Comparative Assessment of The Quality and Yield of Early-Winter Planted Jerusalem Artichoke Tubers at Different Harvesting Terms

Abstract

Jerusalem artichoke has multiple valuable economic purposes. To expand the sown area and the production of artichoke culture in the Russian Federation, it is necessary to develop adaptive cultivation technologies considering certain soil and climatic conditions. The harvesting period of tubers of early-winter planted Jerusalem artichoke, spring and autumn, and the green mass harvesting period, 10 and 20 days after the full flowering phase and before tubers harvesting, were studied. The formation of Jerusalem artichoke tubers begins in the budding phase and reaches its maximum in the flowering phase. Up to 33% of tubers die before harvest due to carbohydrate deficiency. Tuber mass formation continues until harvesting. The maximum increase in the average tuber mass by 14.0 g (65-90%) is observed from the budding to the flowering phase. A higher yield of tubers, 16.4 t/ha, is formed during autumn harvesting, which is due to an increase in the productivity of the bush by 435.7 g, the number of its tubers by 12.3 pcs. and the average weight of one tuber by 5.8 g. The maximum yield of Jerusalem artichoke tubers can be obtained by mowing the green mass before their harvesting. This is facilitated by an increase in the productivity of the bush by 78.3-168.9 g, the number of its tubers by 2.0-3.7 pcs. and the average weight of one tuber by 4.5-5.5 g. Jerusalem artichoke has mostly fine tubers – 53-66%. There is a trend towards a decrease in the proportion of small tubers during late harvesting of the above-ground mass and, accordingly, an increase in the proportion of medium and large tubers. During autumn harvesting, Jerusalem artichoke tubers have a higher content of dry matter by 1.9% and protein by 0.3%, while during spring harvesting there is a higher sugar content in them by 5.4%. A trend towards an increase in these biochemical indicators was noted at later terms of harvesting green mass.