| authors: | Wheaton, T.A. ; Paramasivam, S. ; Alva, A. |
| title: | RIDGE CITRUS NITRATE / GROUNDWATER NITRATE MONITORING PROJECT, PHASE I |
| year: | 1999 |
| source: | SWFWMD Phase 1 (1995-1998) final rpt |
| URL: | Please log in to access the document. |
| abstract: | Tensiometers were used as the basis for scheduling irrigation at the 4 Citrus Ridge sites used in the Ridge Water Quality (RWQ) project. Soil moisture was maintained in the desired range most of the time. Several clusters of tensiometers in a block read 3 times per week provided a sound basis for scheduling and interpreting data. Substantial variability among sites provided useful information on irrigation management. Annual irrigation application varied from 4 to 23 inches at sites with similar water requirements. The area of the ground wetted by irrigation varied from 33 to 83% of the total ground area. Annual irrigation applied to the wetted area varied from less than 20 to nearly 60 inches. Variation among sites in the rate of water depletion was related to soil texture. The use of tensiometers for initiating irrigation was effective at all sites. Tensiometers provided evidence of water extraction by citrus roots at soil depths of 6 to 48 inches. Response of deeper tensiometers indicated over-irrigation in some instances. Although tensiometers excel at determining when to irrigate, they provide no direct evidence on how long to irrigate. |
| keywords: | Irrigation, Ridge Water Quality (RWQ), |
