2011 Volume 10 Issue 3 Pages 375-382
We have developed a new culture method to increase the efficiency of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) harvesting in maintaining mother stem cultivation. In this culture method, the young spears, which ultimately grow to form mother stems, are bent back towards the ridge and planted in a line. The mother stems are then separated from the shoots. We studied the effect of this culture method on yield. This culture method resulted in a decrease in the yield by 24% when compared with the yield obtained from the control. Low light interception, which was considered to be the cause of the decreased yield in this community, can be attributed to the fact that the bent mother stems were in close proximity to the stems on the adjoining ridges. However, light interception increased when the mother stems were drawn to the passage and bent at an angle of 30°. With this culture method, the spear yield in the following year showed a total yield of 96% compared to the yield obtained from the control. Further, the time required for harvesting was 24% less and harmful stem postures that required immediate improvement (AC4) were 60% less frequent than those in the control. These findings suggest that our culture method will improve harvesting conditions.
