SOME mnumcss or MINERAL NUTRITIQH ’-
ON ms GROWTH AND enamscm'comoismou
os ASPARAGUS‘VOFFECSN'AUS ' '

 

Thcsi‘s ior the» Dayna 6i Ph. D. .
MicmGAN STATE, uniVsasnY
Lindsay Dietrich Brown,
1962

 

 

This is to certify that the
thesis entitled

Some Influences of Mineral Nutrition on the
Growth and Chemical Composition of

Asearagus officinalis
presented by

 

Lindsay Dietrich Brown

has been accepted towards fulfillment
of the requirements for

Ehgfll degree in Horticulture

v I Major professor

l/7
Date {22317 7‘/ 7‘ L

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SOME INFLUENCES OF MINERAL NUTRITION ON THE

GROWTH AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF
ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS

BY

Lindsay Dietrich Brown

AN ABSTRACT

Submitted to Michigan State University
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree
of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Department of Horticulture

1952

 

 

ABSTRACT

SOME INFLUENCES OF MINERAL NUTRITION ON THE
GROWTH AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF
ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS

by Lindsay Dietrich Brown

A series of studies were initiated to determine the
current nutritional status of Asparagus officinalis in terms
of its mineral composition and thus its requirement for and
utilization of applied fertilizers. In addition, experi-
ments were designed to ascertain if variable fertilization
can significantly alter the composition of the plant and
the marketable yields obtained.

Thirty commercial aSparagus growers were contacted and
data obtained on spear yield, fern growth, and management
practices used. Spear and fern samples were taken periodic-
ally and analyzed for composition in terms of N, P, K, Ca,
Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, B, Zn, Mo, and A1.

Field experiments were also conducted with five-year
old Viking and eleven-year old Mary Washington asparagus
varieties, in which yield, fern growth, and chemical compo-
sition were evaluated. Radioactive phosphorus was employed
to trace utilization of fertilizer applied to the soil. In
addition, sand culture experiments were performed to study
the effects of mineral nutrition on growth and composition
of one-year old asparagus plants and to measure the influence

of continuous removal of top growth on crown composition.

 

ABSTRACT

BORE INFLUENCES OF MINERAL NUTRITION ON THE
GROWTH AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF
ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS

by Lindsay Dietrich Brown

A series of studies were initiated to determine the
current nutritional status of Asparagus officinalis in terms
of its mineral composition and thus its requirement for and
utilization of applied fertilizers. In addition, experi-
ments were designed to ascertain if variable fertilization
can significantly alter the composition of the plant and
the marketable yields obtained.

Thirty commercial asparagus growers were contacted and
data obtained on spear yield, fern growth, and management
practices used. Spear and fern samples were taken periodic-
ally and analyzed for composition in terms of N, P, K, Ca,
Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, B, Zn, Mo, and Al.

Field experiments were also conducted with five-year
old Viking and eleven-year old Mary Washington asparagus
varieties, in which yield, fern growth, and chemical compo-
sition were evaluated. Radioactive phosphorus was employed
to trace utilization of fertilizer applied to the soil. In
addition, sand culture experiments were performed to study
the effects of mineral nutrition on growth and composition
of one-year old asparagus plants and to measure the influence

of continuous removal of top growth on crown composition.

Lindsay Dietrich Brown

The following results were obtained:

10

Based on an average yield of 2,300 pounds per acre
of snapped asparagus, annual removal of N, P, and
K amounted to 10, 2, and 7 pounds, respectively.
These figures represented less than 10 per cent of
the average quantities applied by the cooperating
growers. No correlation was found between ferti-
lizer applied and yields obtained.

Neither five-year old Viking nor eleven-year old
Mary Washington asparagus showed any significant
yield variation attributable to varying rates of
fertilizer application.

Field grown asparagus utilized a maximum of 0.06
per cent of the phosphorus applied in producing
the harvested crop and this amounted to only 3.0

per cent of the total P content of the spears.
Two- and three-year old asparagus plants grown
in sand culture responded in growth to increased
phosphorus application in the first year and to
increased nitrogen application in both years of
the study.

Removal of all aerial growth as it appeared and
continued leaching with distilled water of four-

year old asparagus grown in sand culture failed

.to change the composition of variably fertilized

crowns during one season.

 

   

 

 

 

Lindsay Dietrich Brown

In field grown asparagus spear and fern composition
on a dry weight basis were found to vary between
the following limits:

Spears: N, 7.2 to 5.1; P, .99 to .79; K, 4.9
to 3.8; Ca, .38 to .21; and Mg, .24 to .13 per
cent of dry weight. Mn, 71 to 16; Fe, 500 to 78;
Cu, 35 to 10; B, 36 to 20; Zn, 112 to 61; Mo, 2 to
1; and Al, 94 to 15 parts per million.

Fern: N, 3.3 to 1.7; P, .32 to .13; K, 3.5
to 1.1; Ca, 1.4 to 0.4; and Mg, .55 to .12 per
cent of dry weight. Mn, 145 to 15; Fe 289 to 60;
Cu, 27 to 4; B, 91 to 21; Zn, 38 to 16; Mo, 4 to 2;
and A1, 361 to 101 parts per million.

 

SOME INFLUENCES OF MINERAL NUTRITION ON THE

GROWTH AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF
ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS

 

 

By

Lindsay Dietrich Brown

A THESIS

Submitted to Michigan State University
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree

. of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Department of Horticulture

1962

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Acknowledgment is hereby made of the
assistance rendered by the members of my advisory
committee; Drs. R. L. Carolus, J. D. Downes,

E. J. Benne, C. M. Harrison, and Kirk Lawton;
and to Drs. R. E. Lucas, D. P. Watson, and J. P.

Davis who assisted in reviewing this thesis.

11

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 0 O O O O O o O O O O O O O O O 0 O O 0
REVIEW OF LITERATURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MATERIALS AN’D PIETHODS "" GENERAL 0 o o o o c o o o 0
Sampling Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chemical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Statistical Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A NUTRITIONAL SURVEY OF THE C MMERCIAL ASPARAGUS

CROP. O O .7 O 0 O O O O O O O C O O O O O O O O O 0

Materials and Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Results and Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . .

RESPONSE OF MATURE ASPARAGUS TO VARIABLE FERTILIZER
APPLICATION I O O O O O O O O O C O O O O O O O O 0

Materials and Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A. Studies with an 11-year old planting .
B. Fertilization of 5-year old asparagus

Results and Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . .

UTILIZATION OF APPLIED PHOSPHORUS AND DEPLETION OF
MINERAL RESERVES IN GROWTH OF ASPARAGUS . . . . . .

A. Utilization of Applied Phosphorus . . . . .

Materials and Methods . . . . . . . . . .
Results and Discussion . . . . . . . . . .

B. Depletion of Mineral Reserves . . . . . . .

Materials and Methods . . . . . . . . . .
Results and Discussion . . . . . . . . . .

INFLUENCES OF NUTRITION ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND

MINERAL COMPOSITION DURING EARLY GROWTH OF _
ASPARAGUS O 0 , O O O O O O 0 C O O C C O C. O O O O 0

iii

 

 

 

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av: wflrm

 

 

Introduction

Materials and Methods
Results and Discussion

GENERAL DISCUSSION .

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

LITERATURE CITED

0

Page
51
52
70
75
76

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Asparagus grown for processing in the United States
increased from 30,000 to 90,000 acres between 1925 and 1950
and in the last decade acreage has expanded another 15 to 20
per cent. Michigan had over 11,000 acres in 1960, with an
annual production valued at over three million dollars.

Increasing labor costs and declining prices have ex-
pedited the development and acceptance of improved cultural
practices. Harvesting by snapping versus cutting is almost
universal in Michigan (18) 1958, as is the use of herbi-
cides for controlling weeds (47) 1954. Purchase and appli-
cation of chemical fertilizers, however, remain among the
major fixed costs in asparagus production, and thus Justify
continued nutritional research.

The present study was initiated to determine the
current nutritional status of the crop in terms of its
mineral composition and thus its requirements for and
utilization of applied fertilizers. In addition, it was
designed to ascertain if variable fertilization can signifi-
cantly alter the composition of the plant and the market-
able yields obtained.

In this dissertation procedures used and results
obtained are presented in four major sections preceded by a
brief description of materials and methods.

1

 

 

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

According to Sturtevant (61) 1919, the native home

of asparagus is Europe--the Caucasus regions and Crimea,

while Henderson says in his ngdbook 0; Plants that,

The garden asparagus, A. officinalis is a native
of Great Britain, Russia and Poland. The asparagus
is one of the oldest as well as one of the most de-
licious of our garden vegetables. It was cultivated
in the time of Cato the Elder, 200 B. C.; and Pliny
mentions a sort that grew in his time near Revenue,
of which three heads would weigh a pound. (26) 1890.

Jones and Rosa (30) 1928, report more prosaically

that,

The genus Asparagus comprises about 150 species
spread throughout the temperate and trepical regions
of the Old World. All species of Asparagus are per-
ennial, have fleshy or tuberous roots, and possess
cladophylls, which function as leaves. A, officinalis
is the only one cultivated as a food plant. . . . e
underground portion of the asparagus plant consists of
rhizomes, fleshy roots and fibrous roots. The fleshy
roots may spread laterally a distance of 10 to 12
feet as they grow outward and downward. They will
grow to a depth of at least eight feet and may go
deeper unless a permanent water table is encountered
at a higher level. The fleshy roots, being covered
with root hairs function both as storage and absorp-
tive organs. New fleshy roots arise each year Just
back of the terminal buds of the rhizomes; from these,
fibrous roots arise which function as absorptive
organs only. The fibrous roots die in late fall at
the close of the growing season, and new ones develop
the following spring. It is chiefly within the
fleshy roots that the food supply is stored for the
production of the commercial crop the following year.

Remy (49) 1938, postulates this same mechanism for

 

perennial grasses in general. Asparagus is a monocotyledon-

ous plant (of the Liliaceae family) as are all grasses.
TiedJens (64) 1926, suggests that for a single year's growth
asparagus needs only water and oxygen from the soil.

Jones and Rosa say,

The asparagus plant has underground stems (rhi-

zomes) and aerial stems arising from them. At the
base of each aerial shoot, there are one or more
lateral buds separated by very short internodes.
The branches of the underground stem grow outward
and upward; the more deeply the plant is set, the
more nearly vertical is the growth of the rhizome
toward the surface.

Young (68) 1939, reported an experiment in which
asparagus crowns were initially planted at 2, 4, 6, and 8
inches depth. At the end of 11 years those set 2 inches
deep at planting were found at a mean depth of 3.68 1 0.26
inches and those at 8 averaged 4.35 ; 0.34 inches deep.
Yields were higher from the shallow planting.

