Field Crop Production - Non-tillage Options

Table of Contents

1. Conservation Structures for Streams and Ditches
2. Available in Published Version of Field Crop Production

Conservation Structures for Streams and Ditches

Stabilization of Streambanks

All Ontario farmers must remove excess water from farmland through surface and subsurface drainage. Most land does benefit from artificially-improved drainage. Just look at the extent of private and municipal drainage in Ontario!

Ditches and streams in rural areas are too often viewed simply as drainage outlets for agricultural land.

Figure 1. A five-year-old tree planting with shrubs, grass and brush piles offers habitat to wildlife along a drain corridor.

Unfortunately, local and downstream impacts are often overlooked in drainage planning:

• Fisheries and wildlife concerns must be addressed.
• Flooding impacts must be considered. In many instances, maintenance or minor alterations may be all that is necessary to satisfy drainage concerns. See the book on Farm Forestry and Habitat Management for more information.

Streambank stabilization begins on the land near the stream. Keep erosion to a minimum with a well thought out conservation farm plan.

Cropland should be separated from the watercourse with permanent buffer strips at least three metres (10 feet) in width. Buffer strips can help filter out sediment in run-off water while stabilizing the streambanks.

Vegetation along stream corridors offers habitat for wildlife and reduces maintenance costs. Bird populations will increase, which can reduce the number of insects and pests.

Tile Drain Outlet Stabilization

Tile drain outlets should be installed in a manner which does not cause an obstruction or erosion in a receiving watercourse.

Figure 2. A properly-installed tile outlet.

Livestock Fencing and Stream Crossings

Livestock should be restricted from all watercourses where damage is evident. They can trample banks and destroy vegetation increasing erosion and contaminating water with manure.

Many fencing alternatives are available. Modern systems will withstand severe flood water and ice flow and cost as little as $1.64/m ($0.50/ft.) installed (1991). Watering facilities such as nose pumps, side-hill spring boxes or a solar-powered pumping system may be installed if livestock do not have access to other water sources.

An acceptable livestock crossing restricts stream access at all times. The crossing could be at bank-level such as a bridge or culvert, or a low-level crossing such as a series of culverts, or a single rectangular concrete conduit. Fencing must extend over the crossing during the seasons that livestock are on pasture.

Available in Published Version of Field Crop Production

• Stabilization of Stream Banks
• Machinery Crossings
• Fragile/Marginal Land Retirement
• Troubleshooting - Chart
• Case Study
  

Best Management Practices: Field Crop Production