The Pour-through method is a recommended best management practice (BMP) for nurseries in Florida for managing nutrient levels in container-grown crops. An investigation into fertility management in container nurseries was conducted by comparing traditional methods of monitoring EC with more recently developed sensor-based technologies. A field experiment was conducted to establish a relationship between sensor-based EC measurements and the pour-through method under two different irrigation methods (sprinkler and drip irrigation) and fertilizer rates (low and high) under open field and high tunnel environments. A sensor system was designed for field deployment, and wireless communication was established to monitor sensor data remotely. Results showed that a correlation could be established under sprinkler irrigation, but no correlation could be established under drip irrigation. Salt stratification was shown to vary significantly with irrigation type, with results suggesting that sensor installation in the center of the container is an optimal choice for monitoring EC of the root zone under multiple irrigation methods. Finally, variation in the data was modeled to determine the minimum number of sensors needed to maintain the same precision as the pour-through method. It was estimated that four sensors per 1000 pots are necessary. However, more sensors may be required to maintain this precision at higher EC levels.
