Systems

Abstract

The unique climatic and soil conditions in west‐central Florida require specific nutrition and water management methods for cole crops. High day and night temperatures in spring and early fall and rapidly fluctuating temperatures in the winter, create stress conditions for the plants. Soil is an EauGallie fine sand (sandy, silicaceous, hypothermic Alfic haplaquod) with a spodic horizon at 86 cm and a native pH of 3.9–4.2. With the conventional full‐bed polyethylene mulch and seepage (modified furrow) sub‐irrigation system, large amounts of fertilizer and water are applied for the crops. Cabbage and cauliflower yields were highest with banded fertilizer placement and 256 N, 37 P and 296 K kg‐ha^‐1. Broccoli yields increased with increasing N rates but were not affected by K rates. With the trickle irrigation system, fertilizer placement, source and rate were studied to reduce production input. High fertilizer rates were required for high yields, but irrigation was reduced by 50–60% compared to the seepage system.

Key words:

• Broccoli
• Brassica oleracea L. Italica group; cabbage
• Brassica oleracea L. Capitata group; cauliflower
• Brassica oleracea‘ L. Botrytis group; trickle irrigation; seepage irrigation