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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #258780
Title: Hydro-physical Characteristics of Selected Media Used for Containerized Agriculture Systems

Author
item KUMAR, VIVEK - Florida International University
item GUERRERO, FELIPE - Florida International University
item Savabi, M
item TANSEL, BERRIN - Florida International University

Submitted to: Agricultural Water Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2010
Publication Date: 10/15/2010
Citation: Kumar, V., Guerrero, F.M., Savabi, M.R., Tansel, B. 2010. Hydro-physical Characteristics of Selected Media Used for Containerized Agriculture Systems. Agricultural Water Management. 98:314-320.

Interpretive Summary: Florida is the second leading horticulture state in the nation with greenhouse/nursery sales of more than $1.6 billion annually. Containerized plant production represents an extremely intensive agricultural practice with large amounts of water and chemical fertilizer use. Considering that three national parks (Everglades, Biscayne and Big Cypress) in south Florida surround the agricultural areas where containerized agricultural systems are used, there exists a major challenge for development of effective practices that combine maximizing crop production with environmental protection. Non-point source pollutants (i.e., nutrients, pesticides, and other chemicals) resulting from agricultural areas have been implicated as a source of water quality degradation in southern Biscayne Bay.

Technical Abstract: Containerized plant production represents an extremely intensive agricultural practice with large amounts of water and fertilizer application. Hydro-physical characteristics such as water infiltration, texture and structure, particle size distribution affect the quality of the media used in containerized agricultural systems and the water availablility to plants. Water retention characteristics depend on particle size distribution as well as the composition of the media used. Materials with coarser particles allow faster percolation of water and also retain relatively higher amounts of moisture per unit weight due to higher porosity, while draining faster due to smaller surface area per unit weight. Faster drainage can result into air flow through coarser materials causing the media to dry. As the media desaturates, hydraulic conductivity is reduced. The objective of this study was to experimentally determine the hydro-physical characteristics of different media used by nurseries to explain the soil-water interactions for such systems. In this study hydraulic conductivity of the samples obtained from different nurseries were determined three methods: constant head permeability test, falling head permeability test and tension infiltrometer. The hydraulic conductivity of the samples was also analyzed in relation to particle size distribution. The results of the study indicate that the four common media used in nurseries in South Florida have distinct hydro-physical properties. The result of this could assist development of Best Management Practices (BMP) for containerized agricultural systems for more efficient management of irrigation water and agrochemical use.