scholarly journals Survey of Container Nursery Irrigation Practices in West-central Florida: An Educational Opportunity

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 682-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisele Schoene ◽  
Thomas Yeager ◽  
Dorota Haman
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Educational Opportunity ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Educational Programs ◽  
Central Florida ◽  
West Central ◽  
Container Nurseries ◽  
Irrigation Requirements

A survey was conducted of nursery operators participating in workshops in west-central Florida. The purpose of the survey was to identify the irrigation best management practices (BMPs) adopted by container nurseries in west-central Florida and obtain information regarding emphasis of future extension educational programs. Workshops were conducted in Hillsborough County, Fla., and Manatee County, Fla., and participation was voluntary. Respondents were asked about BMPs used in the nurseries according to the irrigation system used and it was found that the majority of the nurseries relied on well water as the primary source for irrigation. While 69% of the nurseries monitored uniformity of microirrigation systems, only 35% monitored uniformity of overhead irrigation systems. Thirty-four percent of the nurseries collected irrigation or rain runoff and 9% knew the water holding capacity of their substrate. Most of the nurseries grouped plants by irrigation requirements (74%) and grouped container sizes by irrigation requirements (69%). The survey indicates that many BMPs are not widely adopted by nurseries in west-central Florida. The information from this survey can be used as a guide to focus the efforts of university extension educational programs to achieve greater adoption of BMPs.

scholarly journals Best Management Practices for Florida Citrus

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry Parsons ◽  
Brian Boman
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Runoff Water ◽  
Cost Share ◽  
Central Florida ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Drinking Water Standard ◽  
Florida Citrus

Best management practices (BMPs) started in Florida citrus (Citrus spp.) in the 1990s and have evolved to play a major role in production practices today. One of the earliest BMPs in Florida arose from concerns over nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in some surficial groundwater aquifers exceeding the 10 mg·L-1 drinking water standard. This occurred in an area of well-drained sandy soils known as the Central Florida Ridge that extends north and south through the central part of the Florida peninsula. State agencies could have used a strictly regulatory approach and restricted how much nitrogen growers could apply. Instead of setting arbitrary regulations, the agencies promoted a scientific-based BMP approach. A nitrogen BMP for Central Florida Ridge citrus was established, and research is now validating the earlier groundwater work on more grower field sites. The purpose of this BMP was to minimize the risk of leaching nitrates from fertilizer into the groundwater. Several important aspects of the BMP involve: 1) limiting the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied at any one time, 2) increasing the frequency of fertilizer applications, 3) reducing fertilizer applications during the summer rainy season, and 4) managing irrigation to reduce leaching below the root zone. Since this Central Florida Ridge nitrogen BMP was established, major BMP actions to improve water quality and reduce the quantity of runoff water have taken place in the Indian River production area of Florida's east coast. BMPs continue to be set up in other parts of the state for a variety of plant and animal agricultural practices. In some cases, cost-share funds have been provided to help implement BMPs. With voluntary BMPs, growers have scientifically based guidelines, a waiver of liability, and an avoidance of arbitrary regulations.

scholarly journals Petunia Growth and Maintenance in the Landscape as Influenced by Alternative Irrigation Strategies

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 771B-771
Author(s):  
Sloane M. Scheiber* ◽  
Richard C. Beeson
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Leaf Gas Exchange ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Controlled Irrigation ◽  
Alternative Irrigation

Petunia `Midnight' were grown in drainage lysimeters in an open-sided clear polyethylene covered shelter to evaluate growth responses in response to alternative irrigation strategies. Three irrigation methods were evaluated: tensiometer-controlled automatic irrigation system, regularly scheduled irrigation utilizing an automated controller, and human perception of plant irrigation need. Drainage lysimeters (250 L) were backfilled with native sand field soil to simulate landscape conditions and managed with Best Management Practices. Following establishment, lysimeters irrigated by an automated controller were irrigated 1.3 cm daily. Tensiometer-controlled lysimeters were irrigated when plant available water (2.5 kPa to 1.5 MPa) had declined to 70% or less, and were irrigated back to field capacity. Canopy growth indices and leaf gas exchange measurements were evaluated relative to irrigation strategies. Actual evapotranspiration was calculated for each replication. Daily irrigation resulted in significantly higher assimilation rates, transpiration rates, and final shoot dry weights than the other treatments tested. Assimilation rates and transpiration rates were significantly higher for tensiometer-controlled irrigation than the human judged treatment, but no differences were found in final shoot dry mass.

