HS1156

Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida 

Vegetable Producers: A White Paper from the UF/IFAS 

Vegetable Fertilizer Task Force1

Daniel Cantliffe, Phyllis Gilreath, Dorota Haman, Chad Hutchinson, Yuncong Li, Gene McAvoy, Kati 

Migliaccio, Teresa Olczyk, Steve Olson, Darrin Parmenter, Bielinski Santos, Sanjay Shukla, Eric 

Simonne, Craig Stanley, and Alicia Whidden2

1. This document is HS1156, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and 

Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original EDIS publication date, April 2009. This document previously published -- Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 

119:240-248.

Visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. Daniel Cantliffe, distinguished professor and chair, Horticultural Sciences Department, Gainesville, FL; Phyllis Gilreath, extension agent, Gulf Coast 

Research and Education Center (GREC)--Wimauma, FL; Dorota Haman, professor and chair, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, 

Gainesville, FL; Chad Hutchinson, associate professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, Gainesville, FL; Yuncong Li, professor, Tropical Research and 

Education Center (TREC)--Homestead, FL; Gene McAvoy, Hendry County extension director and extension agent IV, Labelle, FL; Kati W. Migliaccio, 

assistant professor, TREC-Homestead, FL; Teresa Olczyk, extension agent IV, Miami-Dade County South, Homestead, FL; Steve Olson, professor, North 

Florida Research and Education Center--Quincy, FL; Darrin Parmenter, extension agent, Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, FL; Bielinski Santos, 

assistant professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, GREC--Wimauma, FL; Sanjay Shukla, associate professor, Agricultural and Biological 

Engineering, Southwest Florida Research and Education Center-Immokalee, FL; Eric Simonne, associate professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, 

Gainesville, FL; Craig Stanley, professor, Soil and Water Science Deparment, GREC--Wimauma, FL; and Alicia Whidden, extension agent II, 

Hillsborough County South Central, Seffner, FL. Instititue of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.

Use pesticides safely. Read and follow directions on the manufacturer's label. The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of 

providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication does not 

signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition. 

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and 

other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, 

sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, 

University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie 

Ferrer, Interim Dean

Additional index words. Best management 

practices, nitrogen, phosphorus 

Abstract. The Vegetable Fertilizer Task Force 

(VFTF) was created by the UF/IFAS Dean for 

Extension in 2006 to review nutrient management 

systems for Florida vegetable producers. The 

VFTF identified differences between actual 

fertilization practices and UF/IFAS fertilizer 

recommendations, especially for vegetables grown 

with subsurface (Central and South Florida) and 

overhead (Miami-Dade County) irrigation. In 

these areas, differences were highest for fall crops 

when the frequency of leaching rain has 

historically been highest. With the development of 

the statewide Best Management Practice (BMP) 

program for vegetables, UF/IFAS fertilizer 

recommendations have become quasi-regulatory. 

The recommendations of the VFTF aim at 

bridging the gaps between science-based results 

and the diversity in production systems found in 

the Florida vegetable industry. 

The vegetable industry in Florida is large 

(300,000 acres; $1.2 B farm gate value) and diverse 

(over 50 crops; three growing seasons; different soil 
Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper.... 2

types and irrigation methods). Because of the low 

water holding capacity of Florida's sandy and 

gravelly soils, and because of irregular rainfall 

patterns, fertilization and irrigation management have 

traditionally been two important components of 

successful vegetable crop production in Florida 

(Hochmuth 1992a, b; Locascio, 2005). As production 

systems evolve, improved cultivars are used, and 

regulations change, cultural practices and fertilization 

recommendations need to be updated. Appointed by 

the UF/IFAS Dean for Extension in 2006 to review 

nutrient management systems for Florida vegetable 

producers, the vegetable fertilizer task force (VFTF) 

was comprised of horticulturists, agricultural 

engineers and county faculty representing all major 

vegetable areas of Florida. The charges to the VFTF 

were to (1) review new data generated since the last 

fertilizer recommendations were developed, (2) 

propose science-based updates, (3) develop interim 

recommendations where research data were missing, 

(4) develop a strategic plan to fill gaps in knowledge, 

and (5) determine funding sources for needed 

research. How recent UF/IFAS fertilizer research 

results may be incorporated into science-based 

recommendations for Florida's vegetable producers is 

outlined in this paper. 

1. Principles of Fertilization and 

Current Recommendations for 

Vegetable Crops Grown in Florida. 

Current fertilization recommendations for 

vegetable crops are based on three fundamental 

principles: soil testing, crop nutritional requirement 

and the linear bed foot (LBF) system (Simonne and 

Hochmuth, 2005). First, fertilization 

recommendations are based on soil testing for all 

essential nutrients. UF/IFAS recommended 

extractants are the double-acid Mehlich 1 extractant 

for acid-mineral soils up to a soil pH of 7.3, the 

AB-DTPA extraction for alkaline soils with a soil pH 

above 7.4, water extraction for P in organic soils, and 

acetic acid for K, Mg, Ca, Si, and Na in organic soils 

(Hochmuth et al., 2000; Mylavarapu, 2002). In 

contrast, N recommendations are not based on soil 

test. Because none of the extractable N fractions is 

well correlated with growth or yield response, N 

recommendations are based on the crop nutritional 

requirement (CNR). The CNR is defined as the total 

amount in lb/acre of an element needed by a crop to 

produce optimal economic yields. The third principle 

is that for mulched crops, fertilizer rates are 

calculated based on the number of LBF, and not on 

the field surface. The number of LBF for a given bed 

spacing is calculated by dividing the field surface by 

the bed spacing. These principles are discussed in 

detail in “Nitrogen management practices for 

vegetable production in Florida” (Hochmuth, 2000) 

and “IFAS standardized fertilization 

recommendations for vegetable crops” (Hochmuth 

and Hanlon, 2000). 

Crop-by-crop fertilizer recommendations for 

vegetables grown on sandy soils may be found in the 

Vegetable Production Handbook for Florida (edited 

by Olson and Simonne, 2005). UF/IFAS fertilizer 

recommendations include a base fertilizer rate and a 

supplemental rate allowed after a leaching rain 

(defined as 3 inches of rainfall in 3 days or 4 inches 

in 7 days), an extended harvest season, and/or when 

plant nutritional status is diagnosed as “low” based 

on whole leaf analysis or petiole sap testing (when 

interpretation data are available; Simonne and 

Hochmuth, 2005). Fertilizer placement (banded, 

broadcast or modified broadcast), the amount applied 

pre-plant, and detailed fertigation schedules are also 

parts of UF/IFAS recommendations. These 

recommendations which are based on research results 

available in the mid 1990s propose a single N rate for 

all irrigation systems, production seasons and sandy 

soil types of Florida (Hochmuth and Cordasco, 

2000a-f, 2003a-c). 

Recommendations for vegetable crops grown on 

muck soils may be found in “Fertilization 

recommendations of crisphead lettuce grown on 

organic soils (Hochmuth et al., 2003a) and 

“Fertilization of sweet corn, celery, Romaine, 

escarole, endive, and radish on organic soils in 

Florida” (Hochmuth et al., 2003b). 

Fertilizer recommendations for vegetable crops 

grown on the calcareous soils of south Miami-Dade 

County are at this point incomplete because no 

calibrated soil test is available for the area (Li et al., 

2006a-j). 
Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper.... 3

In addition, several publications describing best 

management practices (BMPs) have adopted all or 

part of UF/IFAS fertilizer recommendations. These 

documents are (1) “Water quality/quantity best 

management practices for Florida vegetable and 

agronomic crops” (FDACS, 2005) for the 

state-wide BMP program; (2) “Tri-county 

agricultural area water quality protection cost share 

program, Applicants handbook” 

(Livingston-Way, 2002), “Best management 

practices for potato production in Northeast Florida” 

(Hutchinson et al., 2002a) for the Tri-County 

Agricultural Area (TCAA); and, (3) “Nutrient best 

management practices in the Everglades Agriculture 

Area: Soil testing” (Daroub et al., 2005) for N and in 

“Phosphorus management for vegetable 

production” for P (Hochmuth et al., 2003c) for the 

Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). The adoption 

of UF/IFAS fertilizer recommendations as the BMP 

rates elevates the recommendations to a quasi-legal 

status. Hence, UF/IFAS fertilizer recommendations 

must be adapted to all major growing conditions used 

in vegetable production in Florida and be supported 

by the best science available. This is a prerequisite for 

vegetable growers to fully adopt and implement the 

BMP program. 

2. Differences Between UF/IFAS N 

Recommendations and Actual 

Industry Rates. 

Phone interviews of key growers and members 

of the vegetable industry, and feedback from 

members of Extension advisory groups were 

conducted in Spring 2006. Comments revealed that 

vegetable producers have implemented current 

UF/IFAS recommendations with different rates of 

success (Tables 1-6). Overall, industry rates are 

below, near, or greater than UF/IFAS N 

recommended rates based on crop, location, growing 

season and irrigation method. This observation does 

not support the hypothesis that growers' rates always 

exceed UF/IFAS recommended rates. However, this 

observation supports the need for regional 

recommendations, supported by targeted research and 

educational programs. Typically, N fertilizer rates 

used for polyethylene-mulched and drip-irrigated 

crops in the panhandle and in North-central Florida 

were similar to the UF/IFAS N recommended rates. 

The growing conditions and seasons in these two 

regions of Florida are the closest to those where most 

of the vegetable fertilizer research was conducted. 

Moreover, UF/IFAS has been able to successfully 

develop nutrient management programs in these areas 

(Hochmuth et al., 2003d; Simonne et al., 2005). 

The greatest differences between UF/IFAS N 

recommended rates and industry rates were found 

with crops grown in the fall, winter or spring seasons 

and with subsurface or overhead irrigation. These 

crops include tomato (Lycopersicon exculentum 

Mill.), bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), eggplant 

(Solanum melongena L.), potato (Solanum 

tuberosum L.), watermelon [Citrullus lanatus 

(Thunb.) Matsu. & Nakai] and squash (Cucurbita 

pepo L.). It should be noted that growers often report 

fertilizer rates on a surface basis, even when they use 

a bed spacing smaller than the standard one (adequate 

conversions have been made in the tables). In 

addition, crop specific recommendations need to be 

developed for new crops once they become of 

economical importance. For example, grape tomato 

N requirements are different from those of round 

tomato, but grape tomato growers must follow UF/ 

IFAS recommendations for determinate, large round 

tomato. 

Producers have common reasons why fertilizer 

recommendations are too low and why higher 

application rates may be “justified.” These include 

“these rates were developed in small plots in North 

Florida under conditions different from those of 

South Florida,” “the cultivars now in use are more 

vigorous and may need more fertilizer than the ones 

used ten or fifteen years ago,” “current 

recommendations do not take into account the longer 

growing seasons typical of South Florida,” “no link 

has been established between high fertilizer rates and 

environmental problems in my watershed,” 

“indeterminate grape tomatoes develop a larger 

bush, have a longer harvest season and may require 

more N than the determinate round tomatoes,” and 

“the greater denitrification potential with subsurface 

irrigation should be taken into account in the 

recommendation.” These reasons may deserve 

careful consideration. Another reason why fertilizer 

rates in excess of UF/IFAS recommendations may be 

used is economics. Because fertilizer as a crop input 
Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper.... 4

has historically represented only 10% to 15% of the 

total production cost, fertilizer rates in excess of the 

UF/IFAS recommended rates have been used as 

insurance toward productivity. Simply put, it only 

takes an increase in yield of five 25-lb carton/acre 

(when the market is $8/25-lb carton) to offset the cost 

of an extra 100 lbs/acre of N at a cost of $0.40/lb of 

N. As the statewide BMP program for vegetables is 

widely promoted and implementation begins, it is 

essential for growers to trust UF/IFAS fertilizer 

recommendations. UF/IFAS recommendations must 

be scientifically based, but also be practical and 

flexible under all growing conditions to ensure the 

success of the BMP program. 

Why is it so important for growers to follow 

UF/IFAS fertilizer recommendations today? The 

BMP manual for vegetable crops recognizes that 

fertilizer rates may be used in excess of the UF/IFAS 

recommended rates as described in Option 2 of 

BMP33 “Optimum fertilization 

management/application” (p. 93, FDACS, 2005). 

However, this option should be viewed as a 

temporary solution, and not as a license to 

systematically over-fertilize. In the long run, if the 

current BMP program does not improve water quality 

of impaired water bodies, then it is likely to be 

replaced by a more stringent regulatory program. 

Hence, it is essential to reconcile science-based UF/ 

IFAS recommendations with the needs of today's 

vegetable industry. It should be noted that current 

“Producer Soil Tests” reports generated by the 

UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory 

(ARL/ESTL) contains a comment that states “these 

interpretations and recommendations are based upon 

soil test results and research/experience with the 

specified crop under Florida's growing conditions.” 

This comment acknowledges that the science behind 

nutrient management must pass the test of time 

before it can be fully trusted. 

As an educational institution involved in 

research and Extension, the real question for 

UF/IFAS is: if UF/IFAS fertilizer recommendations 

are supported by the best science possible, why have 

some large segments of the Florida vegetable industry 

not been able to implement them? In other words, are 

we witnessing an Extension failure (not being able to 

change grower's behavior through education) or is it 

a failure due to the “across-the-board” approach to 

vegetable fertility management in Florida? 

Obviously, the answer is not simple, and it is 

probably a combination of several factors (Simonne 

and Ozores-Hampton, 2006). 

3. Revise Current Data Interpretation 

and Summary Methods for Fertilizer 

Trials. 

One challenge faced by researchers who have 

tried to identify statewide fertilizer recommended 

rates is the diversity in growing conditions, bed 

spacing, plant population, and number of harvests 

made by Florida's vegetable producers. This diversity 

can be circumvented by using the relative yield 

method for data standardization (Hochmuth and 

Cordasco, 2000a-f, 2003a-c). While this approach is 

numerically efficient, it artificially gives the same 

weight to the trials that yielded poorly (and which do 

not adequately represent commercial growing 

conditions) as to those with high yields. Hence, data 

collected before the mid 1990s, summarized and 

interpreted using this method should be carefully 

re-evaluated by region, irrigation method and 

growing season. 

4. Updates of Recommendations 

Based on Research Results 

Generated since the Last 

Recommendation Update of the mid 

1990s.

The update of nutrient management 

recommendations needs to be based on research 

results published since the last update and 

reinterpretation of previous studies. Research has 

been conducted in several areas of fertilization and 

irrigation management and should be incorporated 

into UF/IFAS recommendations as a summarized 

below. 

4.1 Fertilizer recommendations using controlled 

release fertilizer programs for potato production will 

be based on research results from Florida 

(Hutchinson, 2004a, b; Hutchinson et al., 2003; 

Hutchinson and Simonne, 2003; Muñoz-Arboleda et 

al., 2005, 2006; Pack et al., 2006; Simonne and 
Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper.... 5

Hutchinson, 2005) and on-going on-farm evaluation 

(Hutchinson et al., 2002b). 

4.2 Preliminary N recommendations for 

drip-irrigated grape tomato will be based on a 2-year 

field study conducted at the North Florida Research 

and Education Center—Suwannee Valley. Results 

from 2005 suggested that N fertilization for grape 

tomato could be done by incorporating 50 to 70 lb 

N/acre in the bed, followed by weekly injections of 0, 

1.0, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 lb/acre/day for 1, 2, 3-4, 5-10, 

11-14, and 15-16 WAT, respectively (Simonne et al., 

2006c). Because the length of the growing season for 

grape tomato may vary, emphasis should be placed 

on weekly N rates and irrigation management, rather 

than on seasonal N rate. The study was repeated in 

2006, but results are not yet available. 

4.3 The influence of soil and/or foliar applied Ca 

on postharvest quality and yield of strawberry fruit 

(Fragaria ananassa Duch.) was the topic of a 

Master's student in Horticultural Sciences 

Department (Esmel, 2005). This 2-year field and 

laboratory study found no effect of supplemental Ca 

on yield and firmness of Sweet Charlie 

strawberry under Central Florida growing conditions. 

4.4 Tomato growth and yield response to N rates.

This in-depth project studied the effect of N and 

irrigation management on N accumulation, growth, 

and yield of tomatoes grown in Florida. Apparent N 

recovery decreased as N-rates increased with values 

ranging from 0.61-0.96 and 0.36 to 0.74 for 

sub-irrigated and drip irrigated crops, respectively. 

Nitrogen accumulation for well-managed tomato 

production was in the order of 125 to 178 lb/acre of 

N, with approximately 70% of this amount 

accumulated by the fruits (Scholberg, 1996). 

4.5 The “Lake Manatee project” (Stanley et al., 

2003) addressed two important issues in central 

Florida: how much N is denitrified in 

seepage-irrigated soils and what is the real 

environmental impact of vegetable production on the 

water quality of Lake Manatee? 

Overall, there was no clear correlation between 

NO3-N concentrations in the reservoir and fertilizer 

application dates. The NO3-N concentrations also 

appeared to follow a seasonal pattern, with lower 

levels during the summer months (June to 

September). In regard to nutrient enrichment and 

subsequent algal growth, it does not appear that the 

amount of agricultural activity in the watershed is of 

the greatest importance, but rather how close that 

activity is located to the reservoir. Some citrus 

production is situated directly adjacent to Lake 

Manatee, which results in direct surface runoff. The 

use of riparian buffer zones or filter strips to control 

NO3N losses from agricultural lands may also be 

helpful in this situation. Substantial losses in NO3-N 

can occur through denitrification and assimilation by 

buffer vegetation. This study is unique in Florida as it 

documented at the watershed level that 

fertilizer-intensive production does not necessarily 

result in reduction in environmental quality. 

4.6 Integrated water and N fertilization of bell 

pepper and watermelon grown with plasticulture was 

studied in a two-year experiment at the North Florida 

Research and Education Center—Suwannee Valley. 

Greatest bell pepper yields were achieved with a 

combination of 125% of the UF/IFAS N 

recommended rate for bell pepper (200 lb N/ acre) 

and 100% UF/IFAS irrigation rate (Simonne et al., 

2006b). Greatest marketable watermelon yields were 

achieved with 100% of both UF/IFAS N 

recommended rate for watermelon (150 lb N/acre) 

and UF/IFAS irrigation (see Simonne et al., 2006 in 

Table 7). 

4.7 Fine-tuning the leaching rain definition. The 

UF/IFAS (Simonne and Hochmuth, 2005) and BMP 

(DACS, 2005) definition of leaching rain is 3 inches 

in 3 days or 4 inches in 7 days. While consensus 

exists that such rains are likely to be leaching, smaller 

rainfall amounts may also leach nutrients. Research 

on water table response to rainfall for Immokalee fine 

sand has shown that 1 inch of rainfall results in 

raising the water table by 16 inches (Jaber and 

Shukla, 2006). Hence, a 1-inch rainfall event in one 

day may result in nutrient leaching at the beginning of 

the season when the water table is kept near the 

14-inch depth high due to limited rooting depth, and 

most of the fertilizer still present in the bed. 

 
Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper.... 6

4.8 Current on-going projects: 

4.8.1 Large round tomato N rates. A 3-year 

research/Extension project spearheaded by 

Ozores-Hampton and a group of Extension specialists 

and agents is underway in South and Central Florida 

(Ozores-Hampton et al., 2005). A gap exists in 

information on N fertilizer rate work on currently 

grown cultivars in this area. Overall, results show that 

the risk of leaching rain occurrence in South Florida 

changes over three growing seasons (fall, winter and 

spring) and that reduced rates may be used during 

some seasons and growing areas where only two 

harvests are targeted. Total marketable yields with the 

UF/IFAS N rate (200 lb N/ acre) were often not 

statistically different from those with higher rates 

(especially during the first two harvests), but in some 

instances, the opposite occurred. Hence, the reduced 

rate may be between 200 and 300 lb N/acre. 

4.8.2 Phosphorus rates: McAvoy and Obreza 

(2005) conducted a study to investigate the effects of 

varying P rates for snap bean production. This study 

showed no effects of reduced P rates on yield and 

quality over six consecutive crop growing seasons. 

Preliminary research results from investigating the 

effects of N and P fertilizer rates and water 

management (UF/IFAS and grower average) on 

tomato and watermelon crop yield and quality, water 

use and quality, and economic impact showed 

increased yield with the grower nutrient and water 

management system over two seasons for 

watermelon (Shukla et al., 2005; see Hendricks et al., 

2006 in Table 7). Preliminary results (one season) 

from the same study on tomato did not show any 

increase in crop yield with the grower rate. A similar 

one-year study in Miami-Dade County showed no 

sweet corn (Olczyk et al., 2003), potato (Li et al., 

2000) and large round tomato (Lamberts et al., 1998; 

Li et al., 1997, 1998) yield reduction when reduced P 

was used. In addition, data from the project of 

“Crop nutrient requirements for vegetable crops on 

limestone soils of south Florida” by G. Hochmuth, 

E. Hanlon, M. Lamberts and S. OHair (1994-1997) 

and several projects conducted by Li et al. 

(1997-2004) indicated that P application rates could 

be reduced for calcareous soils with high P 

concentrations without reducing yields. 

4.8.3 Soil moisture monitoring as a means to 

increase fertilizer efficiency: Soil moisture sensors 

(tensiometers) were evaluated by Olczyk et al. (2000, 

2002), Muñoz-Carpena et al. (2002, 2005), and Li et 

al. (1998) for use in South Florida calcareous soils 

and were shown to lead to reduced use of irrigation 

water with no decrease in marketable yield. 

4.8.4 Additional on-going nutrient management 

projects potentially instrumental to UF/IFAS 

recommendations: 

• Water movement in different soils of Florida, 

2003-06 (on farm, PI: E. Simonne; Simonne et 

al., 2003a, b, 2004, 2005, 2006a, d) 

• Bell pepper on the east coast, 2006-08 (at 

center and on farm, PI: B. Boman) 

• Controlled-release fertilizer use on seepage 

tomato, 200608 (at SWFREC center and on 

farm, PI: K. Cushman) 

• Reduced P rates in South Florida, 2006-2008 

(on farm, PI: K. Cushman) 

• Nutrient leaching by round tomato on drip in 

North Florida, 2004-07 (at NFREC-SV, PI: E. 

Simonne) 

• Drip-irrigated round tomato response to N rate 

in North Florida, 2005-2006 (at NFREC-SV, PI: 

G. Hochmuth) 

• BMPs and runoff, east coast, 2004-07 (on farm, 

PI: P. Stofella) 

• Irrigation rate, N rate and cultivar on 

strawberry, 2001-2006 (at GCREC-Dover and 

GCREC-Wimauma, PI: B. Santos; Simonne et 

al., 2001) 

• Leaching by strawberry fields, 2005-2007 

(on-farm, PI: C. Stanley) 

• Controlled-release fertilizer use on cole crops, 

melons, and sweet corn in Florida (2006-2008, 

PI: C. Hutchinson) 

• Comparison of water and nutrient management 

systems for tomato and watermelon in Southwest 

Florida, 2003-2006 (at SWFREC, PI: S. Shukla; 

Shukla et al., 2004) 
Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper.... 7

• Effects of soil moisture based water table 

management for seepage irrigation for pepper 

and eggplant in Southwest Florida, 2002-2005 

(on farm, PI: S. Shukla) 

• Development of crop coefficients for 

watermelon for Florida, 2003-2006 (at 

SWFREC, PI: S. Shukla) 

• Ground water recharge, upflux, and nutrient 

loadings with watermelon and bell pepper in SW 

Florida, 2004-2006 (at SWFREC, PI: S. Shukla; 

see Hendricks et al., 2006 and Srivastava et al., 

2006 in Table 7) 

• Effects of compost on water and nutrient 

movement with bell pepper and eggplant in SW 

Florida, 2004-2006 (At SWFREC center, PI: S. 

Shukla; Jaber et al., 2005a-c) 

5. Proposed Interim Updates to be 

Used until Scientific Basis is 

Achieved. 

