Polk Small Farms: New Agriculture Publications, August 2014

Agriculture
Crops
	Factors Affecting Phosphorus Leaching and Groundwater Concentrations for the Plasticulture Vegetable-Production System Although Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been developed to reduce the loss of nutrients, like P, to the environment, limited information exists on the main factors that control P loss to Florida groundwater. For example, while it is generally accepted that both irrigation and fertilizer P impact groundwater P, growers often ask if controlling one is more advantageous than the other in their efforts to reduce P leaching. There exists no easy tool to link fertilizer P input and other factors to groundwater P concentration. This 5-page fact sheet uses long-term data (six growing seasons) from a farm in Immokalee, Florida, to explain the effects of soil and agronomic factors, along with seasonal rainfall, on groundwater P. From these factors are derived simple equations to predict groundwater P concentrations. Written by Sanjay Shukla, Gregory S. Hendricks, Thomas A. Obreza, and Willie Harris, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, August 2014. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae507
	Interpreting Dye Test Results for Improved Drip Irrigation Management for the Mulched Vegetable-Production Systems in South Florida With Florida’s water withdrawals expected to increase by 30% from 2000 to 2030, South Florida vegetable producers are conserving water by converting traditional seepage irrigation systems to drip irrigation, which can have up to 90% efficiency when used effectively. Dye tests can provide important information for implementing a proper drip irrigation management program. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Sanjay Shukla, Nathan Holt, and Gregory Hendricks, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, July 2014. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae506
	Using Multi-Sensor Soil Moisture Probes to Decide When and How Long to Run Drip Irrigation Several methods of irrigation scheduling are used by producers, including the feel method, calendar method, soil water balance method, and soil moisture measurement method. The latter two methods are superior and help avoid too much or too little irrigation, because they consider the water storage within the plant root zone. The soil moisture method commonly involves measuring soil moisture in the root zone and irrigating when the soil moisture falls below 33% or 50% depletion of available water capacity (water in soil that is available to the plant). This 6-page fact sheet was written by Sanjay Shukla and Nathan Holt, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, July 2014. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae505
	Water Use for Drip-Irrigated Watermelon with Plastic Mulch in Florida Watermelon is an important crop in Florida and accounts for a significant part of its agricultural water use. Watermelon is grown in open fields and on raised plastic-mulched beds, with the latter being the predominant production system in Florida. Accurate water use estimates for this crop are needed to develop better water allocation and management plans as well as for irrigation management. This publication summarizes the results from a crop water-use study for the drip-irrigated watermelon in south Florida. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Sanjay Shukla, Niroj K. Shrestha, Thomas A. Obreza, and Brian J. Boman, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, August 2014. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae508
	Water Use for Seepage-Irrigated Pepper with Plastic Mulch in Florida Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) is an important crop for Florida and accounts for a significant fraction of its agricultural water use. Most of it is produced in south Florida, where the water table is shallow. Seepage irrigation is one of the most common systems used in south Florida for growing plastic-mulched vegetable crops, including bell pepper. Compared with an open field production, covering the soil with impermeable plastic reduces soil evaporation and increases transpiration. This 3-page fact sheet summarizes the results from a crop water use study for the seepage-irrigated pepper in south Florida. Written by Sanjay Shukla, Niroj Shrestha, and Fouad H. Jaber, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, August 2014. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae509
	Water Use for Seepage-Irrigated Watermelon with Plastic Mulch in Florida In Florida, watermelon is an important crop that accounts for a significant part of the state’s agricultural water use. Depending on the type of production system and climate, the water use of this crop can vary. In Florida, watermelon is predominantly grown on raised plastic-mulched beds. To develop improved water management and allocation plans, accurate water use estimates for watermelon are needed. Seepage irrigation under plastic mulch is a common production system used to produce watermelon in south and northeast Florida where the water table is shallow. Plastic mulch alters the rainfall entry and soil temperature of the raised beds and can significantly affect evapotranspiration. As there is no information on seepage-irrigated watermelon grown on plastic mulch for subtropical Florida, this 4-page fact sheet summarizes the results from a crop water use study for the seepage-irrigated watermelon in south Florida. Written by Sanjay Shukla and Niroj K. Shrestha, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, August 2014. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae510