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Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2003

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

First Advisor

Hal Werner

Abstract

A one-dimensional water balance model was designed to simulate the relative yields of corn for subsurface drained waterways (drained condition) and undrained waterways (undrained condition) based on climatic data from the Brookings, SD automatic weather station. The relative yield of drought stress and excessive soil water conditions were combined to form the overall relative yield for each simulated year (1986-1990, 1993-2000, 2002). For the 14 simulated years, the difference in average relative yields due to drought stress was equal to 11.6% higher for undrained conditions than drained conditions. The difference in average relative yields due to excessive soil water conditions was 27.7% higher for the drained condition than the undrained condition. Over the 14 years of simulations, the average overall relative yield for com was 12.0% higher for the drained condition than the undrained condition. The standard deviation of the simulated yields for the drained condition and the undrained condition were 19% and 27%, respectively. The in-situ drainage characteristics of soils derived from glacial till parent material were evaluated in Eastern South Dakota and were used in the water balance model. Two experimental drainage sites were constructed in a Kranzburg soil and a Houdek soil. The drainage flux rates were determined for both soils while the hydraulic conductivity was determined for the Kranzburg soil using the instantaneous profile method. The average drainage flux rates within the 1.5 m soil profile were 0.710 mm/day for the Kranzburg soils and 0.233 mm/day for the Houdek soil. The average hydraulic conductivity for the Kranzburg soil for the 0.45 m – 0.75 m soil depth zone was 1.17 mm/day at a mean soil matric potential of -0.957 m of water and mean volumetric water content of 0.318 m3/m3. The average hydraulic conductivity for the Kranzburg soil for the 0.75 m – 1.05 m soil depth zone was 0.86 mm/day at a mean soil matric potential of -0.824 m of water and a mean volumetric water content of 0.318 m3/m3.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Corn -- Yields -- South Dakota -- Computer simulation
Drainage -- Computer simulation
Water balance (Hydrology) -- Mathematical models

Format

application/pdf

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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