Yandi Fan1, Rao Mylavarapu1, and Chad M. Hutchinson2. (1) Soil & Water Science, University of Florida, 2167 McCarty Hall PO Box 110290, Gainesville, FL 32611-0290, (2) Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, PO Box 110690, Gainesville, FL 32611
Water availability and water quality in the lower St. Johns River basin are two critical issues in northeast Florida. A three-year study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of an alternative irrigation and fertilization management on potato yield and water use efficiency. The field trial was consisted of three irrigation system (regular seepage, intermittent seepage and drip). A combination of N source (Urea and Coated urea, 46%) and N rate (168 and 224 kg ha-1) was applied for seepage irrigation system. Four N rates (112, 168, 224, and 280 kg ha-1) were used in drip irrigation system. A split-plot design was used where the main plot was N rates and the first split was variety (Atlantic and Fabula). In 2006, amount of water for potato irrigation decreased by 59% and 78% under intermittent and drip irrigation respectively as compared with regular seepage irrigation. Marketable yield was affected by water use. A marketable yield of 227 CWT a-1 and 176 CWT a-1 under regular and intermittent seepage irrigation respectively was observed and the difference was significant. Marketable yield was very low under drip irrigation and significant differences were observed between varieties. Nitrogen rates significantly affected marketable yield under seepage and drip irrigation. The amount of NO3-N leached into water table under seepage irrigation system was significantly affected by both N sources and N rates.