Asparagus Archives - LandWISE - Promoting sustainable land management https://www.landwise.org.nz/category/asparagus/ LandWISE promotes sustainable production through leadership, support and research. Since we began in a field in 1999, we’ve completed a range of projects helping to conserve our soils, use our water wisely and get environmental and economic benefits from new (and old) technology options. Tue, 27 Dec 2022 23:35:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://i0.wp.com/www.landwise.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Landwise-logo-sm20.jpg.jpg?fit=32%2C11&ssl=1 Asparagus Archives - LandWISE - Promoting sustainable land management https://www.landwise.org.nz/category/asparagus/ 32 32 204183287 Asparagus Nitrogen Management https://www.landwise.org.nz/2022/06/09/asparagus-nitrogen-management/ Wed, 08 Jun 2022 12:46:59 +0000 http://www.new.landwise.org.nz/?p=195 Together with the New Zealand Asparagus Council, we were fortunate to obtain funding from “Our Land and Water” to investigate nitrate best practice management. We surveyed a number of growers about fertiliser and nitrate management practices. We find growers generally have good management for transport, handling and storage. We see a wide range of practices...

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Together with the New Zealand Asparagus Council, we were fortunate to obtain funding from “Our Land and Water” to investigate nitrate best practice management.

We surveyed a number of growers about fertiliser and nitrate management practices. We find growers generally have good management for transport, handling and storage. We see a wide range of practices for nitrate management including rates and timing, and this is what we are trying to understand.

We have established five trials, two in Hawke’s Bay and one each in Mangaweka, Manawatu and Mid-Canterbury. We are monitoring nitrate levels in soil, roots and fern, to build a picture of how the amounts move between these pools. 

As part of the project we offered fertiliser application equipment calibration, and the machines tested were doing an acceptable job. We used the fertspread tool to complete calculations and produce reports.

While a large number of samples have been sent to the Eurofins lab for analysis, we are also using the Nitrate Quick Test to assess nitrate in the soil at three depths in each plot.  When we compare the results of the quick test with lab results, we find a good agreement. The key is making sure the soil sampling is done correctly so it is representative.

Many thanks to the growers hosting and supporting the trials, and the NZAC and Our Land and Water for support and funding.

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Bram, our 2022 Summer Intern https://www.landwise.org.nz/2022/03/27/bram-our-2022-summer-intern/ Sat, 26 Mar 2022 20:15:04 +0000 http://www.new.landwise.org.nz/?p=97 With support from Callaghan Innovation, we were delighted to welcome Bram Paans to LandWISE for the summer season. Bram has just completed a B Hort Sci and Massey University, and is returning to undertake Master of Horticultural Science studies in 2022. Bram spent much of the summer sampling the asparagus and process crops we are...

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With support from Callaghan Innovation, we were delighted to welcome Bram Paans to LandWISE for the summer season. Bram has just completed a B Hort Sci and Massey University, and is returning to undertake Master of Horticultural Science studies in 2022.

Bram spent much of the summer sampling the asparagus and process crops we are researching, and doing many, many Nitrate Quick Tests. Here he is taking soil samples from a squash paddock.  This was part of the Sustainable Vegetable Systems project being run by Vegetables Research and Innovation, Potatoes NZ and Agrilink. Our Asparagus Nitrate Best Management trial took Bram to Hastings, Manawatu and Mangaweka. And he was busy in Hawke’s Bay, sampling for our Best Nitrate Management for Process Crops project.

We were delighted to host Bram this season, and to show him some of the farming systems we work with and research methods we use.

Many thanks to Bram, and Callaghan Innovation for support via the R&D Experience grants programme.

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