Articles
FORCING OF ASPARAGUS IN CLIMATISED ROOMS DURING THE OFF-SEASON
Article number
271_21
Pages
163 – 172
Language
Abstract
Limitations in glasshouse forcing as well as high prices obtained for off-season asparagus resulted in forcing experiments in climatised rooms between 1979 and 1987. Two year old crowns forced in potting-soil gave a 39% increase in weight per crown and a 20% increase in average spearweight as compared to forcing in water.
When using three year old crowns no difference in average spearweight occurred but the weight per crown increased by 36% when forcing in potting-soil compared to water.
When using three year old crowns no difference in average spearweight occurred but the weight per crown increased by 36% when forcing in potting-soil compared to water.
Based on a production per m2, 2 and 3 year old crowns forced in potting-soil yielded 4 and 7 kg respectively.
Dry fibre content of forced asparagus spears from climatised rooms ranged from 0.04 to 0.19% depending on cultivar with Jersey Giant the least and Limbras 22 having the most fibre.
Glasshouse asparagus had a fibre content of 0.34%.
Annual costs between both systems show large differences which are due to a higher production/m2 and the possibility of several forcings in climatised rooms.
Publication
Authors
J.Tj.K. Poll, C.F.G. Kramer, G. van Kruistum
Keywords
asparagus, off-season forcing, yield, fibre content, economy of production
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