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, 2000

Richard Greenland, Heidi Eslinger, and Leonard Besemann


Results summary

Table 70. 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 of 1992 and 200 lbs of 10-50-0 per acre was incorporated using a field cultivator.

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.

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. 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. 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. We followed normal production practices from 1994 to 1999.

We flailed the old stalks on 17 November 1999. On 4 April 2000, broadcast 18 lbs N/acre and 20 lbs S/acre as 21-0-0-24. Sprayed 50 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on April 13. Karmex (2 lbs/acre on April 12), rototilling between the rows (May 24 and July 10), and hand weeding controlled weeds. The field was overhead sprinkler irrigated as needed. The plots were harvested 34 times from May 1 through June 22. Number of spears, spear characteristics, and yields are given in Table 70.

RESULTS

Jersey Giant was again the highest yielding hybrid. SYN 4-56 and SYN 4-MD10 were the lowest yielding hybrids. There were no differences in yields attributed to waiting two or three years after planting to begin harvesting.

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Table 70. Asparagus yield and spear numbers in the Oakes Irrigation Research Site 2000 asparagus preliminary trial.
Name Seed source1 Marketable Spear
Yield number size height diameter
1000 lbs/A 1000s/A oz/spear ----- inches ------
Jersey Gem JAF 5.6 ab 104.2 0.95 b 9.4 0.59
Jersey Giant JAF 6.1 a 112.1 0.96 ab 9.3 0.59
Jersey King JAF 6.4 a 107.0 1.05 a 9.2 0.58
Jersey Knight JAF 4.9 abc 87.1 0.96 ab 9.5 0.59
SYN 4-56 NR 3.7 bc 80.7 0.81 c 9.1 0.56
SYN 4-MD10 NR 3.9 c 78.6 0.93 b 9.4 0.57
C.V. (%) 29 26 12 2 4
Probability 0.026 0.20 0.003 0.13 0.13

1See Appendix A for seed source codes.

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