Artificial Reefs and People: How We Create Them and How They Affect Us

Artificial reefs are constructed to provide several important ecosystem services to coastal communities and fisheries around the world, and their deployment results in significant socio-ecological and economic effects. To understand these effects, this document gives an overview of the agencies and people involved in the use of artificial reefs, how the implementation of these reefs influences their perception, and what issues are associated with their deployment. This document also specifically describes the process by which most artificial reefs are implemented in Florida.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa231

Common Questions When Using Soil Moisture Sensors for Citrus and Other Fruit Trees

Clusters of tangerines on a citrus tree. Photo taken 01-22-10.

This guide is for Extension personnel who may encounter questions from growers about the functioning and accuracy of soil moisture sensors (SMSs) for fruit tree production. The 4-page publication focuses on two types of handheld sensors currently used in Florida for irrigation management of citrus and other trees: the transmission line oscillator (TLO) and time-domain transmissometer (TDT). Written by Eric Herrera, Sandra M. Guzmán, and Eduart Murcia, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, February 2021.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae551

Design, Construction, and Installation of a Drainage Lysimeter for Use on Sandy, Well-Drained Soils under Turfgrass

A notch for the collection tube is made and the lysimeter is ready for pea gravel.

Using lysimeters to collect water quality samples can provide a better understanding of nutrient or other solute migration below the surface, which can inform landscape management for environmental protection. This 6-page publication presents the materials, construction, installation, and management of a specific drainage lysimeter design in a step-by-step format. Written by Jovana Radovanovic, Eban Z. Bean, and Alexander J. Reisinger, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, February 2021.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae554

Private Wells 101: Bacterial Contamination and Shock Chlorination

Case of bottled water. If your private well has flooded, an alternative water source, such as bottled water, should be used until you receive test results confirming your well water is safe to drink. Photo taken 08-06-20 by Cristina Carriz, UF/IFAS.

Private well users are responsible for the management and protection of their wells. This new 4-page EDIS publication is for Florida homeowners who are interested in learning more about their well-water system and understanding how to properly shock, or disinfect, the well if there is evidence of drinking water contamination. Written by Yilin Zhuang and Mary Lusk, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss700

Publicly Available Geographic Information Sources and Common Analysis Tools

Biscayne Bay, south of Miami, Florida. Photo taken 06-18-18.

Geographic information and geospatial data are vital in many practical fields, including precision agriculture, natural resources management, flood zone mapping and management, and environmental assessment. This 6-page publication introduces publicly available geospatial data, including elevation, land use, soil, satellite imagery, and other thematic maps and GIS software commonly used in spatial analysis. Written by Satbyeol Shin and Young Gu Her, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, January 2021.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae550

The Ecology of Charophyte Algae (Charales)

Chara plants in the field are usually found covered with epiphytic aquatic organisms that only microscope methods such as bright-field microscopy or scanning electron microscopy can reveal.

Charophytes are a group of green algae within the order Charales. This 4-page publication provides an overview of charophyte ecology, habitat requirements, and status in the state of Florida. Written by Maximiliano Barbosa, Forrest Lefler, David E. Berthold, and H. Dail Laughinghouse IV, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, January 2021.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag448

Living Shoreline Monitoring: How do I evaluate the environmental benefits of my living shoreline?

A living shoreline including elements such as sills of materials made to recruit oysters. Credit: Mark Clark, UF/IFAS

Living shorelines are structures made of natural materials such as oyster shell, sand, mangroves, salt marsh plants, and other organic materials built to protect properties from erosion. In addition to increasing shoreline stability, living shorelines enhance many valuable ecosystem functions. In this new 11-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences, we provide homeowners, land managers, and Extension agents materials lists, protocols, and data sheets for measuring change in ecosystem function. Measuring and interpreting these measurements will help evaluate living shorelines projects as well as provide the foundation for monetarizing the value of these structures. Written by Laura K. Reynolds, Natalie C. Stephens, Savanna C. Barry, and Ashley R. Smyth.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss694

Stormwater Pond Management: What You Need to Know about Aeration

A stormwater pond in a residential neighborhood in Gainesville, FL. This fountain provides important functions to the pond while also providing aesthetic benefits. Credits: Samantha Howley, UF/IFAS

This new 6-page document is intended to provide Floridians and their communities with information on a specific management practice in stormwater ponds: the use of fountains and other aeration approaches. These practices may provide opportunities both to improve water quality within the pond and protect downstream water quality. Specifically, this document gives basic information on fountains and the pros and cons of fountain installation and use. In addition, we provide information for pond managers or community decision makers on how to best manage ponds for effective pollutant removal in the pond and downstream water quality protection. Written by Samantha T. Howley, Steven P. Hohman, and Alexander J. Reisinger, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss695

Crop Water Use and Irrigation Scheduling Guide for North Florida

Rows of peanuts ready to be harvested. Photo taken 08-22-19.

Effective irrigation scheduling enables the irrigator to apply the right amount of water at the right time to meet the crop water demand. This 19-page guide presents information on average daily and weekly crop water use and crop growth stages for twelve north Florida crops that can be used to help schedule irrigation. This will allow a grower to develop a realistic irrigation schedule that minimizes plant water stress, saves water, and reduces nutrient leaching potential. Written by Vivek Sharma, Charles Barrett, De Broughton, and Thomas Obreza, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences, revised December 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss491

Consejos Basicos para Disenar Sistemas Eficientes de Riego

Drip irrigation system for citrus.

Este documento provee un panorama básico de los factores más importantes al diseñar. Written by Haimanote K. Bayabil, Kati W. Migliaccio, Michael Dukes, Laura Vasquez, and Carlos Balerdi, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, December 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae549

How Is Our Future Climate Projected?

Storm rising over a farm.