Interim recommendations based on best 

professional judgment may be used temporarily while 

sufficient research data are developed. Interim 

recommendations while science-based data are being 

collected should be adopted as follows: 

5.1 Adaptation of UF/IFAS N recommendations 

to seepage irrigation in South Florida: 

Situation: Current N fertilizer recommendations 

do not consider irrigation method or season. 

Issue: How to adapt N fertilization from drip to 

seepage irrigation? How to take into account growing 

season? 

Justification: Overall, denitrification rate 

estimates developed for production systems outside 

of Florida cannot be transferred to Florida (Simonne 

and Morgan, 2005). Approximately 23% of the N 

fertilizer was unaccounted for in a N balance made on 

bell pepper grown in lysimeters (Stanley and Clark, 

1993). The N not accounted for was assumed to be 

lost by denitrification. The fertilizer rate used in this 

experiment was 300 lb N/acre, and the potential 

denitrification estimate from this study was 69 lb 

N/acre/season. In addition, the occurrence of leaching 

rains in South Florida is typically two to four 

occurrences during fall plantings, one to three during 

winter plantings, and zero to two during spring 

plantings. 

Interim recommendation: Current N rates may be 

adapted to seepage irrigation by increasing them by 

20% to 25% to compensate for denitrification. 

Current N rates may be adapted to fall conditions by 

allowing additional fertilizer (30 lb/acre of N and 

16.6 lb/acre of K based on the historical frequency of 

leaching rains). Hence, the proposed interim N rate 

for seepage irrigated crops is 240-300 lb N/acre for 

eggplant, pepper, and tomato, and 180-220 lb N/A for 

cucurbits grown with seepage irrigation. Based on 

research/experience in the TCAA, an interim rate of 

220 lb N/A is recommended for chipping potato. 

5.2 Maintenance P rates: 

Issue: Growers and UF/IFAS research and 

education centers do not feel comfortable in 

following the recommended 0 lb/acre P when 

Mehlich-1 soil test results are “high” or “very 

high.” The same applies to growers in Miami-Dade 

County but no calibrated soil test is available for P in 

calcareous soils. 

Interim Recommendation: Allow for 8.8-13.2 lbs 

of P/acre targeted maintenance rate when soil-test P 

recommendation is “high” or “very high.” Starter 

P should be banded next to seed or transplant, and not 

as broadcast application. This recommendation for 

starter P fertilizer already exists in the footnotes of 

the Producer's Soil Test reports of the ARL/ESTL 

(footnote 354), but is not included in the Vegetable 

Production Handbook. 

5.3 Nitrogen fertilization for grape tomato grown 

with seepage irrigation: 

Issue: No recommendation for grape tomato 

grown with seepage irrigation currently exists. 

Interim recommendation: Calculate estimated 

seasonal rate for grape tomato grown with seepage 

irrigation by multiplying length of growing season 

(days) by daily rates (lb/ acre/day). Monitor foliar N 

concentration for further fine-tuning. 
Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper.... 8

6. Strategic Plan to Identify Priority 

Research/Demonstration and their 

Funding.

6.1. Priority publications/communications: 

• Develop and release in EDIS a manual entitled 

“Guidelines for on-farm fertilizer and irrigation 

demonstrations in Florida in the BMP era: 

Design, implementation, analysis, and 

interpretation.” 

• Create a database maintained by UF/IFAS that 

would allow for rapid access of research on 

water and nutrient management for vegetable 

crops in Florida and funded by FDACS, FDEP, 

and water management districts. 

• In cooperation with the Florida State 

Horticultural Society and the UF/IFAS Water 

Institute, support the organization of a 

research/Extension statewide conference on 

recent advances in nutrient management and 

BMP research. 

6.2. Priority research and demonstration needs: 

• Summarize and interpret data from fertilizer 

trials by region, irrigation method and growing 

season using data generated before the mid 1990s 

found in Hochmuth and Cordasco (2000a-f, 

2003a-c), since then (Couto et al., 1999; Esmel, 

2005; Lamberts et al., 1998; Li et al., 1997; 

Muñoz-Carpena et al., 2005; Pandey and Shukla, 

2005; Shukla et al., 2004, 2005; Simonne et al., 

2001), and in preparation (Table 7). 

• Evaluate the economic benefit to vegetable 

producers at varying fertilization rates. This 

should address the issues such as risk-benefit 

analyses of reduced fertilizer rates using 

multiple-year research. 

• Quantify the amount of N lost by denitrification 

during the crop in drip and seepage-irrigated 

systems and allow for compensation in the 

recommendations. 

• Evaluate the effects of water table fluctuations 

due to rainfall, freeze or wind protection on 

nutrient leaching. Incorporate the nutrient 

leaching under varying water table fluctuations 

into the recommendations. 

• Determine nutrient requirements for extended 

market conditions (>3 picks, especially pepper 

and eggplant) including comparisons between all 

fertilizer applied at planting and part of the 

fertilizer wheel-injected according to the 

supplemental fertilizer provision (Simonne and 

Hochmuth, 2005). 

