Abstract

Daily outflow frequencies and recession curves were used to identify differences in storage-outflow relationships between two different drainage systems, conventional and controlled drainage. A three-year (1996-1999) field drainage experiment was carried out on a loamy sand soil in southern Sweden. Plots with an area of 0.2 hectares were drained by conventional subsurface drainage (CD) or by controlled drainage (CWT1 and CWT2). The controlled drainage system allowed the groundwater level in the soil to be varied during the year. It was kept at least 70 cm below the soil surface during the growing season but allowed to rise to a maximum of 20 cm below the soil surface during the rest of the year. Measurements were performed to record precipitation, drain outflow and groundwater levels. Daily values of outflow were divided into 10 categories, based on the size of outflow. Recession curves of hourly measurement of outflow were selected. They behaved like single reservoirs and a linear storage-outflow model was applied. Least squares estimates of the parameters initial outflow, initial storage volume and retention constant were calculated.Controlled drainage had a significant effect on total drain outflow and outflow pattern during the three years of measurement. The total drain outflow was 70% to 90% smaller in CWT than in CD. The analysis revealed that the initial outflows were higher, the retention constant and the temporary storage lower in CWT. The hydrological impacts of the reduction in temporary storage were higher peak flow, shorter lag time and shorter recession time and these effects increased with an increased groundwater level. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Keywords

controlled drainage; recession curves; temporary storage; peak flow; retention constant

Published in

Hydrological Processes
2003, Volume: 17, number: 8, pages: 1525-1538
Publisher: JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD

SLU Authors

• Wesström, Ingrid

  • Department of Soil Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Linner, Harry

  • Department of Soil Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Messing, Ingmar

  • Department of Soil Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.1197

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/60407