scholarly journals Florida Nursery Best Management Practices: Past, Present, and Future

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Yeager ◽  
Jeff Million ◽  
Claudia Larsen ◽  
Bob Stamps
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Surface Water Quality ◽  
The State ◽  
Fertilizer Use ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Quality Issues ◽  
Container Nurseries

Florida container nurseries face the challenge of maintaining profitability while protecting the environment by improving the efficiency of water and fertilizer use. Best management practices (BMPs) provide irrigation and fertilization guidelines for meeting this challenge. BMPs are economically and technologically feasible to implement and they focus on the ground- and surface water quality issues of the state. However, increasing nursery participation in the statewide BMP program is crucial as the industry continues to expand and interface with urbanization.

Timber Harvesting, Regeneration, and Best Management Practices Among West Central Alabama NIPF Owners

1994 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 116-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Henry ◽  
John C. Bliss
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Forest Regeneration ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Field Inspection ◽  
Best Management ◽  
West Central ◽  
Forest Practices ◽  
Nipf Owners

Abstract Timber harvesting, forest regeneration, and best management practices have major environmental and productivity impacts on NIPF lands in the South. This paper presents data on NIPF owner's knowledge and implementation of such practices. Satellite imagery was used to locate recent clearcut tracts on NIPF land in west-central Alabama. Forest regeneration, waterway protection, and other measures of site condition were determined by field inspection. Fifty-two tract owners responded to a mail survey questionnaire which included demographic, forest practices, attitudinal, and forestry knowledge questions. Comparison of survey responses with field inspection reveals that NIPF owners who are satisfied with postharvest conditions in their forests are inclined to regenerate harvested stands and plan future harvests. Most owners appear knowledgeable about the regeneration status of their forests and have taken steps to achieve regeneration. In contrast, few owners recognize the need for best management practices (BMPs) to protect adjacent waterways, and fewer still have implemented adequate BMPs. South. J. Appl. For. 18(3):116-121.

scholarly journals Watering Station Best Management Practices for Container Nurseries

EDIS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Yeager
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Natural Waters ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Fact Sheet ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Container Nurseries

Watering stations are specialized irrigation structures where plants are watered immediately after transplanting. Water not retained by the container substrate as well as water falling between containers becomes runoff. This runoff can contain sediment and nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, that can impact natural waters if not managed according to Best Management Practices (BMPs). The purpose of this new 3-page fact sheet is to provide examples of how runoff from watering stations at two nurseries was managed after implementation of the BMP. Written by Tom Yeager and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep590

scholarly journals Evaluating Florida Homeowner Response to Smart Irrigation Controllers

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 511-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria C. Morera ◽  
Paul F. Monaghan ◽  
Michael D. Dukes ◽  
Ondine Wells ◽  
Stacia L. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Successful Operation ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Moisture Sensor

Smart irrigation controllers are capable of substantially decreasing landscape water applications under residential high water-use conditions in Florida. Their implementation has been incentivized by governmental agencies and water utilities in an effort to reduce public-supply water demand and conserve water resources. However, the bulk of the research on smart controllers for urban landscapes has focused on performance dimensions. To successfully promote them, feedback from end-users is critical. This paper provides an evaluation of homeowner response to evapotranspiration (ET)-based and soil moisture sensor (SMS)-based smart controllers installed as part of a pilot project conducted in Orange County, FL. The objectives of the study were to collect demographic information, assess conservation attitudes and irrigation system knowledge, and gather feedback on the use of smart controllers from the pilot project’s residential cooperators. Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed using relative frequency distributions, text analysis, independent means t tests, and logistic regression. Results indicated that a majority of survey participants were satisfied with their controllers and planned to continue using them. Both ET and SMS controllers were consistently praised for saving money and irrigating efficiently. However, the likelihood that participants would continue using their controllers after the completion of the project was only significantly predicted by their levels of technical knowledge regarding the workings of the devices and whether they had experienced any challenges operating them. Efforts to promote both initial and long-term adoption may be most effective by emphasizing the economic benefits of investing in smart irrigation controllers and by disseminating best management practices that facilitate their understanding and successful operation.

scholarly journals (225) Challenges and Opportunities with Vegetable BMPs in Southwest Florida

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1075A-1075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Ozores-Hampton ◽  
Eric Simonne ◽  
Eugene McAvoy ◽  
Phil Stansly ◽  
Sanjay Shukla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Fertilization Rate ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Size Category ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Southwest Florida ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

