Soil and Water Science
UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Extension faculty translate current and relevant soil and water science knowledge into user-friendly form for Florida residents, visitors, industry, business, governmental agencies and county agents.
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Editorial Team
- aaguirre1 - ICS Editor
- Rao Mylavarapu - Editor
- Matt Whiles - Chair, Approver
RECENT & REVISED PUBLICATIONS
Living Shoreline Ecosystem Service Valuation Tool
SS729/SL516by Ashley R. Smyth, Laura K. Reynolds, Savanna C. Barry, Natalie C. Stephens, Joshua T. Patterson, and Edward V. CampMay 8, 2024Living shorelines are an increasingly popular way to protect and stabilize waterfronts for coastal property owners. Living shorelines provide valuable benefits to humans, including water quality improvement, habitat, fisheries, and carbon sequestration. Estimating the economic value of the ecosystem services living shorelines offer is an integral part of management decisions. The living shoreline valuation tool can help quantify the costs and benefits of living shorelines projects. This publication briefly describes the ecosystem services associated with living shorelines. The purpose of this publication is to introduce the ecosystem service valuation tool. Our target audience for the living shoreline evaluation tool includes natural resource extension agents, community organizations, and coastal homeowners who want to calculate the value of ecosystem services provided by coastal restoration projects, including living shorelines. Critical Issue: 3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality
Developing a Web-based Agro-Application
SS726/SL513by Lakesh K. Sharma, Rishabh Khanna, and Hardeep SinghApril 19, 2024This publication discusses the general concept of web and mobile application development and provides knowledge and stepwise instructions to develop an application in agricultural systems. The primary audience is researchers, extension personnel, consultants, and students who are interested in developing and using web and mobile applications for decision-making.Critical Issue: 1. Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises
Climate Change: Effects on Salinity in Florida’s Estuaries and Responses of Oysters, Seagrass, and Other Animal and Plant Life
SG138/SGEF-218 by Ashley R. Smyth, H. Dail Laughinghouse, Laura K. Reynolds, Edward V. Camp, and Karl HavensApril 15, 2024Florida’s economically important estuaries could be heavily impacted by sea-level rise and altered river flow, both caused by climate change. The resulting higher salinity, or saltiness of the water, could harm plants and animals, alter fish, and bird habitat, and reduce the capacity of estuaries to provide such important services as seafood production and the protection of shorelines from erosion. This publication contains information for stakeholders, students, scientists, and environmental agencies interested in understanding how changes in salinity impact Florida’s estuaries.Critical Issue: 3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality
Linking Waterbody Acidification and Aquatic Plant Metabolism: A Lesson Plan for Middle School Students
SS725/SL512by Alexandra L. Bijak, Laura K. Reynolds, and Ashley R. SmythMarch 5, 2024Ocean acidification, the lowering of seawater pH due to increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, is an emerging environmental challenge associated with climate change. This publication is intended for Florida grade eight educators and other environmental educators of middle school students. We designed a lesson plan to reinforce fundamental concepts in acid-base chemistry, including the pH scale, and to introduce students to waterbody acidification, its negative effects on shell-forming organisms, and the potential role of aquatic plant metabolism (i.e., photosynthesis and respiration) in mitigating these effects. The goal of the lesson plan is to encourage students to link water chemistry and biological processes while learning about the challenges and potential solutions to acidification within a local context. This lesson plan will contribute to state learning standards while generating appreciation for the complexity of the natural environment. Critical Issue: 3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality
UF/IFAS Analytical Services Laboratories (ANSERV Labs): Analytical Procedures and Training Manual
SS312/CIR 1248by Rao S. Mylavarapu, Nancy Wilkinson, and Yvens JeanJanuary 30, 2024The UF/IFAS Analytical Services Laboratories (ANSERV labs) have been in operation, under slightly different names, for nearly 70 years. Since 2008, the ANSERV Labs have been reorganized to accomplish specific research and cooperative extension service missions through two sections in each area- Analytical Research (ARL) and NELAC Certified Environmental Water Quality Labs (EWQL) for all researchers and students and Extension Soil Testing (ESTL) and Livestock Waste Testing Labs (LWTL) for all citizens and agencies of Florida. The procedures described in this manual reflect the current methodologies for agricultural testing offered by the UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (ESTL), the Livestock Waste Testing Laboratory (LWTL), the Analytical Research Laboratory (ARL), and the Environmental Water Quality Laboratory (EWQL). This Circular replaces previous information that is contained in other UF/IFAS publications.Critical Issue: Other
