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
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
Effects of Urban Fertilizer Ordinances on Water Quality
SS724/SL511by Alexander J. Reisinger, Michael D. Dukes, Basil V. Iannone III, J. Bryan Unruh, and Samuel J. SmidtJanuary 18, 2024Originating from environmental or humans sources, too much nitrogen (N) and/or phosphorus (P) in water bodies can degrade water quality. In an attempt to reduce the contribution of human sources of N and P to local waters, urban fertilizer ordinances have been adopted in at least 35 counties in Florida and 97 additional Florida municipalities. Despite this work, the efficacy of fertilizer ordinances are debated by end users. The purpose of this publication is to summarize a peer-reviewed, scientific article that investigated impacts of fertilizer on long-term water quality trends in Florida lakes (Smidt et al. 2022) and is intended to be used by UF/IFAS Extension faculty and/or regulatory officials considering adopting or modifying an urban fertilizer ordinance. We encourage green industry professionals and concerned community members to share the effectiveness of fertilizer ordinances.Critical Issue: 2. Water Quality, Quantity, and Supply
Rhizosphere Microbes and the Roles They Play in Crop Production and Soil Health
SS723/SL510by Hui-Ling LiaoOctober 25, 2023Each gram of rich soil can harbor 100 million to a billion microorganisms, meaning every inch of our soil is alive (Raynaud and Nunan 2014) (Fig. 1). These underground organisms keep soil healthy. Balancing the community of microbes can benefit plant yield, plant health, and soil sustainability. While it is recognized that many soil microbes perform key roles in crop productivity, the importance of these underground activities is easily overlooked because of their small size. By focusing on a specific group of microbes living on or near plant roots, this publication provides understanding for these questions: Who are these microbes and how do they improve plant and soil health?Critical Issue: 3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality
