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| Arapaho's Open Hydroponics Demonstration Grove |
Arapaho established a demonstration grove - the first in Florida - to show the management approach and design of
Open Hydroponics systems in citrus. We chose our "Rock Bottom" grove because it has rich soil and a good water
supply. Tours are available - just give us a call. More details are provided below.
Open Hydroponics systems in citrus. We chose our "Rock Bottom" grove because it has rich soil and a good water
supply. Tours are available - just give us a call. More details are provided below.
Rock Bottom grove - approximately 10 acres of land. Trees are planted on single beds at tree spacings of 6 or 8 feet
in the row, and 20 feet between rows. Varieties are Ray Ruby, Flame, and Rio Red grapefruit, and Minneola
Tangelos (Honeybells). All drainage is via grassed swales - there are no canals. This grove design, plus Open
Hydroponics, should minimize the environmental footprint of the planting.
in the row, and 20 feet between rows. Varieties are Ray Ruby, Flame, and Rio Red grapefruit, and Minneola
Tangelos (Honeybells). All drainage is via grassed swales - there are no canals. This grove design, plus Open
Hydroponics, should minimize the environmental footprint of the planting.
Above - Rock Bottom pump station. Drip irrigation with
submersible pump in canal for instant-on capabilities.
Fully-automated irrigation cycling, flushing and fertilizer
injection. Arapaho design and installation - exceeds NRCS
standards.
submersible pump in canal for instant-on capabilities.
Fully-automated irrigation cycling, flushing and fertilizer
injection. Arapaho design and installation - exceeds NRCS
standards.
Above - Grapefruit trees on January 22, approximately 6 weeks
after planting. Note single-line drip irrigation tubing. This
tubing will be relocated this year, and a second line will be
added when the trees begin to produce harvestable crops of
fruit in about 3 years.
after planting. Note single-line drip irrigation tubing. This
tubing will be relocated this year, and a second line will be
added when the trees begin to produce harvestable crops of
fruit in about 3 years.
| Above - Same trees on May 18, 2007 - four months later. |
January 22, 2007
| All irrigation water has a small amount of specially-formulated fertilizer included. Roots are growing in under drip emitters on schedule. The goal is to have the canopies of the trees touching in the row within 24 months after planting, then initiate "bearing program" to produce the first commercial crop at 36 months. |
| Take a Tour of Rock Bottom! Give us a call at 772-464-3391 |
| Download Details: Rock Bottom Planting Plan Rock Bottom Plat |
Click on Pictures to Enlarge, then use BACK button to return to this page
May 18, 2007
August 7, 2007
| Below - Flame Grapefruit on Smooth Flat Seville Rootstock |
See Pete Spyke's
Rock Bottom
Powerpoint
Presentation at the
2007 Citrus Expo
last August in Ft.
Myers. Big File --
Use High Speed
connection
Rock Bottom
Powerpoint
Presentation at the
2007 Citrus Expo
last August in Ft.
Myers. Big File --
Use High Speed
connection
March 31, 2008 - progress after
spring flush. Tree is blooming.
Click image to enlarge
spring flush. Tree is blooming.
Click image to enlarge
| New! We just worked up some example economic information to use when comparing Conventional and Advanced Production Systems/Open Hydroponics groves. It's in two forms, a spreadsheet that you can download and use to perform "what-if" comparisons, or as a pdf file with our basic figures that you can just print out and contemplate. Download Trial Grove Excel Spreadsheet here Download Trial Grove PDF File for printing here |
Above - right hand row on left 3 months later on August 7 -- 9
months after planting.
months after planting.
