Fertilization Guidelines

Citrus Nursery Production Guide, Chapter 8: Stock Plant and Tree Production: b) Irrigation and Fertilization

Rhuanito Soranz Ferrarezi

Fertilization of Strawberries in Florida

Shinsuke Agehara and George Hochmuth

Strawberry is an important crop in Florida, produced as an annual crop on plastic-mulched beds with drip irrigation. The main production area is in west-central Florida, including Hillsborough, Polk, and Manatee counties. Fertilizer is becoming a more significant portion of strawberry production costs, hence, proper fertilizer management is important for minimizing production costs and maximizing yield and fruit quality, while minimizing potential negative impacts on the environment caused by leaching or runoff of excess fertilizer nutrients. This guide summarizes the recent history of strawberry fertilization research and presents the updated research-based fertilizer management recommendations for strawberry production in Florida.

UF/IFAS Standardized Fertilization Recommendations for Agronomic Crops

Rao Mylavarapu, Hardeep Singh, and Sudeep Sidhu

This publication presents in abbreviated form the fertilization recommendations for agronomic crops based on soil tests performed by the UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (ESTL). It contains the basic information from which ESTL soil-test reports and fertilization recommendations are generated.

2025–2026 Florida Citrus Production Guide: Nutrition Management for Citrus Trees

Kelly T. Morgan, Davie M. Kadyampakeni, Mongi Zekri, Arnold W. Schumann, Tripti Vashisth, Muhammad A. Shahid, and Thomas A. Obreza

2025–2026 Florida Citrus Production Guide

Nutrient Management Recommendations Based on Mehlich-3 Extractant for Calcareous Soils in Miami-Dade County

Yuncong Li, Qiang Zhu, Rao Mylavarapu, Kelly Morgan, Guodong Liu, Jonathan Crane, Qingren Wang, Henry Mayer, Jeff Wasielewski, Laura Vasquez, Qingchun Liu, and Teresa Olczyk

This factsheet provides information about the history of soil testing calibrations and justification for recommending extraction of soil nutrients using Mehlich-3 for calcareous soils in Miami-Dade County. The dominant soils from this County have an extraordinarily high concentration of calcium resulting in high pH. This document also includes UF/IFAS approved Mehlich-3 extractant-based testing interpretations and recommendations for these soils. The purpose of this publication is to elucidate an appropriate approach for analyzing the unique calcareous soils from Miami-Dade County for plant available nutrients. The target audiences are Extension agents, agronomists at soil testing laboratories, crop advisors, growers, representatives of the state and local agencies, and others concerned about soil testing and plant analysis in Miami-Dade County.

Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home Lawn

Alex J. Lindsey, Marco Schiavon, J. Bryan Unruh, and Laurie E. Trenholm

A healthy lawn is an important component of an urban landscape. Not only do lawns increase the value of a property, but they also reduce soil erosion, filter stormwater runoff, cool the air, and reduce glare and noise. A healthy lawn effectively filters and traps sediment and pollutants that could otherwise contaminate surface waters and groundwater. This publication is intended for those who maintain their own lawn and landscapes.

Carrot (Daucus carota) Production in the Sandy Soils of North Florida: Nitrogen Fertilization Guidelines

Morgan Morrow, Vivek Sharma, Robert C. Hochmuth, Charles Barrett, and Marina Burani-Arouca

This publication discusses carrot growth characteristics and provides nitrogen fertilizer best management practices for carrot crops growing in north Florida. The nitrogen management guidelines presented in this publication are based on multiyear field-based research conducted by UF/IFAS. Written by Morgan Morrow, Vivek Sharma, Robert C. Hochmuth, Charles Barrett, and Marina Burani-Arouca, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, July 2023.

Nutritional Requirements and Fertilizer Recommendations for Florida Sugarcane

J. Mabry McCray and Ronald W. Rice

This publication combines fertilizer recommendations for organic and mineral soils into a comprehensive guide for Florida sugarcane growers. Written by J. Mabry McCray and Ronald W. Rice, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised January 2023.

