Additional Reading

 

Additional Reading (Introduction)

Economic Impacts of the Green Industry in the United States Final Report to the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Committee. 2005. Charles R. Hall, Alan W. Hodges, John J. Haydu.

 

National Agricultural Statistics Service.  2004. USDA Nursery Crops 2003 Summary. U.S. Department of Agriculture, July 2004. Special Circular 6-2 (04)a.

 

Economic Contributions of the Green Industry in the United States in 2007-08. Alan W. Hodges, Charles R. Hall, and Marco A. Palma. HortTechnology. Production and Marketing Reports. October 2011 21(5).

 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Census of Agriculture. 2007. 

Additional Reading (Irrigation)

Alexander, S. V. 1993. Pollution control and prevention at containerized nursery operations. Wat. Sci. Tech. 28(3-5):509-517.

 

Anon. 1981. Design Guide for Turf and Ornamental Irrigation Systems, Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp. 145 N. Grand Ave. Glendora, California 91740.

 

Anon.  1996. Standards and specifications for turf and landscape irrigation systems. 3rd ed. Florida Irrigation Society, Inc., PO Box 1627, Goldenrod, Florida 32733.

 

Beeson, Jr. R. and J. Haydu. 1995. Cyclic irrigation in container-grown landscape plants improves plant growth and water conservation. Journal of Environ. Hort. 13(1): 6-11.

 

Beeson, R. C. and G. W. Knox. 1991. Analysis of efficiency of overhead irrigation in container production.  HortScience 26(7):848-850.

 

Bilderback, T. 2002. Water management is key to reducing nutrient runoff from container nurseries. HortTechnology 12:7-10.

 

Burger, D. W., J. S. Hartin, D. R. Hodel, T. A. Lukaszewski, S. A. Tjosvold, and S. A Wagner. 1987. Water use in California’s ornamental nurseries. California Agriculture 41(9-10):7-8.

 

Clemmens, A. J. 1991. Irrigation uniformity relationships for irrigation system management. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 113:682-699.

 

Davis II, B.  1994.  Starting a container nursery.  Tennessee Nurserymen’s Association Short Course.

 

Drees, B. M., D. McWilliams, J. M. Sweeten, and D. C. Wilkerson. Water Management Guidelines for the Texas Greenhouse Industry. Texas Agricultural Extension Service 500-7-90.

 

Fare, D. C., C. H. Gilliam, and G. J. Keever. 1992. Monitoring irrigation at container nurseries. HortTechnology 2(1):75-78.

 

Fare, D.C., C.H. Gilliam, G.J. Keever, and J.W. Olive. 1994. Cyclic irrigation reduces container leachate nitrate-nitrogen concentration. HortScience 29(12):1514-1517.

 

Furuta, T. 1974. Environmental plant production and marketing, 1st ed. Cox Publishing Co., Arcadia, Calif.

 

Goldhamer, D. A. and R. L. Synder. 1989. Irrigation scheduling:  A guide for efficient on-farm water management.  University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 21454.

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/InOrder/Shop/Shop.asp

 

Green, J. L. 1989. Special Report:  Practices to minimize contamination of groundwater and runoff water in greenhouse and nursery production of container-grown plants. Ornamentals Northwest 13(3):9-16.

 

Hanley, D. 1981. Recommendations for designing windbreaks. American Nurseryman 154(10): 12-13, 48, 50, 52, 54-57, 60-67.

 

Nakayama, F. S. and D. A. Bucks. 1991. Water quality in drip/trickle irrigation: A review. Irrigation Science 12:187-192.

 

Niemiera, A. X. 1994. Fertilizers:  Minimizing use and maximizing growth of container and field-grown plants, p. 105-115. In: C. Heuser and P. Heuser (eds.). Recycling and Resource Conservation a Reference Guide for Nursery and Landscape Industries. Pennsylvania Nurserymen’s Association, Inc., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

 

Regan, R. 1992. Improving overhead irrigation. American Nurseryman 176(9):45-51.

 

Regan, R. 1994. The basics of nursery irrigation systems. The Digger 38(6):22-25.

 

Ross, D. R. 1994. Reducing water use under nursery and landscape conditions, p 21-35. In: C. Heuser and P. Heuser (eds.). Recycling and Resource Conservation a Reference Guide for Nursery and Landscape Industries.  Pennsylvania Nurserymen’s Association, Inc., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

 

Seginer, I. 1971. Water losses during sprinkling. Transactions ASAE 14:656-659 and 664.

 

Smucker, B. 1985. Weston gains ground and calms the waters in its difficult terrain. American Nurseryman 163(1):77-78.

 

Whitcomb, C. E. 1988. Plant Production in Containers. Lacebark Publications. Stillwater, Oklahoma.

