How Does AspireNZ Work?
AspireNZ operates off the following principles:
- The storage root system is the 'engine' that drives asparagus performance.
- The size of the system is the capacity of the 'fuel tank'.
- The system's CHO content indicates how full, or empty, the tank is at any time.
- Knowing how much fuel is in the tank can help growers make better crop management decisions.
AspireNZ is the ‘fuel gauge’ which measures and interprets root CHO content. It consists of:
- A method for estimating root CHO content, by using a refractometer to measure the Brix% of sap solution from storage roots sampled from the crop.
- Interprets the Brix% information and uses this knowledge to help growers make crop management decisions.
- An interactive delivery system on the Internet.
- A client and crop registration system.
- A database that retains confidential information about each registered crop.
Asparagus growers can use AspireNZ to:
- decide when to stop harvesting based on the CHO content of the roots.
- evaluate the effect of extended harvests on CHO reserves.
- identify root recharge during the summer and autumn.
- assess the effects of management on CHO recharge during fern growth.
- determine if pest or disease outbreaks are influencing CHO replenishment.
AspireNZ does not make decisions - it provides information to help growers reach decisions.
