NC1186: Water Management and Quality for Specialty Crop Production and Health

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Active

Project Menu

SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[07/16/2026]

Date of Annual Report: 07/16/2026

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/18/2026 - 05/21/2026
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2025 - 09/30/2026

Participants

Jeb Fields FL University of Florida
Ping Yu GA University of Georgia
Don Merhaut CA University of California
Jeanette Thurston (Admin. Advisor) KS Kansas State University
Tom Fernandez MI Michigan State University
Henry Gonzalez MI Michigan State University
Xi Xiong MO University of Missouri
Brian Jackson NC North Carolina State University
Raul Cabrera NJ Rutgers University
James Altland OH USDA-ARS, Application Technology Research Unit
Sarah White SC Clemson University
Amy Fulcher TN University of Tennessee
Jake Shreckhise TN USDA-ARS, U.S. National Arboretum
Kris Criscione VA Virginia Tech

Brief Summary of Minutes

Welcome and introductions: The meeting started with a general welcome to the group and followed by a quick introduction, not only include NC-1186 group members but also students who were in attendance.

Administrative Update: Jeanette Thurston provided an administrative update on the proposed changes to the AFRI and SCRI programs as well as staffing status at USDA.

State report: Updates from state lead personnel regarding the progress made and short-term plans for advancing the water management for ornamental crops and extension programs for better disseminating the results generated from the research group.

Impact writing: Group members organized a structure for impact statement writing and the impact statement will then be submitted to Sara Delhermer from the Multistate Research Fund Impacts Program.

Officer Selection: Officer elections were held and confirmed for 2026-2027 and 2027-2028.

Planning for future meeting and workshop: A planning was discussed in the meeting on a weather to host a co-event along with ASHS in San Diego in 2027 or plan the meeting separately. Finial decisions were not made. Future meeting sites and plans were also discussed.