 

Warren, S. and T. Bilderback. 2002. Timing of low-pressure irrigation affects plant growth and water utilization efficiency. Journal of Environ. Hort. 20(3): 184-188.

 

Yeager, T. 2006. Florida Container Nursery BMP Guide. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

http://floridaagwaterpolicy.com

Additional Reading (Irrigation Water Sources)

Austin, B.  1989. Brominization vs. chlorine. Proc. Inter. Plant Prop. Soc. 39:310-311.

 

Davidson, H., C. Peterson, R. Mecklenburg.  1994. Nursery Management. 3rd ed. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

 

Welch, P. S. 1935. Limnology. 1st ed. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York.

Additional Reading (Water Quality)

Anonymous. 1999. Soil and plant analysis laboratory registry for the United States and Canada. 2nd ed. CRC Press, Inc. Boca Raton, Florida.

 

Ayers, R. S. and R. L. Branson. 1977. U.C. guidelines for interpretation of agricultural water quality. California Agriculture, May 1977, p. 25.

 

Ayers, R. S. and R. L. Branson. 1978. Irrigation water quality, p. 49-50. In: H.M. Reisenauer (ed.). Soil and plant-tissue testing in California. University of California Ext. Bull. 1879, Division of Agricultural Sciences, University of California, Berkeley.

 

Bunt, A. C. 1976. Modern potting composts. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, Pennsylvania.

 

Farnham, D. S., R. F. Hasek, and J. L. Paul.  1985. Water quality:  Its effects on ornamental plants. University of California Extension Leaflet 2995, Division of Agricultural Sciences, University of California, Berkeley.

 

Fitzpatrick, G. and T. Broschat. 1984. Removing irrigation water residues from ornamental plant foliage.  Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet OHC-13, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, Florida.

 

Ford, H. W. 1980. The present status of research on iron deposits in low volume irrigation systems. Lake Alfred AREC Research Report CS 75-3, Revised as HWF-100.

 

Gilbert, R. G. and H. W. Ford. 1986. Operational principles - emitter clogging, p. 142-163.  In: F. S. Nakayama and D. A. Bucks (Eds.). Trickle irrigation for crop production, design operation and management. Elsevier Science Publishers B. V., Amsterdam.

 

Hammer, D. A. (Ed.). 1989. Constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment - municipal, industrial and agricultural.  Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, Michigan.

 

Hanlon, E. A., G. Kidder, and B. L. McNeal.  1990.  Soil, container media, and water testing.  Cooperative Extension Service Circular 817, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, Florida.

 

Hoadley, B. and D. Ingram.  1982.  Water quality and woody ornamental plant production.  Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet OHC-4, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, Florida.

 

Kah, G. 1992. Testing irrigation uniformity:  When full coverage isn’t enough. Landscape and Irrigation 16(7): 64-66.

 

Kidder, G. and E. A. Hanlon, Jr. 1985. Neutralizing excess bicarbonates from irrigation water.  Notes in Soil Science No. 18, February 1985, Soil Science Department.  Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, Florida.

 

Knox, G. W. and T. H. Yeager. 1991. Irrigation water quality guidelines. The Woody Ornamentalist 16(1):1-4.

 

Knox, G. W. and T. H. Yeager. 1991. Alternative irrigation strategies. The Woody Ornamentalist 16(2):1-3.

 

Olson, R. K. (Ed.). 1993. Created and natural wetlands for controlling nonpoint source pollution. U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development and Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. C.K. Smoley, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida.

 

Turbidity Research. 1996. Sediments Newsletter of the N.C. Sedimentation Control Commission. In: Toby Vinson (Ed.) Sediments 3:(2): p1-7.  

Additional Reading (Water Quality Websites)

Bailey, D., T. Bilderback and D. Bir. 1996. Water considerations for container production of plants. Hort. Info. Leaflet No. 557. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/floriculture/hils/hil557.html

 

Bailey, D. and T. Bilderback. 1998. Alkalinity control for irrigation water used in nurseries and greenhouses.  Hort. Info. Leaflet No. 558.  http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/floriculture/hils/hil558.html

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/floriculture/hils/HIL558

Additional Reading (Pesticides)

Best Management Practices for Agrichemical Handling and Farm Equipment Maintenance, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/docs/nonpoint/agbmp3p.pdf

 

Dean, T. W. and R. A. Bucklin. 1996. Building plans and management practices for a permanently sited pesticide storage facility in Florida (SM-57). Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Box 110011, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611.

 

Dean, T. W. and R. A. Bucklin. 1996. Building plans and management practices for a permanently sited agricultural pesticide mixing/loading facility (SM-58). Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Box 110011, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611.

Additional Reading (Nutrition)

Anon. 1999. Soil and plant analysis laboratory registry for the United States and Canada. 2nd ed. CRC Press, Inc. Boca Raton, Florida.

