The Farmlander - October 2021 South

Page 57

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

From field tiles to smooth-wall pipes The benefits of land drainage are tacitly understood by farmers, who rely on managing their water table to maximise production outcomes. Farm inputs such as fertiliser and herbicides bring incremental benefits. Soil structure is improved with greater worm activity, less soil compaction and better-quality pasture with reduced pugging. Better root system development and warmer soils over winter months increase pasture production, while dryer soils allow stock to graze wetter winter paddocks for longer periods and vehicle access around the farm is improved.

| Land drainage has improved considerably with the development of better pipe technology.

In the late 1990s, Iplex Pipelines

a much flatter gradient, 1:1,000 rather

introduced the next generation of land

than 1:400 for 110mm Novaflo. This was

drainage pipe under the brand name

a huge benefit on flat land with little fall,

Nexus. Using twin-wall technology, two pipe extruders operated on a

allowing longer lateral drainage lines into open culverts, negating the need

The predominant land drainage pipe 50 years ago was field tiles. These short lengths of earthenware pipe had lugs on the end, so when butted together a gap was left for the groundwater to enter the pipe. It was time-consuming, backbreaking work to lay these tiles on grade, so when Novaflo, a lightweight coiled corrugated pipe with slotted holes, became available in the mid 1970s, it quickly became the product of choice.

single manufacturing line to produce

49 percent better flow than the 110mm

the life of the drainage network. With

Massey University led the way in New Zealand in assessing the benefits of land drainage and providing practical information on best practice installation. Understanding soil structures, the use of imported backfill material, where mole-drains were effective and the use of laser level technology saw a quantum increase in land drainage effectiveness.

corrugated-bore Novaflo. These test

160mm Nexus delivering 69 percent

results were confirmed by the then Ag

greater flow than 160mm corrugated

Engineering Department of Massey

bore Novaflo and the addition of a new

University. Faster removal of excess

200mm Nexus diameter, land drainage

a pipe with a corrugated external wall

to use larger bore, more expensive

and smooth inner wall. This was a

drainage pipe or in some cases the

game changer in many respects for

necessity to create more open culverts.

the performance of polyethylene land

The faster water flow through the Nexus

drainage pipes.

also had the effect of flushing out dirt

With the smooth-bore 110mm Nexus

that had entered the pipe, stopping

producing a laminar, less turbulent flow of water through the pipe, the water flowed faster, delivering an impressive

water from the soil profile amplified all the benefits of land drainage. Other positives became apparent to land drainage contractors, who took to using Nexus immediately. It could be laid on

blockages, maintaining the full-bore drainage performance and extending

systems became easier to design and install with maximised performance. How times have changed! For more information on land drainage or other rural pipeline matters, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store

| The corrugated walls of the original Novaflo, above, created a turbulent flow. The smooth walls of Nexus produce a faster flow.

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Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited | © October 2021. All rights reserved.

THE FARMLANDER | 57


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Articles inside

Clean water storage reaches new heights

4min
pages 61-64

Century Farms – Five generations call farm home

2min
page 65

Technology helps take strain out of fencing

2min
pages 59-60

From field tiles to smooth-wall pipes

2min
pages 57-58

Wise product choices do two jobs at once

4min
pages 51-54

‘Blanket’ keeps lid on open-stored water

3min
pages 55-56

Angus breeders embrace tissue sampling advances

4min
pages 46-48

Lifestyle blocks offer path to biodiversity

4min
pages 42-44

Mating’s trifecta: bulls, heat and AI

2min
page 45

New research proves deferred grazing works

2min
pages 49-50

Variety the spice in pig genetics recipe

2min
page 41

Smooth weaning puts calves on good path

2min
pages 39-40

Head start for NZ in sustainability drive

5min
pages 16-17

Restoring the magic on marginal land

2min
page 23

NZ dairying leads in lowering emissions

4min
pages 28-30

Growers in good heart over hazelnuts

5min
pages 20-22

Connections central to innovation park's vision

6min
pages 18-19

Flexibility needed in feeding broodmares

2min
pages 37-38

5 minutes with Tanya

4min
pages 6-7

When biodiversity thrives the environment thrives

7min
pages 24-27
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