About Drainage Analysis
A drainage analysis can be performed on fields where higher yield is expected on lower ground soil. The data necessary to complete a drainage analysis for these types of fields are available to everyone. Either Landsat (available for all) or yield monitor data can be used as data that establishes if yield is relatively higher on lower ground soil. Lower ground soil can be mapped by using high resolution elevation data (such as data based on LiDAR) to produce flow accumulation, from soil darkness maps (darker soil is lower ground), your personal knowledge of the field, or by other means such as SSURGO soil polygons (if you are satisfied with the polygons). Maps and analysis can be completed for many seasons, or just seasons you select, to show if yield is relatively higher in lower ground soil. If there is an area of low yield consistently associated with lower ground soil, the area can be mapped and measured, and the yield loss can be estimated. A cost-benefit assessment can be made based on repair cost and estimated increased yield to help make a decision about how to manage the field.