 

Beeson, R. C., Jr. 1995. The root of the problem. Four steps do determine proper substrate aeration. Ornamental Outlook 4(6): 12.

 

Bilderback, T. E. and W. C. Fonteno. 1987. Effects of container geometry and media physical properties on air and water volumes in containers. Journal Environ. Hort. 5:180-182.

 

Bilderback, T. E. 1996. Properties of container substrates. Proceedings of Container Substrate and Water Management. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Agent Training. January 3, 1996.

 

Ingram, D. L., R. W. Henley, and T. H. Yeager. 1990. Diagnostic and Monitoring Procedures for Nursery Crops. University of Florida Ext. Cir. 556. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu

 

Nelson, P. V. 1991. Greenhouse Operation and Management, 4th edition. Prentice Hall Career and Technology, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

 

Standards Australia. 1989. Australian Standard 3743 - Potting Mixes. Standards Association of Australia, Standards House, 80 Arthur St., North Sydney 2060, New South Wales.

 

Whipker, B. E., T. J. Cavins, and W. C. Fonteno. 2001. 1, 2, 3s of Pour-Thru. North Carolina State University.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/floriculture/

Additional Reading (Field Production)

The American Standards for Nursery Stock. ANSI 60.1.  American Nursery and Landscape Association, 1200 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005.

 

Best Management Practices For Field Growing Nursery Stock. AG-511. pp 1-15. North Carolina State University

Box 7603, Raleigh, NC 27695-7603. http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/ag-env/nursery/

 

Bilderback, T. E., R. E. Bir and M. A. Powell. Pruning Field Grown Shade and Flowering Trees. Horticultural Information Leaflet No. 406.  North Carolina State University, Box 7603, Raleigh, NC 27695-7603.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil406r.html

 

California Fertilizer Association. Western Fertilizer Handbook, Horticulture Edition.  1990.  Interstate Publishers, Inc.  P.O. Box 50, Danville, IL 61834-0050.

 

Design Guide for Turf and Ornamental Irrigation Systems. 1981. Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp, 145 N. Grand Ave. Glendora, CA 91740.

 

Garber, M. P., J. M. Ruter, and J. T. Midcap. Production and Marketing of Field Grown Trees in Georgia. Bulletin 1115, pp 1-18.  The University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Services, Cooperative Extension Service. Athens, GA.

 

Managing Drought On Nursery Crops. 2007. North Carolina State University, Box 7603, Raleigh, NC 27695-7603.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/disaster/drought/nursery_crops.pdf

 

The North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual. North Carolina State University. NCSU Publications Office, Box 7603, Raleigh, NC 27695-7603.

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/agchem.html

 

Safley, C.  2001. Got Cost Estimates? (What it Costs to Grow Field Grown Trees and Shrubs).  North Carolina State University, Department of Agriculture and  Resource Economics, pp. 32-34. 

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/nursery/cultural/cultural_docs/business/got_cost_estimates.pdf

 

University of Florida. Weeds of Southern Turfgrass. University of Florida, Publication Distributions Center, IFAS Building 664, PO Box 110011, Gainesville, FL 32611. [University Extension Services in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina also distribute this text.]

 

Uva, R., J. Neal, and J. DiTomaso. 1997. Weeds of the Northeast.  Cornell University Press. PO Box 6525, Ithaca, NY 14851-6525.

 

Water Considerations For Container Production of Plants. North Carolina State University. NCSU Horticulture Information Leaflet No. 557, pp 1-11.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-557.html

 

Weed Control Suggestions for Christmas Trees, Woody Ornamentals, and Flowers; Bulletin AG 427.  North Carolina State University. Publications, NCSU, Box 7603, Raleigh, NC 27695-7603. 72 pp.

Web Pages

 

SNA Conference Proceedings 1991 – 2012 (2,872 titles comprised of 11,208 pages), available in Portable Document Format (PDF) for downloading and viewing or printing.

http://www.sna.org

 

Chemicals

Agricultural Chemical Drift and Its Control. 1993.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae043

 

Agricultural Chemicals Manual. 2013.

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/agchem.html

 

CDMS - Ag Chem Database (labels and MSDS info)

http://www.cdms.net/ACM.aspx

 

Chemical Injection Methods for Irrigation

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WI004

 

Injection of Chemicals Into Irrigation Systems: Rates, Volumes, and Injection Periods

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE116

 

Pesticide Recordkeeping Manual and Form

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRD3342981

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRD3342996

 

Fertility/Substrate

Annual Maintenance and Evaluation of Overhead Irrigation Systems

http://ufdc.ufl.edu/IR00002388/00001

 

A Simple Intermittent Spray System

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-405.html

 

Basic Irrigation Scheduling in Florida

http://itc.tamu.edu/AE11100.pdf

 

