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Site selection criteria have changed in Florida during the last decade. With the advent of earlier-ripening, but also earlier-flowering cultivars, damage from late winter and early spring freezes has been severe. Many new plantings have been established on high (warm) sites along the central Florida ridge, as opposed to the more traditional low-lying sites that are often high in soil organic matter but also subject to spring frosts and poor soil water drainage. These upland soils are predominately sand and usually require the addition of large quantities of organic matter and sometimes adjustment of soil pH. |
| Many such sites were previously planted with citrus and are located in Lake, Polk, and Highlands counties along Florida's central ridge. Growers who plant on well-drained, sandy soils of the ridge and irrigate from the Florida aquifer must deal with problems associated with high bicarbonates in the irrigation water. On well-drained sandy soil, blueberries require frequent irrigation. Most water pumped from deep wells in Florida contains high levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium carbonates. Typical values are five to seven milliequivalents/liter bicarbonates. Applying 20 acre-inches of water with seven milli-equivalents/liter bicarbonates is similar to adding 1600 pounds of pure calcium carbonate per acre. On sands, this is almost sure to cause a rapid rise in soil pH. |
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