EDIS Update
New and revised publications in the EDIS publications database
Secuestro y Distribución de Carbono Orgánico del Suelo Bajo Diferentes Sistemas de Manejo de Pasturas (SL363/SS564)
March 19th, 2012
Topic(s):Crops, Environment, Livestock, Spanish Language
El secuestro de carbono en el suelo es el proceso de transformación del carbono del aire al carbono orgánico, almacenado en el suelo. A través del secuestro de carbono, los niveles de CO2 atmosférico pueden reducirse en la medida que los niveles de carbono orgánico del suelo aumentan. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Alejandra María Jimenez Madrid, José Trinidad Reyes Sandoval, and Maria L. Silveira, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss564
Engaging Youth in the Environment through the Florida Land Judging Program (SL362/SS563)
March 13th, 2012
Topic(s):4-H Youth Development, Environment
The Florida 4-H/FFA Land Judging Contest is steeped in a tradition of enthusiastic participation, challenging science, and dynamic field conditions. Learn more in this 3-page fact sheet written by Amy L. Shober, L. Rex Ellis, Edward A. Hanlon, and Christine Wiese, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, November 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss563
How to Characterize Soil Variability in Florida Citrus Groves as It Relates to Tree Growth and Yield (SL556/SS557)
February 2nd, 2012
Topic(s):Citrus
Non-uniform tree growth and fruit yield are very common throughout many Florida citrus groves, but variable groves are typically managed as if they were uniform. This 4-page fact sheet provides information about the relationship between soil variability and citrus production, proposes recommendations for soil sampling that account for spatial variability, and suggests site-specific management practices for variable Florida citrus groves. Written by Kirandeep K. Mann, Arnold W. Schumann, Thomas A. Obreza, Willie G. Harris, and Jerry B. Sartain, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, January 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss557
Rules and Scorecard Grading Policies for the Annual Florida 4-H/FFA Land Judging Contest (SL144/SS195)
December 15th, 2011
Topic(s):4-H Youth Development
This 11-page fact sheet outlines the rules of the annual Florida 4-H/FFA Land Judging Contest and guides participants in correctly completing the Land Judging and Homesite Evaluation scorecards. Written by Amy L. Shober, L. Rex Ellis, Christine Wiese, Edward A. Hanlon, Randy B. Brown, and J.H. Herbert, Jr., and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, November 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss195
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Trace Organic Chemicals (SL352/SS554)
December 7th, 2011
Topic(s):Health & Nutrition, House & Home, Water
Trace organic chemicals are potentially harmful to human and ecosystem health. They frequently occur in wastewater from septic systems and can be found in concentrations orders of magnitude higher than typical concentrations reported in centralized treatment plant wastewater. This 7-page fact sheet identifies common trace organic chemicals of concern in wastewater and their sources, and summarizes current research on the fate and transport of these chemicals in septic systems. Written by Gurpal S. Toor, Mary Lusk, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, November 2011. (photo CC BY-SA 3.0 Mila)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss554
An Overview of Nutrient Budgets for Use in Nutrient Management Planning (SL361/SS562)
December 7th, 2011
Topic(s):Agriculture, Water
For professionals responsible for ensuring water quality, this 4-page fact sheet describes the types and limitations of nutrient budgets. Written by Amy L. Shober, George Hochmuth, and Christine Wiese, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, November 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss562
Fertilizer Experimentation, Data Analyses, and Interpretation for Developing Fertilization Recommendations: Examples with Vegetable Crop Research (SL345/SS548)
November 18th, 2011
Topic(s):Crops
Fertilizer recommendations contain several important factors, including fertilizer form, source, application timing, placement, and irrigation management. Another important part of a fertilizer recommendation is the amount of a particular nutrient to apply. The optimum fertilizer amount is determined from extensive field experimentation conducted for several years, at multiple locations, with several varieties, etc. This 10-page fact sheet focuses on the research principles behind determining the optimum rate of fertilizer, including experimentation and interpreting research results for optimum crop production and quality in conjunction with minimal environmental consequences. Authors George Hochmuth, Ed Hanlon, and Allen Overman use examples from research with vegetable crops in Florida and emphasize that how one interprets the results is as important as how one conducts the research. Published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss548
The Potential for Plants to Remove Phosphorus from the Spodic Horizon (SL359/SS560)
October 31st, 2011
Topic(s):Agriculture, Water
Under what conditions can plants be used to remove phosphorus from common Florida soils? This 5-page fact sheet shows how calculations for the phosphorus saturation ratio and soil phosphorus storage capacity at various soil depths can be used to determine whether to use phytoremediation as a strategy to remove phosphorus from the soil. Written by D. Chakraborty, V.D. Nair, W.G. Harris, and R.D. Rhue, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss560
The Long-term Contribution of Phosphorus from Agricultural Lands to Lake Okeechobee (SL357/SS558)
October 20th, 2011
Topic(s):Livestock, Water
This 7-page fact sheet uses a new procedure to evaluate the soil from active and abandoned dairies in the Lake Okeechobee watershed to determine their potential to negatively impact water quality through phosphorus release. Written by V.D. Nair, M. Chrysostome, and W.G. Harris, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss558
Phosphorus Sources and Risk Potential: Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers (SL358/SS559)
October 20th, 2011
Topic(s):Agriculture, Water
One of the factors that determines whether a source of phosphorus will have a negative impact on water quality is solubility. This 3-page fact sheet discusses the significantly different solubility of commonly found phosphorus sources in Florida. Written by V.D. Nair and W.G. Harris, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2011. (UF/IFAS photo by Milt Putnam)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss559