Accomplishments

In May 2026, a team of Extension Specialists and scientists conducted a workshop that included one day of demonstrations and classroom sessions in Virginia Beach as an outreach effort of the USDA NC1186 working group. The event attracted 80 nursery producers and extension agents from Virginia and North Carolina. After the workshop, growers rated their knowledge gain from the demonstrations and presentations on a 1 to 5 scale. Short-term Outcomes: On average, growers increased their knowledge by 1.3 points on 9 topics. After the workshop, 60-65% of participants planned to improve their pond management and management of substrate, irrigation, and container color at their nursery. Additionally, 40% to 50% of participating growers plan to change specific practices related to fertilization placement and controlled release fertilizer selection, drone use for insecticide applications, measuring distribution uniformity, and using substrate moisture sensors. Growers estimated saving $38,750 per nursery as a result of changing their practices due to information gained at the workshop for a total economic impact of $1,821,266. <h4>North Carolina</h4> Two ISCO Teledyne Model 6712 Samplers were installed to determine mass water flow, pH and electrical conductivity, rainfall, and take water samples over a 24 hr period. Sampling events occurred in winter, spring, twice in summer, and late fall over an 18 month period.  Approximately 24 samples were collected every 10 minutes over the 120 minute irrigation event to capture the beginning of the irrigation event, during it, and an hour after the irrigation ceased.  The plume of articles dissolved in the production runoff could be attributed the volume of irrigation applied and runoff from the two growing areas.  The sampling scheme was not designed as an experiment, but more of an observation to inform more controlled research activities once further grant funding was obtained. The two outdoor uncovered growing environments were considered shade and full sun with each an acre in size. The third environment was the source water collection reservoir that recycled production runoff for reuse as irrigation. Both growing environments were lined with impervious plastic directing all drainage from the entire one acre area to one drainage way that led to a galvanized pipe and eventually to a rubber lined canal that collected all production runoff for the entire nursery. The shaded outdoor uncovered growing environment had plastic weed barrier over the impervious plastic and plants were covered with 30% shade cloth top draped over extruded aluminum poles. The sun growing environment had gravel over the plastic liner and no shade cloth or overhead extruded aluminum.  The shallow drainage ditch was lined with concrete instead of plastic, but all else was similar to the shade area.    Our group sampled for  the presence and diversity of viable weed seeds in surface irrigation water samples from six commercial container nurseries in central and eastern NC was documented in the spring, summer, and late-summer seasons for two consecutive years ending 2024. Irrigation pond water was sampled using a custom-fabricated filtration system in increments of 20,000 gallon (78,708 L), or 0.75 acres of irrigation, which is the daily amount delivered by growers to once acre of container-grown nursery stock.  The collected filtrate samples were germinated to identify weed species. Irrigation samples from all locations, seasons, and years contained viable weed seeds. Averaged across years and locations, there were approximately 18 germinated seeds from 78,708 L of water in spring, summer, and late-summer, respectively. The average number of seeds collected at each location ranged from 9 to 35 seeds. A total of 75 different taxa were present in the irrigation filtrates. Alisha Ray served as a Master of Science graduate student during this project and they graduated May 2025. They submitted two manuscripts in 2025 and one was published in 2026. These efforts outlined here support the goal to characterize the quality of alternative or non-traditional water sources in different regions of the U.S. and to determine water quality parameters and levels that are most limiting for intensive plant production systems and evaluate treatment and management options to overcome the limiting factors. <h4>Florida</h4> Short-term Outcomes:  We developed and delivered a new Greenhouse Training Online course on Substrate Management through UF IFAS Extension (GTO, https://hos.ifas.ufl.edu/training), taught by NC1186 members at UF and UC Davis. There was 93% completion by the 97 participants, with 16% international and 29% Spanish speaking. A new Root Zone Expert program was created in GTO, including five courses directly related to NC1186 goals (irrigation, water quality, substrates, and fertilizers). A total of 310 growers graduated from GTO courses related to NC1186, with documented knowledge gain.  Outputs: Prototype generative AI agents were developed on topics including cost analysis of greenhouses, horticulture irrigation, nutrient management, substrate management, and water quality and treatment, including publications contributed by eleven NC1186 researchers. Best management practices are being developed for building curated AI agents and testing the quality and reliability of responses for technical horticulture extension. These tools are currently in beta testing.  Activities: UF: Completed a series of experiments on use of substrate components (biochar, vermiculite) and amendments (limestone, calcium silicate) to reduce plant uptake of heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium and lead), with clear benefits of biochar and pH management. Milestones: Completed dose response experiments on control of Pythium aphanidermatum using cold plasma or ozone water treatments, with the effective dose and oxidation reduction potential (ORP) identified for different production scenarios. Developed a protocol to measure irrigation uniformity for greenhouse mist irrigation systems, and gathered benchmarking data from 14 commercial greenhouse operations in five states, with reports provided to each grower. Tested leaf wetness, infrared leaf/soil temperature, and load cell sensors in 10 commercial grower operations for irrigation control. <h4>Georgia</h4> Measurable outcomes from research hosted by University of Georgia includes adoption of new irrigation, nutrient management, substrate techniques and IPM tactics from horticulture perspectives into operation decisions. Any of these adoptions would result in reduced resource use and production time/ costs. Outputs. Outputs from UGA have included academic peer-refereed journal manuscripts.  Research results have been disseminated through presentations at academic and industry events and conferences including SR-ASHS-2026, Cultivate, Southeast Green-2026. Additionally, a podcast “Bloom and Beyond” was initiated and 18 episodes were released to deliver science-based information to a larger audience. Activities. In Georgia, the team is focusing on improve the management practices in greenhouse and nursery, aiming to reduce the resource use, explore ways to grow quality plant under different stress conditions, and develop IPM tactics from horticulture perspectives. Several trials have been done with some trials are undergoing. <h4>California</h4> In California, irrigation efficiency was evaluated and improvements were made at approximately 25 ornamental nurseries.  We demonstrated to growers how to measure irrigation efficiency and then we made recommendations for irrigation heads that would be suitable for their production setup. On another project, we have continued our trial of groundcover evaluations.  In this study, we have been comparing drip vs. overhead irrigation and evaluating plant performance of drought tolerant plants.  We are in the last year of this study. <h4>Maryland</h4> Objective 2 — Irrigation Management and Use Efficiency <ul> <li>Sensor-based irrigation management: Research in the development of commercialized sensor network and decision-making systems for ornamental nursery/greenhouse irrigation managers, in both soil and soilless substrate systems</li> <li>Maryland Nutrient Management Certification Course teaches growers about risk management of nutrient loss via management of application rates of nutrients and irrigation.</li> </ul> Short-term Outcomes <ul> <li>Nursery irrigation manager found that under sensor-controlled irrigation, plants arrived at selling size 1 year earlier.</li> </ul> Outputs: <ul> <li>NIFA AFRI funded research on ginger production using wireless sensor networks to control irrigation applications from measurements of soilless substrate water content and on/off setpoints.