The TRANSFORMINGDRAINAGE.org project has developed a suite of tools aimed at improving water management in agricultural landscapes. Below is an overview of these tools:
- Drain Spacing Tool
Estimates the optimal drain spacing to maximize economic returns on investment in drainage systems.
https://transformingdrainage.org/tools/drain-spacing/ - Drainage Rate Calculator
Calculates standard coefficients to characterize the hydraulic properties of subsurface drainage systems.
https://transformingdrainage.org/tools/drainage-rate/ - Likely Extent of Agricultural Drainage
Identifies agricultural areas in the Midwestern USA likely to have been drained for crop production, primarily through subsurface tile drainage.
https://transformingdrainage.org/tools/drained-area-tool/ - Controlled Drainage Suitability Tool
Maps land in the Midwest with a high probability of being suitable for controlled drainage, focusing on flat topography and soils with a seasonal high-water table. https://transformingdrainage.org/tools/cd-suitability/ - Subirrigation Suitability Tool
Identifies land in the Midwest with high potential for subirrigation, considering factors like restricting soil layers, permeable soil above these layers, flat topography, and likelihood of existing tile drainage.
https://transformingdrainage.org/tools/subirrigation-suitability-tool/ - Evaluating Drainage Water Recycling Decisions (EDWRD)
Provides estimates of potential irrigation and water quality benefits from drainage water recycling, aiding in decision-making for water reuse practices.
https://transformingdrainage.org/tools/edwrd/ - Field Nutrient Loss App
Calculates the amount and economic value of nitrogen loss from fields through tile drains, assisting in nutrient management strategies.
https://transformingdrainage.org/tools/nutrient-loss-app/ - Transforming Drainage Data Visualization Tool
Offers interactive visualization interfaces to explore data from 39 research sites studying conservation drainage practices, including metrics like drain flow and water quality. https://transformingdrainage.org/tools/data-visualization/
These tools collectively support the planning, evaluation, and implementation of subsurface tile drainage systems and practices to enhance water management in agricultural settings.