Vegetable Production in Florida Moves into the Millennium with Protected Agriculture

Nicole L. Shaw and Daniel J. Cantliffe

The Protected Agriculture Project at the Horticultural Sciences Dept. in Gainesville has been conducting research in a passive-ventilated, double-layer-polyethylene-covered greenhouse since 1998 and addressing the major challenges faced by the Florida vegetable industry. These challenges are: increased regulation for the use of water, fertilizer, and pesticide inputs; loss of a major soil fumigant, methyl bromide; increase urbanization and loss of the more desirable (warmer) production land in southern Florida; and continued challenges from weather, including freezes, winds, and rain. Added to these challenges are the increasing problems associated with regional and global market competition. By using the technology associated with protected ag systems, including greenhouses, growers can fine-tune the use of water, fertilizer and pesticides by using hydroponics and insect screens along with biological control and rid themselves of soil fumigants by using soilless culture such as perlite, in which crops can be grown year round throughout the state. Current and past research conducted with the Protected Ag Project includes cultivar trials on new commodities developed especially for the greenhouse industry, such as, 'Galia' muskmelon, 'Beit Alpha' cucumber, and improved colored pepper cultivars, container and media studies with 'Galia' muskmelon and 'Beit Alpha' cucumber which compare polyethylene bags and plastic pots as well as perlite and pine bark as media, trough and bag production of strawberry, nitrogen fertigation requirements for 'Galia' muskmelon and strawberry, and pruning and density studies with pepper. The research being presented will illustrate by suing protected ag technology, Florida vegetable growers can increase yields and provide high-quality pesticide-free product which can successfully compete in the global or winter market. Detailed information, including the structure and supplies, biological control, research summaries and publications, has been incorporated into a well-publicized website: www.hos.ufl.edu/protectedag.