2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) Objective 1 - Determine soil physical and hydrological characteristics of containerized horticultural and floricultural production systems for development of on and off-site water quality decision support systems. Sub-objective 1.1 - Determine soil physical and hydrological characteristics of containerized horticultural and floricultural production systems. Sub-Objective 1.2 - Modify the USDA-EAHM to predict water balance, crop production, movement of water, and the transport of agricultural chemicals from containers used by horticultural and floricultural industries. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Two soil mixtures with different bulk densities (light and heavy) that are commonly used in horticultural and floricultural nursery crops (citrus, foliage plants, potted flowering plants, nursery fruit crops, bedding plants, and cut flower) will be selected. Under the simulator, the hydraulic properties will be determined for each selected soil sample. The hydraulic properties include: infiltration capacity, infiltration rate, saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivities. The USDA-EAH model will be modified to simulate water balance and nutrients and pesticides movement from containers that are above ground. The new module will be linked with the original EAHM. The seepage from the new modeule will be input to the USDA-EAH model. In this study, the new module will be evaluated using the collected data from the containers. The single event version of the model will be tested given initial conditions that are measured on bare containers. 4.Accomplishments Short title: Identify common soil mixture in containerized horticultural and floricultural nurseries in South Florida. Description of the problem or question investigated: Hydro-physical characteristics of the most common media being used by nursery industry are needed for application of the USDA-Everglades Agro-Hydrology model in containerized horticultural and floricultural nurseries. Description of what was accomplished: A new survey is underway to determine the physical properties of the most common media being used in containerized horticultural and floricultural nurseries in South Florida. Description of the actual or potential impact on science and/or technology: The result survey will be used to select the common media for rainfall simulator study. After determining the USDA-EAH parameters, the model can be used as a decision support toll for selection of the BMP’s in containerized horticultural and floricultural nurseries This accomplishment addresses National Program 201 problem statement 1.1 5.Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations None 6.Technology Transfer Number of web sites managed 1 Number of newspaper articles and other presentations for non-science audiences 1