Project Number: 6631-13000-004-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jun 11, 2007
End Date: Jun 10, 2012

Objective:
Objective 1: Develop a potting mix from construction debris, biosolids, and organic composts with improved water holding and ion exchange capacities to reduce the quantity and improve the quality of wastewater from nursery irrigation operations. Objective 2: Develop BMPs to reduce or mitigate nutrient leaching from containerized horticultural and floricultural production systems and to enhance water quality in irrigation return flow in South Florida.

Approach:
Objective 1: Develop a potting mix from construction debris, biosolids, and organic composts with improved water holding and ion exchange capacities to reduce the quantity and improve the quality of wastewater from nursery irrigation operations. Sub-objective 1.1 Identify a growth media with adequate water holding characteristics for containerized production systems. Sub-objective 1.2 Develop growth media that decreases nitrogen leaching through containerized systems. Objective 2: Develop BMPs to reduce or mitigate nutrient leaching from containerized horticultural and floricultural production systems and to enhance water quality in irrigation return flow in South Florida. Sub-objective 2.1 Identify typical chemical make-up of nursery wastewater effluent. This is a non-hypothesis driven study. Sub-objective 2.2 Identify nursery plant species that optimize removal of wastewater contaminants. Sub-objective 2.3 Examine the effectiveness of buffer strips for removal of excess nutrients from nursery wastewater.