ISHS Acta Horticulturae 776: XI International Asparagus Symposium
DOES APPLYING SALT (NaCl) INCREASE SPEAR EARLINESS? |
| Author: | W.H. Elmer |
| Keywords: | Asparagus officinalis, yield components |
| Abstract:
Salt (NaCl) applications to asparagus beds increase the total marketable yield of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.). Grower observations and anecdotal evidence have suggested that the yield increase from salt applications was a result of more yield being produced in the first harvests as opposed to harvests taken later in the season. To investigate whether or not this is occurring, we re-examined nine data sets from our files where NaCl increased the total marketable yield when compared to yield from nontreated plots. The number of harvests over the season was equally divided into four periods, early, early-mid, mid-late, and late harvest periods. The data were analyzed for significant interaction between NaCl and harvest period. In every data set examined, no significant interaction with harvest period was detected. In other words, in these fields, NaCl applications increased yield proportionally over the cutting season, and did not favor any particular period. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