The branches of the rhizome grow 1 to 2 inches

each year. A 15-year old plant may have a rhizome
spread of 2 feet or more. After the cutting season,
during the summer and fall, most of the buds are
formed which produce the edible spears the follow-
ing spring. (30) 1928.

The standard practice in Mishigan is to allow the
spears that emerge after the normal harvest season to mature
into the "fern" on which the flowers and fruit are borne.
Asparagus is normally dioecious and the flowers occur in
the exile of the scale leaves. In the primordial stages of
development either the male or female sex organs are aborted
and all the flowers on a given plant then become either

functionally male or female (30) 1928.

 

 

 

In his Manual of Gardening, published four years after this

previous work, Bailey (5) 1925, states,

. . . a top dressing of nitrate of soda, at the

rate of 200 pounds per acre, is often beneficial as
a spring stimulant, particularly in the case of an
old bed. Good results will also follow an appli-
cation of bone meal or superphosphate at the rate
of 300 to 500 pounds per acre.

Brooks and Morse (11) 1919, conducted an asparagus
nutrition experiment over a period of seven years, in which
N, P205, and K20 were applied in various combinations. The
lowest yield, 1,681 pounds, was obtained where nitrOgen was
omitted and the highest, 2,406 pounds, where the three
nutrients were all applied at a medium rate, 1.6., 467-133-
260 pounds per acre. It is doubtful if the differences were
truly significant since two other plots receiving this
latter treatment yielded 250 to 300 pounds less than the
highest.

Vessels and Thompson (65) 1937, reported that in an
experiment conducted with carefully selected Mary Washington
asparagus,

Nitrogen produced greater increases in yield than

any other element. Plots with no nitrogen produced
the lowest yields of any in the experiment even
though they received the maximum application of phos-
phate and potash. . . . Nitrogen applied at 50 pounds
per acre produced over nine years practically the
same as nitrogen at 100 pounds per acre. In the
first four years the larger nitrogen application pro-
duced higher yields than the smaller, but the last
five years the smaller nitrogen application produced
no less asparagus than the larger application.

In addition, they found that plots receiving 128 pounds per

acre of P20 produced more asparagus each year than plots

PrlcTV-l. ‘ ,l .‘..~1.‘.4?u71-rm‘ I...“ . _.4 - '- ..__ ‘ W‘F _ -"_—'¥—.

.1

 

 

 

Tiedjens (63) 1924, Haber (24) 1932, and Jones and

Rosa (30) 1928, all indicate that pistillate plants produce
larger spears and stalks than staminate plants, but that the
latter produce more spears per plant. Ybung (67) 1937,
found that there was a positive correlation in number and
size of fern stalks and spear production the following spring
and TiedJens (63) 1924, states,

There is a positive correlation between the number
of mature fall stalks and the number of buds produced
the following season . . .

but also that,

The data reveal plants having eight mature fall
stalks and only producing one spear the following
year. Also plants with only one mature fall stalk
produced 20 spears the following year. There are
examples of all possible gradations between these.

The fertility requirement of asparagus has occupied

many workers over the years and while there have been di-
vergent opinions on the requirements for various nutrients,
most researchers have recommended continued applications of
complete fertilizers. Liberty Hyde Bailey (3) 1921, says,

A deep, rich, fertile, moist, cool soil, warm ex-
posure, thorough preparation of the land, heavy
manuring, thorough tillage in late fall and early
spring, are general requisites of asparagus culture.

He then says,

After the plantation is established, a common-
place practice among market gardeners is to apply
20 to 40 tons of manure to the acre broadcast over
the bed during the autumn or winter. In addi-
tion, . . . a good complete fertilizer at the rate

of 1,000 to 1,500 pounds to the acre at the close
of the cutting season (is recommended).

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receiving no phosphate or phosphate at 64 pounds per acre.

Potash (K20) at 160 pounds per acre produced consider-
ably larger yields for the first five years than it did at 80
pounds per acre, but for the next two seasons the yields did
not differ and for the last two years the lower rate of appli-
cation resulted in the larger yields.

White and Boswell (66) 1929, reported on field and
sand culture experiments in which a chemical fertilizer
(7-3-5), applied at 1,250 pounds per acre, gave significant
increases over 10 tons of animal manure. Both increased
yields significantly over the untreated check plots.

Seaton (55) 1932, found that with selected Mary
Washington asparagus planted in 1926 and fertilized from
1929 through 1932, the maximum yield increase over the un-
treated check was obtained with 1,200 pounds per acre of
4-8-6 applied in a split application, half before and half
after harvest.

Rahn (47) 1939, reported an experiment similar to
that of White and Boswell in which chemical fertilizers were
compared with animal manures. Average yields over a four-
year period ranged from 3,538 pounds for plots receiving
1,500 pounds per acre of 4-20-6 (the largest phosphate ap-
plication) to 3,860 pounds from plots receiving 1,500 pounds
per acre of 4-10-6 plus 10 tons of manure. This suggests
the possibility of too much phosphorus being a detrimental
factor, as reported by Hester (27) 1947, for several truck

crops and Reuther et a1. (50) 1949, for citrus. However,

 

Rahn's results actually varied only over a narrow range and
the differences reported may lack statistical significance.
Clore (16) 1944, says,

. Annual applications of 200 pounds of available
nitrogen in the form of ammonium sulphate increased
the average asparagus yields 0.65 tons per acre

over no treatment during the years 1940 to 1943, in—
clusive. . . . Thus far these experiments have shown
no significant differences in total yield of aspara-
gus as a result of the time of application of nitro-
gen.

In this connection, the work of Graber (23) 1931, on blue

 

grass, red top, fescue, and timothy is pertinent, in which
he said,
Frequent and close removal of the succulent top
growth of grasses having abundant reserves make for
a heavy draft on the supplies of available nitrogen
in the soil so that the first important factor of
growth limitation may be nitrogen deficiency.
Clore and Stanberry (17) 1947, commenced fertilizing
a previously untreated seven-year old asparagus planting
with nitrogen alone and nitrogen and phosphate together in
1944 and continued this through 1946. At the end of the
first year of treatment, the N-P plots averaged about 200
pounds more asparagus per acre than the N only plots which,
in turn, outyielded the check plots by about 300 pounds per
acre. At the end of the experiment the above differences in
yield appeared to have increased by about 20 per cent.
Brasher (8) 1954, reported that while all fertilizer
treatments were superior to the untreated checks in yield of

cut asparagus, the 800 pounds per acre rate of application

of 5-10-10 was significantly better than either the 1,600 or

 

\ I'

 

 

 

2.400 pound rate in an experiment begun on three-year old

plants in 1948 and terminated in 1954. On the same plots,
in one more year the 800 and 1,600 pound rates no longer
differed significantly and when the method of culture and
weed control was altered, all yield differences between
treated plots, based on three year averages, disappeared (9)
1960. Roorda van Eysinga (53) 1960, also found that
established asparagus needed limited fertilization.

Rudolphs (54) 1921, reported an increase in average
spear weight with applications of 300 and 500 pounds per
acre of rock salt, and Bailey (5) 1925, said,

The practice of sowing salt on an asparagus bed is

almost universal; yet beds which have never received
a pound of salt are found to be as productive as
those having received an annual dressing. Neverthe-
less, a salt dressing is recommended.

Hester (28) 1949, analyzed asparagus spears and re-
ported fertilizer utilization in terms of pounds of nutri-
ents removed by two tone of cut asparagus, e.g., 16 of
nitrogen, 4 of phosphate, 10 of potash, and 1 of calcium.
Brooks and Morse (11) 1919, published a similar study on
asparagus with comparable results.

Comparatively, these are small quantities, as a re-
view by Romaine (52) 1957, reported 200-80-400 pounds,
respectively, of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash in a 20 ton
yield of tomatoes or 160-130-470 for 700 crates of celery.
More comparable figures were obtained for grapes (five tons
per acre) containing 35-15-45 pounds of N-P205-K20 and 500
bushels of apples containing 45-15-55 of these three nutrient

materials.

 

Kramer and szlowski (32) 1960, have summarized data

for total uptake by conifers and hardwoods of P, K and Ca as
well as the quantities of these elements returned annually

in leaf fall: Conifers: 66, 306, and 581 pounds per acre
total uptake and 2, 6, and 26 pounds per acre returned in
annual leaf fall. Hardwoods: 64, 277, and 1,019 pounds per
acre total uptake and 3, 13, and 66 pounds per acre returned
in annual leaf fall. Thus, it appears that the nutrients re-
turned to the soil over a period of years more than compensate
for amounts utilized in the permanent growth of the tree. A
similar computation, reported by Gardner et al. (22) 1952,
for phosphorus utilization by 100-year old apple trees re-
veals 47 pounds of elemental P in the 27 trees on an acre
with an annual return of four pounds in the leaf fall.

Also with tree fruits, Lilleland (35) 1935, and
Lilleland and Brown (36) 1939, obtained positive growth
responses to phosphate application on one-year old apple,
peach, and prune trees, but not when the same treatments
were applied to three-year old trees. Phosphorus content of
the leaves was positively influenced by these treatments in
the younger trees but not in the older ones. Lilleland
et al. (37) 1942, reported,

Eighteen different annual crops were tested and

failed to make satisfactory growth unless phosphate
was added. Established fruit trees, however, showed
no response to phosphate in the same soil and their
growth, yield and quality of fruit were comparable
to those obtained on the more fertile soils of

California.

Proebsting and Kinman (46) 1933, and Potter (45) 1934.

 

conducted orchard trials with phosphate on apricots and
mature Baldwin apples, respectively, and both found that the
responses to the application of phosphate did not Justify
the cost.

In the past 20 years the availability of the radio-
active isotope P32 has made more precise studies of plant
utilization of applied phosphorus possible. Lawton (33)
1958, using 30 pounds per acre of tagged P205 on field grown

corn, found that after 45 days of growth plant phosphorus

 

from applied fertilizer amount to 30 per cent of the total.
Nelson et al. (43) 1947, in an extensive study of phosphorus
utilization, found that the percentage of the phosphorus in
the plant that was derived from the applied fertilizer at-
tained maxima of 45 for cotton, 63 for potatoes and corn,
and 65 for tobacco. These values were recorded 30 days
after planting for corn, cotton, and tobacco, and after 38
days for potatoes. In young field grown wheat, Spinks and
Barber (59) 1947, found that up to 21 per cent of the total
phosphorus in the plant was from the current application.

In a greenhouse study Lawton, Erickson, and Lemon
(34) 1952, found that at final harvest, after 60 days of
growth, the tomato plant had obtained up to 70 per cent of
its total phosphorus from the fertilizer treatment.

