Impact of irrigation and nutrient management programs on fruit yields, nitrogen load, and crop value of fresh market tomato grown with plasticulture in the era of best management practices

Because of the importance of agriculture to Florida’s economy, and the federal and state water quality legislation, Florida’s vegetable growers need specific guidelines to comply with these new regulations and remain competitive. Regulators also need science-based data documenting the reduction in pollution achieved by implementation of Best Management Practices. To better understand the impact of irrigation-nutrient management programs (INMP) on fresh market tomato production, simultaneous experiments were conducted to determine the effects of INMPs on (1) tomato yields, (2) tomato seasonal total-N load, and (3) economic insights into tomato production as determined with partial budget analysis (PBA). A 2-year experiment was conducted at Live Oak, Florida during springs of 2005 and 2006 with selected INMPs created by a combination of preplant fertilizer source (Chicken Litter (CL) or 13-1.8-10.8), fertilizer rate (100% or 200%), and irrigation rate (100% or 300%). The University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recommended INMP was 100% Fertigation-100% Irrigation.;CL as a preplant nutrient source increased early-yields, and did not differ significantly from the UF/IFAS INMP for nutrient loads. 300% INMP reduced total fruit yields (920-1242 25-lb cartons/acre), but did not differ significantly from the UF/IFAS INMP for nutrient loads. Based on the PBA, relative to the UF/IFAS INMP, 300% INMP not only increased the cost of the program (...