• Determine N requirement for tomato, snap bean, 

summer squash and sweet corn in south 

Miami-Dade County. 

• Determine N-P-K requirements for gape tomato 

grown with drip or seepage irrigation. 

• Verify N and P rates for crops grown on the 

organic soils of the EAA. 

• Incorporate long-term weather prediction and 

rainfall potential in fertilizer recommendations 

(el Niño, la Niña, neutral years). 

• Develop and test controlled-release 

fertilizer-based fertilization programs for all 

major crops (pepper, eggplant, cucurbits, okra, 

boniato) grown with seepage and/or overhead 

irrigation. 

• Determine historical frequencies of leaching 

rainfalls for Fall, Winter and Spring plantings in 

major vegetable growing areas of Florida. 

• Update nutrient management recommendations 

using cultivars currently in use, which may be 

more vigorous than older varieties. Evaluation 

should include grade distribution and postharvest 

evaluation. 

• Demonstrating the feasibility of using a single 

fertilizer band that would cut the rate 

significantly of crops grown with subsurface 

irrigation. Also, demonstrate and encourage the 

use of one band, reduced rate or no banded 

fertilizer in drip-irrigated fields to reduce total 

rates used. 

• Include in a nutrient management 

recommendation whether each water basin is N 

or P limited. The recommendation should 
Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper.... 9

include more flexibility for P rates in N-limited 

watersheds, and for N rates in P-limited 

watersheds. 

• All the above research/Extension priority needs 

to focus on productivity first, which is the main 

focus of UF/IFAS production recommendation. 

Also, the following research/Extension activities 

should also be considered to facilitate BMP 

adoption: 

• Investigate and demonstrate the feasibility of 

summer flood fallow and denitrification at the 

end of the crop as a BMP for vegetable 

production in Flatwoods region of Central and 

South Florida. 

• Investigate and demonstrate the benefits of 

summer cover crops in Central and South Florida.

• Quantify the effects of varying amounts of 

rainfall, and moisture and water table 

fluctuations on N losses to ground water. This 

should be incorporated in the fertilizer 

recommendation. 

• Support systems research seeking the 

development of zero or limited nutrient and 

water discharge. 

In summary, the recommendations of the VFTF 

are: 

1. UF/IFAS nutrient management 

recommendations for vegetable crops should be 

defined as “the rates of fertilizer and water that 

qualitatively and quantitatively optimize the 

yield of vegetable crops over multiple years and 

that reflect regional and seasonal differences.” 

2. UF/IFAS nutrient management 

recommendations must continue to be based on 

science, follow the core principles of soil testing, 

crop nutritional requirement and linear-bed foot 

system, and take into account irrigation method 

and growing season. 

3. Data collected before the mid 1990s and 

interpreted statewide should be re-evaluated by 

region, irrigation method and growing season. 

4. Based on research data developed since the mid 

1990s, UF/IFAS nutrient management 

recommendations updates should be adopted as 

described in this document. 

5. Data used for developing UF/IFAS nutrient 

management recommendations should be 

collected under standardized experimental 

procedures that ensure the highest possible 

quality and targeted applicability of the results. 

6. Science-based results in nutrient management 

should be tested in large plots, under farm or 

farm-like growing conditions before being 

incorporated into UF/IFAS recommendations. 

7. In the absence of science-based data, the 

fertilizer recommendations based on best 

professional judgment described in this 

document should be adopted on an interim basis. 

8. The funding for the continuous updating of 

UF/IFAS nutrient management 

recommendations should be coordinated at the 

state level among different funding sources 

(FDACS, DEP, water management districts, 

USDA, commodity groups, etc.) and supported 

by adequate research and Extension FTE 

provided by UF/IFAS at the state-wide faculty, 

county faculty and technical support levels. 

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Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper.... 

Table 1. Location, main soil type, irrigation method and production season of the main vegetable producing regions of Florida. 

Region Area Main soil type Irrigation System 

Northwest Panhandle

z

Sandy and loamy Drip, dryland 

North central Suwannee Valley

y

Sandy Drip, dryland 

 Northeast Tri-county Agricultural Area

x

Sandy Seepage 

 Central Manatee and Hillsborough Counties Sandy Seepage, drip 

East coast Palm Beach County Sandy Seepage, drip 

Everglades Agricultural Area

w Organic (“muck”) Seepage 

Southwest Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties Sandy Seepage, drip 

South Miami-Dade County Calcareous rocky and marl Overhead, drip 

z

 Jefferson County and west.

y Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie, Levy, Alachua, Gilchrist, Union, Bradford, Baker and Columbia Counties.

x

 St. Johns, Putnam and Flagler Counties.

w 

Palm Beach and eastern part of Hendry County.

Table 2. UF/IFAS N fertilizer recommendations and industry survey for the main vegetable crops grown in Northeast Florida.

Crop Growing season Production system N fe

PM/BG

z

Irrigation UF/IFAS 

Chipping potato Spring BG Seepage 200 

Table stock potato Spring BG Seepage 200 

 Potato using controlled release fertilizer Spring BG Seepage n/a 

 Head Cabbage Winter, spring BG Seepage 175 

 Broccoli Winter, spring BG Seepage 175 

Napa Cabbage Winter, spring BG Seepage 175 

z

 PM/BG = Polyethylene mulch or bare ground production.
Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper.... 

Table 3. UF/IFAS N fertilizer recommendations and industry survey for the main vegetable crops grown in Central Florida.

Crop Growing season Production system N fertiliz

PM/BG

z

Irrigation UF/IFAS 

Strawberry Winter PM Drip 150 

Cucurbit Spring PM Drip 150 

 Round or grape tomato Winter PM Drip 200 

Round or grape tomato Winter PM Seepage 200 

Potato Winter BG Seepage 200 

 Head or Napa cabbage Winter BG Seepage 175 

 Bell pepper Winter BG Drip 200 

 Bell pepper Winter BG Seepage 200 

 Green beans Winter BG Seepage 100 

 Cantaloupe Spring PM Drip 150 

 Cucumber Spring PM Drip 150 

 Summer squash Spring PM Drip 150 

 Bell pepper Spring PM Drip 200 

 Eggplant Spring PM Drip 200 

Tomato Spring PM Drip 200 

z

 PM/BG = Polyethylene mulch or bare ground production. 

y

 Rates ranging from 0.75 to 1 lb/A/day. Total N applied depends on length of season. 

x

 Double crop mostly after strawberry; rates shown were converted back to standard bed spacing.
Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper.... 16

Table 4. Current UF/IFAS N fertilizer recommendations and industry survey for the main vegetable crops grown in 

Florida's East Coast region.

Crop Growing season Production system N fertilization (lbs/acre)

PM/BGzIrrigation UF/IFAS Industry

Bell pepper Fall PM Seepage 200 280-350

Round tomato Fall PM Seepage 200 280-350

 Eggplant Fall PM Seepage 200 280-350

 Cucurbits Winter PM Seepage 130-150 150-200y

 Round tomato Winter PM Drip 200 200

 Eggplant Winter PM Drip 200 200

Bell pepper Winter PM Drip 200 200

z

 PM/BG = Polyethylene mulch or bare ground production. 

y

 Double crop mostly after bell pepper or tomato; rates shown were converted back to standard bed spacing. 

Table 5. UF/IFAS N fertilizer recommendations and industry survey for the main vegetable crops grown in Southwest 

Florida.

Crop Growing 

season

Production system N fertilization

(lbs/acre)

PM/BGzIrrigation UF/IFAS Industryx

Round or Roma tomato AllyPM Drip 200 280-420

Round or Roma tomato AllyPM Seepage 200 260-350

Grape tomato AllyPM Drip 200 360-390

Grape tomato AllyPM Seepage 200 300-380

Bell pepper Winter, fall PM Seepage 200 300-450

Bell pepper Winter, fall PM Drip 200 350-470

Summer squash AllyPM Seepage or drip 150 180-225

Cucumber AllyPM Seepage or drip 150 175-225

Watermelon AllyPM Seepage or drip 150 200-220

Eggplant AllyPM Seepage or drip 200 280-350

Potato Winter, fall BG seepage 200 200-230

z

 PM/BG = Polyethylene mulch or bare ground production. 

y

 All = Winter, spring and fall.

x

 Double crops included.
Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper.... 17

Table 6. UF/IFAS N fertilizer recommenations and industry survey for the main vegetable crops grown in South Miami-Dade 

County, Florida.

Crop Season Production 

system

N fertilization

(lbs/acre)

PM/BGzIrrigation UF/IFASxIndustry

Round tomato Winter PM Drip n/a 350-450

Pepper Winter PM Drip n/a 350-450

 Eggplant Winter PM Drip n/a 350-450

 Sweet corn Winter BG Overhead n/a 200-480

 Bean Winter BG Overhead n/a 80-200

 Boniato AllyBG Overhead n/a 200-400

 Okra All BG or PM Overhead n/a 80-200

 Cucumber Spring, fall BG or PM Overhead n/a 80-200

 Summer squash Winter BG Overhead n/a 80-200

Grape tomato Spring, fall PM Drip n/a 350-450

Table 7. Authors, title and intended journal of publication of manuscripts in preparation that may be used to update UF/IFAS 

nutrient management recommendations.

Hendricks, G., S. Shukla, K. Cushman, T. A. Obreza, and E. McAvoy. 2006. Effects of water and nutrient management 

practices on watermelon yield in South Florida. Irrigation and Drainage Engineering.

 Simonne, E.H., M.D. Dukes, R.C. Hochmuth, D.W. Studstill, G. Avezou and D. Jarry. 2006. Scheduling drip irrigation 

for watermelon grown with plasticulture. J. Plant Nutr.

 Srivastava, S., S. Shukla, and F. H. Jaber. 2006. Evapotranspiration and crop coefficients for pepper. Irrigation and 

Drainage Engineering.