ISHS Acta Horticulturae 694: International Symposium on Harnessing the Potential of Horticulture in the Asian-Pacific Region
ALTERNATIVE PLANTING CONFIGURATIONS INFLUENCE CAULIFLOWER DEVELOPMENT |
| Authors: | K. Stirling, R. Lancaster |
| Keywords: | Plant density, uniformity of maturation, yield, brassica, weight, diameter |
| Abstract:
Alternative planting configurations for export cauliflower crops were investigated with an aim to increase the number of curds within a crop which satisfy export market requirements. Western Australia produces approximately 85% of Australia’s export cauliflower and to remain internationally competitive, growers need to improve the uniformity of curd size and weight as well as reduce the number of harvests required to completely remove a cauliflower crop. An alternative planting system based on four rows of cauliflower plants per bed instead of the commercial norm of two, was investigated to determine if marketable yield could be increased, while reducing the number of harvests required. Although the total yield of curds increased significantly, marketable yield did not. This was primarily due to a substantial amount of curd yellowing which rendered the curds unmarketable. Uniformity of curd maturation improved with increased plant density. The majority of curds from four-row crops were removed within the first two harvests, whereas the number of curds removed in a two-row system were more evenly spread over three harvests. Future research investigating plant density in cauliflower crops will examine both increased within row spacing to permit greater access to plants and alternative methods of covering so that curd yellowing is reduced and potential marketable yield can be determined. | |
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