ABSTRACT
Subsurface drainage is the removal of excess water sourced
from intentional or unintentional overirrigation, precipita-
tion, seepage, or naturally high water tables from agricul-
tural lands to achieve a suitably aerated root zone for crop
growth, characteristically using man-made conduits buried
beneath the soil surface. Essentially, water from the agri-
cultural land above seeps into the drains and flows to
buried collector conduits or open ditches on its way to
storage or disposal water systems. Beginning with simple
management techniques to provide an adequate root zone
and field trafficability, basically involving installation and
repairs, subsurface drainage system management has
evolved into a complex science encompassing the desires
to enhance crop nutrient uptake, control salinity, reduce
erosion, maintain optimum water tables, and manage dis-
charge water quality.
