1. Vegetablen Growers
i n t h e s u w a n e e v a l l e y
Optimize management practices bmps
use by implementing best
Fertilizer ( )
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND D. Fenneman1, M. Bauer2, N. Demorest3,
J. DeValerio4, R. Hochmuth2, E. Toro5 & C. Vann6
University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural
Vegetable growers in the Suwannee Valley have Most vegetable growers in the Suwannee Sciences/ Extension
adopted drip irrigation and plastic mulch over the Valley region of North Florida are small Madison County Extension, Madison, FL 32340,
1
dfenneman@ufl.edu
past 25 years to produce vegetable crops. Soils in growers who have adopted drip irrigation 2
Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center, Live Oak, FL
the area are sandy with low water holding capacity and plastic mulch over the past twenty five 32060, mgbauer@ufl.edu and bobhoch@ufl.edu
and low organic matter content. Consequently, veg- years to produce vegetables such as tomato, 3
Columbia County Extension, Lake City, FL 32024,
dndemorest@ufl.edu
etable production in the Suwannee Valley requires bell pepper, eggplant, cucumber, strawberry, 4
Bradford County Extension, Starke, FL 32091, jtd@ufl.edu
intense irrigation and fertilization management. muskmelon, and watermelon. Soils in the 5
Suwannee County Extension, Live Oak, FL 32064,
etoro@ufl.edu
Extension agents have been working with vege- area are sandy with low water holding capac- 6
Lafayette County Extension, Mayo, FL 32066,
table growers to refine their management of the ity (10%) and low organic matter content lafayett@ufl.edu
technology. The goal has been to improve efficiency (1.5%) and therefore pose an environmental
of water and nutrient management by conducting risk of leaching nitrate into the groundwater.
collected gave growers an instant result to
on-farm weekly sap testing. Plant nutrient status Consequently, vegetable production requires
guide their fertilizer program week to week.
can be determined in the field by squeezing plant intense irrigation and fertilization man-
Educational outreach included classroom
sap onto meters that measure either nitrogen or agement. Florida County Extension Agents
instruction, on-farm field days and drip
potassium giving a grower an instant result to have been working with vegetable growers to
irrigation schools. Examples of these events
guide the weekly fertilizer program. In addition, refine their current practices.
include the Suwannee Valley Watermelon
updates on nutrient and irrigation management are
Institute, Twilight Watermelon Grower Field
offered to growers at annual meetings. The benefits
of improved management have been multifold as
OBJECTIVE Day and the Small Farms Working Group
To improve the efficiency of water and Irrigation Field day.
reported by cooperating producers: reduction in
nutrient management by conducting on-
fertilizer use, improved fruit quality, reduced envi-
ronmental losses of nitrogen, fertilizer applications
farm Best Management Practice (BMP)
demonstrations and delivering research
OUTCOMES
to match plant requirements, and improved eco-
nomic returns to the farms. Area vegetable growers
based information to vegetable growers in IMPACTS
the Suwannee Valley of Florida during the As a result of this program, a total of 31 veg-
have adopted several best management practices
period of 2007 to 2011. etable growers have adopted various BMPs
(BMPs) including: irrigation sensors, petiole-sap
including: irrigation sensors, petiole-sap
testing, and refining fertilization rates; resulting in
adoption of recommendations on nearly 100% of MATERIALS testing, and refining fertilization rates;
resulting in adoption of UF/IFAS nutrient
the area. This project impacted 31 operations that
grow a combined 1,500 acres of mixed vegetables.
METHODS recommendations on nearly 100% of the
Suwannee Valley area Extension agents targeted 1,500 acres. The producer savings
These educational programs have made a great
identified cooperating vegetable farmers to from reduced inputs, fertilizer and fuel, was
impact toward adopting BMPs voluntarily. Growers
implement BMP demonstrations. The Ex- approximately $65 an acre, nearly $100,000
see and learn on their own farm and often serve as
tension agent team conducted weekly follow total. In addition, the adoption of BMPs
early adopters that help teach other growers.
up visits with growers during the growing resulted in maximum nutrient uptake by the
season. crops and reduced nutrient leaching. In sum-
BMP demonstrations and tools used during mary, combining these educational programs
the farm visits included: soil moisture in the Suwannee Valley area has made a great
sensors, petiole-sap testing meters for ni- impact toward adopting BMPs voluntarily.
trate-nitrogen and potassium, and irrigation Growers see and learn on their own farm and
management techniques through the injec- often serve as early adopters that help teach
tion of blue dye into the drip tape. The data other growers.