Articles
THE ASPIRE ROOT CARBOHYDRATE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: WHERE IS IT GOING?
Article number
950_24
Pages
217 – 228
Language
English
Abstract
Productivity in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) is determined in part by the utilization of stored carbohydrate (CHO) from the prior growing period to sustain new spear and fern development and the recharge of those CHOs after the fern is fully grown.
Over the last 10 years, this well-known pattern of CHO loss and gain in the storage root system has been used by numerous researchers and farmers worldwide to help them improve plant productivity and performance.
Research conducted during this period has improved the understanding of the root CHO pattern and established benchmark CHO content for specific time periods during the annual growth cycle.
Initially, deviations from the ideal pattern were used to diagnosis production problems as outlined by the Aspire decision support system.
However, while the Aspire system has been available for use by growers around the world, adoption and continued utilization of this technology is waning for a number of reasons.
This paper will briefly review the historic content of the CHO research, evaluate why growers are not utilizing the system, revisit the debate about the significance of root system size and offer additional insights into how the Aspire CHO driven model needs to change to deliver the promised benefits to asparagus growers.
Over the last 10 years, this well-known pattern of CHO loss and gain in the storage root system has been used by numerous researchers and farmers worldwide to help them improve plant productivity and performance.
Research conducted during this period has improved the understanding of the root CHO pattern and established benchmark CHO content for specific time periods during the annual growth cycle.
Initially, deviations from the ideal pattern were used to diagnosis production problems as outlined by the Aspire decision support system.
However, while the Aspire system has been available for use by growers around the world, adoption and continued utilization of this technology is waning for a number of reasons.
This paper will briefly review the historic content of the CHO research, evaluate why growers are not utilizing the system, revisit the debate about the significance of root system size and offer additional insights into how the Aspire CHO driven model needs to change to deliver the promised benefits to asparagus growers.
Publication
Authors
D. Drost
Keywords
Asparagus officinalis, carbohydrate storage, root system
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