Development of a Cultural Production System for Gobo (Japanese Burdock)

Abstract

`Takinogawa Long' gobo was seeded with two, three, or four rows per 1.5-m bed at in-row spacings of 7.5, 15, 21.5, and 30 cm. Total and marketable increased with in-row spacing and marketable yield increased with row number with the greatest yields occurring at 15, regardless of row number. Average root weight and yield of forked roots was not affected by row number, but increased with in row spacing. Similarly, percentage of forked roots decreased with more rows per bed. The 15-cm in-row spacing had the greatest yield, but also the greatest weight of culled roots, but none of the populations affected the percentage culls. In another study, in-row subsoiling (SS) and in-row banded phosphorus (P) were evaluated. Marketable yield was increased by both SS and P, but they did not interact. P increased average root weight. Neither SS or P affected forked root yield or cull root yield, but SS decreased forked roots and increased cull production.