Effects of Electrostatic Field and CO2 Interaction on Growth and Physiological Metabolism in Asparagus

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) is a highly nutritious vegetable rich in various bioactive compounds. Ensuring both yield improvement and quality preservation is a shared goal for producers and researchers. As novel green yield-enhancing technologies in facility agriculture, electrostatic fields and elevated CO2 application hold significant potential. This study investigated the effects of the interaction between electrostatic fields and elevated CO2 on the growth and physiological characteristics of asparagus. The results demonstrated that the combined treatment of electrostatic fields and elevated CO2 significantly increased total yield, tender stem number, and single tender stem weight of asparagus, while also shortening the harvesting period and promoting rapid shoot growth. Additionally, the treatment markedly enhanced the total chlorophyll content in asparagus leaves, improving photosynthetic capacity. By boosting antioxidant enzyme activities (e.g., SOD, APX) and reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, the treatment maintained the redox homeostasis of asparagus shoots, effectively mitigating oxidative damage. In terms of nutrient accumulation, the interaction between electrostatic fields and elevated CO2 significantly promoted the synthesis and accumulation of key nutrients, including soluble sugars, reducing sugars, soluble proteins, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and ascorbic acid, thereby substantially improving the nutritional quality of asparagus. Comprehensive analysis using fuzzy membership functions revealed that the combined treatment of electrostatic fields and elevated CO2 outperformed individual treatments in enhancing asparagus growth and physiological characteristics. This study provides important theoretical insights and technical support for the efficient and sustainable cultivation of asparagus in facility agriculture.