EARLY NUTRITION OF MICROPROPAGATED ASPARAGUS TRANSPLANTS

The effect of nutrition frequency on the nursery growth of ex-flasked transplants of two asparagus clones of two root grades was studied. Gr owth increased as feeding frequency with 100:34:100 mg/litre NPK incre ased from one feed in 5 days to daily feeding. Growth optima were not detected, indicating that higher nutrient concentrations may be requir ed to achieve optimum growth rates. There was little overall differenc e between the clones with respect to absolute growth parameters, but t he relative growth rate of the shoots differed between clones. Relativ e growth rate between root sizes (within clones) was similar. Tissue a nalysis indicated differences in nutrient uptake between clones. The p ractical implications of this work are discussed.