Precisiewatermanagement op veenweidegrond met pompgestuurde onderwaterdrains: rapportage onderzoeksperiode 2016-2020

In a field experiment at the experimental farm KTC Zegveld (peat meadow), the effect of submerged drains and pump-controlled submerged drains on the groundwater level was investigated. Submerged drains lie below ditch level and can both drain and infiltrate. The main goal is infiltration for peat conservation and thus a reduction in subsidence and greenhouse gases. Therefore the system is also called Water Infiltration System (WIS). By connecting the drain tubes to a closed water reservoir, the pressure difference between surface water and groundwater can be increased with a pump, in order to increase the effect on the groundwater level. In addition, infiltration was increased relatively more than drainage. The research showed that these so-called pump-controlled submerged increased the infiltrating effect as well as the draining effect. As a result, the peat soil remains wetter and less oxygen penetrates into the soil. Potentially this will cause less peat oxidation and therefore soil subsidence and emission of the greenhouse gases CO2 and N2O.