Basic Irrigation Terminology

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/AE/AE11500.pdf

 

Causes and Prevention of Emitter Plugging In Microirrigation Systems

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE032

 

Collecting Water Samples at Container Nurseries

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP051

 

Container Media Nutrient Test Interpretation

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss316

 

Efficiencies of Irrigation Systems Used in Florida Nurseries

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE087

 

Estimating Crop Irrigation Requirements for Irrigation System Design and Consumptive Use Permitting

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE078

 

Evaporation Loss During Sprinkler Irrigation

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE048

 

Excavated Pond Construction in Florida

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE013

 

Field Evaluation of Container Nursery Irrigation Systems: Part 1: Measuring Operating Pressures in the Irrigation System 1

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE088

 

Field Evaluation of Container Nursery Irrigation Systems: Part 2: Measuring Application Rates

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE097

 

Fittings and Connections for Flexible Polyethylene Pipe Used in Microirrigation Systems

http://www.irrigationtoolbox.com/ReferenceDocuments/Extension/Florida/WI01100.pdf

 

Flushing Procedures for Microirrigation Systems

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WI013

 

Growth Media for Container Grown Ornamental Plants

http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/agriculture/CCH/media.pdf

 

Installation of Mist Propagation Equipment

http://orange.ifas.ufl.edu/mg/mg_compendium/pdffiles/ep/EP03200.pdf

 

Irrigation System Controllers

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE077

 

Irrigation System Selection for Container Nurseries

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE089

 

Irrigating With High Salinity Water

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE091

  

Measuring Pump Capacity for Irrigation System Design

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE067

 

Media Filters For Trickle Irrigation In Florida

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WI008

 

Media Storage Problems

http://www.nurserycropscience.info/substrates/manage-inventory/extension-pubs/pine-bark-storage-and-handling.doc/view

Nursery and Greenhouse Nutrient Management (U. of Maryland Cooperative Extension) 

http://www.psla.umd.edu/Faculty/lea-cox/Program%20Descriptions/Nursery%20and%20Greenhouse%20NM%20Annual%20Report%202010.pdf

 

Neutralizing Excess Bicarbonates From Irrigation Water

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/SS165

 

Opinions on Plant Irrigation Requirements

http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/rcb/drought/opinions%20of%20nursery%20irrigation%20requirements.pdf

  

Potential Impacts of Improper Irrigation System Design

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE027

 

Screen Filters in Trickle Irrigation Systems

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WI009

  

Small Steps to Improving Your Irrigation System, Reducing Labor and Increasing Your Bottom Line

http://www.ag.auburn.edu/landscape/field.html

 

Soil Plant Water Relationships

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE021

 

Soil Water Samplers in Horticultural Nursery Use-Nutrient Extraction from Large Containers

http://www.soilmoisture.com/horticulture.html

 

Treating Irrigation Systems with Chlorine

http://ufdc.ufl.edu/IR00000971/00001

 

Uniformity of Sprinkler and Microirrigation Systems for Nurseries

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/AE/AE09000.pdf

 

Using the Pour-Thru Procedure for Checking EC and pH for Nursery Crops

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-401.html

Valves in Irrigation Systems

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WI005

 

Water Wells for Florida Irrigation Systems

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WI002

 

Water Hammer In Irrigation Systems

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE066

 

Production

Best Management Practices for Field Production of Nursery Stock

http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/ag-env/nursery/

 

Container Conversion Chart

http://www.ag.auburn.edu/landscape/STGOmarch2001.html#conversion

 

Grafting and Budding Nursery Crop Plants

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/ag396.html

 

Integrated Pest Management in the Commercial Ornamental Nursery

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig144

 

Layout and Design Considerations for a Wholesale Container Nursery

http://ufdc.ufl.edu/IR00003268/00001

 

Managing Pesticides for Ornamentals Production and Water Quality Protection

http://ufdc.ufl.edu/IR00003080/00001

 

Nursery and Greenhouse Nutrient Management (from Maryland Cooperative Extension)

http://www.psla.umd.edu/Faculty/lea-cox/Program%20Descriptions/Nursery%20and%20Greenhouse%20NM%20Annual%20Report%202010.pdf

 

Nursery Budgets-What You Need to Know to Make the Right Decisions

http://www.ag.auburn.edu/landscape/budgetguide.html

 

Pot-In-Pot Systems Across the United States

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Horticulture/potinpot_files/v3_document.htm

 

Pruning Field Grown Shade and Flowering Trees

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-406.html

 

Selecting a Method for Sealing Ponds in Florida

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WI012

Southeastern Universities and Links to Extension Publications

 

Alabama A&M University

http://www.aamu.edu/

 

Alabama A & M and Auburn University Cooperative Extension System (Alabama)

http://www.aces.edu/

 

