CONTROLLED-RELEASE FERTILIZER A BMP IN TOMATO PRODUCTION Monica Ozores-Hampton and Luther Carson
CAN WE USE CONTROLLED RELEASE FERTILIZERS (CRF) IN TOMATO PRODUCTION? Monica Ozores-Hampton, Eric Simonne, Kelly Morgan, Kent Cushman, Shinjiro Sato, Chris Albright, Eric Waldo, and Amir Polak
FRESH MARKET TOMATO PRODUCTION IN FLORIDA Florida ranks first nationally in fresh market tomatoes production with 29, acres planted and depending of the season with a farm value of $4-6 million. 7% of the tomato production is in the Southwest Florida area: Collier and Manatee County in sandy soils susceptible to nutrient leaching.
FLORIDA VEGETABLES BMP S The Federal EPA and Florida DEP recognize the importance of water quality through the enforcement: 1. Federal Clean Water Act of 1972 2. FL Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Act of 1998 3. FL Restoration Act of 1999 4. Florida DACS authority to develop BMP 22 5. BMP manual (www.floridaagwaterpolicy.com) 26 A BMP must be technically feasible, economically viable, socially acceptable, and based on sound science. The BMP program is voluntary Presumption of compliance by NOI
(BMP) NITROGEN RATES Grower Standard 293 ± 38 lbs of N/acre (24) 244 ± 44 lbs of N/acre (214) UF/IFAS Recommendation & BMP 2 lbs/acre pre-plant plus.. Controlled-Release Fertilizer (CRF) a BMP (No recommendation)
WHAT IS CONTROLLED-RELEASE FERTILIZER? Controlled release-fertilizer (CRF) are soluble fertilizers (SF) encapsulated in a polymer, resin, or a hybrid of sulfur coated occluded in a polymer coating. Several factors influence N release from CRFs including: 1. Soil temperature and moisture 2. Material coated (Polyon or Resin) 3. Coating thickness
CRF MANUFACTURES Manufacturers measure CRF release duration as 75% N release at a constant temperature (e.g., 68 to 77 C). Recorded as high as 14 F during the fall under white polyethylene mulch Accelerated N release may be expected during the fall season Increased electrical conductivity, elevated ammonium concentration Loss of CRF benefits
OBJECTIVES 1. Evaluate N release from CRFs buried pouches method (real-time field) in seepage-irrigated tomato mulched beds. 2. Evaluate selected CRF N and rate plus SNF in a hybrid fertilizer system in seepage-irrigated tomato mulched beds.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
CRFS POUCHES CRFs Abbreviation Release duration (Days) Grade (N-P-K) Manufacturer PC U PCU9 9 44-- Agrium AT PC U PCU12 12 43-- Agrium AT PC NPK PCNPK12 12 19-2.6-1.8 Agrium AT PC U PCU18 18 43-- Agrium AT PC NPK PCNPK18 18 18-2.6-1 Agrium AT PSC U PSCU 18 37-- Everris NA RC NPK RCNPK 12 19-2.6-1 Everris NA PC N FL1 1 28-- JCAM Agri Co. PC N FL14 14 28-- JCAM Agri Co. PC KN FL18 18 12--33.2 Florikan ESA PC M FLMix 1 to 18 19.2--11.3 Florikan ESA Fall Mix 1 M1 1 to 18 7.5-3.6-1.3 Florikan ESA Fall Mix 15 M15 1 to 18 12.3-3.6-1.3 Florikan ESA Fall Mix 2 M2 1 to 18 15-3.6-1.3 Florikan ESA
