Vol. 123 (2010): Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society
Vegetable

Nutrient Management Programs for Fresh Market Tomatoes Grown with Plasticulture: Economic Insights

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  • Aparna Gazula,
  • Eric H. Simonne,
  • Fritz Roka
Photos: Florida contains over half the wild orchid species found in the United States, at roughly 100 species. The endangered Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii) makes its home in the area of southern Florida known as the Big Cypress Swamp (including the

Published 2010-12-01

Keywords

  • comprehensive crop budget,
  • break-even price,
  • best management practice,
  • nitrogen,
  • irrigation

Abstract

Fertilizer represents only a small portion of the total costs to grow fresh market tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Therefore, growers may apply fertilizer rates in excess of UF/IFAS recommendations to prevent nutrient shortages and maintain productivity. With the adoption of BMPs to implement the TMDLs, growers are encouraged to follow UF/IFAS nutrient-irrigation recommendations. The objectives of this study were to 1) estimate the costs of UF/IFAS nutrient-irrigation management practices; 2) estimate total production costs with the UF/IFAS recommendations; and 3) calculate break-even prices. The estimated cost of UF/IFAS recommended nutrient-irrigation practices was $803.87/acre. Based on an estimated marketable yield of 1,500 25-lb tomato cartons/acre, the estimated production cost with UF/IFAS recommendations was $11,667.96/acre, and the break-even price for a 25-lb tomato carton was $7.78. The irrigation-fertilizer costs represented 4.41% and 2.48% of the total production costs, respectively. Upon doubling them, the fertilizer inputs represented an estimated 4.84% of the total production costs, and the break-even price increased by 19 cents to $7.97. Average prices of ‘U.S. One or Better’ grade tomatoes from 1998–2008 ranged between $7.88 and $14.76/25-lb carton, and the growers would have realized profits for 9 and 8 years with the UF/IFAS, and the growers’ high fertilizer input practices, respectively.
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