Tuskegee University (Alabama)

http://www.tuskegee.edu/

 

University of Arkansas

http://www.uaex.edu/

 

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

http://www.uapb.edu/

 

University of Florida

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/

 

Florida A&M University

http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?academics&CentersandInstitutes

 

Fort Valley State University (Georgia)

http://past.fvsu.edu/about/external-affairs/cooperative-extension

 

University of Georgia

http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubs.html

 

Kentucky State University

http://www.kysu.edu/landGrant/coopextensionprogram/

 

University of Kentucky

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Horticulture/comnursury.html

 

Louisiana State University

http://www.lsuagcenter.com

 

Southern University and A&M College (Louisiana)

http://www.subr.edu

 

University of Maryland

http://agnr.umd.edu/global-impact/extension

 

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

http://www.umes.edu/Agriculture/Default.aspx?id=1542

 

Alcorn State University (Mississippi)

http://www.alcorn.edu/

 

Mississippi State University

http://msucares.com/pubs/

 

Lincoln University (Missouri)

http://www.luce.lincolnu.edu/

 

University of Missouri

http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/hort/#Landscaping

 

North Carolina A&T State University

http://www.ag.ncat.edu/extension/

 

North Carolina State University

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/nurs-index.html

 

Langston University (Oklahoma)

http://www.lunet.edu/

 

Oklahoma State University

http://home.okstate.edu/Okstate/dasnr/hort/hortlahome.nsf/toc/research

 

Clemson University (South Carolina)

http://www.clemson.edu/psapublishing/pages/Hort/Hort.htm

 

South Carolina State University

http://www.scsu.edu/

 

Tennessee State University

http://www.tnstate.edu/cep/

 

University of Tennessee

http://www.utextension.utk.edu/

 

Prairie View A&M University (Texas)

http://acad.pvamu.edu/content/ag_husc/index.html

 

Texas A&M University

http://texasextension.tamu.edu/

 

Virginia State University

http://www.vsu.edu/

 

Virginia Tech

http://www.ext.vt.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Docs.woa/wa/getcat?cat=ir-cgnl-np

 

West Virginia University

http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/infores/pubs.htm

 

West Virginia State College

http://www.wvsctc.edu/index.html

Glossary

 

Absorption - a process in which one substance permeates another; a fluid (such as water) permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid through pores or membranes.

 

Acetic acid - a clear, colorless, pungent organic acid that may be found in container substrates that are stored in large piles with low air exchange. 

 

Acid - a substance that tends to give up protons (hydrogen ions) to some other substance or when dissolved in water.

 

Acidity - the property of being acidic; a substance is considered acidic if the pH is less than 7. 

 

Adsorption - the adhesion of gases, solutes, or liquids to the surfaces of solid bodies (such as substrates or soil) or liquids with which they are in contact.

 

Air space - the percentage of container volume occupied by air-filled large pores from which water drains following irrigation.

 

Alkalinity - concentration of bases often expressed as carbonate or bicarbonate equivalents. An alkaline substrate will have a pH greater than 7.

 

Anaerobic - living, active, or occurring in the absence of free oxygen.

 

Bicarbonate - salts of carbonic acid. These salts such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium (NaHCO₃, CaCO₃ and MgCO₃), have an alkalizing effect.

 

Biological control - the use of living organisms to control crop pests.

 

BMP - the Best Management Practices include schedules of activities, prohibitions, maintenance procedures, and structural or other management practices found to be the most effective and practicable methods to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to the air or waters of the United States. Best management practices also include operating procedures, and practices to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw material storage.

 

Bulk density - the weight of dry substrate per unit volume of substrate (g/cc).

 

Cambium - tissue between xylem and phloem that is responsible for secondary growth in most vascular plants.

 

Carbonate - to impregnate with carbon dioxide or having high levels of carbon dioxide.

 

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) - total of exchangeable cations (positively charged ions) that a substrate can adsorb. Some cations include ammonium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

 

Collection structure (basin) - an enclosed body of water to collect irrigation runoff water or rainfall from storm events.

 

Constructed wetland - a shallow depressed area (with or without water) filled with selected vegetation (i.e. cattails) to serve as a biological filter for removing nutrients and chemicals.

 

Container area - area that a group of plants occupies during the production phase.  A typical, single area is 6-8 feet wide and 50-300 feet long.

 

Container capacity - the maximum volume of water that a substrate can retain following irrigation and drainage due to gravity and is a measure of the water reservoir of the container.

 

Controlled-release fertilizer - fertilizer in which nutrients are released over time. Release is controlled by physical or biological degradation, by the thickness of the coating (i.e. resin), or by the type of coating surrounding the mineral elements. 

 

Cyclic irrigation - irrigation practice where a plant’s daily water allotment is divided into a series of events with irrigation application and rest intervals throughout the day.

