Sustainable soil management for stand longevity and yield optimisation for asparagus

Conventional agronomy practice for asparagus

Conventional agronomy practice associated with UK asparagus production such as ridging, spray operations and harvesting can result in severe compaction of inter-bed wheelings.

Research has demonstrated that annual re-ridging of asparagus damages storage roots. This has a major impact on stand longevity and productivity as it increases susceptibility to crown and root rots caused by Phytophthora and Fusarium species.

Furthermore, re-ridging and associated trafficking causes severe soil compaction of the interrows which inhibits crops water and nutrient uptake and promotes runoff and erosion. Soil compaction, essentially reduces soil pore space and pore connectivity which also limits the movement of water and gases in soil. This can have negative impacts on the soil microbial community.

Best management practices

In the long-term AHDB project FV450/a/b, field trials evaluated a range of best management practices (BMPs) to prevent and/or mitigate negative impacts of conventional management practice on both soil and asparagus health.

Here we provide information on a range of BMPs which have been demonstrated to promote asparagus stand longevity and soil health. These include:

• Zero-tillage (ridge-for-life)
• Companion cropping
• Interrow mulching post-ridging in combination with post-harvest shallow soil disturbance.

Authors

Dr Rob Simmons, Dr Lucie Maskova, and Dr Lynda Deeks.

This study was funded by AHDB under projects FV 450, FV 450a and FV450b 'Sustainable soil management for stand longevity and yield optimization in asparagus', with co-funding from Cranfield University and Cobrey Farms Ltd.