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Sustainable intensification of agricultural drainage

Author

Listed:
  • Michael J. Castellano

    (Iowa State University
    ETH-Zürich)

  • Sotirios V. Archontoulis

    (Iowa State University)

  • Matthew J. Helmers

    (Iowa State University)

  • Hanna J. Poffenbarger

    (University of Kentucky)

  • Johan Six

    (ETH-Zürich)

Abstract

Artificial drainage is among the most widespread land improvements for agriculture. Drainage benefits crop production, but also promotes nutrient losses to water resources. Here, we outline how a systems perspective for sustainable intensification of drainage can mitigate nutrient losses, increase fertilizer nitrogen-use efficiency and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. There is an immediate opportunity to realize these benefits because agricultural intensification and climate change are increasing the extent and intensity of drainage systems. If a systems-based approach to drainage can consistently increase nitrogen-use efficiency, while maintaining or increasing crop production, farmers and the environment will benefit.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael J. Castellano & Sotirios V. Archontoulis & Matthew J. Helmers & Hanna J. Poffenbarger & Johan Six, 2019. "Sustainable intensification of agricultural drainage," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(10), pages 914-921, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:2:y:2019:i:10:d:10.1038_s41893-019-0393-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0393-0
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Eric C. Edwards & Walter N. Thurman, 2022. "The Economics of Climatic Adaptation: Agricultural Drainage in the United States," NBER Chapters, in: American Agriculture, Water Resources, and Climate Change, pages 29-51, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Sisi Li & Yanhua Zhuang & Hongbin Liu & Zhen Wang & Fulin Zhang & Mingquan Lv & Limei Zhai & Xianpeng Fan & Shiwei Niu & Jingrui Chen & Changxu Xu & Na Wang & Shuhe Ruan & Wangzheng Shen & Menghan Mi , 2023. "Enhancing rice production sustainability and resilience via reactivating small water bodies for irrigation and drainage," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Nahkala, Brady A. & Kaleita, Amy L. & Soupir, Michelle L., 2021. "Characterization of prairie pothole inundation using AnnAGNPS under varying management and drainage scenarios," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    4. Byrne, Ian & Healy, Mark Gerard & Fenton, Owen & Tuohy, Patrick, 2023. "Assessment of the hydraulic and filter performance of different drainage stone aggregates to elucidate an optimum size range for use in clay-textured soils," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    5. Mourtzinis, Spyridon & Andrade, José F. & Grassini, Patricio & Edreira, Juan I. Rattalino & Kandel, Hans & Naeve, Seth & Nelson, Kelly A. & Helmers, Matthew & Conley, Shawn P., 2021. "Assessing benefits of artificial drainage on soybean yield in the North Central US region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    6. Giovani Preza-Fontes & Junming Wang & Muhammad Umar & Meilan Qi & Kamaljit Banger & Cameron Pittelkow & Emerson Nafziger, 2021. "Development of an Online Tool for Tracking Soil Nitrogen to Improve the Environmental Performance of Maize Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-14, May.
    7. Youssef, Mohamed A. & Strock, Jeffrey & Bagheri, Ehsan & Reinhart, Benjamin D. & Abendroth, Lori J. & Chighladze, Giorgi & Ghane, Ehsan & Shedekar, Vinayak & Fausey (Ret.), Norman R. & Frankenberger, , 2023. "Impact of controlled drainage on corn yield under varying precipitation patterns: A synthesis of studies across the U.S. Midwest and Southeast," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    8. Mohammad Valipour & Jens Krasilnikof & Stavros Yannopoulos & Rohitashw Kumar & Jun Deng & Paolo Roccaro & Larry Mays & Mark E. Grismer & Andreas N. Angelakis, 2020. "The Evolution of Agricultural Drainage from the Earliest Times to the Present," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-30, January.
    9. Ghane, Ehsan & Askar, Manal H. & Skaggs, R. Wayne, 2021. "Design drainage rates to optimize crop production for subsurface-drained fields," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).

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