Comparison of cultivating root vegetables in soil prepared by the classical method and in ridges

摘要

The effect of soil preparation technique before sowing of seeds (classical method or in ridges using the Dutch method) on the growth and yield of carrots and parsley was investigated in Slovakia during 1995-97. Under field conditions, selected soilproperties (penetrometric resistance, shear strength, structural composition of soil grains and soil moisture content) in relation to soil preparation and its influence on the growth and quality of carrots and parsley were measured. The measured values of soil properties showed significant differences in soil structure following tilling using the classical method with a 42-KON-600 combinator to a levelled plain and using the Rumpstad rotavator-ridger combination which created better conditions for seedgermination, and growth and development of seedlings than soils prepared with a combinator. The average yield of carrots cultivated with the classical method was 21.2 t/ha compared with 38.1 t/ha using the Dutch method. There was a significant differencein the quality of produce. Carrots planted in ridges had a regular cylindrical shape, and an even surface without indents, bulges and cracks. Carrots were 17-20 cm long, dark reddish-orange in colour, with a beta-carotene content of 5-9 mg%. Carrots grown using the classical method were smaller, often deformed, and had a surface which was cracked or rough. Such carrots were light orange in colour, and contained less beta-carotene than ridge-grown carrots. In parsley, yield was 13.1 t/ha for the classical method and 23.3 t/ha for the ridge method. Economic evaluation of produce produced by both methods indicated that higher profits/ha were obtained using the ridge method compared with the classical method.