Nitrogen Fertilization Guidelines for Potato Production in Florida

Lincoln Zotarelli, Tara Wade, Gary K. England, and Christian T. Christensen

This new 11-page publication focuses on the nitrogen (N) fertilizer best management practices (BMP) for potato crop in Florida. The aim is to provide management strategies that comply with statewide BMP guidelines to maximize yield and economic return while minimizing N losses to the environment. Written by Lincoln Zotarelli, Tara Wade, Gary K. England, and Christian T. Christensen and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department.

Nitrogen Fertilization Guidelines for Bare-Ground and Plastic Mulch Cabbage Production in Florida

Lincoln Zotarelli, Charles E. Barrett, Andre Luiz B. R. da Silva, Christian T. Christensen, and Gary K. England

This new 9-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department focuses on the nitrogen fertilizer best management practices (BMP) for green fresh-market and processing cabbage head production in Florida. This publication aims to provide management strategies that comply with statewide BMP guidelines to optimize economic yield while minimizing nitrogen losses to the environment. Written by L. Zotarelli, C. E. Barrett, A. L. B. R. da Silva, C. T. Christensen, and G. K. England.

Urban Turf Fertilizer Rule for Home Lawn Fertilization

Laurie E. Trenholm

While a healthy lawn typically takes up and uses applied fertilizer for growth and protein production, nutrients may leach or run off into water bodies or groundwater when fertilizer is overapplied or applied to an unhealthy lawn. In an attempt to reduce this nonpoint source pollution, FDACS developed a rule to regulate the amount of N and P applied to lawns as fertilizer. The Urban Turf Fertilizer Rule regulates what can be sold and marketed as an urban turf fertilizer and requires specific wording on the fertilizer bag. This rule was enacted in response to concerns over potential pollution of water resources resulting from the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in these fertilizers.

General Recommendations for Fertilization of Turfgrasses on Florida Soils

T. W. Shaddox

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial and Homeowner audience(s).

UF/IFAS Standardized Nutrient Recommendations for Vegetable Crop Production in Florida

Rao Mylavarapu, George Hochmuth, and Guodong Liu

This publication presents the fertilization recommendations for vegetable crops based on soil tests performed by the UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (ESTL). It contains the basic information from which ESTL soil test reports and fertilization recommendations are generated. The audiences for this information include commercial and small farmers, crop advisers and consultants, state and local agencies, fertilizer industry, and any interested individuals interested in sustainable nutrient and environmental management.

Fertilization and Irrigation Needs for Florida Lawns and Landscapes

R. Klein, A.J. Lindsey, M. McMillan, J. B. Unruh, and M.D. Dukes

Florida Friendly Landscaping™ Best Management Practices (BMPs) for management of commercial and residential lawns and landscapes were developed by scientists with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). These BMPs assist homeowners and professionals in making management choices that will help sustain lawns and landscapes in Florida without impairing Florida’s water resources.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Guidelines for Field Corn Production in Florida

Karun Katoch, Michael Dukes, Shivendra Kumar, Jay Capasso, Diego Arruda Huggins de Sá Leitão, Hardeep Singh, and Lakesh K. Sharma

The publication focuses on nitrogen (N) requirements for corn production using best management practices (BMPs) in Florida. The intended audience is corn producers, agricultural consultants, Extension agents, Extension specialists, and researchers. The aim is to provide and recommend BMPs that comply with statewide BMP guidelines, maximizing the yield and economic return while minimizing environmental N losses. The guidelines present results from multi-year, multi-site, field-based research conducted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The small plot research was conducted at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center, Suwannee Valley, Live Oak, Florida (NFREC-SV). The publication includes a recommendation in terms of N required per bushel of productivity.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendation for Florida Cotton

Hardeep Singh, Eajaz A. Dar, Ethan Carter, Michael Dukes, and Lakesh Sharma

This publication focuses on the evaluation of optimal nitrogen (N) rate for cotton in Florida. These updated recommendations assist growers in achieving economically viable yields while minimizing risks of both under- and overfertilization. Written by Hardeep Singh, Eajaz A. Dar, Ethan Carter, Michael Dukes, and Lakesh Sharma, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, January 2026.

Guide to Fertilization for Pine Straw Production on Coastal Plain Sites

Anna Osiecka, Patrick J. Minogue, and E. David Dickens

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Forestry