Thesis
Asparagus growth model
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/100242
Abstract
The overall objective of this research was to develop a growth model for asparagus so that growers could better manage their operations and make more informed decisions in the field. The intention is for growers to use this model to predict daily gross yields and determine whether hand-harvesting or mechanical harvesting would be better utilized given the predicted daily yield. Data was collected for this research model by obtaining daily average wind speed and solar radiation downloaded from the Washington State Agricultural Weather Network, and gross yield, air and ground temperatures collected in the field. This raw data was collected and downloaded from the Franklin County CBC Pasco substation located at the Columbia Basin Community College, two miles from the evaluation site and the evaluation site itself just east of Pasco, WA. Stepwise regression was then used to evaluate the correlation of selected inputs and their influence on the gross yield for a 24 hour period. This method was used to determine the most influential factors in the growth of asparagus. A multiple regression model was used to create a growth model that included the inputs of maximum and minimum daily air temperature, maximum and minimum ground temperature, wind speed, and solar radiation for each cultivar researched. The development of this model will allow growers to gain insight on the influences of the growth of asparagus as well as to develop better management strategies for the crop. With the addition of this tool growers will be able to better manage their asparagus operations by increasing the efficiency of their harvest methods and efforts within the field.
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Details
- Title
- Asparagus growth model
- Creators
- Christopher Michael Read
- Contributors
- Carter D. Clary (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Crop and Soil Sciences, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525385701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis