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Title: Corn yield under subirrigation and future climate scenarios in the Maumee river basin

Author
item GUNN, KOPTI - The Ohio State University
item BAULE, WILLIAM - University Of Michigan
item FRANKENBERGER, JANE - Purdue University
item Gamble, Debra
item Allred, Barry
item ANDRESEN, JEFF - Michigan State University
item BROWN, LARRY - The Ohio State University

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASABE
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2016
Publication Date: 9/7/2016
Citation: Gunn, K.M., Baule, W.J., Frankenberger, J.R., Gamble, D.L., Allred, B.J., Andresen, J.A., Brown, L.C. 2016. Corn yield under subirrigation and future climate scenarios in the Maumee river basin. Transactions of the ASABE. DOI:10.13031/IDS.20162515032.

Interpretive Summary: Subirrigation may help alleviate drought stress during the growing season and increase annual corn yields. However, limited data are available to support the expansion of the subirrigation practice across the Corn Belt. Additionally, climate projections for the region suggest that climate conditions will change in the future, which may also influence the effects of subirrigation. This study was conducted using computer modeling software, DRAINMOD, to investigate the effects of subirrigation on corn yield under historical (1984-2013) and future (2041-2070) climate conditions. DRAINMOD was calibrated and validated using relative yield data observed at a Wetland Reservoir Subirrigation System (WRSIS) project site in the Maumee River Basin, and was run with climate data observed at this WRSIS location, and with bias-corrected climate data projected by three climate models for the area of study. The impacts of subirrigation on annual corn relative yields were analyzed. Under historical conditions, an increased mean corn relative yield of 26.5% was simulated at the llocation with the implementation of subirrigation, where the relative yield increase was very consistent. For the historical climate period, corn relative yield increases may be positively associated with subirrigation for low to average growing season precipitation. The simulations with future climate projections indicated that corn grown under free subsurface drainage conditions will experience relative yield decreases. But subirrigation may help alleviate the impacts of climate change by holding annual relative yields at the level observed in the past 30 years. The implementation of subirrigation at Fulton allowed future overall relative yields of 36.5% over free subsurface drainage.

Technical Abstract: Subirrigation has been proposed as a water table management practice to maintain appropriate soil water content during periods of high crop water demand on subsurface drained croplands in the Corn Belt. Subirrigation takes advantage of the subsurface drainage systems already installed on drained agricultural lands to remove excess soil water after precipitation events. However, limited information regarding corn yield under subirrigation is available to promote its implementation at a large scale. In addition, its performance within the backdrop of climate change has not been explored in the context of the Corn Belt. The computer program, DRAINMOD, was calibrated and validated for a location with Nappanee loam soil in the Maumee River Basin in Northwest Ohio. The compter model was then used to investigate relative corn yield differences between subirrigation and free subsurface drainage for historical (1984-2013) and projected future (2041-2070) climate conditions. For historical conditions, the mean relative corn yield increased by 26.5% under subirrigation. Under free subsurface drainage, corn relative yields were lower for future climate conditions than for historical climate conditions. For the projected future climate conditions, overall relative corn yields under subirrigation increased by 36.5% compared to relative yields under free subsurface drainage. Subirrigation contributed in sustaining relative corn yields under future climate conditions.