INTRODUCTION--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3

DEEP OPEN DRAINS-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------4

PIPE DRAINS-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5

DEEP OPEN DRAINS VERSUS PIPE DRAINS--------------------------------------------------6

BENEFITS OF A SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEM--------------------------------------7

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BENEFITS

IMPROVED ANIMAL PRODUCTION

BETTER RETENTION IN DESIRABLE PLANT SPECIES

PERSONAL BENEFITS TO THE FARMER------------------------------------------------------7

TYPES OF SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS--------------------------------------------8

Corrugated and Pvc slotted subsurface pipes-------------------------------------------------------8

SUBSURFACE PIPES
PVC PIPES REPLACED CLAY PIPES
HOW SUBSURFACE PIPES ARE LAID
BACKFILLING THE TRENCHES

MOLE DRAINAGE-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------9
MOLE DRAINS
MOLE DRAINS OVER COLLECTOR PIPE SYSTEMS------------------------------ 10
GRAVEL MOLE DRAINS

INTERCEPTOR DRAINS---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11

Ground water pumps------------------------------------------------------------------- 12

CHOOSING A DRAINAGE SYSTEM

WATER ACT

SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE---------------------------------1

1. To know what subsurface drainage is

2. To know the types of subsurface drainage

3.
To know the principles of subsurface drainage
4. To know the advantages and disadvantages of

subsurface drainage
5. To remove noncapillary water from the upper layers of

the soil profile

as

quickly as posible.
6. To ensure an adequately aerated rootzone and
trafficability for critical field operations such as

planting and
harvesting.
 Subsurface drainage describes the process of removal of that
water which has infiltrated into the soil in excess of the amount that can
be held by capillary forces against the force of gravity. It is accomplished
by deep open drains or buried pipe drains.

The content of this paper includes the following: Deep Open

Drains, Pipe Drains, Deep Open Drains, Versus pipe drains, Types of
Subsurface Drainage Systems and Subsurface Drainage Principles.
DEEP OPEN DRAINS

The excess water from the rootzone flows into the open drains, The disadvantage of this type of
subsurface drainage is that it makes the use of machinery difficult.

ILLUSTRATION:

PIPE DRAINS

Pipe drains are buried pipes with openings through which the soil water
can enter. The pipes convey the water to a collector drain.

ILLUSTRATION:
 Drain pipes are made of clay, concrete or plastic. They are usually placed
in trenches by machines. In clay and concrete pipes (usually 30 cm long
and 5 - 10 cm in diameter) drainage water enters the pipes through the
joints. Flexible plastic drains are much longer (up to 200 m) and the water
enters through perforations distributed over the entire length of the pipe.

ILLUSTRATION:

DEEP OPEN DRAINS

VERSUS PIPE DRAINS

Open drains use land that otherwise could be used for crops. They restrict the
use of machines. They also require a large number of bridges and culverts for
road crossings and access to the fields. Open drains require frequent
maintenance (weed control, repairs, etc.).In contrast to open drains, buried pipes
cause no loss of cultivable land and maintenance requirements are very limited.
The installation costs, however, of pipe drains may be higher due to the
materials, the equipment and the skilled manpower involved.

TYPES OF SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

There are several options available for draining excess subsurface water to a
specific depth from the soil profile. The most suited drainage system is
influenced by:
>Soil Type-
>Topography
>Rainfall
>Outfall type and location

Drainage systems are expensive to install but, if theyre well maintained, their
benefits outweigh their initial cost.

BENEFITS OF A SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEM

Costing of drainage systems has shown that both increased pasture utilisation
and extra pasture growth from drainage can be competitive with other feed
sources. But to take advantage of this extra growth, more cows and farm
improvements (including a feedpad) may be necessary.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BENEFITS

Subsurface drainage provides many long-term sustainability intangible benefits,
such as:
● Improvement in soil health due to the increased aeration of the soil
● Increased responses to fertiliser use
● Reduced mineral imbalances in the soil and sometimes in the plants as
 well
● Prevention or reduction of salinity (if in this early stages).

IMPROVED ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Drained soils enables fodder conservation of silage and hay to occur several
weeks earlier than on undrained soils. The resultant fodder has the potential to
be of much higher quality, improving animal production.

BETTER RETENTION IN DESIRABLE PLANT SPECIES

Drainage, by reducing pugging and creating favourable soil environments,
results in the retention of the improved pasture species, instead of promoting the
influx of plants suited to waterlogged conditions such as rushes, fog grass,
glyceria species and water couch.

PERSONAL BENEFITS TO THE FARMER

Most importantly, reduced stress in managing stock and pastures during the
wetter months of winter or spring has very large benefits for the farm
operator.

TYPES OF SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

There are 4 main types of subsurface drainage systems:

● Corrugated and Pvc slotted subsurface pipes
● Mole drainage
● Interceptor drains
● Ground water pumps

SUBSURFACE PIPES
Subsurface pipes are best suited in deep permeable soils where their depth
allows wider spacing and minimises cost. Subsurface pipes can also
successfully drain heavy (clay), poorly drained soils but have to be installed so
close together that they are uneconomic in extensive farmland systems.
PVC PIPES REPLACED CLAY PIPES
Subsurface pipe drainage was referred to as 'tile drainage' in the past due to the
use of short clay pipes. Clay was expensive and difficult to lay and has now
been replaced by slotted PVC or flexible corrugated plastic pipes of variable
diameters.
HOW SUBSURFACE PIPES ARE LAID
Specifically designed drainage trenchers, usually fitted with laser guidance
equipment, dig the trench, lay the slotted pipe and place permeable backfill into
the trench on top of the laid pipe. This backfill is delivered by trucks or trailers
fitted with conveyor belts which feed the backfill into the hopper. The forward
speed, hopper channel opening size and material size determine the depth and
amount of material laid on top of the pipe.
BACKFILLING THE TRENCHES
Backfill is a major cost of a drainage system but is crucial to the drain's
effectiveness so the quality and price of backfill should not be
compromised.
In very permeable soils, very little backfill is needed, but in less permeable
soils, or where moles are to be pulled through above a pipe, the backfill depth
reaches to near the ground surface.

