: Implementation and best management practices

Summary

Eight farmers (representing 6 cranberry operations) and three of the project scientists met to discuss the key issues related to drainage tiles in cranberry production and to outline project activities for 2012-2013. All of the farmers agreed to serve as project advisors and to provide existing or new tile installations to be studied in the project. One has provided the site for multiple 2-dimensional spacings (exp 2) and one has provided the horizontal spacing site (exp 1). In the course of discussion the following points were raised:
a) 20 ft spacing is most common and preferred (accommodates 40×50 sprinkler spacing with #3 nozzle head well)
b) Depth consensus was 8 to 12 inches from surface to bottom of drain (mostly 12 in renovations or new bogs, 8 when constrained by subgrade when pulling into existing bog), but 8 can interfere with irrigation lines
c) Maintenance was considered a big potential issue
d) Some are using tiles for subsurface irrigation in year one renovations – is it useful in subsequent years?
The project will be introduced and the initial survey will be conducted at an extension meeting to be held on January 16, 2013.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Fifteen growers install tile drains on a total of 140 acres (1% of MA acreage) with five incorporating project-developed BMPs for installation, maintenance, and irrigation supplementation, resulting in increased yield of 20 barrels/acre (~$850/acre), reduction of sprinkler irrigation cycles (quantified energy and water savings), and the elimination of at least one pesticide application per year.

1. Five growers sign on as early adopter participants/project advisors; one provides the site with varied horizontal spacing (experiment 1) — August 6, 2012, 8 growers (6 farms) sign on

2. 300 growers learn about project including data collection requirements of those that participate and receive a survey regarding current drainage practices and challenges — planned for January 16, 2013

5. At the end of the first year, growers and team members have produced a first draft of the BMP and have selected the site and horizontal spacings for Experiment 2. — project began late in 2012, site for Experiment 2 has been selected and drains installed after the 2012 harvest; project advisors have identified a list of topics to be covered in BMPs.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Eight farmers (representing 6 cranberry operations) and three of the project scientists met on August 6, 2012 to discuss the key issues related to drainage tiles in cranberry production and to outline project activities for 2012-2013. All of the farmers agreed to serve as project advisors and to provide existing or new tile installations to be studied in the project. Sites for the two planned experiments (horizontal and 2-dimensional spacing) were identified from among this group.

The group discussed the most commonly used spacings and the issues that they felt were the most critical in encouraging adoption and developing BMPs for tile drainage. Potential things identified for study in order to develop BMPs:

1) How long can a tile be and still remain functional and manageable
2) What is the longevity of tile installations (comparison of various ages)
3) Interactions with subgrade (compare with and without ‘notch’)
4) Direction of the tile (short vs long ends of bed)
5) Weeds along pulled in tile
6) Use in subsurface irrigation
7) Document ideal spacing – horizontal and vertical
8) se of fabric, sock or stones with installation –is it necessary?
9) Could wider horizontal spacing(s) be looked at in circumstances where tiles were not installed deep (less than 12 inches)?
10) Influence of ditches (depth and placement) on tile drainage
11) Influence of substrate

Data were collected from the horizontal spacing site during the summer and fall of 2012 and are being evaluated. The installation of the drains for the 2-dimensional experiment occurred in the late fall of 2012.

A master’s student for the 2-dimensional spacing study has been recruited and will begin his studies at UMass in January 2013. The project will be introduced to the MA grower community at an extension meeting planned for January 16, 2013; this will include solicitation of grower demonstration sites and a practice pre-survey.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Interest in this topic is great and all farmers invited to participate in the planning team accepted the invitation and showed a high level of engagement. They have offered sites for the project and have brought additional ideas to the table regarding the parameters to be studied. This project is in its initial stages but already interest in the community is great.

Collaborators: