A BMP Discussion with Dr. Maria Zamora

In November, UF-ABE PhD candidate Maria Zamora successfully defended

her doctoral dissertation on “Irrigation and Nitrogen Best Management

Practices in Corn Production.” Dr. Zamora’s academic career at ABE spans several years through winter strawberry fields and spring corn and peanut fields. She agreed to an interview with IrriGator to reflect on her experience and address what awaits

on the horizon.

Can you give us an idea about what your PhD research focused on?

MZ: My Ph.D. focused on irrigation and nitrogen (N) fertilizer

best management practices (BMPs) in corn production. It was located in the

Suwannee River Basin, which is characterized by a karst topography and

absence of a natural filtration system, thus, an increased vulnerability to

groundwater pollution. Excess N fertilizer applied with the intention of obtaining

higher yields, is a potential threat to waterbodies.

Our project focused on evaluating different irrigation strategies and N fertilizers in corn production with the aim to reduce water and fertilizer use without impacts in yield. As a glimpse of our results, the strategies proposed can provide the same yield as conventional practices, but achieving between 43-53% water savings and near 26% reduction in fertilizer applications.

What are some real world applications for the insight your research generated?

MZ: Our results provided information that can be used to help growers

manage their crops better. Using the proposed irrigation strategies (a soil water balance, soil moisture sensors and a reduced conventional practice) and following lower N application rates, water and fertilizer savings can be achieved without compromising final corn grain yields compared to conventional production practices. BMPs should be followed and implemented particularly in regions more susceptible for N impairment. These results are beneficial for growers, can help reduce inputs to waterbodies while reducing negative consequences in the environment and potentially increase grower's profits.

Dr. Dukes’ program develops very skilled researchers that go on to do impactful work. What’s the secret?

MZ: Dukes program focuses on developing strategies for problems that

should be solved due to their tremendous magnitude and impact to society

and its resources. Our major goal is water efficiency and water conservation.

Our 'water research' studies also involve the use of technology applications

for decision making, which has become more commonly used in agricultural

and residential sites. For example, my project emphasized on reducing

irrigation and N use; however, simultaneously aimed to provide solutions that

target a balance between the environmental and economic sectors.

Can you tell us something about what you will be focusing on in the future/after graduation?

MZ: My near future will be focused on water conservation in blueberries.

I'll start a postdoc position on January 2019 at UF with Dr. Dukes working

with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). Since

blueberry is a fairly new crop to Florida and is growing in acreage, a need

exists to better characterize its irrigation requirements so that irrigation

allocation can be improved and irrigation scheduling tools can be developed.

Any advice/insight for graduate students just beginning their journey?

MZ: Oh yeah! My favorite resources are here and here.

• Keep a healthy work–life balance.I highly recommend to make a balance between your multiple tasks (exams, presentations, deadlines, reports, write your dissertation, etc) and you. YOU MATTER and without you, nothing will be done. Looking after yourself is key for success.
• Back up your work! I don't know how many times my computer crashed!...You can avoid many tears by backing up your work.
• There is not a 'perfect' dissertation. The best one is a finished dissertation. Do not let perfection keep you from making progress. Just WRITE... I would also recommend to start writing as soon as possible. 
• Have a clear NORTH.Discuss it with your advisor and make sure both are in the same page. Write down your objective (s) per chapter and make a plan. Then, follow the plan. A clear plan will help you to maintain focus.
• Enjoy your Ph.D.! Make time to meet new people, make friends, attend to conferences, intermingle... this is a unique opportunity to create a great professional network that might help you find a job, get to know other people in the near-future or might even be your friends for a lifetime!.

Is there anything I did not ask you that you feel the audience should know?

MZ: Yes, I would like to mentioned that my project was the baseline for a continuation project in which three Universities are working together (University of Georgia, University of Alabama and University of Florida).This project integrates all disciplines (economic, social and environmental) to ensure economic sustainability of agriculture and silviculture in North Florida and South Georgia while protecting water quantity, quality, and habitat in the Upper Floridian Aquifer and the springs and rivers it feeds. I am happy that our work provides a great source of information for other researchers and it served as a foundation for keeping an excellent work!

BMPs and BMAPs: A Twilight Corn Field Day 2018 Report Back

By Michael Gutierrez

Last week North Florida Research and Education Center - Suwannee Valley (NFREC), hosted Twilight Corn Field Day 2018. The event covered topics from corn production to irrigation management. Twenty percent of Florida’s farming happens in the region served by NFREC, an expanding research venue currently involved in some 50 projects. UF-ABE PhD candidate Maria Zamora attended the field day event at NFREC. Her work with corn best management practices is closely related to the topics presented at the event. She agreed to discuss her field day experience with IrriGator.   

UF-ABE PhD Candidate Maria Zamora (image: M. Dukes)

As a researcher and also an extension educator, what do you feel was the objective of the Twilight Corn Field Day?

MZ: The most important objective overall was to let growers know about the urgency to adopt best management practices (BMP) for nitrogen (N) reduction loads in the Suwannee River Basin. The target of the Santa Fe, Suwannee and Withlacoochee​ Basins of 0.35 mg/L monthly average nitrate concentration must be met in the next 5 years.​ According to the new basement management action plan (BMAP), these basins are a susceptible area for nitrogen leaching in which action must be taken.

As a researcher the most important objective was to provide research information and results from research experiments performed at the Center to growers. Most of this information was regarding BMPs that growers can choose and implement in their fields. As an educator, the most important objective was to communicate research results to the open public, especially to the growers, who are the main target audience of the research being performed to meet the target N load reductions.

NFREC Director Bob Hochmuth addresses Field Day attendees (image: M Zamora)

Can you give us an idea of what kind of research work was highlighted?

MZ: Several projects were highlighted:

Dr. Charles Barrett explained in a very demonstrative way how to schedule irrigation using soil moisture sensors (SMS). As well, Dr. Joel Love, who coordinated the Twilight Corn Field Day, provided details about ongoing research on selection of corn varieties (high yielding varieties), fertilizer options and timing. Dr. David Wright provided concise documentation about starter fertilizer placement in no till corn, control release fertilizer in corn, control of nematode population, irrigation and fertilization amounts and timing among others. Overall the research pointed to the optimization of inputs (essentially N and water), as potential BMP options that growers could adopt.

Based on your work what presentation was most relevant or useful?

MZ: Based on the work we have been ​performing during the last 3 years, I found the SMS demo very interesting and engaging. Sometimes it’s hard to understand what we cannot see. The demo consisted of showing the rootzone in a fully developed corn field trial. A pit was made in order to visualize how deep the roots were growing. As a result, growers and participants were able to visualize that the most active rootzone is concentrated in the top ~0-40 cm. Roots might grow in deeper soil layers, but are mostly concentrated in those top layers. Therefore, irrigation should be managed where plants can take up the water. Large amounts of irrigation result in drainage and nutrient leaching from the rootzone.

A corn field's soil profile exposed (image: M. Zamora)

What do you feel is the most impactful work that is being pursued at NFREC?

MZ: The most impactful work being pursued is reaching the balance between profitable agriculture production and environmental protection. This is being realized through the different on-going research projects, as well as future projects, such as a crop rotation with the inclusion of grass and cattle production.

There is not a single factor that will modify final yields or final N losses to the environment. Factors are all tight together:

-Choosing the right variety for the right place and environment would define the potential yield when it's managed correctly.

-Adequate placement of fertilizer would improve the uptake and reduce the losses. Therefore, sidedressing is a practice that would reduce N losses. Different types of fertilizer also are alternatives (litter, cow manure, control release fertilizer, etc).

-Adequate irrigation is required in order to keep nutrients in the rootzone and to avoid overirrigation (i.e. greater amounts are applied than needed).

-Adequate control of nematodes (especially in a corn-corn rotation) is essential to avoid final yield reductions. Where the first assumption might be N or water stress, in many cases nematodes are the cause (very hard to see/detect).

Charles Barrett presenting at the Field Day (image M. Zamora)

Is there anything I didn't ask you that you think readers should know?

​MZ: I hope all BMP alternatives serve as a cocktail of strategies for growers! ​There is an urgency to take action now. Adopting and implementing BMPs would be beneficial for growers and for the environment. Growers can reduce losses (i.e. input losses and final yield losses), hence increase profits and investments. However, these efforts must come from all sides and angles: from researchers, extension agents, educators, modelers, industry and stakeholders to find that sweet balance among humans and nature.

Previewing Urban Landscape Summit 2018

By Michael Gutierrez

The 2018 Urban Landscape Summit is next week. It’s a rare treat to pack so much relevant Florida green industry insight in just two days of programming. A quick scan of the agenda reveals integrated pest management experts, turfgrass science experts, academic and municipal water-use experts as well as some great student poster topics. The UF/IFAS Center for Landscape Conservation and Ecology (CLCE) is the organizing body behind the summit. CLCE Director Dr. Michael Dukes agreed to an interview with IrriGator to preview the event.

This is the Urban Landscape Summit’s 3rd incarnation. Other than the underlying urban landscape aspect, is there a theme to this year’s programming?

MD: The past two years have been heavily focused on water issues. This year we still have water since it's such an important issue in landscapes but we also have topics just as important such as invasives and pests as well as homeowner insights. In addition, we have a nice diversity of topics being presented by graduate students.

Do you have any specific presenters or topics you are excited about or looking forward to?

MD: I’m looking forward to the entire conference but especially our keynote speaker, Timothee Sallin, who is the President of Cherrylake - once a traditional nursery but now vertically integrated to provide management and maintenance of their installed horticultural material.

Also, I really enjoy the 5 minute lightning round presentations. They give just enough information so I can tell whether it is applicable to me and if I need further discussion with the presenter.

This year the second day of programming is comprised of In Service Trainings (IST), any insight on this new focus?

MD: Due to IFAS budget cuts last year, fewer resources were available for ISTs, thus we sought to capitalize on the fact that much of our audience are extension agents and are already traveling to the summit. As a result, in addition to the summit been a formal IST, we have two other ISTs the second day taught by CLCE faculty.

Michael Dukes at the UF/IFAS Landscape Unit (image UFABE Blog)

For someone who works in an urban landscape-related field and is on the fence about attending, what is your best pitch for participating?

MD: The information presented at the summit is cutting edge research and extension information that can immediately be used by practitioners. In addition, this is an opportunity to meet faculty and county agents working in this area.

The 2018 Urban Landscape Summit takes place March 14-15 on the UF campus in Gainesville, FL. Register here.