Fræðaþing landbúnaðarins - Mar 2011, Page 426

| FRÆÐAÞING LANDBÚNAÐARINS 8, 2011426


Christina Stadler 1, Þórdís Anna Kristjánsdóttir 2, Jónatan Hermannsson 2




Due to Iceland’s geographic location, the summer months are, compared to central
European conditions, relatively cold (average temperature 11 °C); the Icelandic
summer, however, has clearly much more sunshine hours. The cropping period is
shorter and therefore, it is important to select only those vegetable varieties that are
characterized by an early harvest. Then, the vegetable crops can be available soon for
consumers and replace temporary vegetable imports from lower latitudes.
Different varieties of broccoli were tested in 1989 (Sverrisson, 1990) and 1983
(Þráinsson, 1985) and cauliflower in 1994 (Gunnlaugsson & Vestergaard, 1995) at
Reykir. However, nowadays new varieties are on the market. In case of non
availability of the standard varieties, knowledge, of a repertoire of varieties that are
suitable for Icelandic climatic conditions, needs to be improved. Varieties that have
been successfully grown under colder conditions, like in Norway, might be also
suitable for Iceland. Therefore, the objective of this study was to test (1) the earliness
and (2) the yield of different varieties of broccoli and cauliflower under Icelandic
climatic conditions.


An experiment with different varieties of broccoli (  var. italica
Plenck) and cauliflower (  var. botrytis L.)was conducted at the
experimental station of the Agricultural University of Iceland at Korpa (Reykjavík) as
well as on fields of growers in Flúðir. Broccoli and cauliflower were sown and later
transplanted to the field (Tab. 1) in 3 / 2 repetitions (Korpa / Flúðir). A protective net
was placed over the plants for 5 / 4 weeks (Korpa / Flúðir) after planting.
 Dates of cropping for broccoli and cauliflower.
 
Sowing
Broccoli
Cauliflower

07.05.2010
19.05.2010

27.05.2010*
05.05.2010
Transplanting
Broccoli
Cauliflower

07.06.2010
14.06.2010

06.07.2010
03.06.2010
Distance between plants (cm) 45 x 45 28 x 55
Plant nutrition (Blaukorn, kg/ha)
Broccoli
Cauliflower

1000
1000

1000
3000
Plant protection no Curateer
Weed control Handweeding Ramrod
* 07.05.2010: sowing of “Steel” and “Koros”