Agricultural drainage infrastructure – why it needs to be renewed

The study by Michael Castellano, Johan Six and colleagues outlines the need for an overhaul of the current infrastructure. “This would require major investment and especially widespread consensus from policymakers, taxpayers and producers,” says Johan Six, professor for Sustainable Agroecosystems at ETH Zurich, “but the effort would lead to a range of benefits.” For example, implementing conservation practices near the ends of drainage pipes would reduce the runoff of nitrogen fertilizer, which would improve water quality and reduce the amount of nitrogen that flows downstream and contributes to oxygen-depleted zones in aquatic ecosystems.

Consequences for food production and the environment

Better drainage would also cut down on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the amount of fertilizers used by farmers, the researchers conclude. Dryer soils, due to effective drainage, also release less of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. Thus, updated and new drainage systems built to address modern agricultural realities would ensure better yields and more resilient production systems.