MOLE DRAINAGE
Mole drainage can be classified as:
● mole drains
● mole drains over a collector pipe system
● gravel mole drains.
The suitability of each type will depend on the:
● clay content and type
● sand and stone in the profile
● gradient
● outfall location.

The action of the mole plough forms a mole channel in the area of the soil
profile with a specific clay content. The plough also cracks the soil profile
immediately above the mole channel, allowing water to flow into it.
A mole plough is used to form mole drains. Simply, a mole plough contains a
leg (or blade) with a torpedo (or foot) attached to its bottom. Sometimes a plug
(or expander) with a slightly larger diameter is attached to the rear of the
torpedo, to ensure the mole channel is left with the correct shape.
MOLE DRAINS
Mole drains are used in heavy soils where clay subsoil near moling depth
(400mm to 600mm) prevents downward movement of ground water.
The success and longevity of mole drains is dependent on soils having a high
clay content so that once a mole channel is formed, it will maintain the channel
for many years. Mole drains are not suited to:
● soils with clay types that have dispersive or slaking characteristics
● permeable soils due to their high sand or loam contents.

MOLE DRAINS OVER COLLECTOR PIPE SYSTEMS

This system is used in soils where it is not possible to form moles that reach the
outfall. This includes the presence of stones, sandy pockets, uneven surfaces or
excessive distances to the outfall.
In heavy soils where mole drains would need to be very long (over 80m) before
they reach an outfall, it can be very successful to install subsurface pipes at
approximately 60m to 100m, over which mole drains are pulled. Washed sand
or small diameter gravel is backfilled into the pipe trench to near the ground
surface at installation.
Mole drains are then installed at or close to a right angle to the direction of the
pipes. Excess ground water flows into and along the mole drains, then drains
into the porous backfill above the pipes, and then is quickly removed to outfalls
via the subsurface collector pipes.

GRAVEL MOLE DRAINS

Gravel mole drains are also expensive because of the:
● amount of backfill
● close spacing.
 But they do offer an alternative in some 'difficult to drain' situations.
They might be useful in slaking and dispersive soil types, but get expert opinion
if you're considering a gravel mole drain in these situations.

INTERCEPTOR DRAINS

These drains are installed at the base of slopes at the change of gradient, usually
where a steeper slope meets the flats to intercept the downhill flow of
subsurface water. Often the soil type on the slope is more permeable than those
of the flats and this forces the water to come to the surface, usually at the
change of slope.
Interceptor drains can also be installed below springs and spring lines to
intercept spring water. Grazing animals severely pug the areas around springs
and damage is usually more concentrated down slope as the soil is very wet and
has little structural strength. This affected area usually spreads unless fenced
off.
 Interceptor drains installed as close as possible to the spring and across its
downhill flow can be effective in controlling the spread. Drainage reduces stock
damage, or pugging, as the soil maintains its strength and structure.

Ground water pumps

These remove water from aquifers so the water table will fall or be maintauned
at a suitable level below the ground surface
The act pumping causes a drawndown of ground water leading out from the
pump’s location- its effect will depend on factors susch as:
Aquifer depth
Soil type
Height of water table
You must discuss with your regional rural water authority the cost, benefits,
disadvantages, whether these pumps can be used and if you need a permit.
CHOOSING A DRAINAGE SYSTEM
To decide which drainage system to install, you must first
determine: ● the soil's characteristics
● its permeability (speed at which water can move through the soil)
● suitability for mole drainage (clay type and content).
Farmers and drainage contractors can often decide which subsurface drainage
system to use based on some simple on-farm tests.
But if there is any indecision, have your soil tested or consult a subsurface
drainage expert.
WATER ACT
The Water Act 1989 provides guidance for the management of waterways and
swamps. Before considering draining a wet area, contact your local catchment
management authority for advice and to check if you need a permit.

SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES

Subsurface drainage describes the process of removal of that water

which has infiltrated into the soil in excess of the amount that can be
held by capillary forces against the force of gravity. Soils that require
accelerated subsurface drainage typically have some impermeable or
slowly permeable feature below the surface that prevents water that
has entered the soil from moving deeper into the soil and underlying
materials at a rate that allows agricultural production to be
economically viable. Other criteria may involve the stability of roads
and building sites. The obstruction to rapid percolation of water
through the soil may be shallow bedrock, highly dense glacial till,
depositional clay layers, and other similar causes. In other words,
there is no natural outlet for the water, and the soil becomes saturated
by the accumulated infiltration of water.
A primary goal in the design and construction of subsurface drainage
systems is to remove noncapillary water from the upper layers of the
soil profile as quickly as possible to ensure an adequately aerated root
zone and trafficability for critical field operations such as planting and
harvesting. An illustration of how subsurface drains lower the water
table in the soil is given in Figure 3. The depth and spacing of
subsurface drains are dependent upon many factors, including
especially the availability of an outlet, the soil texture, and the crops
to be grown.