</li> <li>Installation of sensor networks in a commercial inground/ ornamental nursery operation where both monitoring of soil moisture status and automatic-plant driven irrigation systems keep the irrigation manager better informed on irrigation application decisions.</li> </ul> Activities <ul> <li>Installation of sensor networks in an early adoption nursery</li> <li>Maryland Nutrient Management Certification Course certified 7 growers in the past year.</li> <li>Six extension teaching events reaching approximately 150 nursery/greenhouse managers and landscapers.</li> <li>Research on sensor driven irrigation management.</li> </ul> <h4>Michigan</h4> MSU will continue conducting research on the effectiveness of bioreactors in removing agrochemicals from agricultural runoff water. Short-term Outcomes: Research using commercial scale bioreactors has been conducted over the past 5 years at Neal Mast Greenhouses. The results demonstrate that using very short (30 or 60 minute) hydraulic retention times will remove 15-50% of pesticides from water while retaining 80-95% of the nutrients. This is critical for growers who recycle their water since they also desire to recycle the nutrients while removing pesticides. We are finishing the evaluation of the previous 3 years of data from this project but are no longer conducting research at the site. However, the operation has adopted bioreactors as part of their production process and continue to use the bioreactors. Outputs: presentations have been made to grower groups in Michigan and New Zealand a conference proceeding in-press from a 2025 New Zealand presentation. Presentations have been or will be made to scientific audiences: one at an ISHS Symposium in Australia in January 2026 (with a conference proceeding article in-press), two at ASHS in Dallas, TX in August 2026, and two at the ISHS IHC in Japan in August 2026. A manuscript has been accepted for publication in the peer reviewed journal Environmental Science and Technology Water. Two manuscripts are in preparation for peer reviewed journals (Agricultural Water Management and Scientia Horticulturae). Activities:Water samples are being analyzed from two bioreactor experiments. Milestones: We have collected all of the samples necessary for completion of two bioreactor experiments, one investigating different aeration treatments on effectiveness of bioreactors to remediate agrochemicals and the other on different percentages of seeding new bioreactors with woodchips from established bioreactors on time to optimum effectiveness. <h4>Missouri</h4> A lab experiment evaluated three soil surfactants for improving water retention and reducing leaching in severely hydrophobic sandy soils exposed to five sequential simulated irrigation events. Compared with untreated hydrophobic sand, wetting agent applications increased volumetric water content by at least 2.4-fold and enhanced cumulative water retention by as much as 3.3-fold over the course of the study. Treated soils retained approximately 65–68% of total stored water within the upper 12.7 cm of the soil profile, compared with only 46% in untreated soils, indicating greater water availability within the primary rooting zone. Wetting agent application also reduced cumulative leachate losses by up to 31%, with approximately 67–70% of applied water lost through leaching compared with 87.3% in untreated controls. Among the products tested, the alcohol ethoxylate formulation, which had the lowest surface tension, produced the greatest water retention and lowest leaching losses. These results demonstrate that soil surfactants can substantially improve irrigation efficiency in hydrophobic sandy soils by retaining more water in the root zone while reducing drainage losses. <h4>New Jersey</h4> A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the impact of substrate stratification and   container geometry on the growth, flower yield and cannabinoid content of agricultural hemp. Hemp plants were grown in containers of similar volume but different geometry (short-wide vs tall-narrow) and in a pine-bark (PB) substrate of mixed particle sizes vs a substrate where a layer of fine PB (particles < 6mm diameter) was placed (on upper ½ of pot) over a layer of coarse PB (particles 12-25 mm; on lower ½ of pot). The plants were fertigated with a nutrient solution over 14 weeks. Preliminary results, undergoing statistical analyses and summarization, point out that plants grown in the stratified substrate and tall-narrow containers had the highest total biomass, flower yields and water use, significantly contrasting those values from the plants in the mixed substrate and short-wide containers. Also, the imposed treatments do not appear to have affected the concentrations of cannabinoids in the harvested flowers. Pending confirmation from statistical analyses, these results supporting previous observations that suggest that cannabinoid contents in hemp flowers are mostly under genetic control and minimally affected by crop management and some abiotic stresses, including mild water stress. <h4>South Carolina</h4> <ul> <li>Evaluate methods and practices that enhance the containment of irrigation drainage and reduce contaminants in irrigation return flow. Identify improvements to recycled water management, characterizing critical control points within production systems. Develop chemical, physical, and biologically-based water treatment technologies and BMP guidelines that help mitigate the undesirable effects of sediments, agrichemicals, emerging environmental contaminants, and pathogens found in captured runoff intended for recycling in specialty crops.</li> <li>Water quality of irrigation sources. Characterize the quality of conventional and alternative or non-traditional water sources in different regions of the country. Determine water quality (chemical, physical and biological) parameters and levels that are most limiting for specialty crop production systems and evaluate suitable treatment and irrigation management options.</li> <li> Researchers from Clemson University completed water quality (nutrient and algal species) sampling of multiple irrigation, livestock, stormwater, and recreational ponds in three ecoregions of South Carolina. Results from the study inform growers about the management practices necessary to achieve optimal water quality for good production outcomes. They also help growers understand the implications of their production and management practices on water leaving operations and entering surface waters shared with their neighbors. </li> <li> We also have an initial understanding of how contaminants of emerging concern move on-farm and the potential for targeted development and optimization of on-farm and in-line treatment technologies to mitigate these contaminants prior to their leaving the operation. Better digital technologies and tool availability benefit growers, municipalities, engineers, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) communities, water quality managers, extension agents, farmers, and regulators. </li> </ul> <h4>Tennessee</h4> Dr. Fulcher, University of Tennessee, and team members, coordinated the Tennessee Green Industry Field Day, which serves 100 growers and other green industry professionals. The field day features the latest nursery irrigation, fertilization, substrate and automation research being conducted at UT through hands-on demonstrations, guided plant diagnostic walks, and indoor classroom-style sessions. Short-term Outcomes: Participants increased their knowledge on 18 nursery irrigation, substrate, and related topics topics by an average of 1.5 points on a scale of 1 to 5 and estimated saving or increasing their revenue by over $200,000 due to information presented at the field day. Activities: Dr. Fulcher’s lab continued a project that began in 2025 utilizing four instrumented irrigation zones at a commercial nursery consisting of 1) the grower’s standard manual irrigation of 1 hour per day, 2) and 3) two commercially available wireless irrigation controllers, and 4) an experimental leaching fraction-based irrigation system. Each zone has a flow meter, four leachate gauges, three irrigation gauges, five substrate moisture sensors. Additionally, the research team helped the grower calculate the amount of nitrogen being incorporated and determined it was double the recommended rate of 3g of actual nitrogen per gallon container size. Within each irrigation zone are the grower’s normal rate and 3g of actual nitrogen per gallon container size. Milestones: The manually irrigated zones had the fewest branches and flowers compared to all three automated zones. The leaching fraction-based zone used the least water without extending the production time or sacrificing marketability. Both