Eggert, Kardos, and Smith (21) 1952, however, applied
P32 labelled fertilizer to six 25-year old apple trees and
found that determination of the total phosphorus content of

fruit cores, terminal and spur leaves showed no P32 in four

a: wt ”was an. ”swims .1 " MAM M = v 3' fiends-- W' 9' - ' a! ‘“M‘nm mum-=7. "av-1... —

 

 

 

trees, and less than 3 and approximately 6 per cent in the

other two trees, respectively.

In conclusion, there appears to be some disagreement
among investigators as to the fertilizer requirement of
asparagus, but the evidence indicates a reduced response to
applied fertilizer as the plants grow older (10, 53, 65).
Several studies (11, 65) suggest that nitrogen is the most
critical of the nutrients commonly applied and that phos-
phorus elicits little response from perennial plants after
the first few years of growth (35, 37). Hester (28) 1949,
and Brooks and Morse (11) 1919, computed nutrient util-
ization by asparagus, and Brasher (8) 1954, discusses it
briefly, but no attempt has been made to establish fertilizer

recommendations on the basis of this information.

._ .._‘:'”'~ ' ”5"“? 5‘31"." ;efl§«-?I-”—‘» '7

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MATERIALS AND METHODS -- GENERAL

Sampling Procedures

For spear analysis, the edible portion of 20 spears
was used except in the P32 tracer study.

Mature fern samples, consisting of two male and two

 

female stems of green fern of a size considered average for
the particular planting, were cut into approximately three-
inch sections and alternate sections dreied in large paper
bags. Side branches and fruit were included with the main

stem in the cutting process.

Chemicg; Analyses

All samples taken for analysis were dried at approxi-
mately 70°C. for several days, ground to pass a 20-mesh
screen, and an aliquot stored for analysis.

Nitrogen was determined using the KJeldahl-Gunning-
Arnold method (1) and potassium using a flame photometric
technique on water extracts of dried plant tissue (2).

Phosphorus in the samples collected from the P32 ex-
periment was determined colorimetrically by Lindner's (38)
method, modified to use an ammonium vanadate reductant in-
stead of stannous chloride.

The remainder of the analyses were accomplished on

12

 

 

 

73

emission spectrOgraphic equipment in the Departments of
Agricultural Chemistry in 1958, and Horticulture in 1959 and
1960. Samples were prepared for analysis by ashing one-half
gram aliquots at 550°C. in a muffle furnace for 12 to 15
hours. The ashed material was then taken up in an HCl solu-
tion containing cobalt as an internal standard. Concentra-
tions of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron,
copper, boron, zinc, molybdenum, and aluminum were deter-
mined by excitation of aliquots of the HCl-ash solution using
an A.C. spark (31).

Phosphorus in soil samples were determined using
Bray's P-1 method while active K and Mg were determined with
the Spurway method (60), using an extractant. The pH values
were obtained from a soilzwater suspension using the glass

electrode technique (58).

Statistical Procpdures

With the exception of the data obtained in the nutri-
tional survey and some of that from the P32 experiment,
differences between treatment means were tested using the
analysis of variance technique appropriate to the experi-
mental design employed (44, 57). Where significant "F"
values were obtained, the means were separated using Duncan's

Multiple Range Test (20).

 

 

 

 

A NUTRITIONAL SURVEY OF THE COMMERCIAL ASPARAGUS CROP

To study the current nutritional status of established
asparagus plants growing in the most representative geo-
graphic area, which in Michigan is the southwestern part of
the state where over three-fourths of the commercial crop is

grown, were sampled.

Materials and Methods

 

Asparagus growers in Berrien and Van Buren Counties
were interviewed to obtain information on management prac-
tices, age of plantings, and yield. Thirty farms were se-
lected and a row of asparagus was chosen in a field from
each location for use in a survey of the nutritional status
of the crop.

In early August, 1958, mature green fern samples and
soil samples were taken from a 50-foot long section of row
previously staked out. In October, 1958, all the fern grow-
ing on 50 feet of the selected row from each farm was cut
off at ground level, weighed, and its dry matter determined.

Edible spear samples were collected on May 8 and 29,
and on June 15, 1959, from each farm plot. Mature fern
samples were again collected in September and information on

management and yields for the season obtained. The weight

14

 

 

 

 

 

0f mature fern from a 50-foot section of row was again

determined.

Samples of edible spears were collected on May 6 and
June 6, 1960, from these farms. At the end of the summer,
information on cultural practices and yield was again ob-
tained from most of the cooperators. Thus, at the end of
this survey, data had been collected on fern growth in 1958
and 1959 and spear production in 1959 and 1960.

The plant samples were analyzed chemically using the
procedures previously described and spear samples were com-
posited from all sampling dates.

Complete survey information was used to compute pro-
duct moment correlations between the variables measured.
The computations were performed with the use of a digital
computer and as the program available for this type of calcu-
lation was limited to 38 variables, it was necessary to
separate the data into two problems.

The first problem included as variables the data
taken in 1958, age of planting, fertilizer applied, soil
test results, fern growth and composition as well as yield
of edible spears, spear composition values, and fern growth
data from 1959; a total of 29 factors. The second problem
consisted of edible spear yield, fertilizer application and
fern growth and composition from 1959 and the yield and
composition values for edible spears in 1960 (25 factors) as

variables.

 

 

F
r: _

   

16

Results and Qiscussion

In Table 1 are summarized the measurements taken over
a three-year period, grouped into three classes: highest
observed value, lowest observed value, and average value
.obtained from 30 observations.

Age of the plantings surveyed varied from four to
fifteen years and averaged around nine years. This is a
reflection of the post-World War II boom in asparagus demand
which resulted in greatly expanded commercial acreage.

Fertilizer practices varied widely among cooperating
growers, evidenced by the extremely large coefficients of
variation shown in Table 1.

Soil test values were quite variable also with co-
efficients of variation of 50 per cent for soil P and 40
per cent for soil K. Growth of fern and yield of spears
differed widely between farms, but in both fern and parti-
cularly spears, the major nutrient composition was remark-
ably uniform, reflecting slightly, if at all, the differences
noted in application of fertilizer, soil composition, and
growth (Table 1).

A survey of climatological data is also presented in
Table 1, which represents an average of values recorded at
weather stations in the two counties where samples of
asparagus were collected. The year 1959 was the warmest
from May to September with temperatures averaging about four

or five degrees higher than 1958 and 1960. More precipitation

 

 

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scapnspnoosoo com somehcha ow uogac>aoo mosHe> ma Hesvd>acsm uncompe>aomno on so oommm\w

 

 

11 S 11 on 11 m 11 3 . Asian: w: :9...
11 _e 11 we. 11 . mm -1 mom M.<\.mpH a Haom
11 mm 11 an 11 m 11 mo .<\.mnH m Haom
11 m 11 n.m 11 m.e 11 a.m ma Adam
mm am as on _m .m .m mm Anodaaas can museum m
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mm mm mma oe— om mm mmm mmm sadaaas son seesaw on
.m me .m as m, m. me_ our Asodaaas sea upscav as
me mm mm.o ~m.o m..o m..o mm.o o¢.o .p: ape my as
em a. ma.o me.o me.o om.o mn._ mm.o .p: ass ma mu
m. m. m¢.m ea.m mo.. mm.. mm.n we.m M.p= ate my a
w. m. a. m..o mm.o n_.o om.o em.o mn.o .p: ape ma m
o_ m ao.m ma.m mm.a mn.m mn.m om.m “.0: ape «V 2
compmmoasoo each
11 11 o_mm omnm cam mmm m.me ma.e A.<\.mnav mama ac .p: age
we on m. m.ma m m mm em A.mnav use“ .om ao .p: ape
ma me e¢_ mm. econ once m_e 0mm A.W\.mnav commune 0mm
om om mm on one: once omm mmm A. .mnav emaaaau mo m
_e am mm. mm. mean one: oon mas A.e\.mnaa sausage z
11 mm 11 m.m 11 e 11 ma “mamohv wsmpamma Ho 6&4
mama mama mnmfl mnmfl mwmd mum" mama mmmfl
a .> .o osas> \m.>< osaea zoo osas> swam

 

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use muasmoa amen Hmom .compeomaaae sonmampaou non mosms> cmeao>m use .3oa .nwmm — mqmds

 

 

 

 

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.msompe>aomno on no ucmdm\w

 

 

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oa.m_ ne.m_ nm.mp asses

_n._ m_.n em.m m.am ..am «.mm sonampnmm

me.m ea.m em.m ¢.Fa m.ma a.oa enemas

nm.m mm.m nn.n ..oa ..ma m.oa sass

no.e mn.m om.n a.mw e.oa a.mm mesa

mm.e ma.m m..m e.em m.nm m.mm as:

oo.n oe.m mo.m ¢.Fm m.a¢ ..me Hanna

mama mmmfl mama mmmfl mmmfl mama ammo»
monoaH 1 soapmpmamooam .mo 1 onsveaoasoa
\mcpco Heomwoaonesmao

Fa n. mm mm Fm om mm mm anoaaads use spacey m
m, a. mm am o, m. on mm Asoaaaaa son nausea so
mw we mm #0. mm, ma mm com _.m “soaaaaa son messav mm
on mm an mm m, m, om .a Asoaaaas cog seesaw as
m m, om.o .m.o ap.o n_.o mm.o em.o “.9: ago my w:
m, m, am.o on.o .m.o mm.o mn.o mm.o A.a: ate wv as
n e oo.e mn.e mm.n om.n mn.¢ mm.e .p: see an a
m m am.o .m.o ma.o _m.o mm.o om.o .p: ate «V m
m e mm.m mm.m o..m __.e mm.m .m.» .p: ace xv z

sempmmoasoo gamma

0». ae_ 0» ca mmm m.n A.p: mesa eaoaa oHnHem

mm mm mmmm omnm ooo. coo. ooan come A.<\.mnav sauna oflnaem

mama mmmfl mwmw mnmfl mmmfl mwmfl mmmd mama essence: mansase>
m .> .o csmm> \m.>¢ osas> sod csHs> swam

 

Aeoschcoov _ mamas

 

 

 

 

79

‘was also recorded in 1959, but considerably more rain fell
during the harvest months of May and June in 1960 than in
either of the other two years. These climatological factors
probably exerted some influences on the composition and
yield of asparagus sampled. Doubtless the warmer season in
1959 accounted for the higher yields obtained since aspara-
gus growth is temperature sensitive (6). Higher concen-
trations of the major plant nutrients in the fern in 1959
might be due to more advanced physiological age at the time
of sampling brought on by the warmer air temperatures. N,
P, K, and Ca were more concentrated in spears taken in

1959 also, but this is most likely due to the greater rain-
fall during harvest in 1960 which could result in an in~
creased water uptake and consequent dilution of mineral
constituents.

