Polk Small Farms: New and Revised Agriculture Publications, October 2011

This email lists new and revised EDIS publications that have been released to the public in October 2011. They are now available on the World Wide Web at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. This mailing only includes publications in the Agriculture program area. Please see separate mailings for publications in other program areas.

Crops

	Bio-based Products from Biomass (AE483) Biomass is renewable biological materials, such as trees, plants, grasses, vegetables, algae, food wastes, animal manures, and other organic wastes. Like fossil fuels, biomass can produce a wide selection of bio-based by-products while producing renewable energy. Learn more in this 5-page fact sheet written by Zhaohui Tong, Letian Wang, and Clay B. Olson, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, September 2011.(AP photo/University of Florida/IFAS/Thomas Wright) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae483
	Phosphorus Sources and Risk Potential: Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers (SL358/SS559) One of the factors that determines whether a source of phosphorus will have a negative impact on water quality is solubility. This 3-page fact sheet discusses the significantly different solubility of commonly found phosphorus sources in Florida. Written by V.D. Nair and W.G. Harris, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2011. (UF/IFAS photo by Milt Putnam) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss559
	Landscape Diversity: Multiple-Use Landscapes for Reclaimed Phosphatic Clay Areas (SL229/SS449) With planning, communities can use reclaimed phosphatic clay areas for agriculture and at the same time restore lost wetlands, improve water quality and water use efficiency, and retain areas valuable to wildlife. This 5-page concept paper was written by E.A. Hanlon, M. Wilson, C. Beavers, and J. Cates, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, August 2011. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss449
	Giant African Land Snail in Florida (ENY512/IN904) They’re back! In 1966, a child smuggled three giant African land snails into south Florida which were released in their garden. Seven years later, more than 18,000 snails had been found and it took 10 years and $1 million to eliminate them. Florida is once again faced with an invasion by this snail. It feeds on hundreds of different plants and can transmit meningitis and other diseases to humans. Learn more in this 3-page fact sheet written by John L. Capinera and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2011. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in904
	The Potential for Plants to Remove Phosphorus from the Spodic Horizon (SL359/SS560) Under what conditions can plants be used to remove phosphorus from common Florida soils? This 5-page fact sheet shows how calculations for the phosphorus saturation ratio and soil phosphorus storage capacity at various soil depths can be used to determine whether to use phytoremediation as a strategy to remove phosphorus from the soil. Written by D. Chakraborty, V.D. Nair, W.G. Harris, and R.D. Rhue, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2011. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss560
	Life Cycle of the Lesser Cornstalk Borer in Sugarcane (ENY913/SC093) The lesser cornstalk borer attacks a large number of crops, but is a potentially serious pest of sugarcane. But since the populations of this pest vary greatly depending on temperature, UF/IFAS scientists are developing predictive models to predict lesser cornstalk borer population in field. This 4-page fact sheet was written by H.S. Sandhu, L.E. Baucum, and G.S. Nuessly and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2011. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sc093

Horticulture

Controlled-Release Fertilizers for Potato Production in Florida (HS941/HS187)

The recent emphasis on the development of vegetable production best management practices has prompted a re-examination of fertilization practices in Florida potato production in the St. Johns River watershed. The numbers provided in this 5-page fact sheet serve as a starting point for discussion about the value of using controlled-release fertilizers, which can be a win-win-win opportunity for producers, manufacturers, and regulatory agencies by helping all meet their production, business, and environmental goals. Written by Guodong Liu, Eric H. Simonne, Yuncong Li, Chad M. Hutchinson, Mark Warren, and Steven Lands, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, October 2011. (UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs187

A Summary of N, P, and K Research with Tomato in Florida (SL355/CV236)

More than 60 years worth of tomato fertilization research has been conducted in Florida. During this time, many changes have occurred in tomato production practices, including changes in cultivars and the introduction of new cultural systems, such as polyethylene mulch and drip irrigation. The research reported here covers tomato production with polyethylene mulch. Tomato crop and fertilizer management recommendations, such as plant and row spacing, have changed over time following new developments in research. This 38-page fact sheet summarizes tomato fertilization research leading to current University of Florida recommendations and summarizes needs for additional research. Written by George Hochmuth and Ed Hanlon, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, August 2011. (UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/cv236

Livestock

The Purebred Spanish Horse (AN269)

The Purebred Spanish Horse, also known as the Andalusian or the Pura Raza Español, is an elegant breed with ancestors dating back thousands of years to the Andalusian region of the Iberian Peninsula. The horse evolved to have catlike agility, power, and beauty because it faced rugged terrain and needed to co-exist with local wildlife, including wild bulls. Learn more in this 4-page fact sheet was written by María L. Mandina and Jorge R. Rey, and published by the UF Department of Animal Science, September 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an269

The Long-term Contribution of Phosphorus from Agricultural Lands to Lake Okeechobee (SL357/SS558)

This 7-page fact sheet uses a new procedure to evaluate the soil from active and abandoned dairies in the Lake Okeechobee watershed to determine their potential to negatively impact water quality through phosphorus release. Written by V.D. Nair, M. Chrysostome, and W.G. Harris, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss558