Drainage benefits the land

Nearly a quarter of the land area of Ireland is classified as heavy or poorly drained soil, and almost half of the agricultural land would benefit from reclamation and drainage, according to Teagasc experts at the recent open day on the Solohead Research Farm in Tipperary.

The objective of any form of land drainage is to lower the water-table. This promotes deeper rooting, which improves sward productivity. It also improves the load-bearing capacity of the soil and lessens the damage caused by grazing and machinery.

The potential of the land to be drained should be assessed first, to determine if the costs incurred will result in an economic return through additional yield and utilisation of the grass or other crops.