Plant arrangement and plant density affect yield characteristics of new seed-grown artichokes for industry

A two-year experiment was carried-out in order to evaluate the effects of two plant arrangements (single vs. twin rows) and four plant densities (1.0, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.8 plant m-2) on the agronomical behaviour of three globe artichoke genotypes (‘Violetto di Sicilia’, ‘Harmony F1’ and ‘Madrigal F1’). The change of the cultivation format toward a high density stand allowed a significant increase of yield and yield synchronicity. The twin rows plant arrangement, although it reduced yield, increased the yield synchronicity as well. Moreover, the cultivation of both seed-propagated genotypes allowed to significantly extend the temporal availability of heads. On the basis of our results, we can assert that the implementation of a specific cultivation scheduling, based on higher density stands, twin rows plant arrangement and the integration of the traditional early genotypes with the new seed-propagated cultivars, is a promising way to match the requirements of a globe artichoke industrial crop, as well as to predispose it to a better mechanization of the cultural practices.