STUDIES ON THE SUPPRESSION OF FUSARIUM CROWN AND ROOT ROT OF ASPARAGUS WITH NACL

A study was designed to determine whether NaCl combined with other soil treatments were effective in re-establishing asparagus in a recently plowed asparagus field.
The soil treatments included compost, chitin, phosphoramidate (a nematicide) plus standard fertilization or standard fertilization by itself.
The four treatments were combined with and without a NaCl treatment (560 kg/ha). Yield was recorded two years after planting in 1992, 1993, and 1995. The NaCl treatments slightly increased spear yield in 1992 and 1993, but none of the other treatments had any effect on yield.
Other studies were designed to examine the effect of NaCl on water relations of asparagus.
The pre-dawn (0500–0600 EST hr) measurement of fern water potential, osmotic potential, and relative water content were lower in NaCl-treated plants while turgor pressure and Cl concentrations were markedly increased when compared to untreated plants.
The increased turgor pressure may promote growth and resistance to disease during periods of water deficits.
Analyses of mineral composition of ferns and spears found elevated levels of Na and Cl, and slight increases in N, K and Mn.
A hypothesis implicating Cl and Mn in disease resistance is presented.

IX International Asparagus Symposium

W.H. Elmer, J.A. LaMondia

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1999.479.29