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

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

Summary

Working with cranberry grower project advisors on existing and new tile drainage installations, the project scientists and graduate student spent 2013 intensively studying the functioning of these drains in cranberry beds. A grower survey has confirmed that the 20-foot horizontal spacing is the most common, accommodating existing buried sprinkler irrigation pipes. Field experimentation has confirmed that this spacing (compared to 15- or 30-foot) is associated with good plant growth and the greatest crop yield. Ideal depth to the top of the drain pipe remains a question for further study. The grower survey showed that the most commonly installed depths are at 8-12 inches but range from as shallow as 2-3 inches and as deep as 24 inches. Our second experiment will focus on tile depths. Because tile drains so effectively mitigate soil saturation, there is concern that over-irrigation will be an issue, potentially promoting off-site nutrient movement. In order to quantify these relationships and develop BMPs, the project team is intensively studying hydrology, nutrient movement, and irrigation parameters (soil moisture, irrigation scheduling) on a 5-acre section on the farm of one of the grower-advisors to the project. Field days in 2014 will be held at that farm and at the site of the depth experiment.

Objectives/Performance Targets

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

2. 300 growers learn about project including data collection requirements of those that participate and receive a survey regarding current drainage practices and challenges — Meeting was held on Jan. 16, 2013, attendance = 290; the meeting handout included a summary of the project to complement the PowerPoint presentation at the meeting.

3. 200 return survey, 150 are interested in additional education, 30 are interested in establishing drainage for project evaluation. Survey responses = 117, all are interested in further education, 10 specifically wanted to participate in drainage installation.

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. BMP topics have been selected, the draft will be worked on in early 2014 following a meeting of the project scientist-grower team. The spacing experiment has been established. Nick Alverson, the graduate student for the project, has been studying drain function at the farm of one of the project team growers, a one field day will be held at this site in the spring of 2014 (a second field day will be held at the Experiment 2 site later in the summer). A poster of his project was presented to cranberry researchers in August and will be shared with growers at the January 2014 meeting.

Accomplishments/Milestones

At our annual grower meeting on January 16, 2013, a PowerPoint presentation was used to introduce this project to the 290 in attendance. Their meeting handout included a project summary that they could take home (attached). The attendees were handed a drainage tile survey (attached) as they entered the meeting and asked to fill it out prior to leaving for the lunch break. The survey responses confirmed the information provided by the team of 5 early adopters (see 2012 report): most growers are installing drains at a depth of 8-12 inches (to the top of the pipe) and the 20-foot horizontal spacing is the most common (Figures 1 and 2). That horizontal spacing accommodates working around existing sprinkler pipe spacings.

Experiment 1 (varied horizontal spacings at 15, 20 , and 30 feet, 12-inch depth) results have confirmed that the 20-foot spacing has adequate upright density to produce the greatest yield. While the 30-foot spacing also performed well, the 15-foot spacing had the poorest plant growth and yield. Experimental work will now focus on depth and drain functionality as we develop BMPs and work with grower-adopters.

Nick Alverson, the project graduate student, along with Casey Kennedy and Peter Jeranyama, is intensively studying an installation at a grower-advisors farm with 12-inch/20-foot spacing to quantify drainage functionality (hydrology), interaction with soil moisture, and potential for mobilization/discharge of nutrients. Because the tile drains mitigate soil saturation, there is concern that growers might over-irrigate, enhancing the potential for offsite discharge of nutrients.   An overview of their work is presented in the attached poster. This site will host a spring on-farm workshop.

In 2013, on the farm of another grower-advisor we began looking at nutrient mobilization from the soil to the tile drains, comparing controlled-release and standard soluble fertilizer sources, the data from that study are currently being evaluated. We will also be studying the varied depth site that was established late in 2012. This was a renovation site with planting delayed into 2013.   As a result, intensive evaluation of this site will be delayed into 2014. An on-farm workshop will be held in the late summer at this site.

• Survey taken by growers at Jan 2013 meeting
• Survey responses regarding tile placement
• Poster showing tile studies at a grower site
• Project summary handed to growers at Jan 2013 meeting

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Overall, the topic of tile drainage continues to be of great interest to MA cranberry growers. The very active frost season in the 2013 spring and the record rainfall in June really pointed out the need to be able to drain away excess moisture in the cranberry beds. While project participation has begun slowly, we expect to see greater activity in 2014. The planned on-farm workshops should help to stimulate interest in greater participation. The core group of project farmer-advisors remain well engaged and committed to the use of tile drains and to sharing information with fellow growers.

Collaborators: