2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Potato is one of the most important crops grown in Florida. Dry granular fertilizer application is the traditional method for potato production with seepage irrigation. As Florida is one of the 14 states facing water shortage soon, conservative agriculture becomes more and more important. Overhead irrigation is partially replacing seepage irrigation for potato production in Florida. This replacement saves 58% irrigation water. However, dry granular fertilizer application is not suitable for overhead irrigated potato production. This study compared the yield difference between dry granular fertilizer application and fertigation with on-farm trials. These trials were conducted side-by-side with either chipping or tablestock potatoes on both private and research farms in northeast and southwest Florida from 2016 through 2019. The results show that fertigation increased tuber yield by 16% to 24%. Fertigation is the future for saving water and fertilizer for potato production in Florida.