2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Sustainable management of water and fertilizers is imperative for Florida’s vegetable production. To save irrigation water and increase nutrient use efficiency for commercial potato production, we conducted a fertigation trial to explore the feasibility of adopting fertigation in Florida potato. The objectives were to: (1) evaluate water savings for commercial potato production using a sprinkler irrigation system and (2) determine the most efficient application method for fertigation in potato production. The effect of the sprinkler irrigation and hybrid irrigation systems on potato growth and development, whole plant physiology, and tuber yield and quality was assessed. Subsequently, two fertigation trials were completed in Hastings and Parrish, Florida. The trial in Parrish in Manatee County had two treatments including fertigation and dry granular fertilization. The results showed that the tuber yield of the chipping cultivar ‘Atlantic’ (season 2015~2016) had a 19% increase and the table cultivar ‘Red LaSoda’ (season 2016~2017) had a 24% increase compared with the fertigation treatment than with the other treatment. Also, another trial was conducted at UF/IFAS Hastings Agricultural Extension Center (HAEC) research farm to explore the best approach to fertigate potato plants. Eight fertigation treatments and four dry granular fertilization treatments were completed with different fertigation times and nitrogen rates. The results showed that five fertigation events each with total 10 lbs N/acre was the best combination for Florida potato. The fertigation treatments had greater tuber yield than the dry granular fertilization treatments. Fertigation may become an effective BMP tool for potato production in Florida.