4R Farming

Florida Tomatoes

This is a tomato farm in Florida. The farm plants tomatoes twice a year and harvests 4 to 6 times per year, 2 to 3 times per planting. The farm has increased soil sampling frequency and switched sources, adding poultry little pellets to the fertilizer that is incorporated in the bed for the plants. Starting in 2017 fertilizer was mixed with the bed prior to covering with plastic versus applied to the surface of the bed prior to covering with plastic and planting. A sidedress fertilizer is applied following each picking.

Outcome

Changing from basic to more advanced 4R practices the farmer decreased cost per acre by $896.27 and cut nitrogen application rates by 60 percent by changing placement, source, and timing of nitrogen applications.

Cost of 4R Practice Implementation for Florida Tomato

Yield Range 1,740 to 2,100 boxes/ac

Intermediate to Advanced Practices Implemented

  • Expanded soil sampling from small 1-acre grid in 2016 to 2.5-acre grid in 2019.
  • Fertilizer applications are applied using variable rate equipment.
  • All nitrogen applied in-season

Environmental Metrics