Plant Density and Genotype Effects on Wild Asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius L.) Spear Yield and Quality

Abstract

Wild asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius L.) is becoming an interesting niche crop for marginal areas in Europe, but little information is available regarding cultivation techniques, which differ from those of cultivated asparagus (A. officinalis). We experimented with the cultivation of wild asparagus using two different ecotypes planted at two plant densities. We measured yield and number of spears per hectare and spear quality (average weight, portion of edible part, diameter, and dry matter content). There were no significant effects of either genotype or density on the spear yield and number per hectare. No differences among treatments were found on spear quality parameters. Spear yield and number per plant decreased proportionally with increasing plant density, resulting in constant spear yield and number per hectare. Harvest efficiency was ≈1.2 kg of spears per hour of labor when the prickly evergreen vegetation was not removed before harvest and ≈3 kg per hour when the vegetation was cut and removed. In the latter case, harvest would cost approximately one-third of the gross income of the crop suggesting that the crop could easily be economically viable. Further studies are needed to assess whether cutting the vegetation affects plant vigor and longevity in the following years, but also to further study suitable techniques for crop cultivation, especially weed control.