All significant correlations from the 680 calculated
are shown in Table 2; however, discussion will generally be
limited to those found to occur for more than one season
since these are probably the most valid, and are summarized
in Table 3. Age of planting was highly and positively
correlated with soil phosphate content, due to the buildup
of this material in long fertilized fields. Age was nega-
tively correlated with Ca concentration in spears during
both years of the survey, possibly due to leaching of this
element from the relatively acid soils of the asparagus
fields sampled.

Phosphate and potash applications were positively and

 

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._o.o n m to“ m¢.o n M .mo.o n m sou mm.o
.Fo.o u a mom ms. 0 u .mo. 0 n a mom mn.o
.Fo.on m as wpapawo: AIIV ._o.o

LII.H.© mm
LII.M.U mm

H m as o>auamoo A++V

 

 

 

 

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m~.na a: gamma om. ++ mm. "L z macaw mm. II on.la Ma anon I a:
ma. "A m human mm. + mn.na so Locum mm. +
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om.np m Haom I m¢.na ma Haom + o¢.np oww I on.ua m upon + m:
ao.ua m Chou II do
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on.ua z mama + mo.na m chem ++ m¢.un w: sham ++ ao.na do each II A
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m¢.n& m macaw mm. I F¢.np m smog + w¢.n& so ago“ ++ mm.nh m chow + z
ma.nn npzoaw chow mm. ++ npsoaw chem
m#.ua ma HHOm ++ mm
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m¢.ua M Locum mm. I mm.na m Locum am. I
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.¢.nn :2 Locum mm. + n¢.up mama» mm. + mm.na M ooaamod + .Hooo momm
mm.na m HHOm ++ m¢.na mwm + .Haom z
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"spa: ompwaoaaoo ooazmcoz
mammaam>*
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oondsooa mosao> a ._0.0 n m um o>auowon AIIV “—0.0 n A no o>auamon A++v “mo.o n m no o>apowoc AIV
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~¢.na so aooom om. + o¢.np m2 anon + mm.nh m show ++ mm.np 2 show ++ m
mn.n& m upon I so
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mm.ua m show ++ om.ua m anon ++ z
w o
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n¢.na w: chow mm. + pm.na 2 upon mm. II m>.nh m pooam ++ m
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o¢.na Mo afiom mm. + w:
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mn.na ms chm“ +
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n¢.np on snow + mm.Ih as upon II ha.nn a: aooam II mm.na m nooam + z
oo.fla oaoah om. ++ ma." m .Hnmo mm. + oHlo Loonm
m¢.na so aooao om. I m¢.na ms pooao om. I om.na m .Haoo ++ .Hooo OMM
o¢.na w: snow I m¢.Ia M Chow + om.na M .Hano ++ .Haao mo m
ma.nn m nooam om. I .Hono z
o¢.np do mooam ow. I owd
”and: Mowwdoaaoo mmmmmmmml
oapoaao>*

 

\“

mmma I Mospo mswoaonmo ca upcosoasosos soozpon onoauoaoahoo moosaa pqooahaswam

Au.soov m mqm4e

 

 

22

«0.0 n m pom m¢.o n a mmod u m non mm.o n LII.M.o mm
.0.0 n m non oa.o u a “mo.o u m mow on.o u aII.h.o mm
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Hm ounoaoammooo soapoaoaaoo*

.mod n m as wisdom: To “mod n m as 9:338 To .Adé m3 28C?

 

 

 

 

 

o¢.na :2 saom mm. + m¢.u§ z .Haao mm. I m
m#.uh M .aooo mm. I w#.np m Show mm. + ma.nh a: show mm. I F¢.nfi oh moono + so
.¢.ua so nooao + om
mo.na a: show mm. ++ 22
m¢.ua M .Hmoo om.I o¢.na npzoaw anon mm. I mm.u& m pooom ++ ms
ma.na oo Show mm. + o&.un omo I so
o¢.un suzohw smog mm. I mm.u§ z goonm ++ M
o¢.nu om :aom mm. + mm.nh w: aoonm ++ m
mm.na M hooam ++ z nooom
mn.un M show mm. + om.na oaoah mm. ++ oaoah
hoonm
“a... a: oopoaoaaoo oohsmm o2
oHnoaao>*

 

IIIII

.omm_ I Mo>psm osmoaoomo 2H ogmoaoasmooa zoozpon oozaopno oaoapoaoaaoo pgooahficwfim Ap.soov m mamas

 

 

 

 

 

   

23

consistently correlated with each other, a fact which is not
surprising since most of the growers questioned used a mixed
fertilizer frequently supplemented with nitrogen. As was im-
plied in Table 1, no consistent yield response to fertilizer
was observed.

Spear and fern growth during the first year were
positively correlated with themselves in the second year,
but not with each other. Yield varied from a low of around
one-half ton to over two tons per acre, the former being
considerably below the requirement for economic production.
Fern production, which has been reported to be directly re-
lated to spear production (59. 64), varied even more widely,
from around 1,500 to over 17,000 pounds on a fresh weight
basis, or from 522 to 6,612 pounds dry matter per acre. It
is to be remembered that the data on spear production was
taken from receiving station receipts and growers estimates
of planted area and fern growth was extrapolated from mea-
surements taken on a 50-foot row. Both of these are some-
what subjective measurements.

Soil tests (Table 3), of samples collected only in
the first year of this study, showed some highly significant
correlations. Phosphorus soil values were correlated with
nitrOgen application, possibly because the fanmers using the
heavier fertilizer rates in general also put on the most
nitrOgen in the years of this study.

Potash in the soils sampled varied inversely with the

13H value. Magnesium concentration varied directly with soil

 

 

 

 

 

 

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nooo wnazoaaon noono an cacao onooh 03p on» non oooooandswam Hooapoapooo no oonmon *

.nowoon sumo non ocoapo>noono on no oooon macapoasoaoo\fl

‘1

I .I poopcoo omonomsoa anon + .++ pooanoo canon anon unopnoo noQQOo nooam
++ .++ psopnoo ooosomoos anon pcopaoo ooosownoa nooom

I .II pnoaa no owa onopnoo asaoaoo nooom

++ oaoaa nooao woaooooosm Apnwaozv oaoam nooam

+ .++ poopcoo noaqoo nooom
+ .+ anopnoo ssaooswos anon
++ .++ anopooo msnosnoono anon

Mm ++ .+ pconaOo nowonpaz anon unopooo nonon gnom
++ .++ esopQOo ooooowsos nooom unopaoo ooooomooa :nom

II .II acoocoo asaoooaoo snob t .+ anopnoo canon anon uaoanoo asaoonwoa anon

II .II anopnoo adaooswos snob psopooo asaooopoo anon

++ .++ unopsoo canon anon
++ .+ anopnoo nowonpds anon psopooo osnonooonn anon
++ .+ paopcoo canon anon

++ .+ psopnoo osnonooona snom poopnoo sowonaaa anon

++ nozonw anon msaooooosm Apnwaoxv npzonw anon

++ .+ oodaoao oaonnmonm ooaaoao noopom

++ .+ command noopom oodaaao ovonooonm

I .II psopnoo esmoaoo nooam wuaanoao no owa

 

 

“Smwm 0>d0 0 0 LCD“
*sflepn an 2 IIIdeIIIlwIIINeH pm a

 

.mo>nsm HonoHpansc osmonmooo osp ca
mQOmooo o>np:oomsoo 03o non osson macapoaonnoo noocHH umooananwao no anosasm .n mamae

 

 

 

 

25

pH. In Michigan lime is usually applied as Dolomitic lime-
stone and the woils having the highest pH values were un-
doubtedly those which had been limed.

The nitrogen, phosphorus, and boron concentration in
the fern were positively correlated with each other, while
potassium and magnesium were negatively correlated (Table 3).
This influence of K on Mg is a common occurrence. Boynton
(7) cites a number of instances in apple, Awad (3) found it
in leaves of Jonathan apples, and Carolus (13) in green
beans.. Magnesium concentration was positively correlated
with boron concentration in the fern which, in turn, varied
directly as the copper concentration of the edible spears.

The summary information in Table 1 was used in calcu-
lating the values found in Table 4. It should be noted that
fern normally remains on the field and is disked into the
soil in the spring, thus the nutrients found in this tissue
do not constitute removal. Two previous investigations of
asparagus composition included a similar calculation of

nutrient removal and are compared below:

N P K
lbs. A. removed
Brown, 2,300 lbs./A.--snapped asparagus 10.3 1.5 6.9
Brooks and Morse (11), 4,500 lbs./A.--
cut 15.0 2.1 12.4
Hester and Shelton (28), 4,000 lbs./A.--
out 16.0 1.8 803

Carolus (14) has reported that cut asparagus is about 53.5
per cent edible and since the snapped asparagus in this

 

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

anmmg---
.Nn no unwaoz nno omono>o so oooom \m
.RFM no unwaoz nno owono>o no oooom \a

a00.0 m00.0 m00.0 _00.0 .0.0 .0.0 sonom
ooo.o ooo.o moo.o .oo.o .o.o _o.o nooooo
no.0 No.0 .0.0 no.0 n..0 no.0 sonH
m00.0 no.0 m00.0 .00.0 no.0 m0.0 ooosowsos
m.o ¢.o ..o _.o o.o m.o sonooomoz
¢.0 m.0 ..0 m.0 m.0 m.— ssaoaoo
a.o m.> h.m n.m m.np m.mn asaooopom
a._ m._ o.0 o.0 m.w —.m osnonaoonn
o.m .... o.n n.¢ m.n_ a.mm nowononz

0mm. mam. 0mm. mum. oom— onmn

\Mouoa nooam
II II m_.0 m0.0 No.0 «0.0 0o.0 ¢N.O sonom
II II No.0 no.0 moo. 0 m00.0 m..0 FF.0 noaaoo
II II mn.0 nn.0 m0. 0 a0.0 .m.n mm.0 nonH
II II no.0 o..o .o. o _o.o mm. o om.o ooooooooz
II II a.m m.m 0.. No.0 a. on n.on asnmoowoz
II II m.m_ n.m_ m.n o.m m.mm m.mm ssnoaoo
m.¢¢ _.m¢ n.ao a.¢o m.m m.» m. pmm a. aan ssaoownon
n.m m.o N.¢ m.m —._ 0.. m.mp a. n. osnosooonm
m.mm «.me o.¢m m.oo o.e. _.m. o.mm_ m. an. cowononz
\Hopoa anon
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A.><v .Mooa osao> owonona osao> :04 osao> swam
no pooo non
.Aonoo non mocsoa

adv Ho>oson oopoasoaoo no manop on oswonoamo onspos no cannonaadns pooanasz .a mqmdn

 

 

 

 

 

27

present study was essentially all edible material, the yields
from Brooks and Morse (11) and Hester and Shelton (27) are
approximately equivalent, respectively, to 2,407 and 2,140
pounds per acre of snapped asparagus. Considering this
factor, the values reported are in quite close agreement even
though they were widely separated in space and time, i.e.,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Michigan, and 1919, 1949, and
1959, respectively.

