ISHS Acta Horticulturae 153: IX African Symposium on Horticultural Crops
SELECTION AND PLANTING DENSITY OF EARLY-YIELDING LEAF VEGETABLES AND THE 'CONSUMPTION INDEX' |
| Authors: | K.F. Lan Chow Wing, I. Rajkomar |
| Abstract:
The ability of leaf vegetables to reach harvest maturity quickly increases their importance in Mauritius and other cyclonic areas. Requirements for quick production are a high sowing density and rapid seed germination/seedling emergence rate. Yields and 'consumption index' were found to be higher in winter, and also decreased with weeks after sowing. Of eight leaf vegetables tested, Chinese radish cv. Rave (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus) and Chinese cabbage cv. Brede de Chine Baton Blanc (Brassica chinensis) were among the early yielders. They were harvestable as early as 20 days after direct seeding, giving yields approaching 20 t ha-1 fresh weight when grown at high planting densities (200 – 250 plants m-2). Such yields are lower than can be obtained from a normal crop cycle, but are balanced by high prices prevailing after an intense cyclone and by a higher 'consumption index'. | |
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