Progress Report on Microirrigation in Florida, 2003.
Reports follow from Larry Parsona and Craig Stanley
Larry Parsons
University of Florida - IFAS
Citrus Research and Education Center
Lake Alfred, FL 33850
Presentations
Etxeberria, E. and L. Parsons. 2003. Reduced fall and winter irrigation increases brix and delays flowering in Florida citrus. HortScience 38(5): 839.
Publications
Fereres, E., D. A. Goldhamer, L. R. Parsons. 2003. Irrigation water management of horticultural crops. HortScience 38(5): 1036-1042.
Parsons, L. 2003. New book on water and citrus. Florida Grower 96(2): 34
Parsons, L. 2003. Best management practices for fertilization. Florida Grower 96(2): 38-39.
Parsons, L. 2003. Improving fertilization practices. Florida Grower 96(6): 22.
Parsons, L. 2003. Shedding light on blight. Florida Grower 96(8): 64.
Parsons, L. 2003. Jim Griffiths:
The voice of experience. Florida Grower 96(10): 20.
Craig D. Stanley (University of Florida)
Objective 1. To evaluate and refine microirrigation management strategies to promote natural resource protection and optimal crop production.
a) A sod irrigation management study was initiated to evaluate different types of subirrigation systems (seepage, subsurface tile and fully-enclosed subirrigation) and provide information to improve irrigation scheduling. A 127-acre commercial sod production site with subsurface tile was chosen and 62 water table monitoring wells were installed. GIS techniques were used to visually evaluate grower Results from the first data collection period revealed grower management using water table monitoring achieved high efficiency irrigation since the cumulative Penman ET for the sampling period was 244 mm, and total rainfall was 205 mm and applied water was 52.4 mm (257.4 mm rainfall and irrigation combined).
b) A study to determine tomato and green pepper transplant water requirements using microirrigation, fully enclosed and seepage subirrigation was initiated. The spring 2003 (initiated in March 2003) study was designed to accomplish the task of differing the establishment period by varying the transplanting date resulting in establishment periods of 0, 5, 10, and 15 days. In all cases, the target water table level for establishment was set at 22 inches which was controlled using float switches controlling solenoid valves which turned irrigation an and off as needed. First season results indicated that for tomato, plant height was not affected by either establishment period or irrigation system. Plant width showed some separation among establishment treatments (not irrigation system), but primarily the 15-day treatment exhibited more branching which contributed to more plant width. Minimal differences were detected with respect to number of nodes for either main treatments. Significant differences for fresh and dry weights again showed separation of the 15-day establishment treatment, but no differences among irrigation systems.
c) A study to create a simulation model to describe solute flow in a mulched bed based on hydraulic and thermal properties of the soil included measuring soil bed temperatures in microirrigated and subirrigated growing situations, with and without tomato plants. Each of 12 subplots had 32 thermocouple arranged in a grid fashion and connected to multiplexers and data loggers measuring temperature at 15-minute intervals, 24 hr per day for the entire growing season. Data is still being analyzed.
Publications
Stanley, C. D., R. A. Clarke, B. L. McNeal, and B. W. MacLeod. 2003. Relationship of Chlorophyll a Concentration to Seasonal Water Quality in Lake Manatee, Florida. EDIS publication DLN SS430. Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.
Stanley, C. D and B. K. Harbaugh. 2003. Subirrigated Caladium Tuber Production and Water Use as Affected by Water Table Level. Florida. EDIS publication DLN SS247. Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.
Stanley, C. D. and G. A. Clark. 2003. Effect of Reduced Water Table and Fertility Levels on Subirrigated Tomato Production in Southwest Florida. EDIS publication DLN SS249. Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.
Stanley, C. D., R. A. Clarke, B. L. McNeal,
and B. W. Macleod. 2003. Impact of agricultural land use on
nitrate levels in Lake Manatee, Florida. EDIS publication DLN SS428.
Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences,
University of Florida.
Graduate Students:
1) Wonsook Ha - Ph.D. student
2) Arne Olsen - Ph.D. student