Assuming that the nutrient removal figuraain Table
4 do present a realistic picture, it becomes apparent that
the annual fertilizer requirement of asparagus is quite
small when compared to the amounts normally applied (Table

1).

 

 

3.

 

RESPONSE TO MATURE ASPARAGUS T0 VARIABLE

FERTILIZER APPLICATION

In order to obtain more objective data than was
possible with the survey reported in the previous section, a
field experiment with mature asparagus was instituted at East
Lansing and selected plots chosen for sampling from a ferti-

lizer study already in progress at Sodus, Michigan.

Materials and Methods

 

A. Studies with an 11-Year 01g Planting
A field of Mary washington asparagus, located on the

Horticulture Farm at East Lansing, was utilized in evalu-
ation of the effects of fertilizer application on yield and
composition of the crop. Prior to the commencement of this
study, the entire field had received a complete fertilizer
annually. Twelve treatments were applied in a randomized,
complete block design, in which a block consisted of a
single, 30-foot long section of row. Single guard rows
alternated with treated rows and a five-foot section of row
was left untreated between plots. Each treatment occurred
in two replications.

The materials, applied in July, 1958, and again in
.April. 1959. and May, 1960, are listed in Table 5.

28

   

29

Samples of mature green fern were collected from each
plot on September 2, 1958. In both 1959 and 1960 yield
records were taken from each plot and samples of both edible

spears and mature fern were saved for chemical analysis.

B. Fertilizer of fi-Year 01d Asparagus

Selected plots from a fertilizer experiment on a
field of five-year old asparagus of the Viking variety were
also sampled. Planted in 1955. the treatments listed in
Table 9 were first applied in April 1956 and continued un-
changed to the present. Yields reported are on the basis
of four replicates while composition data are derived from
two. Each plot consisted of a 33-foot long section of a
single row, with guard rows on either side. The data were
analyzed as a randomized complete block design. Mature fern
for chemical analysis was collected in September, 1958 and
again in 1959 and 1960. Edible spears were sampled in 1959
and 1960.

Results and Discussion

Marketable yields from the older planting averaged
4,998 pounds of snapped asparagus per acre in the first
harvest year reported and 4,226 in the second year when
temperatures averaged five to six degrees lower (Table 5).
For the same two years the five-year old asparagus averaged
1,310 and 1,579 pounds of snapped asparagus per acre (Table

6). This disparity is not attributable to variety as Honma

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE 5. Yield of asparagus in response to variable ferti-

3O

lizer application on an 11-year old planting

(pounds per acre).

 

 

1959 1960 Average
Treatment Applied gggfg* §§2I3* 1353260
N-P205- K20

0-0-0 4050 3432 3741
0-0-120 3784 3641 3737
0-120-0 5496 4537 5016
120-0-0 6822 5367 6094
120-120-120 (STD.) 3451 3557 3509
120-120-240 5901 5144 5522
120-240-120 5653 4731 5192
240-120-120 4169 2970 3569
Manure 10 T/A. 5402 4521 4961
STD. + Na20 (120 1bs./A.) 5682 4598 5140
STD. + MgO (120 lbs./A.) 4561 3981 4271
STD. + CaO (12o lbs./A.) 5992__ 4g31__ _4§;9
General Mean 4998.6 4226.4 4612
29 24 37

,C° v. %

 

*Data for single years are averages from two replications.

No significant differences in yield were observed in

either year of this study or when data were combined from
both years. All asparagus harvested by snapping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

31

TABLE 6. Yield of asparagus in response to variable ferti-
lizer application on a 5-year old planting
(pounds per acre).

 

 

Treatment 3I2I2* §§2I8* EISI§* Agiggge

Applied 1958 1959 1960 1958-59-60*
N'PQOS' K20
60-40-40 837 1202 1563 1201
60-80-80 788 1227 1486 1167
120-40-80 948 1428 1801 1392
120-80-40 800 1206 1572 1193
120-80-80 1071 1514 1916 1500
120-80-160 866 1404 1596 1288
120-160-80 825 1350 1416 1197
120-160-160 _8_25_ #5; _12_§_2_I_ _1_0§2_
General Mean 870 1310 1579 1253
C.V. % 23 27 25 45

 

*Data for single years are averages for four replications.
No significant differences in yield were observed in any
one year of this study or when data from the three years
were combined. All asparagus harvested by snapping.

 

 

32

 

 

 

TABLE 7. Average mineral composition of asparagus spears and
fern from a variably fertilized 11-year old plant-
1958 1959 1960
Element % D.w. C.V. % % D.w. C.V. % % D.w. C.V. %
Spear Data

NitrOgen -- -- 5.65 6 5.95 5
Phosphorus -- -- 0.76 8 0.71 10
Potassium -- -- 3.63 3 3.52 8
Calcium -- -- 0.23 18 0.28 13

p.p.m. p.p.m. p.p.m.
Manganese -- -- 31.2 19 46.0 18
Iron -- -- 80.4 12 73.2 10
Copper -- -- 24.2 16 22.8 11
Boron -- -- 21.1 14 17.7 16
Zinc -- -- 76.7 13 78.4 13
Molybdenum -- -- 1.3 28 1.3* 16
Aluminum -- -- 27.7 37 18.4 27

Fern Data

% D.W. C.V. % % D.W. C.V. 5% D.W. C.V.
Nitrogen 2.40 8 2.27 8 1.80 9
Phosphorus 0.22 14 0.21 17 0.19 20
Potassium 2.23 10 2.22* 9 2.28 11
Calcium 0.91 15 0.87 9 0.56 13
Magnesium 0.25 17 0.20 13 0.15 14

popomo popomc p.p.m.
Manganese 49.8 13 100.8* 36 80.1 53
Iron 131.7 14 112.9 18 105.1 13
Copper 14.3 25 10.6 28 11.4 24
Boron 48.2 33 64.5 20 37.6 18
Zinc -- -- 20.7 14 24.3 12
Molybdenum -- -- 2 . 9 26 2 . 5 20
.Aluminum -- -- 199.8 19 149.2 48

‘

*Data presented are general means, those starred showed

significant differences between treatment means.

 

 

33

 

 

TABLE 8. Average mineral composition of asparagus spears
and fern from a variably fertilized 5-year old
planting.

1958 1959 1960
Element % D.W. c.v.'% % D.w. C.V. % % D.w. 0.v. %
Spear Data

Nitrogen -- -- 6.46 7 6.25 4

Phosphorus -- -- 0.87 6 0.90 6

Potassium -- -- 3.89 5 4.16 4

Calcium -- -- 0.34 12 0.28 8

Magnesium -- -- 0.20 5 0.20 2

p.p.m. p.p.m. p.p.m.

Manganese -- -- 77.1“ 13 75.2 21

Iron -- -- 158.9, 18 114.7 33

Copper -- -- 28.2 5 24.0 28

Zinc -- -- 104.1 6 92.6 8

Molybdenum -- -- 1.5 33 0.8* 32

Aluminum -- -- 79.0 17 61.0 15

Fern Data
5 D.w. C.V. % % D.w. C.V. % % D.w. C.V. %

Nitrogen 2.11 7 1.78 5 2.05 12

Phosphorus 0.24 17 0.17 8 0.20 12

Potassium 2.21 13 2.08 7 2.09 12

Calcium 1.08 32 0.68* 9 0.82 18

Magnesium 0.26 23 0.20 11 0.20 17

p.p.m. p.p.m. p.p.m.

Manganese 91.4 35 118.7 39 88.1 27

Iron 106.1 17 135.9 9 125.7 13

Copper 14.5 25 10.4 38 12.5 54

Boron 44.8 19 37.2 16 46.4 18

Zinc -- -- 24.0 12 30.6 21

.MOlybdenum -- -- 2.6 29 2.6 32

.Aluminum -- -- 226.3 N 23 191.1 25

-—__._

*Data presented are general means, those starred showed

significant differences between treatment means.

 

1rv_.._____._ _-_ _

 

 

 

   

-34

(29) found no significant yield differences between the
Viking and Mary Washington varieties after six years of har-
vest, but rather due to differences in age and soil edaphic
conditions. The 11-year old Mary Washington was grown in a
sandy loam soil and the 5-year old Viking on a sand from
which nutrients, particularly nitrogen, could be more readily
leached.

Statistical analyses indicated that there was no
significant yield response to any fertilizer treatment at
either location. This is contrary to the results reported
by Brasher (8), Seaton (55), Brooks and Morse (11), Rahn (47),
White and Boswell (66), all of whom reported yield increases
to certain fertilizer practices. Wide differences between
replicates in yield produced relatively large experimental
erros and large coefficients of variation, making statistical
significance difficult to obtain.

The composition data obtained from these experiments,
in terms of the average value for each element in each tissue
as well as the calculated coefficients of variation are
summarized in Tables 7 and 8. The spears from the younger
plants contained somewhat higher concentrations of N, P,
and K than the older ones and much higher concentrations of
an, Fe, Zn, and Al, possibly attributable to age, variety,
£3011 type, or some combination of these. These consistent
(iifferences were not obtained in the fern except for aluminum

thlich was about 50 per cent higher in the younger plants.

Significant differences between treatment means were observed

15.. ' “11871“

1 ”‘1'.

 

 

 

 

 

35

for Ca and Mn in fern and M0 in spears from 11-year old
plants (Tables 9 and 10), and from Mn, Cu, and Al in spears
and Mg in the fern from the younger plants (Tables 11 and 12).

The situation with calcium (found only in 1959) in
the 11-year old plants (Table 9) is comparable to that found
by Reuther and Smith (51) in Valencia oranges and by Carolus
(13) with the bean; as the level of potassium increased in
the medium, the utilization of Ca by the plant decreased.
Lundegardh's (40) work in solution cultures reflects the
same finding. The manganese concentration in the plants
reflects the findings of Downes (18) in the onion and again
of Reuther and Smith with oranges, where the Mn content of
the tissue increases as the nitrogen application is increased
(Table 9).

Magnesium was most concentrated in 5-year old fern
which had received the lowest rate of fertilizer application
but did not differ significantly between any other of the
treatments (Table 11). This suggests the potash-magnesium
antagonism reported by Boynton (7) on apples, Carolus (13)
with bean, and Smith et a1. (56) with citrus. Asparagus
plants receiving the highest levels of potassium contained
the lowest concentrations of magnesium in two years out of
three. Manganese (Table 11) was consistently higher in
spears which received the higher nitrogen application, bear-
ing out the work cited above. Reuther and Smith (51) found
that copper content of apple leaf tissue varied inversely with

nitrogen application and a suggestion of this was found here,

_I usr"-1I-». 1“". ii“

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

TABLE 9. Calcium and manganese concentration in fern of 11-
year old asparagus as influenced by treatment.
Treatment 1/ Statfi StatIf Stat.
Applied 1958- Sig. 1959 Sig. 1960 Sig.*
N-P20 -K20
lbs.?A. Calcium concentration - % dry weight
0-0-0 0.86 a 0.86 abcd 0.52 a
0-0-120 0.84 a 0.72 cd 0.50 a
0-120-0 0.84 a 0.84 abcd 0.58 a
120-0-0 0.92 a 1.00 ab 0.55 a
STD. 0.96 a 0.97 ab 0.60 a
120-120-240 0.88 a 0.70 d 0.58 a
120-240-120 0.88 a 0.80 bcd 0.58 a
240-120-120 0.98 a 1.02 a 0.56 a
Manure 0.96 a 0.90 abc 0.58 a
STD. + Na 0 0.90 a 0.82 abcd 0.67 a
STD. + Mgg 0.94 a 0.89 abcd 0.47 a
STD. + CaO 0.24 a 0.26 ab 0.55 a
General Mean 0.91 0.87 0.56
c. V. a; 15 9 13
Manganese concentration - parts per million
0-0-0 44.0 a 51.0 cd 38.0 a
0-0-120 41.0 a 56.5 cd 38.0 a
0-120-0 45.5 a 47.0 d 40.0 a
120-0-0 53.0 a 92.0 bcd 51.5 a
STD. 52.5 a 86.0 bcd 74.0 a
120-120-240 47.0 a 98.0 bcd 87.5 a
120-240-120 52.5 a 91.0 bcd 95.0 a
240-120-120 57.0 a 216.0 a 145.5 a
Manure 55.5 a 55.0 cd 41.0 a
STD. + N 0 48.0 a 135.0 abc 173.5 a
STD. + Mg 47.5 a 136.5 abc 79.5 a
STD. + Ca0 54,5 a 145.5 ab 28,0 a
General Mean 49.8 100.8 80.1
c. v. z 13 36 53

-—‘

 

l/All data presented as treatment means.

Treatment means designated with the same letter do not

differ significantly at P = 0.05.

 

37

 

TABLE 10. Molybdenum concentration in asparagus spears from
11-year old plants as influenced by treatment.

 

 

Treatment 1 Stat* Stat¥
Applied 1959-/ Sig. 1960 Sig.
parts per million

0-0-0 1.15 a 1.00 of
0-0-120 1.50 a 1.75 a
0-120-0 1.65 a 1.55 abcd
120-0-0 1.65 a 1.65 ab
STD. 0.65 a 1.50 abcde
120-120-240 1.25 a 1.60 abc
120-240-120 1.15 a 0.90 f
240-120-120 1.55 a 1.35 abcdef
Manure 1.05 a 1.05 def
STD. + Na 0 1.45 a 1.65 ab
STD. + M53 0.95 a 1.20 bcdef
STD. + CaO 1.60 a 1,10 cdef
General Mean 1.30 1.36

c. v. z 28 16

 

1/ All data presented as treatment means.

Treatment means designated with the same letter do
not differ significantly at P = 0.05.

 

 

 

 

 

38

 

 

TABLE 11. Magnesium concentration in fern and manganese
concentration in spears of 5-year old asparagus
as influenced by treatment.

Treatment ,/ Stat, Stat, Stata
Applied 1958- Sig. 1959 Sig. 1960 Sig.
N-P 05-A. K2 0
“8 Magnesium in fern - % dry weight

60-40-40 0.25 a 0.28 a 0.24 a

60-80-80 0.25 a 0.20 b 0.19 a

120-80-40 0.26 a 0.20 b 0.23 a

120-80-80 0.27 a 0.21 b 0.19 a

120-160-80 0.27 a 0.18 b 0.20 a

General Mean 0.26 0.20 0.20

CO V. ,0 23 1 1

Manganese in Spear - parts per million

60-80-80 69.0 bc 65.5 a

120-40-80 91.0 ab 78.5 a

120-80-80 9505 a- 770 5 a

120-80-160 84.0 ab 84.0 a

120-160—80 72.0 abc 69.5 a

- 120-160-160 18,0 ab 22,5 a

General Means 77.1 75.2

C. V. 13 21

 

l/All data presented as treatment means.

* Treatment means designated with the same letter do not
differ significantly at P =

 

I In) III? 1))

 

 

 

 

39

TABLE 12. Copper and aluminum concentration in spears of
5-year old asparagus as influenced by treatment.

 

 

Treatment 1/ Stat. Stat,

Applied 1959-/ Sig.” 1960 Sig.
N-PQO - K20 Copper concentration - parts per million
lbs.?A.
60-40-40 33.2 a 20.8 a
60-80-80 27.6 be 22.2 a
120-40-80 27.4 bc 23.4 a
120-80-40 29.6 b 24.4 a
120-80-80 26.6 be 24.2 a
120-80-160 29.2 b 33.8 a
120-160-80 24.2 c 20.6 a
120-160-160 28.0 b 22,8 a
General Mean 28.2 24.0
c. v. 5 5 28

Aluminum concentration - parts per million

60-40-40 64.0 a 45.0 0
60-80-80 80.5 a 71.0 ab
120-40-80 8155 a 65.0 bc
120-80-40 94.0 a 90.0 a
120-80-80 89.0 a 49.0 bc
120-80-160 83.0 a 60.0 bc
120-160-80 72.0 a 52.0 bc
120-160-160 68.0 a 56,0 bc
General Mean 79.0 61.0
c. v. 5 17 15

 

‘l/All data presented as treatment means.

* Treatment means designated with the same letter do not

differ significantly at P = 0.05.

l a “1”“:- 0' _A

 

 

 

40

but the data are not conclusive on this point (Table 12).
Copper was most concentrated in plants receiving the minimum
level of the three nutrients applied in 1959.

Climatological factors undoubtedly influenced the
concentration in plant tissue of the various elements deter-
mined. A summary of weather information for the two locations

at which the experiments were conducted is shown below:

11-Year 5-Year
Plantin __.B__PlLuna___6.
1958 195 1960 195 1959 19 0

Mean Air Temperatures - OF.

 

April 48 48 50 50 48 52
May 58 53 57 59 54 57
June 62 69 65 63 71 66
July 70 71 69 72 73 71
“5““ 29 22 22 2}. ES 23
September 2

Average 62 67 63 63 37

Total Precipitation - Inches

April 1.5 4.2 2.7 2.8 3.7 3.0
May 0.4 2.7 3.5 2.4 2.8 4.1
June , 3.5 2.2 3.5 4.3 1.3 4.5
July 4.6 5.6 2.0 2.7 4.9 2.0
August 3.5 4.5 3.8 2.6 1.6 3.:
September 2 8 2. 1,; g,3 2.2 1.

Total 16.3 22.0 1 . 17.1 17.2 15.4

In spears from the older plants, five of the ten ele-
ments determined were most concentrated in the 1959 samples
and five in the 1960 samples. Spears of the five-year old
Plants contained the greatest concentrations of all elements,
except P and K, in 1959. Almost four more inches of rain

<iuring spear harvest reduced the dry matter content and so

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

41

the concentration of most of the mineral constituents in the

spears in 1960.

N, P, Ca, and Mg were most concentrated in fern col-
lected from both locations in 1958 conceivably resulting
from the lesser rainfall for the season, and consequent
advance in physiological age at the time of sampling. Con-
centration of the remainder of the elements varied between

samples from the three years and the two ages of plants.

 

 

 

 

 

UTILIZATION OF APPLIED PHOSPHORUS AND DEPLETION
OF MINERAL RESERVES IN GROWTH OF
FIVE-YEAR OLD ASPARAGUS

The extensive mass of asparagus roots containing
large carbohydrate and mineral reserves makes it difficult

to evaluate response to or utilization of applied nutrients.

 

Study of phosphorus utilization was made possible by the
use of the radioisotOpe P32 which could be determined easily
in the tissue. The effect of seasonal demands on storage
reserves could most easily be observed in a sand culture

situation.

A. Utilization of Applied Phosphorug

WW2

Five-year old asparagus plants which had not been
fertilized for three years were used in this study. The
planting consisted of a double row of asparagus with plants
spaced at two foot intervals in rows spaced four feet apart.
Six treatments were assigned in duplicate at random to four
plant plots.

Phosphorus was applied on April 25 at three rates:
0, 30, and 90 pounds per acre, and at three depths: 4 inches,
8 inches, and a half each at 4 and 8 inches. All the phos-
'phorus was applied as monammonium phosphate in water.

42

 

 

   

43

solution, with the P39 added as high specific activity H3PO4.
The field received a uniform application of 100 pounds per
acre of N and K20 as a soil drench.

The treatments were applied, with a stainless steel
probe attached to a graduated medical syringe, as ten 10-
milliliter injections of stock solution per plant at the
appropriate depth, with injections evenly spaced in the
shape of a two by four feet rectangle with the plant at the
center. The treatments are indicated in Table 13.

The edible portions of the spears, harvested by
"snapping" from May 5 to June 11 to approximate commercial
practice, were dried and ground for analysis. The ground
material from the various harvests for each treatment was
grouped into composite samples, as indicated in Table 13.

The total phosphorus content was determined colori-
metrically using the method of Lindner (38), and the quantity
of phosphorus supplied by the applied fertilizer was esti-
mated using a briquet method similar to that described by

MacKenzie and Dean (41).
Results and Discussion

A statistical evaluation indicated that neither the
quantity nor placement of applied phosphorus had a signifi-
cant influence on the yields obtained (Table 13).

Total phosphorus content of the dried spears varied
from 0.58 to 0.80 per cent for individual samples and from

0.66 to 0.68 per cent for treatment means, which also were

 

 

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45

not significantly different. This uniformity in the total
phosphorus content of the asparagus throughout the season
indicated that the phosphorus applied had no measurable
effect on spear composition.

The percentages of plant phosphorus obtained from
radioactive fertilizer were significantly different when

subjected to an analysis of variance (57) (Table 13). The

I‘m:-

maximum utilization of the P32 tagged fertilizer was 0.06
per cent in treatment B, and equivalent of 0.02 pounds per
acre. Treatments D and F used the equivalent of 0.03 pounds
each, the maximum actual removal of fertilizer by the har-
vested crop. Linear regression lines, shown in Figure 1,
were calculated for each treatment using the formula
y = a + bx, where a and b are constants, y the concentration
of P32 in the sample, and x the sampling date. The re-
duction in sum of squares, due to fitting the linear term x,
was significant in every case, indicating that the straight
. lines shown adequately represent the results obtained. In-
spection of the observed points in Figure 1 suggested the
possibility of a curvilinear response to treatments C, E, and
F, but when this was tested, the improvement in fit of the
regression lines obtained was not significant (44). The
salient feature of these data is that in every case the
concentration of P32 in the spears continued to increase
throughout the harvest season.

Eggert et a1. (21) state that in apple trees utilizing

P32, small quantities were measureable in the tissue in July

wF—T

 

 

 

 

 

 

46

and significant amounts in September, suggesting a utiliz-
ation pattern similar to that found in asparagus.

The increase in the utilization of P32 may be due to
an increase in root development and function as the soil be-
comes warmer. For the 30-pound rate, utilization was slower

than for the 90-pound rate of application. Spears, parti-

, n.4,...-
i

cularly in early harvests, utilized more P32 from that placed
at the four than from the eight-inch depth. This may be re-

lated to the earlier development of an active root system

(gram—«mu

in the warmer and better aerated surface soil. At both rates,
the regression lines for single depths of P32 placement are
converging, indicating an equalization of placement effect

in time. This was not verifiable because of reduced P32
activity by the end of the season. The line in Figure 1,
denoting the most rapid rate of utilization, is for the
variable depth application, which suggested that this
placement may expose more roots to the volume of treated

soil.

B. Depletion of Mineral Reserves

Materials and Methods
Twenty five-year old asparagus plants of the Mary
Washington variety were dug in April and replanted in washed
sand in shortened 55-gallon drums. The plants were quite
variable in size as reflected in individual weights varying
from 3.1 to 12.8 pounds each. In order to minimize differ-

ences, they were grouped'into five "treatment groups" of four

 

 

 

 

 

 

4?

APPLIED P-% DRY WEIGHT

0.0u0

0.0mm

0.0 No

0.0.0

0.0.0

0.000

0.000

 

 

 

 

 

 

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bromUSOfiCm pa mmpmfimmzm museum mm pdwwsmnoom cw seem who moves

on cwmoosms?

 

 

 

 

 

48

Single plants which varied in total weight from 31.4 to 35.7
pounds. The average weight per plant was 8.4 pounds. The
statistical design used was a randomized complete block of
five treatments each occurring in four replicates. The
treatments were applied once on April 22, the N as ammonium
nitrate, P as treble superphosphate, K as a mixture of
muriate, and sulfate of potash, and NeP-K as 12-12-12
fertilizer.

Aerial growth was harvested at a height of eight

ngt‘srzrrs Pp?"

inches until October 23 when the crowns were removed from
the drums. The crowns were then washed and dried for

analysis.

Results and Discussion

 

All aerial growth, both spears and fern, was con-
sidered in calculating the yield (Table 14). All growth
was harvested until the plants were dug out of the drums in
order to exert the greatest possible drain on the mineral
supplies of the crowns. No significant differences in growth
were observed (Table 14).

The nutrients applied had no significant influence
on the concentration of any of the nutrients determined on
the final dry weight basis (Table 14). Coefficients of
variation varied from 13 for magnesium to 75 for zinc; the
latter due primarily to two samples, one from a check plant
and one from a plant receiving N only.

Results obtained in this experiment taken in

 

 

 

 

 

49

TABLE 14. Aerial growth and crown composition of four-year

old asparagus grown in sand culture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treatment
N-P 05-K20 Top Growth N P
_(lgs.[A.) (5.1 plant) (% dry wt.) (% drygwt.)
1oo-o-o 9081/ 1.38 0.35
0-100-0 886 1.37 0.35
0-0-100 944 1.20 0.33
0-0-0 846 1.16 0.21
General Mean 893 1.29 0.32
c. v. ,3; 31 21 20
K Ca Mg

Treatment (% dry wt.) (Z dry wt.) (% dry wt.)
100-0-0 1.49 0.94 0.22
0-100-0 1.61 0.82 0.21
0-0-100 1.27 0.80 0.20
100-100-100 1.37 0.81 0.20
0-0-0 1. 4 0.%2 0,12
General Mean 1. 0. 2 0.20
c. v. t 21 17 13

Mn Cu B
Treatment p.p.m. p.p.m. . m.
0-100-0 176 19.4 43.2
0-0-100 149 20.1 44.9
100-100-100 171 21.2 43.9
0-0-0 _133_ 20. 41.8
General Mean 155 19. 42.8
C. V. "5 19 16 14

Zn Mo
Treatment p.p.m. p.p.m.
0-100-0 35.5 3.2
100-100-100 43.5 4.7
0-0-0 6%.0 2.6
General Mean . .0
c. v. 9: 75 33
l/All data presented as treatment means. There were no

significant differences observed between treatment means
for growth or for concentration of any element.

 

 

 

 

 

50

 

<3onjunction with those reported in previous sections of this
dissertation lend credence to the theory that composition of

mature asparagus crowns is not readily affected by fertilizer
application.

 

 

 

INFLUENCES OP NUTRITION ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND
MINERAL COMPOSITION DURING EARLY GROWTH OF
ASPARAGUS

lntroductigp

All of the work previously outlined has been concerned
with asparagus which was considered commercially productive.
In order to obtain information on the response of newly
planted asparagus to applied nutrients, a sand culture ex-
periment was established in which the mineral resources of

the plants could be closely controlled.
Materials and Methods

Forty-eight 55-gallon drums with the top third re-
moved were embedded in soil and provided with suitable drain-
age. FOrty-five were filled with bank sand of neutral pH
and three with a manured soil. All drums exposed a surface
area of three square feet. Twenty grams of elemental sulfur
added to each sand drum changed the pH to about 6.0.

Three one-year old Mary Washington asparagus crowns,
‘Weighing 30 to 40 grams each, were planted in each drum on
.April 10. The fertilizer chemicals were applied three weeks
Slater, and again in May of the following year, in a random-

1.zed block design consisting of three replications of 16

51

 

 

All"!
"ll’ll

 

   

52

‘treatments each. Treatments consisted of six nutrients
applied in various concentration combinations as listed in
Table 15. Treatment (1), the X level of all elements, is
the check treatment and also the medium or X level of each
nutrient variable.

The drums were exposed to seasonal rainfall which
amounted to 22 inches in 1959 and 16 inches in 1960 for the
months April through September. They received an additional
one inch of deionized water per week during dry periods.

On October 10 and again on September 26 of the follow-
ing year, the largest plant in each drum was removed and
separated at the soil line into tap and roots. Fresh weights
were recorded and the dried, ground material analyzed chemi-

cally for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, B, Zn, Mo, Fe, and Al.

Results and Discussion

Plants grown in soil with the medium level of all
nutrients made the greatest top and root growth in both years
of the study. In the first year t0p growth from these plants
exceeded any other by a hundred per cent, but in the second
the differences had diminished to about 20 per cent. Root
growth remained about twice as large for the soil grown
Tplants as for any other for both years.

This suggests that the sand treatments did not furnish
Elufficient nutrients to the plants, probably due to leaching

<31'those applied. 0f the single elements varied, only

r11trogen resulted in growth increases with increased

 

 

 

 

TABLE 15

Outline of Nutrient Treatments

 

Medium (X) Level of Nutrients in Pounds per Acre

 

Element Rate Chemical Sources
N 100 NH NO , KNO , (NH ) HPO , Ca(NO ) '2H 0
P . 100 (Nfi4)2HPo ,BKH P04 2 4 3 2 2
x 100 KNO , KH2P04, % 33 , KCl
Ca 100 Ca(§03)2-2H20, aac 2-6H20
Na 100 NaCl
Mg 50 MgSO4'7H20

 

Description*

X all

fix all

4X all
ix N ix MgO
4x N 4X Mao
ix P205 ix Na20
4x P205 4x Na20
ix K20 ix CaO
4x K20 4x CaO

X level of all nutrients in
manured soil.

 

*With the exception of the first three treatments, all
nutrients other than the one listed were maintained at
the medium or X level.

 

 

 

 

54

application, thus the larger growth of the soil grown plants
may be due to the continued availability of nitrogen in the
manured soil and not in the sand. Conversely, the restricted
fern growth of the plants receiving the fix All and the fix N
treatments is probably due to the limited nitrogen supply.
Variation between individual plants was much greater in

terms of top growth in the first year than in the second, re-
sulting in a coefficient of variation of over 50 per cent
(Table 16). The smallest root growth was obtained with the
heaviest application of potassium in the first year and with
the heaviest sodium application in the second year. Also,

in the second year there was much more variation between
plants in root growth than in the first, the reverse of the
situation found in the fern. Generally there was less
intrasample variation between roots than tops, suggesting
that the underground portions of asparagus become
stabilized in size before top growth does.

Dry matter content of the samples collected was
essentially constant, at 44.6 and 44.9 per cent, respectively,
for the fern of the two- and three-year old plants and 40.6
and 40.9 per cent for the roots taken the same years.

At the end of the first season, nitrogen was from two
to four times as concentrated in the teps and three to six
times in the roots of soil as in sand grown plants, again
indicating the influence of organic matter on maintaining
Ilitrogen available for developing asparagus (Table 17).

lduch more nitrogen was taken up in the 4X All and 4X N

 

 

 

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57

'treatments than in any others (Tables 16 and 17) of the sand
treatments. Concentration of N in fern of the three-year
old plants became stabilized to the point where no signifi-
cant differences were found, but the concentration in roots
varied more in the older than the younger plants.'

Although nitrogen concentration had been influenced
by the soil, there was no difference in phosphorus concen-
tration between the soil-grown plants and the sand-grown
plants. The average P concentration in both fern and roots
drOpped markedly from the first to the second year of the
study; possibly indicating that the P in the two-year old
plants came from that stored in the roots and that in the
three-year old plants was influenced by treatment (Table 18).
In the older fern the P concentration in the plants receiv-
ing 4X P was almost double that in those receiving %x P.
There was an indication of a growth response in the younger
plants but no concentration change (Table 16). This is com-
parable to Lilleland's (35) work with apple, peach, and
prune in which one-year old trees exhibited a growth response
to applied P, but three-year old trees did not and also in
which the P concentration in leaves was lower in the older
than in the younger trees.