Climate is the long-term patterns and fluctuations in air and moisture. This 5-page article explains how future climate is projected using mathematical models and introduces common scientific terms used when discussing climate change. Written by Young Gu Her, Zachary Brym, Ashley Smyth, and Elias Bassil, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, November 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae546

Programacion de Riego Basado en el Metodo de Evapotranspiracion Para Papaya (Carica papaya) en Florida

Fruiting papaya trees at the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, FL. UF/IFAS Photo: Thomas Wright

La papaya es un importante cultivo frutícola que se cultiva en el sur de Florida con un área estimada de 356 acres. Este documento se centra en las técnicas de programación de riego basadas en ET para la papaya en las condiciones de Florida. Written by Haimanote K. Bayabil, Jonathan H. Crane, Kati W. Migliaccio, Yuncong Li, Fredy Ballen, and Sandra Guzmán, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, November 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae547

How Are Our Future Agriculture and Natural Resources Projected under Varying Climate?

Storm rising over a farm.

This 8-page article explains how agriculture and natural resources may respond to projected future climate and how climate projections can be useful in developing management plans for the improved sustainability of Florida's agriculture and natural resources. It also aims to help increase the public awareness of climate change impacts on Florida and improve understanding of the connections among climate, agriculture, and natural resources. Written by Young Gu Her, Ashley Smyth, Zachary Brym, and Elias Bassil, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, September 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae545

Online Sources for Sea Level Rise Education and Extension

Volunteers planting saltmeadow cord grass as part of a living shoreline restoration project. Photo taken 08-28-20.

The impacts of sea level rise on ecosystems and natural resources are a major concern in Florida, especially in low-lying coastal areas such as south Florida. Sea level rise can impact many aspects of Florida's economy, including urban development, agriculture, infrastructure, and natural areas. This 16-page document introduces, evaluates, and summarizes selected available online sources and tools to educate diverse stakeholders and concerned local residents on important aspects of sea level rise. Written by Young Gu Her, Ashley Smyth, Jiangxiao Qiu, Elias Bassil, Ulrich Stingl, and Laura Reynolds, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, June 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae543

Florida H2OSAV Insights: Home Water Use in the Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Service Territory

Sprinkler head with water, grass. UF/IFAS Photo: Joah Wickham.

This 6-page fact sheet discusses basics about water consumption for single-family, detached homes served by Gainesville Regional Utilities, information about the highest water users, and impacts of irrigation on water consumption. Written by Nick Taylor, Kaitlin Olander Robb Price, Bradley Spatz, Tricia Kyzar, and Pierce Jones, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, September 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae544

Watering Station Best Management Practices for Container Nurseries

Concrete pad installed for runoff management at the watering station. Credits: T. Yeager, UF/IFAS

Watering stations are specialized irrigation structures where plants are watered immediately after transplanting. Water not retained by the container substrate as well as water falling between containers becomes runoff. This runoff can contain sediment and nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, that can impact natural waters if not managed according to Best Management Practices (BMPs). The purpose of this new 3-page fact sheet is to provide examples of how runoff from watering stations at two nurseries was managed after implementation of the BMP. Written by Tom Yeager and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep590

Edible Landscaping Using the Nine Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Principles

Integrating flowers and herbs with your edible plants can provide food for beneficial insects that eat pests. Credits: Tom Wichman, UF/IFAS

Maintaining edible landscapes in a way that protects the environment is an important concern for protecting Florida’s water quality. The objective of this new 7-page publication is to introduce the framework of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles and apply the principles to guide decisions about Best Management Practices (BMPs) for care of edible landscapes. Written by Tiare Silvasy, Lynn Barber, Esen Momol, Tina McIntyre, Tom Wichman, Gail Hansen, Jen Marvin, Terra Freeman, Joseph Sewards, Wendy Wilber, and Jacqlyn Rivas.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep594

Septic Systems and Springs Water Quality: An Overview for Florida

Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Photo taken 01-08-20.  Photo Credits:  UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones

Wastewater carries pathogens, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and trace organic chemicals that may be harmful to human health and ecosystem functioning. Thus, proper treatment of wastewater is crucial. While septic systems can be one means of effective wastewater treatment, there are some special considerations for their use in Florida because of unique geography and sandy soils. The purpose of this new 6-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences is to explain the basics of how septic systems work and how they can affect springs water quality in Florida, with a special emphasis on potential N loading from septic systems. This document is intended for homeowners, the general public, and county, city, and other local personnel tasked with managing water quality in areas with septic systems. Written by Mary Lusk, Andrea Albertin, Whitney Elmore, William Lester, and James Moll.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss693

Homeowners’ Preferences for Smart Irrigation Systems and Features

In this photo released from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, extension agent Janet Bargar checks the water flow and direction of a pop-up irrigation system at a home in Vero Beach – Friday, May 25, 2007. Bargar, a water quality expert, suggests residents check with their county extension office about local watering restrictions. She says the ideal time to water is before sunrise and that residents should check irrigation systems regularly to be sure they’re working properly and not watering the sidewalk. Photo Credits: UF/IFAS File Photo

Drought conditions make landscape irrigation and reducing water use top-of-mind for many Floridians. Encouraging wise water use is of particular importance to the smart irrigation industry and water policy makers. This 5-page fact sheet written by Hayk Khachatryan, Alicia Rihn, Dong Hee Suh, and Michael Dukes and published by the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department pinpoints key attributes and barriers affecting consumers' irrigation purchases and their adoption of smart irrigation technologies.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe1080

Wastewater and Septic System Management for the COVID-19 Virus: Frequently Asked Questions

The virus that causes COVID-19

This new 3-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences answers common questions about the potential role of wastewater and septic systems in transmission of COVID-19. It is intended as guidance for the general public. Written by Mary G. Lusk.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss692