Drainage Needs as Indicated by High Water Tables

Abstract

ABSTRACT WATER table depths were measured and SEW30 determined for nondrained and subsurface-drained areas in four South Louisiana Parishes (Counties) during 1979 through 1985 to quantify the water table problem and the need for subsurface drainage. High SEW30 values from the nondrained treatments indicated that a high water table problem occurred frequently in three Parishes and occasionally in the fourth Parish. SEW30 values from the nondrained area were significantly higher than those in the drained area indicating the effectiveness of subsurface drainage in reducing or eliminating the water table problem. Crop response -corn at one site and sugarcane at three sites -was favorable to subsurface drainage as yields from the subsurface-drained areas were significantly higher than those from the nondrained areas