wirelessly controlled zones had a lower chlorophyll content than the manual zone. CC for the leaching fraction zone was not different from other zones. Maximum daily volumetric water content (VWC) was higher for the two wirelessly controlled zones compared to the leaching fraction-based zone, which was higher than the manually controlled zone 1. Minimum daily VWC values were highest in both wirelessly controlled zones, which were both greater than the manually controlled zone. Dr. Fulcher’s lab re-established four instrumented irrigation zones at a commercial nursery consisting of 1) the grower’s standard manual irrigation of 1 hour per day, 2) and 3) two commercially available wireless irrigation controllers, and 4) an experimental leaching fraction-based irrigation system. Each zone has a flow meter, four leachate gauges, three irrigation gauges, five substrate moisture sensors. Additionally, the research team helped the grower calculate the amount of nitrogen being incorporated and determined it was double the recommended rate of 3g of actual nitrogen per gallon container size. Within each irrigation zone are the grower’s normal rate and 3g of actual nitrogen per gallon container size. Short-term Outcomes: The general manager reported that he spent 25% of his 40-hour work week manually irrigating the nursery (approximately 35 zones) by hand and no time on the two wireless automated zones once we programmed them. He also reduced the fertilizer rate to 3g actual nitrogen per gallon container size in all subsequently potted crops, approximately 10,000 #1 plants, a decrease of approximately 30,000 g of nitrogen. In collaboration with the USDA, Dr. Fulcher’s lab utilized a newly developed counterbalanced scale within an irrigation zone that replicates typical nursery irrigation application rates. This system was used to continue experiments designed to measure leachate volume, leaching fraction, total nitrogen concentration in leachate, water infiltration rates through 3 tiers, preferential flow, and other hydraulic conductivity metrics of coir, Sphagnum peat moss, wood fiber, pine bark substrates and their blends. Detailed information is being generated and expanding the body of knowledge of substrate-water dynamics in a container system that can be used to help inform producers’ substrate selection and irrigation practices.  <h4>Virginia</h4> Short-term Outcomes. Measurable outcomes from research hosted by Virginia Tech includes adoption of new irrigation, substrate, and agrochemical techniques into operation decisions. Any of these adoptions would result in reduced resource use and production time/ costs. Outputs. Outputs have included academic peer-refereed journal manuscripts, extension publications in the form of video publications and training (Virginia Cooperative Extension), newsletters (VNLA, GrowerTalks), popular press articles (GrowerTalks, Greenhouse Management).  Presentations delivered to both academic and industry communities have occurred to disseminate research results and information at conferences (ASHS-2026; ASHS-SR-2026; IPPS-SR-2026), tradeshows (Kentucky Horticultural Council-2026; Cultivate- 2026) and industry field-days (VNLA-2026). Activities. Virginia is taking a national lead in understanding how nursery and greenhouse management practices can be leveraged to optimize container root systems, ultimately resulting in improved plant development, decreased water and fertilizer applications, and reduced production cycles. These experiments are currently being conducted, and results will be disseminated in the form of presentations and peer-refereed publications. <h4>Louisiana</h4> <ul> <li>Short-term Outcomes: Enhanced knowledge of rain garden purpose, plants, and practices was a short-term outcome, reaching >150 individuals through in-person and online dissemination avenues.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Outputs: Demonstration rain gardens at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station have been included in stakeholder and community-based tours. Over 150 individuals have received detailed information on rain garden media, plant selection, and management considerations for implementing rain gardens into the landscape. Data collected from the demonstration rain gardens has been presented at scientific conferences</li> <li>Activities: Replicated demonstration rain gardens assessing various media and plant selections suitable for wet sites are in continued use for data generation, gathering information on soil moisture conditions during and following precipitation events and plant growth metrics. This reporting period includes the second year of the demonstration rain gardens, with continued exploration into the effects of plant maturation within different medias, and potential interaction between species selection, media composition, and establishment age of four native species. Data will reveal new knowledge and understanding of plant selection impact on green infrastructure sustainability. Furthermore, qualitative insights from viewers provide understanding of public acceptance of these features.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Milestones: Lab-scale studies investigating nutrient remediation capabilities of rain garden media provide intermediate data that may contribute to field-scale recommendations. Targeted studies assessing agrochemical dynamics within rain garden media are currently in preparation for publication, with the next round of studies in progress.</li> </ul> <h4>USDA-ARS, U.S. National Arboretum</h4> Short-term outcomes Objective 2 — Irrigation Management and Use Efficiency <ul> <li>Proactive temperature management via machine learning. In collaboration with Ohio State University, Louisiana State University, and Oregon State University, developed and validated machine‑learning (ML) models that forecast harmful substrate temperatures 2–5 hours in advance using routine meteorological inputs. These models give growers actionable lead time to adjust irrigation, shading, or other practices before heat injury occurs. Outputs: Predictive models and decision‑support guidance for container operations.</li> <li>Container color × irrigation frequency × disease risk. Initiated a multi‑species study (dogwood, hydrangea, maple) to quantify how container color and irrigation frequency influence root‑rot severity and crop finish times in outdoor container production.</li> </ul> Objective 3 — Runoff Management <ul> <li>Phosphorus (P) retention with activated alumina. In a collaboration with University of North Carolina Pembroke, greenhouse and lab studies on a peat–sand mix (common in turfgrass) showed that 1–5% (v/v) activated alumina reduced P leaching by >97%. Given substrate similarities, these leachate reductions likely translate to container‑grown ornamental production, providing a practical substrate‑level strategy to retain nutrients on site and minimize P loads to recycling ponds or adjacent waters. Short‑term outcomes: A deployable amendment approach that sharply decreases P losses from heavily fertilized turfgrass systems, supporting on‑farm water quality goals.</li> </ul> Objective 4 — Substrates and Soilless Culture <ul> <li>Heat mitigation to sustain growth and fertilizer efficiency. In container trials, growing ‘Little Missy’ boxwood and ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud under 54% shade increased whole‑plant dry weight by 25% and 100%, respectively, versus full sun. In the same trials, a controlled‑release fertilizer (CRF) formulation retained up to 23% more N, P, and K in the production system compared with full‑sun treatments—evidence that targeted shade practices can curb heat stress while improving nutrient‑use efficiency and reducing potential nutrient losses. Short‑term outcomes: Demonstrated production‑scale practices (shade + CRF) that maintain plant quality under heat stress while holding more nutrients in the system where crops can use them.</li> <li>Thermal–pathogen interactions in container systems. In boxwood, white containers combined with RootShield® substrate drenches reduced Phytophthora root‑rot severity by 33% compared to black containers with the same drench. The finding links container wall color (thermal environment) to pathogen pressure and saleable yield, informing culture system choices that protect root health. Short‑term outcomes: Evidence‑based guidance on container selection and drench practices to suppress disease without additional water or chemical inputs.</li> <li>Root architecture and light transmission. In a study replicated concurrently in Tennessee and Virginia, field work was initiated to determine whether light transmitted through translucent container walls alters root architecture and crop finish times.</li> </ul>

