Mechanical Harvesting Feasible for White Asparagus

Author

R. A. Kepner

Author Affiliations

R. A. Kepner is Professor, Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 19(1):2-5. DOI:10.3733/ca.v019n01p2. January 1965.

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Abstract

Comparative yields for hand cutting and nonselective mechanical harvesting of white asparagus were determined during the 1964 cannery season, using an experimental harvester. In the tests, the machine-harvested all-white treatment on a peat soil produced 72% as much weight of good, white asparagus as did the hand-cut rows. A rough cost analysis indicates that, under these conditions, nonselective mechanical harvesting may be economically feasible. Results were less favorable in a 16-year-old planting on a clay loam soil. Mechanical harvesting caused the beds to dry out more than hand cutting and increased the tendency for the peat soil to blow.