INFLUENCE OF PLANTING DEPTH AND PLANT POPULATION ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF GREEN ASPARAGUS

The effect on asparagus yield and quality of three planting depth (10, 20 and 30 cm) and two plant densities (22000 and 33000 plants ha^-1) was assessed in a volcanic soil in the subhumid Mediterranean climatic zone.
The cultivar used was UC-157 F1, and the experimental design was randomized complete block in a factorial arrangement, with four replications.
Plots were harvested daily during four seasons (1997-2000), and number, weight and diameter of spears were determined after trimming to 18 cm.
Marketable yield was determined as the total yield minus culls, and exportable yield as the marketable 7-17 mm diameter spears.
No interaction between plant density and planting depth, and no effect of plant density were detected on cumulative marketable yield and percentage of 7-17 mm diameter spears.
The marketable yield declined when crowns were planted at 30 cm, although the individual weight of spears increased.
This was explained by a decrease in the number of spears per m². The highest proportion of exportable yield (7-17 mm) was obtained in the shallower planting depths (10 and 20 cm).

X International Asparagus Symposium

M.I. González, A. del Pozo

Asparagus officinalis, spear diameter, in-row distance, exportable yield.

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.589.15