Publications

Refereed Scientific Journal Articles (Published): <ol> <li>Buss, H., D. Thakulla, J. A. Rollins, and P.R. Fisher. 2025. Testing infectivity of a Pythium aphanidermatum strain for use in hydroponic research. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 138:2025.</li> <li>Huang, J. and P.R. Fisher. 2025. Micronutrient solubility in response to root zone pH for soilless plant culture: Simulation of chemical equilibria. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-025-02839-5">https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-025-02839-5</a></li> <li>Ezequelle, M., K. Xiao, Y. Zhang, P.R. Fisher, and A. Martin-Ryals. 2025. Development of a wireless IOT sensor system as an alternative to the pour-through method for substrate fertility monitoring. Smart Agricultural Technology. 12:101663, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101663">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101663</a>.</li> <li>Crawford, D., Y. Zhang, and P.R. Fisher. 2025. Monitoring Leaf Temperatures and Environmental Dynamics in Propagation Greenhouses. Smart Agricultural Technology, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101638">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101638</a></li> <li>Fisher, P.R. and B. MacKay. 2025. Estimating solar light accumulation using peak sunshine and photoperiod. Proc. of the International Symposium on Models for Plant Growth, Environments, Farm. Management in Orchards and Protected Cultivation – HorchiModel2023. Acta Hortic. 1425:389-396. <a href="https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1425.50">https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1425.50</a>.</li> <li>McKim, K., L. Fessler Mathews, W. Wright, X. Sun, H. Zhu, and A. FulcherC. 2025. Evaluating the Use of An Air-Blast Sprayer with Variable-Rate Technology for High Coverage Trunk Applications in Multi-Row Blocks of Field and Pot-in-Pot Nursery Production. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 43(3):173–187. <a href="https://doi.org/10.24266/0738-2898-43.3.173">https://doi.org/10.24266/0738-2898-43.3.173</a></li> <li>Krauss, C., E. Eady, W.C. Wright, J.S. Owen, X. Sun, and A. FulcherC. 2026. Establishing the zone of interference for substrate moisture sensors in three soilless substrate components. HortTechnology. 36(2):158-166. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05806-25">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05806-25</a></li> <li>Shreckhise, J., A. Fulcher, J. Altland, and A. LeBude. 2026. Introduction to the Special Topic Session: Understanding labor constraints and opportunities, and the behavioral, economic, engineering, and production influences on automation adoption in the Green Industry. HortTechnology. 36(2):217-218. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05747-25">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05747-25</a></li> <li>LeBude, A.V., A. Fulcher, J. Altland, M. Velandia, Z. Turner, A. Rihn, L. Warner, D. Hu, N. Bumgarner, C. Marble, and J. Shreckhise. 2026. Current labor challenges and opportunities in nursery crops production. HortTechnology. 36(2):240-244. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05753-25">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05753-25</a></li> <li>Rihn, A., A. Fulcher, L. Warner, and A. LeBude. 2026. US nursery producers' perceived benefits from adopting select automation and mechanization technologies. HortTechnology. 36(2):219-230. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05740-25">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05740-25</a></li> <li>Fulcher, A.C, A.L. Rihn, M. Velandia, L.A. Warner, A.V. LeBude, J.E. Altland, S. Schexnayder, and J.S. Owen. 2026. Automated Irrigation: Exploring the Paradox of Plateauing Adoption Levels and High Perceived Benefits Amid a Labor Shortage in US Nurseries. HortTechnology. 36(2):231-239. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05748-25">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05748-25</a></li> <li>Fessler, L., K. McKim, W.C. Wright, X. Sun, H. Zhu, and A. FulcherC. 2026. Exploring target and non-target applications when applying pesticides to trunks with variable-rate spray technology. HortScience. 61(5):862-873. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI19139-25">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI19139-25</a></li> <li>Altland, J., Shreckhise, J., & Pancerz, M. 2026. Ferrous Sulfate Reduces Phosphate Leaching in Peat-based Substrates. HortScience, 61(6), 1121-1130.</li> <li>LeBude, A.V., Fulcher, A., Altland, J.E., Velandia, M., Turner, Z., Rihn, A., Warner, L., Hu, D., Bumgarner, N., Marble, C. and Shreckhise, J.H. 2026. Current labor challenges and opportunities in nursery crops production. HortTechnology, 36(2), 240-244.</li> <li>Shreckhise, J. H., Fulcher, A., Altland, J. E., & LeBude, A. V. 2026. An Introduction to Understanding Labor Constraints and Opportunities and the Behavioral, Economic, Engineering, and Production Influences on Automation Adoption in the Green Industry. HortTechnology, 36(2), 217-218.</li> <li>Alexander, L., Jennings, C., Sherwood, A., Shreckhise, J., Baysal-Gurel, F., & Hokanson, S. C. 2026. Field Evaluation of Wild Oakleaf Hydrangea Populations Highlights Trait Networks for Breeding Selection. HortScience, 61(2), 287-296.</li> <li>Fatunmbi, MM, Sahoo, D, SA White, AE Scaroni, D Jeong, CB Sawyer. Freshwater Pond Function Drives Contrasting Water Quality and Influences Cyanotoxin Bloom Potential. Scientific Reports (submitted 3/2026, revise & resubmit 5/19/2026, accepted 7/1/2026)</li> <li>Escamilla, C, SA White, AE Scaroni, D Sahoo, WC Bridges. Floating treatment wetlands for brackish ponds: plant salinity tolerance evaluation. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-026-06287-9">https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-026-06287-9</a> (Submitted 5/19/2025; revise & resubmit 5/3/26, published 6/20/26)</li> <li>Jeffers, AH, M Vassalos, BK Behe, WC Bridges, Q Jiang, SA White. 2026. S. Consumers’ willingness to pay for scouting and integrated pest management-related services offered by landscape service providers. