Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Carrington Research Extension Center * North Dakota State University
P.O. Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Voice: (701) 742-2189, FAX: (701) 742-2700, email: rgreenla@ndsuext.nodak.edu

ASPARAGUS PRELIMINARY TRIAL, 1996

Richard G Greenland

Results summary

Table 67. Asparagus yield and spear numbers.

This study was established in 1992 on a Hecla sandy loam soil that had been in fallow (or weeds) the previous two years. Spring soil tests showed this site to be high in K, medium in P and low in N. The soil pH was 7.8 and soil organic matter was 1.3%. The area was disked in the spring and 200 lbs of 10-50-0 per acre was incorporated using a multiweeder.

Six hybrids of asparagus were planted, four from seed and two from bare roots. Seeds of Jersey Gem, Jersey Giant, Jersey King, and Jersey Knight were planted about 0.75" deep into 1.5" by 1.5" by 2" (deep) plugs filled with Jiffy Mix on March 18. These plugs were kept on a hotpad until the asparagus began to emerge on April 1, then they were moved into the greenhouse. Emergence was excellent (>97%) for Jersey Gem, Jersey Giant, and Jersey King. Jersey Knight had only 75% emergence.

One-year-old bare-root plants of SYN 4-56 and SYN 4-MD10 were planted in the field on April 23 and the seedlings (from the greenhouse) were planted on May 18, 1992. The plants were placed in 8" deep furrows. Row spacing was 5 ft. wide. Roots were covered by two to three inches of soil. Seventy-one lbs of 21-0-0-24 per acre were banded on top of the row and covered with about ½ inch of soil. An additional 53 lbs N per acre as urea was banded in the furrow on 21 July. The furrow was filled in during the season as the plants grew. All plants grew vigorously the first year with very little, if any, loss from transplanting, etc. In 1993, the field was hand weeded, irrigated, and fertilized (37 lbs N/acre on July 21). The old growth was flailed early spring 1993. No harvesting was done in 1992 or 1993.

The plots were split into two subplots in 1994. Harvesting began on one subplot in 1994 and on the other one in 1995. The 1994-begin-date subplots were harvested six times in 1994. All asparagus was fertilized with 45 lbs N/acre as urea and 115 lbs 21-0-0-24 per acre on May 24, 1994. For the rest of the summer, the field was drip irrigated, cultivated (between rows), and hand weeded as needed. The old growth was flailed early spring 1994.

On April 17, 1996 all asparagus was fertilized by broadcasting 14 lbs N/acre and 70 lbs P2O5/acre as 10-50-0, 16 lbs N/acre and 19 lbs S/acre as 21-0-0-24, and 94 lbs K2O/acre as 0-0-60. On April 24 Sinbar (1.5 lbs/acre) was applied for weed control. On July 31 the field was rototilled between the rows, and hand weeded. Asana (8 oz/acre) was chemigated on July 31. During the summer the field was irrigated as needed. The 1996 harvest included all subplots. The plots were harvested 19 times from May 20 through June 14. Number of spears and yields are given in Table 67.

RESULTS

Although Jersey King was the highest yielding asparagus numerically (for the second straight year), none of the hybrids yielded significantly better or worse than any other hybrid. There was also no difference in yields for asparagus first harvested the second year after planting vs. asparagus first harvested the third year after planting.

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Table 67. Asparagus yield and spear numbers in the Oakes Irrigation Research Station 1996 asparagus preliminary trial.
Hybrid Seed source1 1996 yield for asparagus first harvested in: 1996 number of spears for asparagus first harvested in:
2nd year2 3rd year3 average 2nd year2 3rd year3 average
------- 1000s of lbs/acre ------- -------- 1000s per acre --------
Jersey King JAF 2.05 2.05 2.05 49.4 48.6 49.0
Jersey Giant JAF 1.80 1.35 1.58 50.5 37.0 43.8
Jersey Knight JAF 1.14 1.70 1.42 28.7 42.9 35.8
SYN 4-MD10 NR 1.56 1.22 1.39 44.2 35.1 39.6
Jersey Gem JAF 1.01 1.61 1.31 27.2 43.3 35.3
SYN 4-56 NR 1.53 1.07 1.30 39.4 34.4 36.9
Averaged over hybrid 1.52 1.50 1.51 39.9 40.2 40.1

1See appendix A for source codes.
2Asparagus was first harvested in 1994, the 2nd year after the year of planting.
3Asparagus was first harvested in 1995, the 3rd year after the year of planting.

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