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Annals of Botany 81: 475-481, 1998
© 1998 Annals of Botany Company
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Flooding Responses and Water-use Efficiency of Subtropical and Tropical Fruit Trees in an Environmentally-sensitive Wetland
Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 S.W. 280 Street, Homestead, FL, 33031, U.S.A.
October 30, 1997 ; January 5, 1998 .
Agriculture is often viewed as having a negative impact on natural ecosystems. However, agriculture can contribute to maintaining these ecosystems by serving as a buffer between natural and urban areas. If agriculture is to coexist with the natural environment, crop production practices must be profitable and sustainable. This often requires optimizing crop productivity while minimizing agricultural inputs. The largest wetland restoration project in history is underway in the Florida Everglades to restore the natural ecosystem by increasing water flows to re-establish the natural hydrology. This area is also agriculturally unique because it is the only region in the continental United States where several species of subtropical and tropical fruit crops are commercially grown. In agricultural areas adjacent to Biscayne and Everglades National Parks in southern Florida, studies with subtropical and tropical fruit trees are currently aimed at keeping agriculture viable whilst having no negative impact on the natural wetland ecosystem. Research has focused on determining the effects of continuous and cyclical flooding on physiology and growth of the major subtropical and tropical fruit tree species grown in south Florida. Furthermore, attempts are being made to increase crop water-use efficiency to reduce chemical leaching into the aquifer. This is being done by continuously monitoring soil water content with multi-sensor electrical capacitance probes and adjusting the soil water content to reduce drainage and leaching of agricultural chemicals below the root zone and to avoid the onset of plant water stress. Crop research methodologies used in south Florida should be applicable to other areas of the world where sustainable agriculture may be the ‘best neighbour’ to environmentally-sensitive natural habitats.Copyright 1998 Annals of Botany Company
fruit crops, wetlands, adaptation, flooding, water quality, leaching, sustainable agriculture tropical fruit