Swale Experiences

Discussion in 'Put Your Questions to the Experts!' started by Jennifer Nason, Nov 14, 2016.

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Do you use swales with clay soils in Northern Climates?

  1. no

    1 vote(s)
    50.0%
  2. yes

    1 vote(s)
    50.0%
  1. Jennifer Nason

    Jennifer Nason New Member

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    I am interested in determining what the best way to manage the water on my old field so I can start producing fruit and nut trees in a northern climate. I have read a lot about swale use in dry climates, but not much about what problem they are best used for in Northern, humid climates. I am also interested in Keyline and other methods that are perhaps less invasive to the soil too.
    Our problem tends to be waterlogged mushy soil in the spring / early summer, (you cant bring an excavator without a huge mess and lots of chance for getting stuck as its a slope as well). Then hard soil and no rain in the month of august. Too much water then dry as a bone for a month. Our clay is sandy loam with a good amount of clay. Ponds are easy to make in the area. What soil types are swales best used with? If the soil has too much clay, couldn't it prevent the water from soaking and become a pond? it is a large southwest field, high up elevation for the region, good for blueberries (fairly acidic), and fairly compacted from years of bushhogging. Tire ruts fill with water and don't drain until they seem to evaporate. My gut says swaling would be a waste of ground disturbance for very little benefit. Any comments?
     
  2. 9anda1f

    9anda1f Administrator Staff Member

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    Hi Jennifer and welcome,
    Have you seen Geoff Lawton's video "Harvesting Water", especially the part about the water 'plume'?
    Here is an excerpt:

    Complete video: https://permaculturenews.org/2008/04/11/harvesting-water-dvd-released/

    You mention clay soil and slope, which would suggest that you get surface water run-off during rain events. Swales are particularly good at slowing water to let it infiltrate under these conditions. Infiltrating water deep into your clay soil would help your plants during dry periods (clay holds water very well) and encourage deeper roots to help loosen compacted soil. By beginning high in the landscape, your water 'plume' would then benefit all the plants downslope during the year. Swales can also be used to feed ponds/dams with their overflow. Even a pond will infiltrate water over time, albeit slowly, and help feed/maintain the plume. Water puddles in tire tracks is due to compaction and you mention your field is compacted due to "brushhogging". Various root plants (daikon radish for one) is good at breaking up compaction and a careful selection/planting of these would begin to heal your field. In my opinion, the most important criterion to indicate swaling is surface water run-off during rain events, knowing that the best place to store water is in the soil.
     
    Bryant RedHawk likes this.
  3. songbird

    songbird Senior Member

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    -15C-35C, 10cm rain/mo, clay, full sun, K-G Dfa=x=Dfb
    i am voting no for your question.

    our place is very flat, we have a lot of clay and some sand.

    if i were going to do fruit trees here i would reshape to give a
    large mound or long mound if i were to plant in rows. our
    water table in the spring is very high. then it declines as the
    season progresses.

    my water issues are with flash flooding and it being too wet
    at times like you say, muddy work and i try to stay off the
    gardens when it is like that. i now have a berm and ditch to
    help with the flash flooding issue, as of yet it has not been
    challenged enough to see how well it works, but some heavy
    storms the ditch has been used and is doing what it is supposed
    to be doing.

    in some areas i plant the deeper rooted cover crops like
    alfalfa and they encourage worm life and drainage is
    gradually improved. chop and drop and other mixed uses
    in the area are on-going. over the next few years i will
    have strawberries and other crops mixed in. i've done
    turnips and garlic already and don't recommend garlic
    in a mixed garden with perennials as it makes it very
    tough to harvest. so i am now weeding them out as i
    work my way through doing other things. garlic will take
    over an area. daikon radishes have done well this past
    season. i eat the sprouts, the rest become worm food
    eventually. the deer have not eaten them that i can tell.
     
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