Principles of drainage with special reference to peat.

Abstract

Any general discussion on the principles of drainage must take all factors of the hydrological cycle into account. These factors are precipitation, infiltration and run-off, evaporation and evapo-transpiration, soil permeability and the water retaining power of the soil. Of equal importance are the physiological factors and the functions of root systems in the soil. In this paper an attempt has been made to give a brief summary of the more important of these factors and an account is given of the main results of drainage research at the Peat Station of the Irish Agricultural Institute at Glenamoy, Co. Mayo...