Florida Extension Programs Fine Tune Irrigation and Nutrient Management in Plasticulture

Most vegetable growers in the Suwannee Basin region of North Florida are small to mid-sized growers (one to 300 acres), many who have adopted drip irrigation and plastic mulch culture since the late 1980s. Soils in the area are sandy with low water holding capacity (<10%) and low organic matter content (<1.5%). The recent development and adoption of statewide Best Management Practices in Florida in rule 5M-8 of the Florida Administrative Code (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Ag Water Policy) and the increase in production costs, have emphasized the need for improved irrigation practices and a better understanding of water movement in mulched beds.  Growers’ understanding of the interdependence between fertilization, irrigation, and nutrient leaching below the root zone was increased through a targeted effort of on-farm Extension projects. Florida Extension agents and specialists have coordinated several projects at the regional Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center, near Live Oak, FL.  The educational approach was to first demonstrate the new technology at the Center via field days and workshops, then follow-up by demonstrating that technology on leading grower’s fields throughout the region. The most popular demonstration taken to the farms was the use of blue dye injected into the drip irrigation system to see how quickly the water moves downward in the soil in their field.  This has been demonstrated on at least 25 farms from 2004 to 2013 after demonstrations began at the Center in 2001.  By combining several Extension educational programs in the Suwannee Valley area, growers have made great progress toward adopting BMPs voluntarily. During this long term effort, 50 growers saw and learned from one or more demonstration on their own farm and they often served as early adopters which helped Extension agents teach other plasticulture growers how to adopt the BMPs. Growers are more likely to adopt BMPs when they can evaluate them on their own farm.  Long term educational program efforts including hands-on teaching workshops at a University facility combined with on-farm demonstrations proved to be a very effective strategy in helping vegetable growers using plasticulture improve water and nutrient management practices on well over 5,000 acres.