About 10,000 ha of staked tomato are grown each year in the winter–spring season in southwest Florida. Tomatoes are produced with transplants, raised beds, polyethylene mulch, drip or seepage irrigation, and intensive fertilization. With the development of nutrient best management practices (BMPs) for vegetable crops and increased competition among water users, N recommendations must ensure economical yields, but still minimize the environmental impact of tomato production. The current University of Florida–IFAS (UF–IFAS) N fertilization rate of 224 kg·ha-1 (with supplemental fertilizer applications under specified conditions) may require adjustment based on soil type and irrigation system. Because growers should be involved in the development and implementation of BMPs, this project established partnerships with southwest Florida tomato growers. Studies evaluated the effects of N application rates on yield, plant growth, petiole N sap, pests, and diseases. Nine on-farm trials were conducted during the dry winter 2004–05 season. Treatments consisted of N fertilizer rates ranging from 224 to 448 kg·ha-1, with each trial including at least the UF–IFAS rate and the traditional rate. Although total yields were comparable among N rates, there were differences in size category. Nitrogen rates had little effect on tomato biomass 30 and 60 days after transplanting. Changes in petiole sap NO3-N and K concentrations were different between seepage and drip irrigation, but usually above the sufficiency threshold. It is important to consider the type of irrigation when managing tomato and determining optimum N fertilizer rates.

scholarly journals Group-based On-site Active Learning (GOAL): Technique for Investigating Nitrogen Management in Container Nurseries

2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 442-448
Author(s):  
David R. Sandrock ◽  
Ray D. William ◽  
Anita N. Azarenko
Keyword(s):  
Active Learning ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Decisions ◽  
System Perspective ◽  
Learning Goal ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Container Nurseries ◽  
N Management ◽  
Container Nursery

Nitrogen (N) management in container nurseries is part of a complex system. Working within this system, nursery owners, managers and employees routinely make N management decisions that have consequences for the immediate nursery environment (e.g., plant growth, yield, disease susceptibility, water quality) as well as areas beyond nursery boundaries (e.g., surface and groundwater quality, public perception). Research approaches often address parts of the system associated with the immediate nursery environment and purpose. As a result, best management practices that contribute to greater N use efficiency have been developed. Research approaches that consider the whole system reveal novel relationships and patterns that identify areas for future research and may direct future management decisions. To investigate N management from a whole system perspective, a group of nursery managers from Oregon and scientists from Oregon State University met three times between 2001 and 2003. Growers drew their N management systems and identified components, relationships and feedback loops using an ActionGram technique. From this information, researchers developed Group-based On-site Active Learning (GOAL). GOAL combines Action-Grams and the Adaptive Cycle at container nursery sites. In this case, N flow and management in container production systems served as the topic of active learning. Managers and employees from four wholesale container nurseries evaluated the GOAL exercise. After completing GOAL, 94% of participants indicated that they learned a new idea or concept about N cycling in their container nursery. Of those, 100% gained new ideas and concepts from peers and colleagues present at the meeting. In addition, 60% gained new ideas and concepts from researchers and 60% developed their own ideas and concepts. GOAL is a learning tool that provides a simple, convenient, interactive format for investigating complex systems.

scholarly journals DEVELOPMENT OF IRRIGATION AND FERTILIZATION BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR CONTAINER NURSERIES.

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 433d-433
Author(s):  
Tom Yeager ◽  
Donna Fare ◽  
Charles Gilliam ◽  
Alex Niemiera
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Best Management ◽  
University Personnel ◽  
The Future ◽  
Container Nurseries

More regulations have an impact on nursery industry today than 10 to 20 years ago, and additional regulations are likely in the future. In view of this, the southeastern nursery industry is taking proactive action by developing a handbook of irrigation and fertilization best management practices (BMP) for container nurseries. Using BMP would be voluntary but could “head off” additional regulations. Additionally, BMP would serve as guidelines for growers 1) attempting to be more environmentally friendly, 2) wanting to promote the fact they are environmentally friendly, and 3) dealing with a complaint from regulatory agencies. Our objective was to develop a BMP handbook that nursery managers could use to find answers quickly to management questions regarding irrigation and fertilization. The handbook was written by university horticulturists, but input and reviews were obtained from industry personnel, additional university personnel, and others associated with the nursery industry. The handbook will be distributed in late summer by the Southern Nurserymen's Association, Marietta, Ga.

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