 

Deionization - a technique used to remove ions (charged particles) from irrigation water. Commercial systems are available that combine prefiltration, mixed-bed resins, activated carbon, and final filtration.

 

Denitrification - in the absence of oxygen, microorganisms use nitrate or other forms of oxidized nitrogen instead of oxygen during the respiration process.

 

Deposition infiltration - a term used to describe filtration of naturally deposited sediments or minerals.

 

Electrical conductivity (EC) - the measure of salt content of water based on the flow of electrical current. The higher the salt content, the greater the flow of electrical current. EC is measured in mmhos/cm or decisiemens/m.

 

Emitter - a device used to distribute water for irrigation that can discharge in droplets, small streams, or through mini-sprayers.

 

Evapotranspiration - the combination of water that is evaporated from container substrate or native soil and water that is transpired by plants as a part of their metabolic processes.

 

Half-life - the time required for a substance to degrade by one-half.

 

Hardness - a characteristic of water caused by the presence of various salts, e.g. calcium, magnesium, and iron. Hardness is often associated with the presence of bicarbonates and carbonates (alkalizing effect).

 

Hydrophobic - having a lack of affinity for water or may repel and not absorb water.

 

Hydrophyte - a plant that lives in water.

 

Leachate - the solution that drains from container substrate during and after irrigation and may contain nutrients and pesticides from the substrate solution.

 

Leaching fraction - the volume of leachate divided by the total volume of irrigation entering the container multiplied by 100. This fraction should be 10-15%.

 

Lime - a material containing carbonates, oxides, and/or hydroxides, and used to neutralize substrate acidity. A common form, dolomitic limestone, contains calcium and magnesium.

 

Microirrigation - an irrigation system that delivers small amounts of water through emitters (spray or drip) in which gallons of water per hour are applied rather than gallons of water per minute.

 

Mycelium - the vegetative part of a fungus, which consists of a mass of branching, threadlike hyphae.

 

Nematode - very small (microscopic) worms abundant in many native soils that can destroy plant roots.

 

Non-cyclic - a continuous cycle of irrigation where the entire daily amount is applied in one application.

 

Oxalic acid - a toxic colorless crystalline organic acid found in oxalis and other plants; used as a cleansing agent for bleaching and rust removal.

 

Pathogen - an agent that causes disease, especially a living microorganism such as a bacterium or fungus.

 

Perched water table - area of temporary saturation at the bottom of a container or area of temporary saturation in native soil saturated with water.

 

Percolation - the slow movement of water through a substrate or soil.

 

Permeability - the capacity of porous rock, sediment or soil to allow water movement through.

 

Pesticides - any form of chemical or substance used to control pests. Pesticides include fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides, etc.

 

pH - a logarithmic measurement, ranging from 0 to 14, of the acidity or alkalinity (concentration of hydrogen ions (H+)) of a solution which numerically equals 7 for neutral solutions, increasing with increasing alkalinity and decreasing with increasing acidity. A change of one unit is a tenfold change in hydrogen ion concentration.

 

Pheromones - naturally occurring chemicals secreted by insects or synthetically produced substances that can influence the behavior or often functioning as an attractant of the opposite sex.

 

Post-emergence - herbicides that can kill actively growing broadleaf or grassy-type weeds.

 

Pot-in-pot - a nursery production system in which a container is recessed in field soil and used as a holder for another container that contains the substrate.

 

Pour-through - a technique used to monitor container nutrient status.

 

Pre-emergence - herbicides applied to bare soil or container substrate that inhibit weed seeds from germinating.

 

Reverse osmosis - process where water is forced under pressure through a semipermeable membrane to remove salts or impurities that cannot traverse the membrane.

 

Rhizosphere - the soil zone that surrounds and is influenced by the roots of plants.

 

Riparian buffer - Strips of grass, shrubs and/or trees along the banks of rivers and streams that filter polluted runoff and provide a transition zone between water and human land use.

 

Runoff - the portion of rainfall or irrigation on an area that is discharged from the area. Runoff which is lost without entering the soil is called surface runoff and that which enters the soil is called ground water runoff or seepage flow.

 

Sedimentation - the process of particles that were held in suspension settling out of water.

 

Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) - the cation concentrations of calcium and magnesium relative to sodium. Sodium is often responsible for salinity problems when linked to chloride (Cl) or sulfate (SO4). The following formula is used to calculate the adsorption ratio:

 

The cation concentrations are expressed as milliequivalents per liter as determined by a water analysis.

Soluble salts - see electrical conductivity.

 

Solution fertilizer - soluble nutrient carriers dissolved in water.

 

Subirrigation - a method used to apply irrigation to the bottom of container grown ornamentals or to the root zone of field crops which allows water to move from the bottom through the substrate or soil by capillary movement.

