Johnson helped Rouse make a smooth transition into transplant production by advising him about fertilizer solutions and making sure he knew how to take solution samples to check the quality of his source water and to monitor the nutrient content of his floatbeds. Solution reports alert growers to potential problems. For example, source water in eastern North Carolina often has high alkalinity that can interfere with nutrient availability, and in some parts of the state, excessive mineral concentrations can clog irrigation devices or be toxic to plants. Solution analysis provides a measure of insurance for these high-value crops. For Rouse, tobacco transplant production has been relatively trouble free.
Plants grow rapidly and require little maintenance.
Rouse hopes his transition into cotton production will be as smooth, but he recognizes there will be many more factors to consider. Fertilization is one of the things that makes cotton more intensive and challenging. To optimize yield and quality, growers must closely monitor nitrogen content in leaves and petioles, the stalk by which a leaf is attached to a stem, at regular intervals throughout the season. Rouse has never collected plant tissue samples, but is counting on Johnson to walk him through the process. He knows exactly which nutrients the crop needs, how much it needs and when it needs them.