DRAINAGE RESEARCH AT THE SOUTHERN RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CENTER, WASECA, MN

摘要: Artificial drainage in Minnesota began shortly after European immigrants started settling in the rich farmland of the region. Settlers found many of the soils of southern and western Minnesota to be very productive but often too wet to produce crops. This is especially true for the region around the Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC) at Waseca. Considerable surface drainage of the region had occurred by the early 1900s. Subsurface tile were added to drainage systems to remove excess water from soils and transport it to ditches or streams. This drainage greatly expanded the amount of land that could be farmed in Minnesota. The drained areas have proven to be highly productive and are an important part of Minnesota’s agriculture.