Crops Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)

Summary Information



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Young plant

Jerusalem artichoke is an annual, producing a number of straight stems which may grow to heights exceeding 3 m; branches develop later in the season.

Well grown plants

The leaves, oppositely arranged on the stems, are large and coarse, pointed and prominently veined

Flowers

Flowers may be produced during late summer; they are bright yellow but relatively small (to 8 cm diameter) and are usually carried individually on branch stems.

Tubers at base of plant

Late in the season, tubers are formed near the base of the plant.

Tubers

The tubers are of varying size and irregular shape (though usually narrow), white or with some purple colouration. Jerusalem artichoke will produce acceptable yields in soils of low fertility, but will be more productive in favourable situations. Tubers are planted in early spring, in rows 75-100 cm apart, to provide for about 35 plants per square metre. Sometimes the rows are ridged, which may assist with weed control as well as aiding tuberisation. Linuron products may be used for pre-emergence weed control, rapid crop growth later supressing weeds effectively. It is suggested that fertiliser requirements may be met by the application of 75-100 kg per ha each of nitrogen and phosphate, with up to 250 kg per ha of potash; uptake of nutrients is rapid during the first 3 months of growth. When flowering commences, top growth ceases and assimilates are then transferred to the tubers; crops for fodder or biomass purposes should therefore be cut at this time. Tubers may be harvested during October or November, but are frost-hardy and may be left in the ground until required: yields vary with soil conditions and between cultivars and seasons, but fresh weights in excess of 100 t per ha have been recorded. While Jerusalem artichoke is capable of producing very high yields, it is considered that generally in Europe, chicory is likely to be a more reliable producer of inulin. However in poorer soils where few other crops will flourish, Jerusalem artichoke may still be one of the more reliable crop options. Some difficulties have been encountered with systems of microbial digestion of the tops to produce biogas, but other uses may prove more practicable; for instance, there are reports from Canada that ethanol (for use as a petrol additive) may be produced competitively from Jerusalem artichoke.