 

Substrate - organic and inorganic materials, often bark, peat, and sand, used as media components in a container to support the plant and contain the root system.

 

Suction lysimeter - an extraction tool used to obtain substrate solution for measurement of EC, pH and nutrient concentration.

 

Topographical - graphic representation or map of the relative positions and elevations surface features for a place or region.

 

Total porosity - the total volume of pore space in a substrate and is expressed as a percentage of the total substrate volume.

 

Turbidity - the suspended particulate matter ranging in size from colloidal to coarse dispersions in water.

 

Volatilization - to evaporate or cause to evaporate.

 

Water holding capacity - the ability of container substrate to retain water after drainage.

Appendix A

 

Laboratories

Laboratories registered with the Soil and Plant Analysis Council (Anon. 1999) are listed below. 

 

Alabama

 

Soil Testing Laboratory

ALFA Agricultural Services & Research Building

961 S. Donahue Drive

Auburn University, AL 36849-5411

334.844.3958, FAX: 334.844.4001

 

Arkansas

 

Agricultural Diagnostic Laboratory

276-A Altheimer Dr.

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR  72704

501.575.3911, FAX: 501.575.3896

 

Eastern Arkansas Soil Testing and Research Laboratory

P.O. Drawer 767

Hwy 1 South 3 miles

Marianna, AR 72360

870.295.2851, FAX: 870.295.2432

 

Florida

 

Agro Services International, Inc.

205 E. Michigan Ave.

Orange City, FL 32763

904.775.6601, FAX: 904.775.9890

 

Pioneer Laboratory

4100 Glades Road

Ft. Pierce, FL  34981

407.464.9300, FAX: 407.464.9308

 

Georgia

 

Agricultural and Environmental Services

Laboratories

2400 College Station Road

Athens, GA  30607

706.542.5350, FAX: 706.369.5734

 

Micro-Macro International, Inc.

183 Paradise Blvd., Suite 108

Athens, GA  30607

706.548.4557, FAX: 706.548.4891

Waters Agricultural Laboratories, Inc.

P. O. Box 382

Camilla, GA  31730-0382

912.336.7216, FAX: 912.336.7967

 

Kentucky

 

Commonwealth Technologies, Inc.

2520 Regency Rd

Lexington, KY 40503

606.276.3506, FAX: 606.278.5665

 

University of Kentucky Soil Testing Laboratory

103 Regulatory Services Building

Lexington, KY  40546-0275

606.257.7355, FAX: 606.257.7351

 

Louisiana

 

LSU Agricultural Center Plant Analysis Laboratory

Agronomy Department

Louisiana State University

Baton Rouge, LA 70803

504.388.1305, FAX: 504. 388.1403

 

Missouri

 

University of Missouri Soil and Plant Testing

Laboratory

23 Munford Hall

University of Missouri

Columbia, MO  65211

573.882.3250, FAX: 573.884.4288

 

North Carolina

 

NC Department of Agriculture

Agronomic Division

4300 Reedy Creek Rd.

Raleigh, NC  27607

919.733.2655, FAX: 919.733.2837

 

Oklahoma

 

Soil, Water and Forage Analytical Laboratory

048 Agricultural Hall

Oklahoma State University

Stillwater, OK 74078

405.744.9572, FAX: 405.744.9575

 

South Carolina

 

Agricultural Service Laboratory

171 Old Cherry Rd

Clemson, SC 29634

864.656.2068, FAX: 864.656.2069

Tennessee

 

A&L Analytical Laboratories, Inc.

411 North Third Street

Memphis, TN  38105

901.527.2780, FAX: 901.526.1031

 

Texas

 

Texas Agricultural Extension Service Soil, Water, and Forage Testing Laboratory

345 Heep Center

College Station, TX 77843-2474

409.875.4816, FAX: 409.845.5958

 

Texas Plant & Soil Laboratory, Inc.

Route 7, Box 213-y

Edinburg, TX  78539

956.383.0739, FAX: 956.383.0730

 

Virginia

 

Virginia Tech Soil Testing and Plant Analysis Laboratory

145 Smyth Hall

Blacksburg, VA  24061

540.231.6893, FAX: 540.231.9262

 

West Virginia

 

West Virginia University Soil Testing Laboratory

Division of Plant and Soil Science

P. O. Box 6108

Morgantown, WV 26504

304.293.6256, FAX: 304.293.2960

Appendix B

 

Substrate Physical Properties

 

Bulk Density

Bulk density is expressed as dry weight per volume of container (conversions are g·cm-3 x 62.43 = lbs/ft3 or lbs/ft3 x 0.02 = g·cm-3). To determine dry bulk density, contents of the container are dried until they no longer lose weight. This may be accomplished by placing container with substrate in an oven at 158 F for 48 hours.

