Economic Factors of Drainage Related to Corn Production

This publication discusses the likely effects of drainage improvements, the yield value of those improvements, the factors determining the economics of drainage, and how to calculate returns to a drainage investment. Tables are included listing the corn yields with various drainage systems on Toledo Silty clay soil in North Central Ohio, corn yields with drainage improvements and irrigation on a claypan soil in South Central Illinois, example approximate-analysis calculations of benefits and costs of installing tile drainage, and after-tax rate of return for a $500-per-acre drainage improvement investment with $40 to $140 net return per acre and 0% to 100% financing.