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review. <a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1017%2Fage.2026.10035&data=05%7C02%7Cswhite4%40clemson.edu%7C2e48ececde8844776e9708dedb4749e1%7C0c9bf8f6ccad4b87818d49026938aa97%7C0%7C0%7C639189296398088012%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rbXrhrLZMQkMYvpjf08xVY%2BzD7%2FnZfHFxgyAJoBXnuI%3D&reserved=0">https://doi.org/10.1017/age.2026.10035</a> (Revise and resubmit 7/17/2025, accepted 5/18/2026, published 6/6/2026).</li> <li>Batame, M, AJ Lamm, KJ Lamm, JS Owen, Jr., J Altland, SA White. 2026. From Guilt to Pride: Exploring Emotional Drivers of Consumer Preferences for Sustainable Plant Containers. Sustainability. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115494">https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115494</a> (submitted 5/6/2026, published 6/1/2026).</li> <li>Bell, NL, LM Garcia Chance, WHJ Strosnider, DR Hitchcock, JC Majsztrik, &Dagger;SA White. 2026. Water Quality Dynamics of Irrigation Reservoirs in Series at a Production Plant Nursery. Agricultural Water Management 325:110167. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110167">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110167</a> (IF=6.5, CiteScore=12.5, Q1 journal for Agronomy & Water Resources)</li> <li>Yazdanpanah, M, AJ Lamm, JS Owen, JE Altland, SA White. 2026. Healthy harvests: Reducing plastic use and associated water contaminants in U.S. greenhouses and nurseries. Environmental Development. 57:101369. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101369">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101369</a></li> <li>Landaverde, AC, WHJ Strosnider, SA White. 2025. Salinity and Nutrient Uptake Potential of Two Plant Species in Constructed Floating Wetlands. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 236:977. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-08657-w">https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-08657-w</a></li> <li>Fatunmbi, M, D Sahoo, AE Scaroni, SA White, C Sawyer, E Smith. 2025. Coastal Stormwater Pond Age and Phosphorus Cycling within Water and Sediment. Journal of Ecological Engineering Design. 3(1): <a href="https://doi.org/10.70793/jeed.26">https://doi.org/10.70793/jeed.26</a></li> <li>Cabrera, R.I. 2026. Irrigation water quality: Essential for the growth and quality of ornamental crops, pp. 28-31. Proceedings of the 2026 Northeast Agricultural Expo. Atlantic City, NJ. 20-22 January 2026. <a href="https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-NJAG-Educational-Sessions-Proceedings.pdf">https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-NJAG-Educational-Sessions-Proceedings.pdf</a></li> <li>Tabares, M. H. Gonzalez, J. Owen, Jr., R. Longley, P. Chain, R.T. Fernandez, G. Reguera. In-press. Scalability and tunability of woodchip bioreactors for agrochemical removal and water reuse in commercial production settings. Sci. and Technol. Water</li> <li>Abdi, D.E., J.S. Owen Jr., J.C. Brindley, A.C. Birnbaum, P.C. Wilson, F.O. Hinz, B.M. Cregg, T. Fernandez. in-review. Irrigation scheduling based on substrate moisture sensors conserves water and reduces nutrient movement without affecting growth of container produced crops. Agr Water Manage: In-review</li> <li>Gonzalez, H.A., J.S. Owen Jr., J. Shreckhise, and R.T. Fernandez. In-preparation. Engineered substrates and irrigation management to improve nitrogen, phosphorus and water retention in nursery container production. Scientia Hortic.</li> <li>Amiri, Z., Merhaut, D. and Verdi, A. 2026. Evaluation of deficit irrigation effects on growth and evaporative cooling potential of four groundcover species using field measurements and numerical modeling. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 116 (2026) 129233. www.elsevier.com/locate/ufug</li> <li>Fields, J.S. and K.S. Criscione. 2026. Biochar derived from sugarcane bagasse can be used to reduce peat use without compromising growth in Marigold. Hort. Sci. 61:1609–1615.</li> <li>Criscione, K.S., G. Spinelli, J.S. Fields, and J. Altland. 2026. The physiochemical properties of two domestic biomasses as potential growing media components. Hort. Sci. 61:1310-1317. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI19426-26">21273/HORTSCI19426-26</a></li> <li>Criscione, K.S. 2025. A case-study of irrigation pondwater and soilless substrate quality across nine large nurseries in Eastern Virginia. Hort. Tech. 35:968–971. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05773-25">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05773-25</a></li> <li>*Chen, L; Qin, K; Chen, Y; Yu, P. 2026. Evaluating Tomato and Kale Water use Efficiency Using Biochar-amended Substrate Under Three Irrigation Regimes. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr26, 7047–7060 (2026). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-026-03320-7">https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-026-03320-7</a></li> </ol> Refereed Scientific Journal Articles (Pending): <ol> <li>Criscione, K.S., and R. Cabrera. Stratified substrates did not improve plant growth and physiology under deficit irrigation for Hibiscus growth. Scientia Hort. (in submission).</li> <li>Criscione, K.S., J.S. Fields, and B. Wolfe. Soilless substrate hydrology can improve plant morphological development and predict stomatal regulations under harsh growing conditions. Scientia Hort. (in submission).</li> <li>Criscione, K.S., J.S. Fields, and R. Stewart. Root development occludes pore spaces and enhances moisture retention in a sphagnum peat substrate. Scientia Horticulturae. (in submission).</li> <li>Criscione, K.S., J.S. Fields., and A. Villordon. A Two-Dimensional Understanding How Stratified Substrate Systems Impact Root Architecture. Scientia Horticulturae. (in submission).</li> <li>Fields, J.S., K.S. Criscione, and J.S. Owen, Jr. Bark-based stratification depth layer does not negatively impact shrub rose growth as traditional pine bark substrates. Hort. Tech. (accepted).</li> <li>Criscione, K.S., A. Fischman, and O. Lucas. 