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| this bulletin released by Purdue a few years ago may be of interest:
https://ag.purdue.edu/agry/extension/Documents/TilesandCoverCropRoot...
Joel
WIU Agriculture
BTW here is a section:
Potential management to reduce the potential for pipe blockage by crop roots
While it isn’t clear what caused the apparent surge of roots clogging tiles this past season, we can suggest some ideas that might help reduce the problem. We offer these as possibilities to consider while we strive to learn what the underlying causes of the problems really are. These are not provided as definitive answers. For the plant roots, if it is fairly certain that the roots are from the cover crop (and not from the cash crop, trees, or weed species), consider:
• Alternating shallow-rooting covers with deep-rooting covers
• Terminating the cover crop earlier in the spring
• Alternating winter-kill covers with those that overwinter
• For new drainage system installations, avoid seeding the cover crop immediately over the
new tile trench for the first year while the soil is still quite loose.
Any one of these practices might reduce the potential for roots to reach and enter the tile drain.
Now that we are more aware of potential problematic weather —like a rainy period followed by a prolonged dry period and a mild winter — it is advisable to have an early termination strategy. Cover crop rooting substantially benefits soil health, and we need to consider ways to achieve these benefits without having the roots enter and proliferate in the tiles. Anecdotal information also suggests that at least in some cases, once the cover crop is terminated and the roots die, the blockage will clear itself up over the next month or so, allowing water to flow freely again. Anecdotal information about the type of cover crop roots that have been found include conflicting observations about cover crop types that either have or have not shown issues, suggesting that species selection may not be a definitive solution.
If you notice small imperfections in the tile system (like dips, humps, or crushed tile) repair them promptly. Consider repairing these as you repair more traditional “blowouts” that routinely become apparent in fields. Root blockage problems resulting from some of these imperfections may not become apparent until enough sediment or residue builds up to provide an attractive place for roots to grow.
For surface risers, consider installing a filter or sock on the riser to reduce the potential for residue and sediment from entering. Or, consider replacing the riser with a blind inlet. Blind inlets filter sediment and phosphorus from a low spot while still allowing the depression to drain rapidly. Blind inlets also improve field efficiency, because you no longer need to farm around the riser — you can farm right over the top of the blind inlet.
We may need to investigate different types of tile materials that make it less likely for roots to enter tile in the first place. There are various perforation sizes and shapes for different soil conditions, and perhaps some of these might also provide benefits related to roots. Socks or filters might be another possibility. Perhaps we need to consider non-perforated tiles for the mains.
Consider using taped external couplers for tile junctions rather than internal couplings. This practice could reduce the potential internal restrictions that may trap residues and sediment that roots find attractive. If you use internal couplers, be sure to trim
any excess that could extend into the main and capture sediment.
Consider avoiding tillage practices that cut the residues into small pieces that tend to float away, especially if the tile system has surface risers. This would reduce the potential for residue to enter the tile system and clog the tile lines.
Finally, there is some equipment that can clean out sections of tile lines without replacing them. You can mechanically clean out roots, or use high-pressure water or air to blow out obstructions between two cuts in a tile line. Although not particularly common, some have had success with these practices. | |
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Extension bulletin on tile plugging by cover crop roots
