Do you ever wonder how things like temperature changes, overly wet soils or salty irrigation water affect your fruit trees at home? University of Florida scientists at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have those answers. A newly released UF/IFAS publication offers science-based insights to help all Floridians, whether you are a backyard [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_2779" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2779" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-2779 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Haimanote Bayabil, right, discussing water irrigation equipment with a graduate student at UF/IFAS TREC in Homestead. UF/IFAS photo by Tyler Jones" width="300" height="200" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/trec/wp-content/blogs.dir/179/files/2026/03/Haimanote-Bayabil-300x200.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2779" class="wp-caption-text">Haimanote Bayabil, right, discussing water irrigation equipment with a graduate student at UF/IFAS TREC in Homestead. UF/IFAS photo by Tyler Jones</figcaption></figure>
Do you ever wonder how things like temperature changes, overly wet soils or salty irrigation water affect your fruit trees at home?
University of Florida scientists at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have those answers.
A newly released UF/IFAS publication offers science-based insights to help all Floridians, whether you are a backyard grower or commercial producer, understand the environmental factors that shape the success of your fruit trees and crops.
The Ask IFAS Extension publication, <a href="https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1499">Quick Guide to Environmental Factors Impacting Subtropical and Tropical Fruit Crops in Florida</a>, compiles science-based insights to guide decisions for both commercial and residential landscapes.
Authors explain how Florida is experiencing an expanded interest in tropical fruit production beyond its traditional centers in extreme South Florida. Warmer trends, uncommon freeze events and shifts in land use have prompted both long-established producers and newer growers to explore alternative fruit crops statewide. Researchers also stress that while opportunities are increasing, successful production hinges on realizing how environmental conditions vary across regions and how individual crops respond to those conditions.
“Florida’s fruit-growing success is closely tied to water conditions, not just temperature,” said <a href="https://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/people/young-gu-her/">Young Gu Her</a>, associate professor, hydrology and agricultural engineering at the <a href="https://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/">UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center</a>. “Across the state, soils range from sandy, fast-draining sites to low-lying areas with poor drainage and shallow water tables.”
<figure id="attachment_2777" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2777" style="width: 240px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-2777 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Young Gu Her, associate professor, hydrology and agricultural engineering at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center. " width="240" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/trec/wp-content/blogs.dir/179/files/2026/03/Young-Gu-Her-240x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2777" class="wp-caption-text">Young Gu Her, associate professor, hydrology and agricultural engineering at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center.</figcaption></figure>
After heavy rain, water can pool around roots, reduce oxygen in the soil and weaken trees or increase disease risk, while dry periods can quickly stress trees on sandy soil unless irrigation is well managed.
In coastal areas or places that stay wet because the groundwater is near the surface, irrigation water can also become salty, which adds a layer of stress that impacts root health, nutrient uptake and long-term productivity.
“Understanding how water moves through a yard or a grove, and how long soil stays wet or dry, is often the difference between a tree that thrives and one that struggles,” said Her. “Hydrology and soil conditions are a major part of why the same fruit tree can perform very differently across Florida and is why matching the crop to the site and managing drainage and irrigation with local water risks in mind are essential for reliable fruit production.”
The guide also emphasizes how environmental tolerance differs widely across fruit crops. Each crop has its own optimal and limiting temperature ranges, and understanding those thresholds is essential not only for large-scale growers but also for homeowners who plant fruit trees in backyards, community gardens or small urban orchards.
Authors explain that many tropical and subtropical fruit trees require a form of environmentally induced dormancy, known as quiescence, to trigger flowering and ensure productive fruit to set. Recognizing this cycle can help urban residents avoid misreading natural seasonal changes, such as leaf drop or dormant growth, as signs of plant stress or decline.
“Florida fruit growing is changing as the weather becomes less predictable,” said <a href="https://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/people/haimanote-bayabil/">Haimanote Bayabil</a>, associate professor of water resources in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. “The increased frequency of flooding, drought, heat and salinity in some areas means growers need to carefully select sites and crops, manage water more efficiently and establish effective drainage and irrigation systems.”
Selecting sites less prone to flooding and wet soil conditions is critical and can save growers money. However, crop selection is also important, as different crops have varying tolerance levels to different issues.
“Efficient water management, drainage and crop selection matter more than ever, especially as flooding, drought and salinity risks increase,” said Bayabil. “In simple terms, success will depend on planting plants in the right place and plants that can better handle local conditions.”
In many Florida neighborhoods, conditions such as poor drainage, low-lying yards and exposure to intense sun or prolonged heat can create microenvironments that influence fruit tree performance just as strongly as conditions on a farm.
The guide notes that tolerance to flooded or waterlogged soils varies widely among fruit species, and that salinity, whether from irrigation sources or coastal influences, can play a significant role in long-term plant health and productivity. This is a challenge relevant to urban and suburban residents, who often plant fruit trees near homes, driveways or stormwater features without realizing how water movement and soil characteristics affect root systems.
“Because Florida’s weather is becoming more variable, growers and homeowners should expect shifts in flowering timing, fruit development and irrigation demand from year to year,” said Her. “Paying attention to site drainage, soil moisture conditions and water quality, especially after heavy rain or during dry spells, can help people adjust practices early and reduce stress before it affects yield and fruit quality.”
###
Para accesar a esta comunicación en español, <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2026/03/16/como-el-clima-cambiante-de-florida-influye-en-los-cultivos-de-frutas-tropicales-y-subtropicales-en-diferentes-paisajes/">por favor utilice este enlace</a>.
By Lourdes Mederos, <a href="mailto:rodriguezl@ufl.edu">rodriguezl@ufl.edu</a>
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
&nbsp;
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME 
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at <a href="https://ifas.ufl.edu/food/">ifas.ufl.edu/food</a> or follow <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FoodIsOurMiddleName&amp;src=typed_query">#FoodIsOurMiddleName</a>.

