Effect of plant densities on the growth, yield and quality parameters of Asparagus (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ L.) under shade house conditions

Abstract

A study was conducted on the effect of different planting densities on the growth, yield and quality parameters in asparagus (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ L.) at the department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi during 2022 under shade house conditions. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with three replications. The results revealed that planting density have significant effect at different stages of crop growth. Among the different spacing levels, 30 cm × 30 cm gives better result with respect to plant height (33.42 cm), internodal length (2.15 cm), cladophyll length (45.9 cm), leaf area (1634.95 cm2), days to first harvest (169.75 days). While the number of cladophylls per plant (60.89), number of branches per cladophyll (31.84), cladophyll fresh weight (28.87g), vase life (9.47 days) and chlorophyll content (34.94 SPAD) was higher for 45 cm × 30 cm. Thus, the higher planting density resulted in better overall vegetative growth and enhanced yield as compared to the lower plant densities.