Horticultural Science and Technology ISSN:1226-8763(Print) 2465-8588(Online) 원예과학기술지

This study was performed to select cultivation systems best-suited for cultivation of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) cultivar ‘Atlas’ in Korea. Bud break, spear yield, and underground part growth characteristics under two different cultivation systems (rain-shelter and open field) were investigated. Asparagus grown in the rain-shelter greenhouse emerged from dormancy about 10 days earlier than that grown in the open field, and demonstrated a 3-fold higher yield in terms of the number and weight of spears, which increased with increasing plant age. In the analysis of the growth characteristics of the underground part, the mean bud diameter of asparagus grown in the rain-shelter greenhouse was 1.7-fold thicker than those of grown in the open field. Roots of asparagus grown in the open field were lighter but longer than those of asparagus grown in the rain-shelter greenhouse. The higher fresh and dry weight of the roots and larger bud size of asparagus grown in the rain-shelter greenhouse are expected to lead to higher yield in the following year. Selection of cultivation systems that can accelerate bud break and increase spear yield will contribute to increasing farming income. Therefore, growing the ‘Atlas’ cultivar in the rain-shelter house is expected to lead to higher yield, and will contribute to increasing farming income.