A component of the course “Filling the Pipeline: Agricultural Drainage Education to Meet 21st Century Water Management Needs”
Instructor: Dr. Laura Christianson, University of Illinois
Overview: This module compares conservation drainage practices based on cost and also additional metrics including water quality improvement, stackability, barriers, and additional benefits. This is intended for students (especially the discounting content) but also conservation professionals.
Zip file with all files included
Learning Objectives:
After completing this module, students will:
- Describe and compare conservation drainage practices based on:
- Water quality improvement
- Stackability
- Barriers
- Additional Benefits
- Calculate and compare costs of conservation drainage practices
Step by Step Guide to Complete the Module:
- Describe and compare conservation drainage practices based on water quality improvement and stackability
- Watch video 1: “Practice performance and stackability” (12:46 min)
- Answer these thought questions: What practices would you stack together? Why?
- Watch video 1: “Practice performance and stackability” (12:46 min)
- Describe and compare conservation drainage practices based on barriers and additional benefits
- Watch video 2: “Barriers and additional benefits” (07:14 min)
- Watch video 3: “Online Nitrogen Load Estimate Calculator” (04:28 min)
- Watch video 4: “Edge of field practice decision trees” (10:05 min)
- Optional:
- Use this tool from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/waterquality/nitrogen-load-estimate-calculator) to assess load reductions from in-field and edge-of-field practices. Try adjusting acres from receiving fall nitrogen applications to spring nitrogen applications. What do you notice? What happens if you add a few acres with an edge of field practice? What happens if you increase those acres?
- Optional:
- Calculate and compare costs of conservation drainage practices
- Watch video 5: “Comparing practice costs” (11:49 min)
- Watch video 6: “Discounting example in Excel” (14:15 min)
- Perform the homework assignment (for students) and quiz questions (students and conservation professionals).
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture (award number 2018-70003-27661). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
