Planting date and within-row plant spacing effects on pak choi yield and quality characteristics

Planting date and within-row plant spacing effects on pak choi yield and quality characteristics

1998

A:PS

Pak choi (Brassica rapa Chinensis group [B. chinensis]) hybrid Troy F1 transplants were grown in an unheated plastic greenhouse in Thessaloniki, Greece during 3 consecutive periods: (1) from 3 December 1993 to 27 January 1994, (2) from 28 January to 28 March 1994 and (3) from 30 March to 14 May 1994. Plants were spaced 15 or 25 cm apart within rows with 40 cm between rows, corresponding to plant populations of 16.7 and 10.0 plants/m2, respectively. Increasing the plant population from 10.0 to 16.7 plants/m2 increased yield only during a growing period with high temperature and long hours of sunshine. Although high plant density reduced plant fresh weight, the greater number of plants increased total yield. Marketable plant fresh weight was obtained during all growing periods in both plant densities evaluated. However, bolting occurred in some plants during the 3rd growing period. On average, a higher mean daily growth rate (243.8 g/m2) occurred during the 3rd growing period than during the earlier period, and also a higher mean daily growth rate (281.2 g/m2) was recorded at the closer spacing than at the other one. Planting date and within-row plant spacing had little or no effect on dry matter, total soluble solids and fibre content.

v.4(2):65-73, JOURNAL OF VEGETABLE CROP PRODUCTION

Research > Published Articles