FIELD CRF POUCH STUDY Fall 211 and 213 tomato season Randomized Complete Block Design, 4 replication Pouch: nylon mess screen (5x5 inches) with 3.5 g N and placed 4 deep in the bed and collected at: 7, 14, 28, 42, 6, 9, 12, 15. After samples are collected, they will be dried at ambient temperature. Remaining N in the prill will be measured using combustion. Non-linear regression and R 2 Percent N release = a (a-b) * e ct Days to 75% N release
Treatment (CRF/SNF) Bottom mix Hot mix Total (lbs/acre) SF CRF SF CRF SF CRF Total Grower 21 1 219 24 1 25 UF/IFAS 21 1 169 19 1 2 1/5 (75% IFAS) 1 5 5 1 15 15/5 (1% IFAS) 15 5 5 15 2 2/5 (125% IFAS) 2 5 5 2 25 CRF= Florikcote mix which was NH 4 NO 3 and urea, coated (28N-P-K, 1 and 14 day release) and coated KNO 3 (12N-P-4K, 18 day release) plus all P and micronutrients. Applied as a bottom mix or cold mix
CULTURAL PRACTICES Experimental design RCBD, 4 replications Bed spacing 6 feet Bed width 3 inches Plant spacing 2 inches Fumigant Methyl bromide/chloropicrin (5:5), 75 lb/acre Mulch White virtually impermeable film, 1.5 mil Variety BHN 726 Planted plot length 3 feet x 3 beds = 9 feet Harvest plot length 16.7 feet (1 plants)
DATA COLLECTION Bed temperature 1 cm deep Watchdog data logger (Spectrum Technologies Inc., Plainfield Ill.) Leaf tissue N - seven times Combustion using a NA25 C/N Analyzer (Thermo Quest-CE Instruments, Waltham, MA) Yield Three harvests, graded using USDA standards Postharvest Fruit firmness - Texture analyzer) and color (Model C125EB; Mitutoyo, Corp.; Aurora, ILL.) Post-season soil samples- Soil and CRF prill: Nitrate, ammonium, urea Analysis of Variance, Duncan s Multiple Range Test 5% level
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Soil temperature ( C) 4 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 211 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Rainfall (cm) Soil temperature ( C) 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 Rainfall Average Air Maximum Soil Average soil Minimum Soil 213 1 8 6 4 2 Rainfall (cm)
N release (%) N release (%) N release (%) N release (%) 1 N release (%) 5 1 5 1 9 8 7 6 5 PCU9 2 4 6 8 1 12 14 4 3 2 1.97.99 RCNPK 1 8 6 4 2.95.75 PCU12 2 4 6 8 1 12 14 211,dotted 1.95.75 PCU12 5 5.97.78 6 2 4 6 8 1 12 14.97.9 PCNPK12 PCU18 1% 3 d 3% in 46 d 2 4 6 8 1 12 14 2 6 8 1 12 14 2 4 6 8 1 12 14 1 213 1 1 1 8, solid 8 6 6 8 8 4.92 4.95 2.92 2.88 6 FL1 6 FL14 2 4 6 8 1 12 14 2 4 6 8 1 12 14 1 4 4 1 1 8 8.92 8 6 2 6.92 6 2 4.94 4 FL1.96 4.93 2.98 2.99 2.89 2 4 M112 6 8 1 12 14 M168 M224 2 4 6 DAP Days 8 1after 12 14 placement 2 4 (DAP) 6 8 1 12 14 2 4 6 DAP 8 1 12 14 N release (%) 1 8 4 2 1 5.99.86 PSCU 2 4 6 8 1 12 14 1 5 1 8 6 4 2 1 8 6 4 2.97.78 PCU18.99 PCNPK18 2 4 6 8 2 1 4 6 8 12 1 1214.85.57 FL18 2 4 6 8 1 12 14.85.57 FL18.49 2 4 6 8 1 12 FLmix 14 Days after placement 2 4 6 DAP 8 1 12 14
PETIOLE SAP NITRATE CONCENTRATION Petiole sap NO 3 -N (ppm) 2 18 16 14 12 1 8 6 NS NS NS NS NS NS Grower IFAS CRF1/SNF5 CRF15/SNF5 CRF2/SNF5 IFAS Upper IFAS Lower NS 4 2 2 4 6 8 1 12 Days after transplant CRF= Controlled-release fertilizer SNF= Soluble nitrogen fertilizer