2026. An On-Farm Virginia Nursery Trial to Improve Containerized Root Development and Substrate Moisture Balances. Hort. Tech. (accepted).</li> <li>Ray AO, AV LeBude, J Altland, C Harlow, JC Neal. 2026. Assessing the presence of weed seeds in surface irrigation water in container nurseries. Weed Science DOI: 10.1017/wet.2026.10083. </li> </ol> Conference proceedings: <ol> <li>Gonzalez, H.A., S. Valles Ramirez, J.S. Owen, Jr., G. Reguera, C.M. Ranger, and R.T. Fernandez. In-press. Scaling up two-stage woodchip bioreactors to recycle nutrients in greenhouse irrigation return water. Proceedings of the International Plant Propagators’ Society Conference. May 8-11, 2025. New Plymouth, NZ</li> <li>Gonzalez, H., J.S. Owen, G. Reguera, and R.T. Fernandez. (in-press).Recycling contaminated irrigation water after treatment with a two-stage woodchip bioreactor in greenhouse systems. Acta Hortic.</li> <li>Cabrera, R.I., E. Petit, J.E. Simon, D.L. Ward, A. Vasilatis and C.A. Wyenandt. 2026. Irrigation management and container shape effects on growth, yield and cannabinoid content of hemp. Acta Hortic. xx: xx-xx (In Press).</li> </ol> Dissertations, Theses (Published): <ol> <li>Asare, John Mark. “Comparative Lifecycle Assessment of High-Density Polyethylene Floating Treatment Wetlands and Eco- Friendly Floating Treatment Wetlands.” (MS). August 2026.</li> <li>Torres, Maria. “Biomimetic sensor for detecting and measuring Phosphorus (P) in soil samples.” (MS). December 2025</li> <li>Medi, Quintino. “Environmental sustainability assessment of field phosphate monitoring methods for natural surface freshwater using life cycle analysis and preliminary survey of creek water samples with low-cost commercial tools.” Aug 2026. (MS)</li> <li>Montoya, Camila. “Developing floating treatment wetland scaffolds using non-plastic materials.” May 2026. (MS)</li> </ol> Industrial Pertained Publications (Published): <ol> <li>Hernández, N., P. Fisher, P. Lamiño, and J. Díaz. Submitted July 2026. Identifying Workforce Training Priorities in the Floriculture Industry. UF IFAS EDIS.</li> <li>Lindberg, H. and P.R. Fisher. 2026. Increasing Success with Tissue Culture Acclimation. eGro Alert Fact Sheet Vol. 15 #7, February 2026.</li> <li>Hernandez, N. and P.R Fisher. 2026. The Professional Irrigator training series. Proceedings of the International Plant Production Society 75:377-384.</li> <li>Thakulla, D. and P.R. Fisher. 2026. Focus on Feed: Water treatment steps that work best with micronutrient fertilizers. Produce Grower Mar/Apr 2026.</li> <li>Anderson, C., N. Hernández*, D. Thakulla*, B. MacKay, and P.R. Fisher. 2026. Six steps to better AI prompts for growers. Greenhouse Grower Jan 2026:48,50.</li> <li>Crawford, D., Y. Zhang, and P.R. Fisher. 2026. Use infrared temperature sensors to fine-tune mist control. GrowerTalks, Jan 2026:56,58. <a href="https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=27757">https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=27757</a></li> </ol> Presentations: <ol> <li>Cabrera, R.I. 2025. Basics of Landscape Irrigation and Fertilization (in Spanish). 2025 New Jersey GREEN EXPO Turf & Landscape Conference. Atlantic City, NJ. December 11, 2025. 9 Attendees</li> <li>Cabrera, R.I. 2026. Irrigation Water Quality: Essential for the Growth and Quality of Ornamental Crops. 2026 Northeast Agricultural Expo Educational Sessions and Workshops. Atlantic City, NJ. 21 January 2026. 21 Attendees.</li> <li>Cabrera, R.I. 2026. Basics for Successful Container and Planter Gardening in Urban Landscapes. Total Pro Expo & Conference – NJ Nursery and Landscape Association. Edison, NJ. 19 February 2026. 70 Attendees.</li> <li>Cabrera, R.I. 2026. Nitrogen Nutrition Management in Flower Crops and its Environmental Impact (In Spanish). 4º Simposio de Nutrición Vegetal de Sunshine Bouquet, Cota, Colombia. 4 March 2026. 240 Attendees.</li> <li>Cabrera, R.I. 2026. Salinity Tolerance and Management in Flower and Ornamental Crops (In Spanish). Rovensa-Cosmocel Seminar to Flower Growers. Cota, Colombia. 6 March 2026. 60 Attendees.</li> <li>Cabrera, R.I. 2026. Plant Biology For Home Gardeners. 45th Home Gardeners School, NJAES Office of Continuing, SEBS, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. 14 March 2026. 51 Attendees.</li> <li>Cabrera, R.I. 2026. Principles of Soils, Fertilization and Irrigation Management in Urban Gardens (In Spanish). 2026 Urban Gardening Education Series (virtual), RCE of Hudson, Essex and Cape May Counties. 16 April 2026. 25 Attendees.</li> <li>Cabrera, R.I. 2026. Avoiding Salinity and Toxicity Issues from Fertilizers. Ornamental IPM Program Webinar Series, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Cumberland Co, NJ. 28 April 2026. 15 Attendees.</li> <li>Cabrera, R.I. 2026. Principles of Plant Nutrition, Physiology and Soilless Substrates applied to Export Flower Crops (In Spanish). Convención de Directores de Producción GHT. Chía, Colombia. 3-4 June 2026. 120 Attendees.</li> <li>Cabrera, R.I. 2026. Managing Substrates for the Production of Container-grown Plants: Physical and Chemical Properties (In Spanish). Cultivate’26. AmericanHort, Columbus, OH. 11 July 2026. 44 Attendees.</li> <li>Cabrera, R.I. 2026. BMP’s for Nitrogen Fertilization of Ornamental Crops (In Spanish). Cultivate’26. AmericanHort, Columbus, OH. 12 July 2026. 41 Attendees.</li> <li>— Flynn, J.J., R.J. Smeda, and X. Xiong. 2026. Rye allelopathy effects on the initial growth of sweet potato slips. 2026 Great Plains Growers Conference. St. Joseph, MO. January 9, 2026.</li> <li>Slade, B.A., Abdi, D.E., Blankenship, C.D., Hayes, M.P., Beasley, J., Pardue, J., Kuehny, J. 2026. Evaluating Weed Establishment in Mixed-Media Rain Garden Beds (Poster). Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science. Louisville, KY. January 31st, 2026.</li> <li>Slade, B.A., Abdi, D.E., Blankenship, C.D., Hayes, M.P., Beasley, J., Pardue, J., Kuehny, J. 2026. Cool-Season Weed Emergence in Blended Rain Garden Medias. Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science. Louisville, KY. January 31st, 2026.</li> </ol>

