By Brenda Eubanks Burnette
During this year’s Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, I interviewed a number of citrus growers as part of the Oral History Program. One of them was Brad Turner, who later sent me an article by E.F. DeBusk from the 1930 Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society. DeBusk was a Florida Citrus Hall of Fame member who was the Extension specialist in citriculture at the University of Florida.
DeBusk wrote that “From the beginning of citrus fruit cultivation in Florida it has been a general practice to supply organic matter to the soils of citrus groves by growing cover crops and applying various green manure crops and animal manure. Records show that back in the eighties and nineties it was quite a common practice by leading growers to haul into their groves leaves, leaf-mold, muck and other organic materials, in addition to what could be produced by the growing of cover crops in the grove.”
DeBusk goes on to explain that “One of the most important functions of organic matter, however, is not generally recognized among laymen growers. That is the part it plays in balancing the plant food in the soil. It is known that through the decomposition of organic matter the capacity of the soil water as a solvent agent is increased. Thus the insoluble mineral plant food, such as calcium carbonate, insoluble phosphates and compounds of potassium and magnesium, are made available to the trees. The important thing, therefore, is not the so-called balancing of the plant food in a fertilizer mixture, but rather providing and maintaining a soil condition under which the citrus tree can take up the maximum amount of the plant foods in the soil as they are needed. This soil condition can be maintained only by providing an ample supply of organic matter and water at all times.
“Since the presence of decomposing organic matter in the soil is essential in maintaining conditions which enable citrus trees to use applied commercial fertilizers most effectively, every plan of grove management should provide for supplying an adequate amount of organic matter. The plant-food cost constitutes 30% to 60% of the total cost of producing citrus fruits in Florida. About 58% of this represents the nitrogen cost.”
He promoted the use of Crotalaria, which “produces twice as much organic matter, and fixes by nodule bacteria much more nitrogen, than any other cover crop generally grown in Florida citrus groves. In addition to supplying as much organic matter as can be produced in the cover crop, the practice of hauling into the grove any kind of manure crop available is recommended where practicable and economical. Crotalaria is an excellent crop to grow on vacant lands, or on vegetable farms during the summer, to be mowed and hauled into the grove to supplement the cover crop … A ton of ordinary grass, for example, contains as much nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash as 175 boxes of citrus fruits. A ton of Crotalaria contains more than twice as much.”
DeBusk closes with “Growing manure crops and hauling them into the groves will soon become a general practice in Florida. Herein lies a great opportunity for improving the quality of our citrus fruits and trees and reducing the cost of production. Organic matter, tons of it, and uniform moisture are the factors that tell in quality production.”
Whether this holds true today, almost 100 years later, I do not know. But I’ve always been told that “it all starts with the soil,” so you’ll have to let me know!
Brenda Eubanks Burnette is executive director of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Pieces of the Past is presented in partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center in Lakeland.
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