TOMATO YIELDS 211 212 Treatments (CRF/SNF) First Harvest Season Total (lbs/acre) Xlg Lg Med Total Xlg Lg Med Total Cull ------------------------------ (25-lb boxes/acre) ------------------------------------ Grower 33 62 21 413 773 537 521b 1,83b 35b UF/IFAS 368 63 13 445 627 586 881a 2,94a 547a 1/5 4 66 21 487 811 675 689b 2,175a 375b 15/5 28 82 18 38 689 697 665b 2,51a 424b 25/5 36 77 23 46 71 675 675b 2,53a 549a P value.7.79.7.18.11.12.1.2.2 Sig. NS NS NS NS NS NS *** * *** Grower 61b 91-71cd 1,59 1,18 527 2,64 253 UF/IFAS 496b 55-551d 1,16 1,56 517 2,59 212 1/5 786a 11-887ab 1,134 853 473 2,459 295 15/5 88a 14-948a 1,261 981 448 2,69 217 2/5 627b 117-744bc 1,156 1,,11 451 2,717 272 P value.4.6 -.8.6.24.8.3.22 Sig. ** NS - ** NS NS NS NS NS
211 212 RESIDUAL N IN SOIL AND CRF PRILLS Treatment (CRF/SNF) Soil (kg ha -1 ) CRF prills (kg ha -1 ) N release (lbs/acre) NH 4+ - N NO 3- -N Urea-N NH 4+ -N NO 3 N Urea-N Total N (%) Grower standard 4.3b 12.8a.b - - - 17. - UF/IFAS 2.3b 14.2a.1b - - - 16.6-1/5 4.3b 2.4b.8b 1.3 1.9.4 11.1 96.4 15/5 4.2b 1.7b.4b 1.1 1.8.2 9.4 97.8 2/5 7.6a 7.9ab 2.3a 1. 1.3.2 2.4 98.7 P value.6.16.4.78.52.64.12 - Sig. ** ** ** NS NS NS NS - Contrast linear (CRF).4.1.5.59.31.49.4 - Sig. * ns * ns ns ns * Grower standard 6.7 9.3.b - - - 16. - UF/IFAS 5.5 3.2.b - - - 8.8-1/5 6. 2.7.b 1.5 9.. 19.2 89.5 15/5 4.6 2.9.1a 2.1 12.3. 22.1 9.4 2/5 3.8 5.7.1a 2.7 23.7.1 36.1 86.8 P value.9.2.1.71.32.6.7 - Sig. NS NS * NS NS NS NS - Contrast linear (CRF).13.29.4.43.16.3.2 - Sig. ns ns * ns ns * ns -
POSTHARVEST EVALUATION Treatment (lbs/acre) Color stage Firmness 211 212 211 212 ----- (1 to 6) ----- -- Deformation (mm) -- Grower standard 5.c 5.9 2.6c 2.1 UF/IFAS 5.5b 5.9 3.bc 2.2 1/5 6.a 5.8 2.6c 2.1 15/5 5.c 5.8 3.2ab 2.2 2/5 6.a 6. 3.4a 2.2 P value.1.28.2.89 Sig. *** NS *** NS
1. CONCLUSIONS In the fall due to high soil temperatures CRF-N resulted in release duration reductions of 23% to 88% as compared to the manufacturers stated release. So (fall), a CRF NPK 12 days 75% of the N will be release in 57 days (53% reduction), but the desire N release should be 89 days after placement (3 weeks fumigation + 8 weeks after transplant). Mixing CRF N release time, sources, technologies will achieved the desire release time. N release (%) 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 PCNPK12 2 4 6 8 1 12 14
2. CONCLUSIONS Hybrid Fertilizer Program: CRF 1 and 15 lbs/acre (bottom mix) plus 5 lbs/acre of SNF (15 to 2 lb/acre total N) will allows you an N reduction of up to 25% maintain yields with no impact in postharvest fruit quality. Thus, CRF can be a considered a technically feasible fertilization practice, socially acceptable, and based on sound science. However, CRF did not reduced potential N loss to the environment criteria to be considered a BMP for seepage produced tomato in south Florida. Also, need to be economically viable!!!.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Agrium Florikan Gargiulo, Inc. Luther Carson Aline and Kiran