One of the factors that determines whether a source of phosphorus will have a negative impact on water quality is solubility. This 3-page fact sheet discusses the significantly different solubility of commonly found phosphorus sources in Florida. Written by V.D. Nair and W.G. Harris, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2011. (UF/IFAS photo by Milt Putnam)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss559
Category: Water
Controlled-Release Fertilizers for Potato Production in Florida (HS941/HS187)
The recent emphasis on the development of vegetable production best management practices has prompted a re-examination of fertilization practices in Florida potato production in the St. Johns River watershed. The numbers provided in this 5-page fact sheet serve as a starting point for discussion about the value of using controlled-release fertilizers, which can be a win-win-win opportunity for producers, manufacturers, and regulatory agencies by helping all meet their production, business, and environmental goals. Written by Guodong Liu, Eric H. Simonne, Yuncong Li, Chad M. Hutchinson, Mark Warren, and Steven Lands, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, October 2011. (UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs187
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Viruses (SL351/SS553)
Keeping disease-causing microorganisms out of groundwater used for drinking water supplies is important to protect human health. This 7-page fact sheet characterizes the behavior of viruses in septic systems and the soil drain field and summarizes what we know about the extent and character of groundwater contamination with viruses emanating from septic systems. Written by Mary Lusk, Gurpal S. Toor, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss553
Reclaimed Water Use for Edible Crop Production in Florida (SL360/SS561)
Irrigating edible crops with reclaimed water is a promising, cost-effective solution to Florida's overuse of freshwater resources. Learn more in this 4-page fact sheet written by Jamie Lewis and Alan L. Wright and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, September 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss561
Rainfast Time for Postemergence Herbicides Commonly Used in the Everglades Agricultural Area: Quick Reference Sheet (SSAGR351/AG359)
If rainfall occurs soon after herbicide application, it can affect the effectiveness of postemergence herbicides. And they each differ in their time requirements for rain-free periods following application. This 2-page fact sheet shows rainfast time for postemergence herbicides commonly used in the Everglades Agricultural Area for sugarcane and vegetable production. Written by D.C. Odero and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, August 2011. (Photo by Eric Zamora UF/IFAS)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag359
Accounting for the Nutrients in Reclaimed Water for Landscape Irrigation (AE479)
This 8-page fact sheet presents basic information for those using reclaimed water to irrigate lawns and landscapes. The information can serve as a guide to determine whether there is an opportunity to replace some of the fertilizer that might otherwise be applied and to offer guidance on avoiding runoff and leaching of excess nutrients. Written by Christopher J. Martinez, Mark W. Clark, Gurpal S. Toor, George J. Hochmuth, and Lawrence R. Parsons, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, August 2011. (UF/IFAS photo by Marisol Amador)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae479
Rainfastness of Pesticides (PI238)
Generally, it is best to avoid pesticide application when rainfall is likely; however, weather can be unpredictable, so it is best to choose a product with good rainfast characteristics. Learn more in this 3-page fact sheet written by Bonnie Wells and F.M. Fishel, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi238
Net Irrigation Requirements for Florida Turfgrass Lawns, Part 1: Report of Gathered Weather Data and Quality Check (AE480)
Urban water users need specific recommendations to irrigate efficiently and for planning and regulatory programs.The first step in the process of estimating net irrigation requirements is to check the quality of 30 years of weather data at ten different locations in Florida and one in Alabama. This 9-page fact sheet was written by Consuelo C. Romero and Michael D. Dukes, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, August 2011. (AP photo by Milt Putnam, University of Florida/IFAS)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae480
Net Irrigation Requirements for Florida Turfgrass Lawns, Part 2: Reference Evapotranspiration Calculation (AE481)
Urban water users need specific recommendations to irrigate efficiently and for planning and regulatory programs. As the second step in the process of estimating net irrigation requirements, This 9-page fact sheet calculates reference ET for ten locations in Florida and one in Alabama. Written by Consuelo C. Romero and Michael D. Dukes, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, August 2011. (Image from ca.gov)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae481
Net Irrigation Requirements for Florida Turfgrass Lawns, Part 3: Theoretical Irrigation Requirements (AE482)
Urban water users need specific recommendations to irrigate efficiently and for planning and regulatory programs. This 21-page fact sheet estimates net irrigation, effective rainfall, and drainage by using a water balance equation for ten locations in Florida and one in Alabama from data during the 30-year period of 1980-2009. Written by Consuelo C. Romero and Michael D. Dukes, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, August 2011. (UF/IFAS Photo: Josh Wickham)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae482
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Phosphorus (SL349/SS551)
Phosphorus (P) in onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems is a concern because P can impair water quality even lower concentrations than nitrogen. This 8-page fact sheet summarizes the sources of P in septic tank effluent and the forms, concentrations, and behavior of P in the septic tank effluent and the drain field. Written by Mary Lusk, Gurpal S. Toor, and Tom Obreza and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, July 2011. (Photo by Milt Putnam)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss551
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Bacteria and Protozoa (SL350/SS552)
Keeping disease-causing microorganisms out of groundwater used for drinking water supplies is important to protect human health.This 7-page fact sheet reports the sources of bacteria and protozoa in wastewater, discusses diseases associated with drinking water contaminated with wastewater, and then details their fate in septic systems. Written by Mary Lusk, Gurpal S. Toor, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, July 2011. (Photo by Tara Piasio)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss552
Glosario de términos usados en riego por goteo y su traducción al inglés (A Glossary of Drip Irrigation Terms and Their Translations in English) (HS1192)
En esta publicación se presenta el léxico técnico de riego por goteo en dos secciones. En la primera sección se describen en orden alfabético los términos y sus definiciones en español. En la segunda sección se enlista de forma alfabética los términos y sus definiciones en inglés.
