Location: Application Technology Research
Project Number: 5082-30500-001-071-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 15, 2025
End Date: Sep 14, 2026
Objective:
The goal of this project is to accelerate the adoption of innovative, research-based nursery production practices among growers in South Florida and surrounding regions. Specifically, the project will 1) trial and optimize best management practices (BMP)s developed by the USDA-ARS scientists for local nursery conditions, 2) conduct applied research on key areas, including advanced substrates, nutrient and irrigation management, and mitigation of chemical runoff, 3) evaluate optimized BMPs across a variety of crop types (annuals and perennials bedding plants, woody landscape plants, and indoor foliage) with different production cycles to ensure they are effective, efficient, and economically viable for local growers.
Research outcomes will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and translated into practical knowledge for nursery growers via demonstration plots, field days, educational workshops, and extension materials. A "train-the-trainer" model will be employed to equip members with the tools and knowledge needed to extend the impact of these innovations across the state of Florida.
Approach:
The proposed research will build upon previously developed technologies to thoroughly assess the viability and effectiveness of selected Best Management Practices (BMPs) on tropical and subtropical nursery crops. This includes quantifying input costs and evaluating the potential benefits of combining multiple BMPs in nursery crop production.
The initial trial will focus on substrates, a critical component for nursery production. One key technique to be tested is substrate stratification, which has shown promise in reducing substrate costs without negatively impacting plant growth or productivity. Several essential BMP elements, including fertilizer regimes, iron sulfate amendments, and the use of various stratification materials, will be examined to determine the most effective strategies for optimizing crop production.
Preliminary trials will be conducted using short season crops, such as Vinca or Petunia, to allow rapid protocol development and timely adjustments before implementing long-term trials on long production cycle crops. Tropical crops produced in large scale in Florida, such as Mandevilla, tropical hibiscus, indoor foliage, and majesty palm, will be subjected for long-term study to assess transferability.
For each crop, industry-standard production practices will serve as controls as compared to stratification. Other BMP elements associated with substrate, including iron-EDDHA, irrigation, and controlled-release fertilizer (CRF), will be included as treatments in conjunction with stratification. These treatments aim to identify the effects of individual BMPs on stratification while evaluating potential combined benefits. Plant growth will be monitored biweekly using a growth index. Substrate fertility will be assessed biweekly via the pour-through method. Leachate samples will be collected five times throughout the study, including at initiation and conclusion, to analyze nutrient runoff. Plants will be photographed, harvested, and evaluated upon conclusion of each experiment. Foliar tissue will be used to determine nutrient content. In addition, root and shoot biomass will be measured to evaluate the treatment effect. Depending on the crop (taxa) and growers’ feedback, the treatments and experiment design will be adjusted to collect data for statistical analysis. Where applicable, an identical trial can be set up with commercial nursery as comparison. Trial plants can also be assessed by industry growers for marketability and post-harvest quality evaluation. Given the complexity of the crop species and their production cycles, the project is expected to extend over multiple years.