ISHS Acta Horticulturae 670: I International Symposium on Root and Tuber Crops: Food Down Under
EFFECT OF PLANTING DATE ON ULLUCO YIELD |
| Authors: | R.J. Martin, J.J.C. Scheffer, B. Deo, S.R.P. Halloy |
| Keywords: | Ullucus tuberosus, tubers, New Zealand, frost |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.670.21 |
| Abstract:
Ulluco (Ullucus tuberosus) is a traditional staple tuber crop from the high Andes. It produces round tubers with a wide range of bright skin colours, and its nutritional content compares favourably with other starchy staple crops. Ulluco has been recently reintroduced into New Zealand where it is being evaluated as a potential field vegetable crop. As part of this evaluation, time of planting trials were carried out at Lincoln near Christchurch and Pukekohe near Auckland in New Zealand. Lincoln averages 39 air frosts/year, and Pukekohe averages 0.3. Tubers were planted monthly from October to January at Lincoln, and December to March at Pukekohe. Both trials were harvested in August. At Lincoln, frosts killed the tops in May, and highest yields, 3 t/ha, came from the October and November plantings. Yields were considerably higher at Pukekohe, where the plants continue to grow during winter. The higher yields resulted from both more tubers being set and heavier tubers. December and January plantings gave the highest yields (18-19 t/ha) at Pukekohe. The December planting produced more tubers than the January planting, but tubers were smaller and there was also a large yield (18 t/ha) of aerial tubers. At both sites, average tuber size was very small, 2 g at Lincoln and 5 g at Pukekohe. | |
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