Haimanote Bayabil, right, discussing water irrigation equipment with a graduate student at UF/IFAS TREC in Homestead. UF/IFAS photo by Tyler Jones
Do you ever wonder how things like temperature changes, overly wet soils or salty irrigation water affect your fruit trees at home?
University of Florida scientists at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have those answers.
A newly released UF/IFAS publication offers science-based insights to help all Floridians, whether you are a backyard grower or commercial producer, understand the environmental factors that shape the success of your fruit trees and crops.
The Ask IFAS Extension publication, Quick Guide to Environmental Factors Impacting Subtropical and Tropical Fruit Crops in Florida, compiles science-based insights to guide decisions for both commercial and residential landscapes.
Authors explain how Florida is experiencing an expanded interest in tropical fruit production beyond its traditional centers in extreme South Florida. Warmer trends, uncommon freeze events and shifts in land use have prompted both long-established producers and newer growers to explore alternative fruit crops statewide. Researchers also stress that while opportunities are increasing, successful production hinges on realizing how environmental conditions vary across regions and how individual crops respond to those conditions.
“Florida’s fruit-growing success is closely tied to water conditions, not just temperature,” said Young Gu Her, associate professor, hydrology and agricultural engineering at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center. “Across the state, soils range from sandy, fast-draining sites to low-lying areas with poor drainage and shallow water tables.”
Young Gu Her, associate professor, hydrology and agricultural engineering at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center.
After heavy rain, water can pool around roots, reduce oxygen in the soil and weaken trees or increase disease risk, while dry periods can quickly stress trees on sandy soil unless irrigation is well managed.
In coastal areas or places that stay wet because the groundwater is near the surface, irrigation water can also become salty, which adds a layer of stress that impacts root health, nutrient uptake and long-term productivity.
“Understanding how water moves through a yard or a grove, and how long soil stays wet or dry, is often the difference between a tree that thrives and one that struggles,” said Her. “Hydrology and soil conditions are a major part of why the same fruit tree can perform very differently across Florida and is why matching the crop to the site and managing drainage and irrigation with local water risks in mind are essential for reliable fruit production.”
The guide also emphasizes how environmental tolerance differs widely across fruit crops. Each crop has its own optimal and limiting temperature ranges, and understanding those thresholds is essential not only for large-scale growers but also for homeowners who plant fruit trees in backyards, community gardens or small urban orchards.
Authors explain that many tropical and subtropical fruit trees require a form of environmentally induced dormancy, known as quiescence, to trigger flowering and ensure productive fruit to set. Recognizing this cycle can help urban residents avoid misreading natural seasonal changes, such as leaf drop or dormant growth, as signs of plant stress or decline.
“Florida fruit growing is changing as the weather becomes less predictable,” said Haimanote Bayabil, associate professor of water resources in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. “The increased frequency of flooding, drought, heat and salinity in some areas means growers need to carefully select sites and crops, manage water more efficiently and establish effective drainage and irrigation systems.”
Selecting sites less prone to flooding and wet soil conditions is critical and can save growers money. However, crop selection is also important, as different crops have varying tolerance levels to different issues.
“Efficient water management, drainage and crop selection matter more than ever, especially as flooding, drought and salinity risks increase,” said Bayabil. “In simple terms, success will depend on planting plants in the right place and plants that can better handle local conditions.”
In many Florida neighborhoods, conditions such as poor drainage, low-lying yards and exposure to intense sun or prolonged heat can create microenvironments that influence fruit tree performance just as strongly as conditions on a farm.
The guide notes that tolerance to flooded or waterlogged soils varies widely among fruit species, and that salinity, whether from irrigation sources or coastal influences, can play a significant role in long-term plant health and productivity. This is a challenge relevant to urban and suburban residents, who often plant fruit trees near homes, driveways or stormwater features without realizing how water movement and soil characteristics affect root systems.
“Because Florida’s weather is becoming more variable, growers and homeowners should expect shifts in flowering timing, fruit development and irrigation demand from year to year,” said Her. “Paying attention to site drainage, soil moisture conditions and water quality, especially after heavy rain or during dry spells, can help people adjust practices early and reduce stress before it affects yield and fruit quality.”
###
Para accesar a esta comunicación en español, por favor utilice este enlace.
By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS
 
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at ifas.ufl.edu/food or follow #FoodIsOurMiddleName.

Do you ever wonder how things like temperature changes, overly wet soils or salty irrigation water affect your fruit trees at home? University of Florida scientists at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have those answers. A newly released UF/IFAS publication offers science-based insights to help all Floridians, whether you are a backyard […]

How Florida’s changing weather impacts tropical, subtropical fruit crops in your landscape

Members of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES) will have a strong presence at the UF Water Institute Symposium. SWES students, faculty, staff, and alumni are contributing more than 40 oral and poster presentations. Their research showcases the department’s leadership in sustainable water science. The focus of the UF Water Institute’s [&#8230;]

Members of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES) will have a strong presence at the UF Water Institute Symposium. SWES students, faculty, staff, and alumni are contributing more than 40 oral and poster presentations. Their research showcases the department’s leadership in sustainable water science.
The focus of the UF Water Institute’s 10th Biennial Symposium is Sustainable Water Resources: Complex Challenges, Integrated Solutions. The event features more than 300 presentations across an expanded three-day program. The event brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and industry professionals. The goal is to explore complex water challenges across geographic and temporal scales, emphasizing integrated approaches to sustaining water resources.
<h5>Broad Research</h5>
SWES representatives will deliver nearly two-dozen oral presentations along with more than two-dozen poster presentations. The research covers many areas of water science. These include agricultural water and nutrient dynamics, best management practices, water reuse, AI and machine learning applications, and coastal groundwater vulnerability and hydrologic processes.
Among the oral presenters are SWES graduate students:
<ul>
<li>Elizabeth Kelly — Regulations, Research, and Reaching Out: The Martin County Water Ambassadors Program</li>
<li>Yasmeen Saleem — Growth and Physiological Responses of Southern Highbush Blueberry to Reclaimed Water Irrigation</li>
<li>Shannon Salvatori — Internal Phosphorus Recycling in Lake Jesup: A New Focus for Restoration</li>
<li>Duplicate Sambani — The Use of Organic Acids to Improve Soil Health and Nutrient Uptake in HLB-Affected Citrus</li>
<li>Saba Shaghaghi Khajehdeh — Predicting Water Quality and Quantity in Florida Using Soft Computing Techniques</li>
</ul>
SWES faculty members delivering oral presentations include: Golmar Golmohammadi, Jonathan Judy, Davie Kadyampakeni, Vimala Nair, AJ Reisinger, Laura Reynolds, Lakesh Sharma, and Nikos Tziolas. Additionally, more than half a dozen SWES alumni, postdoctoral associates, and staff members are presenting research.
<figure id="attachment_6025" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6025" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/swsdept/files/2026/02/2024WtrInstSymposium155-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-6025 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="An image of the poster session at the 2024 UF Water Institute Symposium." width="300" height="189" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/swsdept/files/2026/02/2024WtrInstSymposium155-300x189.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6025" class="wp-caption-text">The research poster session of the 2024 UF Water Institute Symposium. (Water Institute photo)</figcaption></figure>
<h5>Supporting Career Development</h5>
In addition to presenting their research, SWES students have more opportunities to engage with water professionals through two new career-focused events. The Career Fair and Networking Reception includes representatives from 30 organizations spanning all levels of government, nonprofit groups, academic programs, and private industry. The Water Science Career Panel will provide students with more insights. It features professionals from academia, public service, conservation, consulting, and engineering. Panelists will discuss emerging trends, evolving workforce needs, and the many pathways available within the water sector.
<h5>Advancing Solutions</h5>
The 2026 UF Water Institute Symposium highlights collaboration across science, technology, policy, management, education, and communication. For SWES, the event is an opportunity to demonstrate its focus on issues related to water quantity and quality, ecosystem resilience, infrastructure, governance, and decision-making. With more than 40 presentations and strong student involvement, SWES continues to show how it is advancing solutions for sustainable water resources.
You can see the full <a href="https://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/waterinstitute/program-information.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">symposium program on its website</a>.
<hr />
Featured image from the UF Water Institute.

