Dr. K.S. Yadav Assistant Professor (Horticulture) School of Agricultural Sciences & Technology RIMT University, Mandi Gobindgarh.

ASPARAGUS Botanical name: spp. Family: Chromosome no.: 2n=20

Introduction: Asparagus is originated in eastern Mediterranean lands and Asia Minor. It is indigenous to and Asia, where it has been in cultivation for over 2000 years. Since the time of the ancient Greeks, who first gave the present name, “asparagus” has been used as . Asparagus is widely distributed in America, Greece, France, Holland, , , Hungry and England. In India, two species of asparagus namely Asparagus officinalis L. and A. racemosus are most commonly cultivated. Asparagus is cultivated for the tender shoots, commonly known as spears, which has an agreeable flavor after it has been boiled.

Uses: It is used as vegetable and also eaten green. The spears are treated as a delicacy in preparation of soup and other vegetable products. Large quantities of asparagus spears are canned and frozen. Asparagus is also preserved in cans or bottles, but the home grown products thus dealt with are far exceeded in quantity by the canned asparagus. It is considered to be a good and is used especially in cardiac dropsy and chronic gout.

Climate and soil: The temperate climates are highly suitable for its cultivation. The temperature should not be lower than 8 0C for better germination of seeds and temperature of 15-25 0C is required for good spear development. Asparagus can be grown on nearly all kind of soils. Deep, loose and well drained soils and well manured sandy loam soils are considered to be the best for cultivation of asparagus. A pH of 6.0-6.7 or neutral to slightly alkaline is optimum for its higher yield.

Land reparation: Adequate quantity of organic manure should be incorporated at the time of field preparation. Good drainage is essential as the rotting of crowns takes place in wet soils. The main field is prepared by 2-3 ploughings after incorporating 30-40 t of FYM /ha.

Varieties: Perfection, Mary , Martha Washington, Colossal, Berr’s Mammoth, Colunbian Mammoth White, Donald’s Elmira, Palmetta, Conovers Colossal, UC 72, Brock Imperial 84, Argentenil, Huchels Leistung Sausbese and Schewetzinger, Reading Giant, Jersey Queen, Jersey Giant, New Jersey, Improved Perfection, UC 66, UC 711, SL 831, Limbrass 22, Limbrass 126 and Lucullas 1813, Paradise Meisterschuss, Bergamo, Violet Dutch and White German are grown in different countries.

Hybrids: HD-INDIA, Gijnlim, Revolution, Lara and Mira, Faribo, Aneta and Desta.

Sowing: About 2.5-4.0 kg of seed is enough to raise seedlings or crowns for planting one hectare land as Asparagus is propagated through seeds or crowns. The sowing is done during March-May in the hills and July- November in plains.

Nursery Raising: The seeds should be sown in a well prepared raised nursery bed, pre-soaked seeds (3-5 days) are sown in lines 15-20 cm apart at a depth of 1.5 to 2.0 cm. Seedlings are thinned to a spacing of 5-7 cm between the within the row after germination. The seeds sown during early spring take 3-4 weeks to germinate. The seeds soaked at 25 to 35 0C germinate more quickly than that soaked at higher or lower temperature. Soaked for 3-5 days at 30 to 35 0C is recommended.

Page 1 of 3 Asparagus spp. Planting Method: The rows are spaced at about 1.5 to 2.0 meters and 45 to 60 cm distance is kept within rows. Ridges can be formed about 75-90 cm apart and 50-60 cm between plants in row to get higher yield. Closer spacing results in a decrease in size of spears compared to wider spacing. Asparagus seedlings or crowns can also be planted with row to row distance of 100-150 cm and to plant distance of 45-60 cm.

Manures & fertilizers: For good yield it requires about 50-60 kg of nitrogen, 25 kg of and 50 kg of potash every year in two splits; first dose during early spring before the growth starts and the second when harvesting is completed. Application of common salt is often beneficial for asparagus cultivation.

Irrigation: The irrigation is given by means of flooding as per soil and climatic conditions. The first irrigation is given at the time of planting and thereafter, at 10-15 days interval.

CULTURAL PRACTICES Weeding: Pre-emergance application of metribuzin @ 1kg/ha in direct sown asparagus and early post emergence is recommended for control of broad leaved weeds. Blanching: Blanching is normally done to produce white asparagus. Mounding the soil to a height of 25-30 cm over the rows is practiced to blanch the young spears, which are preferred for . The mound must be kept up as long as blanched spears are desired. After cutting season is over, the mounds are leveled by means of a plough disk or other implements. Intercropping: When the rows are far apart, the inter space can be utilized for the first two years by growing some inter-crops in order to get some monetary benefit from the land every year, provided sufficient nutrients are available for both crops and a suitable crop is grown. Beans, early cabbage, lettuce or any other small growing crop may be planted between the rows of asparagus. Mulching: It is found that mulching in asparagus bed is beneficial to control the weeds, to maintain the soil moisture, soil temperature, for better growth and higher early yield with more total crop yield.

Plant Protection Insect-Pests (Crioceris Asparagi and C. duodecimpunctata): Both the adults and larvae damage to the tender shoots and whole plant later on. Spraying with carbaryl 50 WP @ 3g/l of water at least twice at 7 days interval can control the beetles. Asparagus Fly: It damages the tender portion of the plants and creates problems for the crop. Spray with monocrotophos @ 2 mL/l of water to control the fly. In case of severe infestation, spraying should be repeated at 7 days interval. Diseases Asparagus Rust (): it is the most serious disease of asparagus and appear on the plant as small reddish-yellow spots on the main stem and on the branches, enlarge into patches until the whole plant has a reddish brown orange colour, which becomes darker later in the season and reduces the yield by weakening the plants and often killing them. Spray benlate or bavistin @ 0.1% at early stage of the plant growth. Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium spp.): Affected spears show brown discoloration and become wilted and stunted. The seed treatment and drenching of the plants with brassicol (0.2%) or bavistin (0.1%) help in controlling this disease.

Harvesting and yield: The usual method of harvesting is to cut the spears 1-2 inches below the surface of the soil with a special, long-handled knife with a double or V-shaped point or with a slanting cutting edge. In case of napping the spears may be broken with the pressure applied at a point not far below the tip. Holding between the thumb and fingers is very best. The crop when, harvested in 12 month, yield about 4-5 t/ha, while harvesting Page 2 of 3 Asparagus spp. after 20 month yield about 6 t/ha of tubers along with 35 kg/ha of seed which are obtained in 12 month old crop.

Questions: 1. Write the botanical name, family and chromosome number of asparagus. 2. What are the various use of asparagus? 3. What are the various cultivars of asparagus? 4. Write the nursery raising and planting technique of asparagus. 5. Write the plant protection measures of asparagus. 6. Write the harvesting procedure and yield asparagus.

References: 1. Asparagus: Planting, Growing, and Harvesting of Asparagus | The Old Farmer's Almanac (https://www.almanac.com/plant/asparagus) 2. Kaur, R., Jaidka, M. and Sepat, S. (2018) Scientific Cultivation of Asparagus.

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