Conservation Drainage

Throughout Illinois and other parts of the Midwest, farmers are increasingly investing in tile drainage systems to improve productivity and trafficability of their fields. Conservation drainage practices such as bioreactors, controlled drainage systems, saturated buffers, and constructed wetlands, are designed to capture and treat drainage from tile outlets, providing effective and often long-term nutrient loss reduction benefits.

General

Woodchip Bioreactors

Saturated Buffers

Drainage Water Management

Constructed Wetlands

Bioreactor

Controlled Drainage

All Resources

FarmDoc Daily

FarmDoc is a program of the University of Illinois Extension that aims to provide U.S. Corn Belt crop and livestock producers with constant access to integrated infromation and expertise to better manage their farm businesses. FarmdocDAILY aims to publish short, daily articles on a variety of agricultural topics.

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SWCS Controlled Drainage Video

Conservation Drainage | Controlled Drainage

This video, in the SWCS Conservation Media Library, shows how conservation drainage provides more control and additional benefits to your fields.

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University of Illinois Woodchip Bioreactor

Bioreactor | Conservation Drainage

Simple woodchip-filled trenches called bioreactors can clean nitrogen pollution from water. Find out more from Dr. Laura Christianson of the University of Illinois as she talks about one of her favorite ideas.

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