ISHS Acta Horticulturae 627: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Toward Ecologically Sound Fertilization Strategies for Field Vegetable Production
INFLUENCE OF N-NUTRITION AND CATCH CROPS ON THE YIELD OF ASPARAGUS (ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS L.) AND N-LEACHING |
| Authors: | P.-J. Paschold, B. Artelt, G. Hermann |
| Keywords: | Environment, leaching, grade I spears, nutrition, Nmin residues, organic matter |
| Abstract:
Asparagus is the largest vegetable crop by area in Germany. About 18,000 ha were grown in 2002. Therefore, information is needed about the nutrient status of the soil, nutrient need of the asparagus plants, and how to reduce the environmental pollution of the groundwater by nutrients. A field trial was carried out to determine the nitrogen requirement of asparagus by testing four different NMIN target values as criteria for determining how much fertiliser has to be applied. The trial crop was not irrigated. The yield and quality of spears was determined daily during the harvest period in each of eight years. Total yield and number of spears showed no significant differences among the target values. However, the cumulative yield of grade I spears was 10% higher with the 90 kg N/ha NMIN target value compared with the 30 kg N/ha value. When annual NMIN residues were analysed the influence of weather conditions was greater than the influence of different fertiliser amounts. In all years, a tendency towards increasing NMIN residues was observed only at the highest N-target value. Fertiliser application based on soil analysis can lead to reduced nitrate leaching in autumn. Additionally the sowing of oil radish (Ráphanus sativus var. oleifórmis) between the asparagus ridges is a useful technique to reduce nitrogen leaching after the growing season of asparagus. The results indicate advantages of this method of using catch crops on the grade I yield of asparagus. | |
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