By Clint Thompson
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research could solve a problem aimed at preventing leaching of fertilizer in the soil for vegetable crops.
Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, says research with controlled-release fertilizers have generated encouraging results.
“In this area, nitrogen is a big concern for us to make sure we can manage it,” Hochmuth said. “Early in the season before the root system gets well developed, that’s the time of the season we really have to be careful with nitrogen inputs. During that period of time, we can preserve the nitrogen in the bed. It’s in a polymer coated fertilizer granule. That’s what the controlled release aspect of it is. It’s coated. It doesn’t release until it’s ready to be released for the crop needs. It helps protect for the early application of fertilizer from being lost.”
Heavy Rains
If a heavy rain event occurs, nitrogen is vulnerable to be leached from the soil at a time when the crop needs it the most.
“This whole area is deep sandy soils that are vulnerable to losses of fertilizer. If we were to get a real heavy rain event, that would normally be prone to some leaching of the fertilizer. The controlled release protects it from being leached,” Hochmuth said. “The only part that would be vulnerable to being leached is the part that’s already released. That is very small. It’s just a much more efficient way of managing it in these deep sandy soils.”
Hochmuth studied the controlled-release fertilizer through five on-farm trials, which followed years of basic research at UF/IFAS. While it is a more expensive option, the potential is very rewarding.
“With everything else being equal we find the total yields are the same. You can get just as good of a crop. And I think have the potential of reducing inputs somewhat because we’re better able to take care of the product a little bit better in that coded form,” Hochmuth added.