Impact Statements

Maryland: Nursery operators and managers who attended Maryland Extension programs received continuing education credits to remain compliant under Maryland’s Nutrient Management Program. Among the production practices they implemented included improved IPM and nutrient and irrigation management practices to increase efficiency. Nearly all stated they had an increase of plant quality and 30% said they saved or earned over $500 per acre implementing lessons learned during training. Half of respondents said that they reduced both nitrogen and phosphorus use and reduced irrigation water-use by over a 1000 gallons per day. One early adoption nursery found plants maturing to saleable size one year early from soil moisture sensor-controlled irrigation system.
Virginia: Dr. Kristopher Criscione started his position at Virginia Tech in Jan. 2025 serving as Virginia’s Nursery Production Specialist and state representative for the NC1186 Multistate Hatch Group. Since Dr. Criscione began his position, he has continued to address the milestones identified by NC1186’s mission statements. Specifically, Dr. Criscione is taking a national lead in understanding how nursery and greenhouse management practices can be leveraged to optimize container root systems, ultimately resulting in improved plant development, decreased water and fertilizer applications, and reduced production cycles. Dr. Criscione is working with Virginia Tech and a multitude of university and federal horticulture scientists, including personnel from University of Florida, Oregon State University, Rutgers University, The Ohio State University, and with USDA-ARS scientists to examine the interconnective relationships between container-grown root development and soilless substrate hydraulic properties, with efforts to further optimize rooting systems, fabricate and manage substrate composites more efficiently, and make better informed irrigation decisions. In collaboration with the aforementioned scientists, researchers are examining a modified cyclical irrigation schedule to increase irrigation management flexibility and result in greater industry adoption rates, and to gain stronger understandings in how cyclical irrigation scheduling can be leveraged to promote more fibrous root systems. In collaboration with The Ohio State University, Dr. Criscione and colleagues are examining adoptable and pragmatic methods nursery producers can hasten root production of slow-growing nursery stock to reduce production times and associated water applications and labor costs. Finally, Dr. Criscione is further understanding bark-based stratified substrate systems and associated plant water use. Dr. Criscione is has built a nursery and greenhouse grower collaborative network, traveling across Virginia and identifying key nursery producer challenges. From his travels, Dr. Criscione currently has conducted over six on-farm trials across three large Virginia nurseries with efforts to optimize substrate and irrigation management systems, as well as hasten root development in large tree-container operations. Additionally, Dr. Criscione assists in planning the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association Annual Field-Day, with over 300 industry stakeholder registrants, teaching industry members how to leverage substrate management decisions for improved water and fertility use. Research and extension efforts will continue.
Tennessee: Dr. Fulcher’s program 1) helped a grower-collaborator transition from excess fertilizer use to nitrogen rates aligned with BMPs and improve irrigation labor efficiency, 2) test leaching fraction and wireless irrigation systems for labor efficiency, 3) continued to utilize a custom-made counter balances scale to elucidate substrate-water interactions, 4) co-organized the annual NC1186 meeting, and 2 half-day nursery tours and a 1-day grower workshop that were held in conjunction with that meeting, 5) contributed to 2 grower workshops held in New Zealand and lead a team of organizers for a field day with a focus on irrigation and substrates for which a collective 130 participants estimated saving on average $6,453 per person. Heat injury prevention at operational scale: ML forecasting of substrate heat events 2–5 hours ahead equips growers with lead time interventions (e.g., pulse irrigation, temporary shade deployment), reducing risk of acute losses during heat waves. Improved plant health and saleable yield: Pairing white containers with biological drenches reduced Phytophthora severity by 33%, translating to fewer culls and higher marketable yield without increasing chemical pesticide use.
New Jersey: Rutgers University (NJAES) is evaluating the impacts of conventional and alternative irrigation water sources and management practices on specialty crop productivity and quality, and water and fertilizer footprints (use efficiency and pollution impacts). Other studies are evaluating the use of integrated nutrient diagnostic techniques to optimize fertilizer use efficiency in greenhouse and nursery crops.
Missouri : The University of Missouri continued collaborative work with Rutgers University on a project focused on improving moisture management in containerized ornamental plants. This collaboration supported development of a proposal titled “Extending the Retail Life of Containerized Ornamental Plants Through Improved Moisture Management,” with Rutgers University included as a subcontract partner. The project builds on the broader NC1186 goals of improving water management, irrigation efficiency, and plant quality in specialty crop and soilless production systems, with intended benefits for greenhouse and nursery stakeholders seeking practical strategies to reduce water stress and improve crop performance under variable irrigation conditions.
North Carolina: Source water used for irrigation contains weed seeds and approximately 18 are delivered to each production acre during an irrigation event. Estimating about 161 irrigation days in season (60% of a 268 day growing season) in extreme southeastern environments, approximately 3000 weed seeds are deposited on each production acre. Using disc filters with a 100 micron limit would inhibit weed seed delivery. The contribution of weed seeds from other weeds in production, however, far outweighs the weed seeds delivered by irrigation. Regardless, if left unchecked by either hand pulling or preemergence herbicide preventative applications, one weed can create thousands of weeds. Therefore, producers that are considering filters for sediment or organic material inhibition in irrigation systems, can also use weed seed prevention as a means to calculate return on investment or support their purchase.
Louisianan: Replicated, field-scale demonstration rain gardens installed at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research station are being used to collect data on rain garden media performance (i.e. moisture dynamics and plant growth impacts). Data has been disseminated/prepared for dissemination within this reporting period at scientific conferences (SRASHS, ASHS) and extension events. Initial publications from demonstration rain gardens are in preparation/review. Over 5 tours of the rain gardens have been provided to public or stakeholder groups, reaching >150 individuals. Goals of publishing initial research manuscripts and reaching another 150 individuals are the key targets for the upcoming period. Individuals attending rain garden tours remarked that they achieved greater understanding of the purpose of rain gardens and what plants may be suitable for their sites. Elements of engineering (i.e. moisture dynamics) and aesthetics (plant selection, seasonal variation) garnered interest and follow up discussions from attendees.
Michigan: Bioreactors have proven to reduce pesticide levels in recycled water at a commercial greenhouse operation by between 15 and 50% depending on the specific pesticide, with minimal effects on plant nutrients. This results in lower levels of pesticide being returned to the crop, reducing plant damage and potential contact with workers, while retaining valuable nutrients for recycling as well. Laboratory scale bioreactors have been shown to reduce pesticide levels between 15 and 90%, depending on the specific pesticide, and over 90% for nitrates and phosphates. This can reduce the amount of pesticides and nutrients returned to the hydrologic system when used to treat water being released from a production facility.
Georgia: Dr. Yu developed a podcast “Blooms and Beyond” to provide research results in a timely manner for growers and the public. It also provides Spanish content to make the information more accessible that reached audience from 38 states in the U.S. and over 38 countries worldwide.
California :Through outreach of these irrigation evaluations, we have improved water use efficiency in the nursery industry, thus saving water resources. In the groundcover studies, we have determined which plants are more drought tolerant and how plant performance is impacted through overhead vs. drip irrigation. We have also determined which plant material can mitigate the urban heat island effect through reduced heat loads coming off of the plant canopies. The groundcover studies have also been demonstrated and educated to the general public through workshops with the Master Gardener Program. The long term outcomes of the groundcover studies is reduced water inputs