Vol. 125 (2012): Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society
Vegetable

Effects of Soil Surfactant IrrigAid Gold on Water Management for Tomato Production in Florida Spodosols

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  • Emmanuel A Torres,
  • Bielinski M Santos
Emmanuel A Torres
University of Florida, IFAS, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center,, 14625 CR 672, Wimauma, FL 33598
Bielinski M Santos
University of Florida, IFAS, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center,, 14625 CR 672, Wimauma, FL 33598

Published 2012-12-01

Keywords

  • Solanum lycopersicum,
  • evapotranspiration

Abstract

A field study was conducted in west-central Florida to determine the effects of a soil surfactant application on soil moisture and tomato growth and yield. Six treatments resulted from the combination of 100%, 80%, and 60% of the
potential evapotranspiration (ETo)-based standard irrigation with and without the application of the soil surfactant IrrigAid Gold (0.5 gal/acre and applied at 0, 3, and 6 weeks after transplanting). There was a significant effect of IrrigAid Gold on soil moisture at 5 inches deep, nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) concentration in petiole sap, and early fruit yield. There was no significant difference between 100% of standard irrigation and 80% of the standard irrigation plus IrrigAid Gold on soil moisture, NO3-N concentration in petiole sap, and early fruit yield. The results indicated that using IrrigAid Gold increased soil moisture in planting beds and allowed water use to be reduced for tomato production in sandy soils.

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