Irrigation Methods and Equipment for Production of Citrus in Florida

Florida citrus growers have perhaps the most challenging times ahead for decisions as to which supplemental irrigation method they should use. It is estimated that some 500,000 acres of approximately 875,000 acres of Florida citrus are now subject to irrigation by various methods. Of this total, 160,000 acres are under permanent overhead systems; 150,000 are under seepage or flood; 175,000 under portable pipe and guns; and 16,000 plus under drip. There are other reports that have drip up to 20,000 acres; however, the acreage of drip reported here does not include under-tree low volume spray-head type systems (some 4,000 acres), erroneously referred to as drip systems.

Paper published with permission.