This publication includes the drip irrigation lexicon in two sections. In the first section, terms and their definitions are alphabetically described in Spanish. The second section lists terms and their definitions in English in alphabetical order. In both sections, each term includes its respective translation into English or Spanish in parenthesis. This 10-page fact sheet was written by Monica Ozores-Hampton, Dagobiet Morales-Garcia, Eric Simonne, and Viviana Medina, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, July 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1192
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: An Overview (SL347/SS549)
This 7-page fact sheet introduces common types of septic systems and briefly discusses onsite wastewater flow and the contaminants found in wastewater. Written by Gurpal Toor, Mary Lusk, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, June 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss549
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Nitrogen (SL348/SS550)
In the United States, about 4,800 water bodies are impaired due to excess nitrogen (N), and septic systems are recognized as one source of N pollution. This 6-page fact sheet describes the behavior and transport of N from a conventional septic system and the summarizes the sources of N in sewage, the forms and behavior of N in septic tanks and drain fields, and the fate and transport of N in groundwater. Written by Gurpal Toor, Mary Lusk, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, June 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss550
Circle Hooks (SGEF170/SG042)
A circle hook is a fishing hook designed and manufactured so that the point is turned perpendicularly back to the shank to form a generally circular or oval shape. The unique shape of the circle hook keeps the hook from catching in the gut cavity or throat, resulting in higher survival rates for released fish. Learn more in this 2-page fact sheet written by Don Sweat and Steve Kearl, and published by the UF Sea Grant Program, June 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sg042
Catch-and-Release: Things You Can Do to Help Saltwater Fish Survive (SGEF168/SG096)
This 2-page guide offers tips on how you can properly handle and release saltwater fish. This also includes new Gulf reef fishing gear requirements implemented June 1, 2008. Written by Steve Kearl and Lee Schlesinger and published by the UF Sea Grant Program, May 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sg096
Water Quality Notes: Alkalinity and Hardness (SL332/SS540)
The terms alkalinity and hardness are often used interchangeably when discussing water quality. These aggregate properties of water share some similarities but are distinctly different. This 7-page fact sheet describes alkalinity and hardness, their importance from management and ecological perspectives, methods for measuring each, and the current state regulations for each in public waters of Florida. Written by P. Chris Wilson and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss540
Water Quality Notes: pH (SL328/SS538)
Water pH is one of the most common water quality measurements made because it influences a myriad of chemical, physical, and biological processes. The pH of water in an aquatic system is one of the most important water quality parameters because it dramatically influences the bioavailability of some nutrients, metals, and pesticides to plants and animals. This 8-page fact sheet describes water pH, the importance of pH from ecological and management perspectives, common methods used to measure pH, and current state regulations for pH in public waters of Florida. Written by P. Chris Wilson, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, March 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss538
A Guide to EPA’s Numeric Nutrient Water Quality Criteria for Florida (SL316/SS528)
This revised 10-page guide provides a basic, concise, and understandable description of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) numeric nutrient criteria for Florida, the background events that led to its release, some pertinent scientific issues, and implications for the future. Written by Thomas Obreza, Mark Clark, Brian Boman, Tatiana Borisova, Matt Cohen, Michael Dukes, Tom Frazer, Ed Hanlon, Karl Havens, Chris Martinez, Kati Migliaccio, Sanjay Shukla, and Alan Wright, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, March 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss528