DEVELOPMENTS IN ASPARAGUS CULTIVATION UNDER DESERT CONDITIONS IN PERU

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) was introduced in the Peruvian Coastal area by the 1950 in the northern part (Trujillo valleys). The main purpose was to supply an industry: white asparagus for canning. American cultivars were introduced from California (Mary Washington) and it performed well. Since then the asparagus area increased on the sandy soils of the area of Trujillo yielding good quality white asparagus spears for the industry. It is reported that the white asparagus production area reached 15000 ha near 1980. Basically all the production was confined to four valleys (Moche, Chicama, Viru and Chao) in the Trujillo area all with furrow irrigation, sandy soils and using cultivars from California (besides 'Mary Washington', 'UC 72' ). In 1986 the first commercial green asparagus fields were started in the southern area, Ica. 'UC 157 F1' was introduced, and the first harvest took place at the end of that year, mainly to supply USA with fresh green spears. Since then green asparagus area started to increase fast in the south and also the hybrid 'UC 157 F1' started to replace open pollinated types in the north for white asparagus production. Area reached nearly 22000 by 1999, but at that time 70% for white asparagus production and 30% for green asparagus production. Right now 18000 ha are being grown; approximately, green asparagus production is almost 70% and white 30%. Almost all the asparagus productions is exported: fresh 60%, canned 34% and frozen 6%. As a result of the increased asparagus production areas and the unique weather conditions in the Peruvian coast (sandy soil, no rain, not so hot neither too cold climate) production technologies were developed such as improved irrigation using drip irrigation, better nutrition, adequate plant densities, integrated pest management, harvest the whole year combining crop management and place of production and good agricultural practices. The result of all these technological applications is a well recognized quality of the Peruvian asparagus in Europe and USA.