Acolchado elástico para la obtención de precocidad en espárrago blanco.

Early production generates higher incomes due to the higher market prices obtained. In this context plastic (polyethylene) mulching stimulates early sprouting due to higher soil temperature in comparison to natural field conditions. The objective of this work was to evaluate, during two years, the forcing techniques using white (translucent) or black (opaque) plastic mulching in the following Asparagus cultivars: Argenteuil, UC 157 F1 and eight experimental hybrids, grouped in two precocity groups –early and late. The trial was conducted in the Experimental Field of the College of Agricultural Sciences (Zavalla-Santa Fe), after the third and fourth year since planting, during the 2006-2007 harvest seasons. A randomized complete block design with three replicates was used. Number of spears per plot (NT), mean spear weight (RE), number of days to reach 50% sprouting in the plot (DAB) and production uniformity (UNIF) were evaluated. Data were subjected to a combined ANOVA along the years and to a Duncan´s multiple mean test comparison. Highly significant differences in favor of mulching treatment were found for NT (F=62.5; p <0.01), RE (F=55.2; p <0.01), DAB (F=28.9; p<0.05) and UNIF (F= 21.1; p <0.05). With translucent mulching, harvest time was reached 6 and 12 days earlier than with black mulching and check treatments, respectively. The effect of the mulching treatment was more evident in the late cultivar group than in the early cultivar group.