A Summary of N, P, and K Research with Tomato in Florida (SL355/CV236)
October 20th, 2011
Topic(s):Crops
More than 60 years worth of tomato fertilization research has been conducted in Florida. During this time, many changes have occurred in tomato production practices, including changes in cultivars and the introduction of new cultural systems, such as polyethylene mulch and drip irrigation. The research reported here covers tomato production with polyethylene mulch. Tomato crop and fertilizer management recommendations, such as plant and row spacing, have changed over time following new developments in research. This 38-page fact sheet summarizes tomato fertilization research leading to current University of Florida recommendations and summarizes needs for additional research. Written by George Hochmuth and Ed Hanlon, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, August 2011. (UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/cv236
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Viruses (SL351/SS553)
October 17th, 2011
Topic(s):Health & Nutrition, House & Home, Water
Keeping disease-causing microorganisms out of groundwater used for drinking water supplies is important to protect human health. This 7-page fact sheet characterizes the behavior of viruses in septic systems and the soil drain field and summarizes what we know about the extent and character of groundwater contamination with viruses emanating from septic systems. Written by Mary Lusk, Gurpal S. Toor, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss553
Reclaimed Water Use for Edible Crop Production in Florida (SL360/SS561)
September 23rd, 2011
Topic(s):Citrus, Crops, Nursery & Greenhouse, Water
Irrigating edible crops with reclaimed water is a promising, cost-effective solution to Florida's overuse of freshwater resources. Learn more in this 4-page fact sheet written by Jamie Lewis and Alan L. Wright and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, September 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss561
Iron (Fe) Nutrition of Plants (SL353/SS555)
August 29th, 2011
Topic(s):Crops, Lawn & Garden
Iron is one of 16 essential elements for plant growth and reproduction. Most annual plants have a requirement for Fe on the order of 1 to 1.5 lb Fe per acre, compared with nitrogen (N) at 80 to 200 lb per acre. This 8-page fact sheet provides a detailed basic understanding of soil science and plant physiology for diagnosing and correcting Fe problems in plants and soils. Written by George Hochmuth and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss555
Improving the Health of Declining Loropetalum in the Home Landscape (SL354/SS556)
August 17th, 2011
Topic(s):Lawn & Garden
Loropetalum, or Chinese Witch Hazel, is a common landscape plant in north and central Florida. It’s relatively pest-free, but there have been increasing reports of decline — likely due to nutrient deficiencies in the soil. This 3-page fact sheet familiarizes homeowners with the symptoms of Loropetalum decline and provides options to improve the health of afflicted Loropetalum in the landscape. Written by Joe Sewards and Amy L. Shober and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss556
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Phosphorus (SL349/SS551)
August 10th, 2011
Topic(s):Water

Phosphorus (P) in onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems is a concern because P can impair water quality even lower concentrations than nitrogen. This 8-page fact sheet summarizes the sources of P in septic tank effluent and the forms, concentrations, and behavior of P in the septic tank effluent and the drain field. Written by Mary Lusk, Gurpal S. Toor, and Tom Obreza and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, July 2011. (Photo by Milt Putnam)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss551
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Bacteria and Protozoa (SL350/SS552)
August 10th, 2011
Topic(s):Health & Nutrition, Water

Keeping disease-causing microorganisms out of groundwater used for drinking water supplies is important to protect human health.This 7-page fact sheet reports the sources of bacteria and protozoa in wastewater, discusses diseases associated with drinking water contaminated with wastewater, and then details their fate in septic systems. Written by Mary Lusk, Gurpal S. Toor, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, July 2011. (Photo by Tara Piasio)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss552
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: An Overview (SL347/SS549)
June 29th, 2011
Topic(s):House & Home, Water
This 7-page fact sheet introduces common types of septic systems and briefly discusses onsite wastewater flow and the contaminants found in wastewater. Written by Gurpal Toor, Mary Lusk, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, June 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss549
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Nitrogen (SL348/SS550)
June 29th, 2011
Topic(s):House & Home, Water
In the United States, about 4,800 water bodies are impaired due to excess nitrogen (N), and septic systems are recognized as one source of N pollution. This 6-page fact sheet describes the behavior and transport of N from a conventional septic system and the summarizes the sources of N in sewage, the forms and behavior of N in septic tanks and drain fields, and the fate and transport of N in groundwater. Written by Gurpal Toor, Mary Lusk, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, June 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss550
Soil pH and the Home Landscape or Garden (SL256/SS480)
June 9th, 2011
Topic(s):Lawn & Garden
Homeowners and gardeners alike are interested in soil pH because soil pH directly affects the growth and quality of many landscape plants by influencing the chemical form of many elements in the soil and soil microbial processes. This 3-page fact sheet explains soil pH and provides strategies for Master Gardeners and homeowners to make the most of the pH in the home landscape or garden. Written by Amy L. Shober, Christine Wiese, and Geoffrey C. Denny, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, May 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss480
Links
- EDIS Website - EDIS is the Electronic Data Information Source of UF/IFAS Extension, a collection of information on topics relevant to you.
Topics
- Categories
- 4-H Youth Development (102)
- Agriculture (1056)
- Community Development (80)
- Disaster Prep & Recovery (21)
- Environment (560)
- Families & Consumers (641)
- Lawn & Garden (370)
- Popular (2)
- Program Development (81)
- Spanish Language (155)
- Sustainable Living (92)
- Uncategorized (226)



