AUTHOR(S): Chen, J., D.B. McConnell, C.A. Robinson, R.D. Caldwell, and Y. Huang.
SOURCE: 2002 International Symposium on Composing and Compost Utilization (In press).
2002
LINK TO INFORMATION:
OTHER LINK: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
AUTHOR(S): Klock-Moore, K.A.
SOURCE: ActaHort. 543:127-133
2001
LINK TO INFORMATION:
OTHER LINK: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
AUTHOR(S): Will, M. E., R. A. Nordstedt, and W. H. Smith.
SOURCE: Agricultural Engineering Department Extension Report 89-12SS-AGE-908, 9 pp. University of Florida. August
1989
LINK TO INFORMATION:
OTHER LINK: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
AUTHOR(S): Barkdoll, A. W. and R.A. Nordstedt
SOURCE: Agronomy Abstracts
1991
pg. 35
LINK TO INFORMATION:
OTHER LINK: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
AUTHOR(S): O’Keefe, D. M., A. W. Barkdoll, and R.A. Nordstedt
SOURCE: Agronomy Abstracts
1991
pg. 48
LINK TO INFORMATION:
OTHER LINK: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
AUTHOR(S): Wilson, Sandra B. and Peter J. Stoffella
SOURCE: Annual Report for The Biomass Programs, Center for Natural Resources 2000-2001
Apr. 2002
pg. 33-39
LINK TO INFORMATION:
OTHER LINK: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
AUTHOR(S): Beeson, R. C. and T. H. Yeager
SOURCE: Annual Report for The Biomass Programs, Center for Natural Resources 2000-2001
Apr. 2002
pg. 39-47
LINK TO INFORMATION:
OTHER LINK: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
The project will be conducted at a sod farm located in Webster, Florida. The site is approximately ten miles from the Sumter County landfill. Plastic woven ground cover will be laid over four acres of land in quarter acre sections. A low volume irrigation system will be installed to deliver a minimum of one tenth of an inch of water per hour. Irrigation schedules will be monitored and recorded. Plant beds will be constructed of framed plastic pipe laid on top of the ground cover. Various diameters will be used to determine optimum growing depth. A practical approach to bed width and length, to accommodate production and harvesting equipment, will be used.
St. Augustine, Bermuda and Bahia grass varieties will be planted at various sprig/seed rates to determine the highest economic return. Soil and leaf tissue test will be conducted throughout the growing season. Fertilizer will be applied according to lab results. During the growing season, different types of equipment will be tried or designed to fit this production system.
In this project, acreage needs could be reduced by fifty to seventy five percent. Water use would be extremely efficient, due to high crop yields combined with low volume irrigation. Smaller equipment could be used, translating to less fuel being consumed. The use of compost will provide a growing medium that would require less fertilizer and pesticide.
In addition to the many production advantages of this growing system, sod producers would have a market advantage in that turf varieties could be easily changed to accommodate market conditions and demands. This project is aimed at small and medium size sod producers in the State.
Speakers from the industry and research entities will teach participants the principals of compost production and use: composting principles and biology, compost site safety, compost quality and testing, compost feedstock, composting rules and regulations, record keeping and compost utilization on specific crops. Then, during “hands-on” sessions, participants will apply the concepts they have learned by mixing feedstocks, sampling compost, and using field tests for compost quality.
The training will consist of three one-day training workshops at locations in South, Central and North Florida. One of the reasons for holding several programs is to allow participants to observe how compost is being made and used in their area. The participants will be viewing and interpreting laboratory results and bioassays as well as learning how to take the samples and set up the bioassays in their own operations.
All participants will receive a CD with copies of publications about compost, a list of resources for compost testing and equipment, a list of participants and ac copy of, “The On-Farm Compost Handbook.”
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