ISHS Acta Horticulturae 633: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Protected Cultivation 2002: In Search of Structures, Systems and Plant Materials for Sustainable Greenhouse Production
A SOILLESS CULTURE SYSTEM TO GROW OUT-OF-SEASON ASPARAGUS WITH A HIGH MARKETABLE VALUE |
| Authors: | S. Nicola, J. Hoeberechts, E. Fontana |
| Keywords: | Italian market, growing medium, N fertilization, density, cultivation starting, spear forcing |
| Abstract:
In recent years asparagus production in Belgium, France and, to some extent, in Italy, has decreased mainly because of soil exhaustion and soil-borne diseases. Fresh asparagus imports are increasing in Italy, as is the demand for asparagus for processing. Greenhouse soilless culture can limit pest diseases, optimize, standardize and increase spear production and reduce labor costs. Furthermore, greenhouse production allows earliness and out-of-season production so growers can obtain a higher market price. Plastic boxes (460 x 265 x 245 mm) were lined with Styrodur™ (isolating sheets), and filled either with local soil or growing media (60% peat and 40% perlite, by volume). Asparagus rhizomes were kept from Feb. to July in a chamber at –1°C, then from Aug. to Sept. at 0°C and finally used for greenhouse production. Either two or three rhizomes were placed in each box, either at the beginning of Oct. or at the beginning of Nov. Boxes were placed on a bench in an experimental greenhouse according to a RCBD with 4 blocks, and irrigated throughout the experiments as needed. Fertilization took place either every week or every two weeks, using 1 g/L of Tipo OT™ (Valagro), a commercial solution for hydroponics. Harvesting started on 24 Nov. 2000, ending on 26 Jan. 2001 (1st year), then started again on 11 Oct. 2001, ending on 21 Dec. 2001 (2nd year). Results indicate that the forcing period was the most effective treatment for conditioning spear production in both years. The SCS allowed production from the first year of growth, a plus for the asparagus crop. | |
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