Members of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES) will have a strong presence at the UF Water Institute Symposium. SWES students, faculty, staff, and alumni are contributing more than 40 oral and poster presentations. Their research showcases the department’s leadership in sustainable water science.
The focus of the UF Water Institute’s 10th Biennial Symposium is Sustainable Water Resources: Complex Challenges, Integrated Solutions. The event features more than 300 presentations across an expanded three-day program. The event brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and industry professionals. The goal is to explore complex water challenges across geographic and temporal scales, emphasizing integrated approaches to sustaining water resources.
Broad Research
SWES representatives will deliver nearly two-dozen oral presentations along with more than two-dozen poster presentations. The research covers many areas of water science. These include agricultural water and nutrient dynamics, best management practices, water reuse, AI and machine learning applications, and coastal groundwater vulnerability and hydrologic processes.
Among the oral presenters are SWES graduate students:
Elizabeth Kelly — Regulations, Research, and Reaching Out: The Martin County Water Ambassadors Program
Yasmeen Saleem — Growth and Physiological Responses of Southern Highbush Blueberry to Reclaimed Water Irrigation
Shannon Salvatori — Internal Phosphorus Recycling in Lake Jesup: A New Focus for Restoration
Duplicate Sambani — The Use of Organic Acids to Improve Soil Health and Nutrient Uptake in HLB-Affected Citrus
Saba Shaghaghi Khajehdeh — Predicting Water Quality and Quantity in Florida Using Soft Computing Techniques
SWES faculty members delivering oral presentations include: Golmar Golmohammadi, Jonathan Judy, Davie Kadyampakeni, Vimala Nair, AJ Reisinger, Laura Reynolds, Lakesh Sharma, and Nikos Tziolas. Additionally, more than half a dozen SWES alumni, postdoctoral associates, and staff members are presenting research.
The research poster session of the 2024 UF Water Institute Symposium. (Water Institute photo)
Supporting Career Development
In addition to presenting their research, SWES students have more opportunities to engage with water professionals through two new career-focused events. The Career Fair and Networking Reception includes representatives from 30 organizations spanning all levels of government, nonprofit groups, academic programs, and private industry. The Water Science Career Panel will provide students with more insights. It features professionals from academia, public service, conservation, consulting, and engineering. Panelists will discuss emerging trends, evolving workforce needs, and the many pathways available within the water sector.
Advancing Solutions
The 2026 UF Water Institute Symposium highlights collaboration across science, technology, policy, management, education, and communication. For SWES, the event is an opportunity to demonstrate its focus on issues related to water quantity and quality, ecosystem resilience, infrastructure, governance, and decision-making. With more than 40 presentations and strong student involvement, SWES continues to show how it is advancing solutions for sustainable water resources.
You can see the full symposium program on its website.
Featured image from the UF Water Institute.

Members of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES) will have a strong presence at the UF Water Institute Symposium. SWES students, faculty, staff, and alumni are contributing more than 40 oral and poster presentations. Their research showcases the department’s leadership in sustainable water science. The focus of the UF Water Institute’s […]

SWES Research Featured at the UF Water Institute Symposium

Sciences

Ciencias

Discipline which includes the design of machinery, equipment and structures used for agricultural operations and the storage and processing of agricultural commodities.

Disciplina incluye el dise&ntilde;o de maquinaria, equipo y estructuras usados para operaciones agr&iacute;colas y el almacenamiento y procesamiento de art&iacute;culos agr&iacute;colas.

Ingeniería agrícola

Agricultural engineering

A science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water, specifically the study of water on the surface of land, in the soil and underlying rocks, and in the atmosphere, particularly with respect to evaporation and precipitation.

Ciencia que se ocupa de las propiedades, la distribuci&oacute;n y la circulaci&oacute;n del agua, que constituye espec&iacute;ficamente el estudio del agua sobre la superficie de la tierra, en el suelo y las rocas subyacentes, y en la atm&oacute;sfera, particularmente con respecto a la evaporaci&oacute;n y la precipitaci&oacute;n.

Graham, Wendy

Hydrology

Hidrología

Water

Agua

Initiative 2: Water

993-thumbnail

017527.jpg UF/IFAS Photo by Amy Stuart
Copyright 2015 UF/IFAS Communications

An overflow or inundation that comes from a river or other body of water and causes or threatens to cause property damage.

Floods

Inundación

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

2-thumbnail

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.

Hydrology

Narrower Topics

Floods

Water

Publications

The Role of Flow in the Everglades Landscape

Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Water Resources Forecasting

How Florida’s changing weather impacts tropical, subtropical fruit crops in your landscape

SWES Research Featured at the UF Water Institute Symposium