The August issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine focuses on irrigation management in blueberry production.
Gerardo Nunez, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences assistant professor in Gainesville, Florida, highlights the role that root and leaf age plays in how blueberry bushes consume water. Not enough water can hinder the growth and productivity of blueberries. Too much water can result in diseases and loss of vigor.
Stanley Culpepper, University of Georgia professor and Extension weed scientist, and Jenna Vance, research professional and graduate student, provide updates on how vegetable producers can win the never-ending war against nutsedge. Yellow and purple nutsedge remain the most troublesome weeds impacting specialty crops.
The most successful strategy involves implementing diversified weed management tactics that will decrease the nutsedge population when a field is not in production.
It is also almost time for the Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo, scheduled for Aug. 16-17 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. The updated seminar schedule is included in the August issue of SCI.