Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center (SEPAC) drainage research data, 1984-2020

<p>This dataset contains research data obtained during a long-term subsurface drainage research project conducted at the Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center in Jennings County, Indiana, from 1984 to 2020. The project was funded in part by Purdue Agricultural Research Programs and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch project 87887. The original goals of the project were to evaluate the effects of different subsurface drain spacings (drainage intensities) on drain flow and corn growth and yield. Additional objectives were added over the years, especially related to movement of agricultural chemicals (nitrate-N, other nutrients, and pesticides) through the soil into the drainage waters.</p>

<p>The main data included here are drainflow and nitrate-N concentrations and loads from each of six tile drains, on a daily basis, from 1985 through 2015. As described in the Methods, the six tile drains comprise two replications each of three drain spacings (5, 10, 20m). Flow data are presented both as volume (liters) and on a per area basis (cm). Other data include daily precipitation and some discontinuous concentration data for ammonium-N, dissolved organic carbon, chloride, phosphorus, and pH. Agronomic data include crop yields (corn, soybean) and grain moisture content from 1984 through 2020. Detailed site information is provided, including experimental design, drainage design, agronomic management practices, and soils data. A list of the primary journal articles and Extension publications from the site are also included.</p>

<p>Research data have been collected across 37 years and methodologies changed over time. Users need to review all methods to properly contextualize and interpret the dataset. Users are strongly encouraged to reach out to the point-of-contact with any questions pertaining to the data and experimental site.</p>