Farmer Sarah and Yodi talk drainage coefficients and how they affect water removal from fields. Drainage coefficients (typically 3/8" to 1/2") in field drainage systems describe how quickly water can be removed from a field, with a 1/2" coefficient removing 1/2" of water from the soil in one day.

• Drainage coefficient measures how fast water can be removed from a field in a given time period
• Soil type dramatically affects water movement - 50 inches of water can move through sand in a day while clay drains less than half an inch
• Multiple factors affect drainage systems' drainage coefficient: tile spacing, depth, diameter, restrictive layers, water table depth, and soil hydraulic conductivity
• Higher value crops like potatoes often use larger drainage coefficients (1/2" instead of 3/8") for faster water removal
• More expensive drainage systems remove water faster, but farmers should consider both current needs and future conditions

Visit GK Technology for more resources on drainage planning - we have a map and an app for that!

https://gktechinc.com/