 

Air Space and Water-Holding Capacity

 

Procedure conducted with same containers used in plant production

The following procedure, taken from Diagnostic and Monitoring Procedures for Nursery Crops  (D.L. Ingram, et al., 1990), can be used to determine substrate air space and total water holding capacity as a percentage of container volume.

 

Air space of a substrate is the total volume of pores filled with air after irrigation and drainage. The water-holding capacity is the percentage of the total volume of the substrate that is filled with water after irrigation and drainage. When a substrate is saturated and allowed to drain, air replaces the volume of water drained. Measuring the drainage water then gives a measurement of pore space or air space. Steps in the procedure for determining air space and water-holding capacity are given below. If a measurement of air space alone is desired, there is no need to determine the volume of water required to saturate the dry substrate in step 3.

1. Measure the container volume. Secure tape on the container drainage holes and fill with water to within approximately 0.5 inch from the top. Mark this line. Carefully measure the volume of water by pouring it into a measuring cup. This volume of water is the container volume to be occupied by the substrate. An alternative way to determine container volume is to place a plastic bag in container and fill with water to desired volume.
2.  Dry the container inside. Do not remove the tape. Fill the container with dry substrate to the “fill line,” marked in Step 1, using packing procedures as when potting a plant.
3.  Using a measuring cup, slowly add water to the container and keep track of the volume of water used. Wet the dry substrate until it is saturated (a thin film of free water is present on the surface). Some dry substrates such as peat or pine bark are difficult to wet. If a wetting agent is used in production, then use a wetting agent at this time at the recommended rate. Add small amounts of water periodically as necessary to ensure complete saturation. The volume of water used to saturate the substrate is the total pore space of the substrate.
4.  Loosen the tape on one drainage hole and discard water that drains from the substrate. This initial drainage helps settle the substrate, as occurs in production.
5.  Cover the drainage hole and re-saturate the substrate with water. Adding water along only one side of the container will minimize air pockets.
6.  Place the container in a pan or bucket large enough to collect all drainage water. Elevate the container above the pan for complete drainage. Remove the tape from the holes and collect the water drained during two hours.
7.  Measure the volume of water drained from the container. Use the smallest units on the measuring cup (milliliters, ounces, or teaspoons).
8.  Calculate the percent air space and water-holding capacity by the formulas below.
9.  It is advisable to test three to five container/substrate samples at the same time and average the results.

 

 

% Air Space  =  Volume of drained water (ML)

Assembly volume (ML)

 

6. Weigh wet substrate, dry in forced air oven at 221 F, and weigh again. The difference in wet and dry substrate    weight (grams), divided by total volume (milliliters) of assembly is the percent total water-holding capacity.

 

% Total Water-holding capacity = Wet weight – Dry weight (g)

Assembly volume (ml)

 

7. It is advisable to test three to five assembly/substrate samples at the same time and average the results.

 

Appendix C

 

Substrate Nutrition

 

Pour-through (PT) - Procedure for Sampling

 

This procedure is practical for containers with volumes of five gallons or less because larger containers are too heavy to lift. The PT enables rapid sample collection without removing substrate from individual containers or groups of small containers that form cavities in trays.

 

 

 

Table 13. Approximate volume of water to apply to obtain 50 ml (2.0 oz.) of extract with PT.

Suction Lysimeter (SL) - Procedure for Sampling

This procedure enables rapid sample collection without removing substrate from large containers (greater than five-gallon) or physically moving containers. Lysimeters are about 24 inches long and two inches in diameter with a porous ceramic cup (0.5 bar air entry) on the end.

Calculating the Amount of Nutrients Applied

 

Fertilizer Purchases

Records of the fertilizer purchased yearly were used to calculate the amount of fertilizer applied, assuming all the fertilizer purchased was applied.

 

Suppose a nursery bought 2500 lbs of 18-6-12 and the production area of this nursery is 9.0 acres. In 2500 lbs of 18-6-12 there are 450 lbs of nitrogen, which were distributed on 9.0 acres during the year, resulting in 50 lbs of nitrogen per acre.

 

Fertilizer Applications

The amount of fertilizer applied with each application is summed to obtain total applied or to account for all the fertilizer applied throughout the year. For example, a nursery made three fertilizer applications during the year (Table 14). The first application consisted of 1000 lbs of 19-6-12 applied to containers in a field of 2.0 acres.

The second application consisted of 1650 lbs of 14-14-14 applied to containers in a field of 2.5 acres. The third application consisted of 1000 lbs of 18-6-12 applied to containers in a field of 7.5 acres. Therefore, 600 lbs of nitrogen were applied to 12.0 acres, resulting in 50 lbs of nitrogen applied per acre.

 

Trade names, companies, and products are used for informational purposes and do not constitute endorsement or recommendation nor discrimination for similar products not mentioned.