Soil grown plants consistently contained more
Ipotassium than any others, in both t0p and root tissue. As
{Fable 15 indicates, there was no positive response to high
Ibotash application and, in fact, a depression of root growth.

{Phis is interesting in view of the fact that in each case

 

 

 

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59

the plants receiving the 4X application contain more than
those receiving the fix application (Table 19). This suggests
a luxury consumption situation substantiated by the data
presented in Tables 16 and 19 which show that plants receiv-
ing the largest nitrogen application and showing more growth
consistently contained potassium in lesser concentration

than those receiving the least nitrogen and showing least
growth. Thus, the higher tissue concentration of potassium
failed to benefit the plants.

The calcium concentration in the roots of soil-grown
plants was greater in both years of this study and the re-
mainder of the samples was essentially homogeneous statistic-
ally for this element, indicating little effect of Ca
concentration in sand culture on root tissue concentration
(Table 20).

Concentration in the top growth did not vary signifi-
cantly in two-year old tissue even though the samples
receiving the 400 pound rate of CaO contained the most
calcium, doubtless due to the random variation evidenced in
a coefficient of variation of 29 per cent. Statistical
differences were observed in three-year old tissue and the
highest Ga concentration was found in plants receiving the
fix A11 treatment. This may be due to the poor growth re-
sulting from the low rate of fertilization and too high Ca
in the soil.

Generally speaking, the concentration of calcium in

'the top growth is two or three times that in root tissue,

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62

thus Ca in the roots did not reflect Ca in the fern, due to
the immobility of this element in plant tissue (12).

Magnesium evidenced the same phenomenon as calcium:
the roots of soil-grown plants contained more Mg than the
remainder, which fell into one class statistically. Another
similarity was the higher average concentration of the ele-
ment in top growth than in roots (Table 21).

Concentration varied significantly between top growth
samples, and an inverse relationship with potash appli-
cation (similar to that noted in the nutritional survey)
confirmed work of Boynton (7), Carolus (13), and Reuther
et al. (50). Mg additions apparently exerted no influence
on plant growth (Table 16) in either fern or roots.

Sodium determinations were made only on plants re-
ceiving X All, % Na, and 4 Na, and the average values pre-
sented in Table 24. No fern growth response was obtained
with Na, but in the older plants the 4X application de-
‘pressed root growth (Table 16). Na concentrations averaged
133,229 and 374 parts per million in the younger fern
samples receiving the fix, X, and 4x applications and 216,
370, and 813 parts per million in the older fern samples.
Sodium concentration increased with increased application
in the root samples also; 148, 343, and 367 parts per
million in two-year old roots; and 194, 277, and 558 in
three-year old roots for the ix, X, and 4X rates of appli-
cation. Concentration increased in a more nearly linear

fashion with application rate in the older plants, perhaps

 

 

 

 

 

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54

due to increased absorptive root surface.

Manganese (Table 22) was least concentrated in fern
of soil-grown plants suggesting an inverse relationship with
nitrogen concentration (Table 17). There is a suggestion of
this in two-year old roots but not in fern, a situation
different from that found by Downes (18) or in field experi-
ments previously described. Treatments exerted no signifi-
cant effect on Mn concentration in roots of either age.

Boron was more concentrated in both fern and roots of

 

the younger than in the older plants (Table 23). Soil-
grown fern contained generally lower concentrations of B
than sand-grown fern, but the values were comparable to
those from plants receiving the 4X All and 4X N treatments.
This suggests an inverse relationship with N applied
similar to Downes' (18) results with onion bulbs. No
significant differences were observed in B concentration
between root samples in either year of this study or in
fern samples from the first year of sampling.

The extremely high concentration of iron and aluminum
in the plant tissue made it impossible to obtain reliable
data with the spectrographic method used (Table 24).

The average concentration of Cu, Zn, and Mo are
presented for reference in Table 24. In general, no
significant differences between treatment means were found.

Table 25 contains data on relative growth response
to and utilization of six applied elements by young sand

grown asparagus. The values obtained from three-year old

 

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59

plaxr‘bs are expressed as percentages of those from two-year
°1d plants.

Only in fern of sand grown plants receiving the 4X N

t1‘eetrhment were the growth and composition values lower for
the older plants, suggesting that the optimum nitrogen

application for the conditions of the experiment had been
passed.

Phosphorus content and fern growth were essentially
IAnchanged for plants receiving the 400-pound per acre
aol'Jplication of this element,

indicating that this application
was adequate for the experiment.

Both growth and nutrient contact of K, Ca, Mg, and

Na treated plants increased in the second year compared to
the first.

. m7,—

 

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GENERAL DISCUSSION

It has been reported in the literature that storage

reServes in the fleshy roots of asparagus furnish the neces-

Sary materials for production of the edible spears (30, 64),
‘DLrt investigators (3, 8, 55, 65, 66) have taken little
c<>gnizance of this in conducting nutritional experiments
'With the crop. As early as 1916, Morse (42) published a
careful study of the composition of the various portions of
the asparagus plant and Hester (28), in 1949, published
figures on the removal of ten elements in two tons of cut
spears, but neither of these studies appear to have been
seriously considered in fertilizer trials with asparagus or
in formulating recommendations for the crap.

Several workers have suggested that nitrogen is the
single most important element needed for spear production
(11, 65) and that response to complete fertilization is re-
duced as the plants mature (10, 53, 65).

Workers with other perennials have long recognized
the minimal response of mature plants to fertilizer, parti-
cularly phosphate application (35, 36, 45, 46). Kramer and
Kozlowski (32) found that in deciduous forest trees 50-years
old, P, K, and Ca in annual leaf fall amounted to about 5
per cent each of the total amounts in the trees, and
Gardner et al. (22) reported a similar condition with apple

70

 

 

 

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71

trees (exclusive of fruit), both suggesting a self-
sustaining system.

This study showed that a 2,300-pound crop of snapped
asparagus removed about 10, 2, and 7 pounds, respectively,
of N, P, and K, but that about 60, 5, and 50 pounds, re-
spectively, are returned to the soil by the fern each autumn.

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in asparagus roots from Li
one acre amounted to about 150, 40, and 200 pounds (based on

an average root weight of nine pounds for a four-year old

 

plant). Thus annual removal is less than 10 per cent of the
amounts stored in the roots and is more than compensated for
by annual return.

Fertilizer phosphorus in spears of five-year old
asparagus amounted to 2% per cent of the total, an explan-
ation for the lack of yield response to this element and
possibly to others also. Presumably the remainder of the
spear P came from storage reserves in the roots or from
sources in the soil. This is comparable to Eggert's (21)
work with apple trees where a maximum of 6 per cent of the
P in the leaf and none in the fruit was from current
fertilization.

Applied N elicited positive growth responses from two-
and three-year old asparagus grown in sand culture, but
signifiCant responses were not observed in field experiments.
Phosphorus proved beneficial only in the year of planting in
the sand culture experiment. None of the fertilizer treat-

ments applied to either five- or eleven-year old field grown

 

 

 

72

asparagus resulted in significant yield responses. Data
from a survey of 30 commercial asparagus fields also failed
to show correlations between rate of fertilizer application
and yield.

Composition changes in asparagus attributable to
variable fertilizer application were noted. In field grown
separagus Mn was most concentrated in fern of plants re-
ceiving the largest nitrogen applications, confirming in-

vestigations with onions and citrus (18, 51), but no such

 

phenomenon was seen in sand culture experiments. This was
probably due to the rapid leaching of applied N and limited
Mn in the medium.

Ca concentration in 11-year old plants decreased with
larger potash applications, reflecting similar findings with
the bean (13) and citrus (51) as well as work with solution
cultures (40). Asparagus is also subject to the luxury
consumption of potassium common in many plant species.

Mg concentration in asparagus fern from plants grown
in sand culture and, to a lesser extent, from those grown
in the field, varied inversely with potash application.
Boynton (7), Carolus (13), and Smith et al. (56) reported
comparable results with the apple, bean, and citrus,
respectively.

Sodium, which has been recommended as beneficial (5.
54), had no effect on top growth, but depressed root growth
in sand culture experiments. Na concentration in both fern

and roots increased with increased applications comparable

 

   

73

to Lingle's (39) results with celery and Harmer and Benne's
(25) with asparagus.

Root and crown composition were not significantly af-
fected by the removal of all aerial growth as it was pro-
duced, even though differential nutrient treatments were
applied to the plants. This study was performed in sand
culture, but demonstrated a remarkable stability of concen- l:
tration of the elements determined over the course of a
growing season. Taken in conjunction with the results ob- (
tained using the P32 tracer, the indication is that compo- ;
sition of an asparagus plant, four-years old or older, is
not readily affected by a single season's fertilizer
application.

Asparagus has a limited requirement for mineral '
nutrients, but can tolerate wide ranges of fertilizer
application. NitrOgen is apparently of greatest importance
in producing satisfactory tap growth and either potassium or
sodium may be harmful in excessive quantities. With the
exception of the first year after planting, phosphorus did
not benefit growth directly. Neither calcium nor magnesium
elicit significant growth responses.

In order to confirm the findings reported here, it
will be desirable to establish new field plantings on soils
of low fertility to establish nutrient requirements from
time of planting until the maximum yields are obtained.

Fertilizer treatments varying from very low to very high
should be applied at planting and continued annually, some

 

 

 

 

 

7a

 

increasing, some decreasing, and others maintained at a
constant level, thus measuring response over the widest

practicable range. Asparagus crowns should be carefully

selected in order to eliminate plant size as a variable

factor.

In conclusion, it is suggested that once an asparagus
plantation is prOperly established, a complete fertilizer
every third year with annual nitrogen applications should

constitute an adequate nutrient supply.

llll'l
{1,11% (sun'nu

 

 

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

A three-year study of the mineral nutrition of aspara-

gus included a survey of cultural practices, yields, and

plant composition from 30 farms;

controlled field experiments

with five- and eleven-year old plantings; an isotopic tracer

study; and sand culture experiments.

The results of these studies can be summarized as

follows:

1.

3.

On the basis of crop nutrient removal, a marked

reduction in application of N, P, and K appears

warranted.

Spear yield of commercially productive asparagus

(i.e., four years and older) was not readily af-

fected by fertilizer application.

Current fertilizer applications have little ef-

feet on crown composition and, in terms of

phosphorus concentration, spear composition.

In sand culture and possibly under field condi-

tions, nitrogen was the single most beneficial

element commonly applied. Phosphorus also bene-

fitted asparagus in the planting year but less

thereafter.

Potassium and sodium were harmful to root growth

if applied in large amounts (400 pounds per acre

lin this study).

75

a" _-_.-u——.——-.- n... .. - _
. ‘ . n 1 .

 

I l?!”

 

 

10.

11.

 

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