Tuber Yield and Leaf Mineral Composition of Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus Tuberosus L.) Grown Under Different Cropping Practices M

Tuber Yield and Leaf Mineral Composition of Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus Tuberosus L.) Grown Under Different Cropping Practices M

Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA) Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research 2007 5(4), 545-553 Available online at www.inia.es/sjar ISSN: 1695-971-X Tuber yield and leaf mineral composition of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) grown under different cropping practices M. A. Rodrigues*, L. Sousa, J. E. Cabanas and M. Arrobas Mountain Research Centre (CIMO). Escola Superior Agrária. 5301-855 Bragança. Portugal Abstract Jerusalem artichoke is commonly grown for its edible tubers, livestock feed and as an ornamental. The possibility of growing Jerusalem artichoke for energetic purposes has aroused scientific interest in this species. Despite several studies that have already been done in the last few decades, many aspects of the cropping practice are still relatively unknown. During the growing seasons of 2004-2006 field trials were carried out in NE Portugal. In the experimental period different cropping conditions were imposed, regarding planting density, N fertilization and propagation method. The crop was irrigated in 2004 and 2005 and grown in rain-fed conditions in 2006. The planting densities were 7 plants m-2 in 2004, 2, 3 and 4 plants m-2 in 2005 and 2 and 4 plants m-2 in 2006. Botanical-seed was used in 2005 and seed- tubers in all the three years. In 2005, 0 and 100 kg N ha-1 was combined in a factorial design with the planting densities. The maximum tuber dry matter yield was 18.4 Mg ha-1 (65.6 Mg ha-1, fresh weight basis) and it was recorded in 2005 in the plots where 100 kg N ha-1, 2 plants m-2 and seed-tubers were combined. The best planting density was 2 plants m-2 in irrigated (2005) and rain-fed (2006) conditions. Nitrogen significantly increased tuber yield in 2005 only when seed-tubers were used. Averaged across N fertilization rates and planting densities mean tuber dry matter yields were 12.8 and 6.9 Mg ha-1 for seed-tuber and botanical-seed, respectively. Leaf mineral composition was little affected by cropping practices. The ‘Bragança’clone showed high tuber yield potential, although the mean weight of the individual tubers was low which could make mechanization of the harvest difficult. The poor results achieved with botanical- seed argue against its use as an alternative to the seed-tubers. Additional key words: botanical-seed, leaf mineral composition, nitrogen fertilisation, planting density, seed-tuber. Resumen Producción de tubérculos y composición mineral en hojas de pataca (Helianthus tuberosus L.) utilizando diferentes prácticas de cultivo La pataca se cultiva por sus tubérculos comestibles, también se utiliza como forraje y como planta ornamental. La perspectiva de que se pueda cultivar con fines energéticos ha incrementado el interés por esta especie. En los años 2004-2006 se han efectuado experimentos de campo en el NE Portugal, mediante ensayos de diferentes condiciones de cultivo, en cuanto a densidad de plantación, fertilización nitrogenada y métodos de propagación. La plantación se regó en 2004 y en 2005 y se cultivó en secano en 2006. Las densidades de plantación fueron de 7 plantas m-2 en 2004, 2, 3 y 4 plantas m-2 en 2005 y 2 y 4 plantas m-2 en 2006. Se utilizaron propágulos vegetativos en los tres años de en- sayo y semilla botánica en 2005. Respecto al N se utilizaron dos tratamientos (0 y 100 kg N ha-1) combinados de for- ma factorial con las densidades de plantación. La máxima producción de materia seca en tubérculos fue de 18,4 Mg ha-1 (65,6 Mg ha-1, en peso fresco) y se obtuvo en las parcelas en las que se combinaron 100 kg N ha-1, 2 plantas m-2 y propágulos vegetativos. La mejor densidad de plantación fue de 2 plantas m-2, tanto en regadío como en secano. La aplicación de nitrógeno aumentó significativamente la producción, pero sólo cuando se utilizaron propágulos vege- tativos. Con propágulos vegetativos y semilla botánica se obtuvieron producciones medias de materia seca de 12,8 y 6,9 Mg ha-1, respectivamente. La composición mineral de las hojas se vio poco afectada por la técnica de cultivo. El clon ‘Bragança’ ha mostrado elevado potencial de producción, aunque el peso medio de los tubérculos individuales haya sido bajo, lo que puede dificultar la mecanización de la cosecha. Los bajos resultados obtenidos a partir de se- milla botánica disuaden su uso en alternativa a los propágulos vegetativos. Palabras clave adicionales: composición mineral de las hojas, densidad de plantación, fertilización nitrogenada, semilla botánica, tubérculo-semilla. * Corresponding author: angelor@ipb.pt Received: 05-04-07; Accepted: 17-09-07. 546 M. A. Rodrigues et al. / Span J Agric Res (2007) 5(4), 545-553 Introduction manual «Plant Analysis Handbook» by Mills and Jones (1996). Thus, it is an important target to gather infor- Jerusalem artichoke is a native plant of the North mation on leaf mineral composition that will help in American plains cultivated for different purposes in the fertiliser recommendations in the future for this many countries. Jerusalem artichoke accumulates high particular species. levels of fructans in their stems and tubers. Fructans and the fructose resulting from fructans hydrolysis can be used in human diet or in medical and industrial Material and Methods applications (Schittenhelm, 1999; Monti et al., 2005). Jerusalem artichoke is considered one of the primary The field trial took place on Sta. Apolónia experi- sources for inulin in higher plants (Saengthongpinit mental farm located in Bragança, NE Portugal (41°48’N, and Sajjaanantakul, 2005). Its protein has high food 6°44’W), during the summer seasons of 2004, 2005 value due to the presence of almost all essential amino and 2006. The regional clone ‘Bragança’of Jerusalem acids but also due to their good balance (Rakhimov et artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) was used in the al., 2003). Another potential use of this species is as a experiments. The soil is an eutric Cambisol, sandy forage crop. Jerusalem artichoke is considered a suitable loam textured, with 10 g kg-1 of organic matter and pH livestock feed (Seiler and Campbell, 2004). In the last (H2O) 5.8. Extractable soil P and K (ammonium lactate decades Jerusalem artichoke has been considered as a and acetic acid) levels in the plots used in this 3-yr trial biomass crop for ethanol because it commonly produces were in the range of 35 to 45 mg kg-1 for P and 85 to high levels of carbohydrates (Denoroy, 1996). The 100 mg kg-1 for K. Local climate is Mediterranean type, production of biogas from biomass is also economically warm and dry during the summer season. Weekly pre- viable under certain conditions (Gunnarson et al., cipitations and mean weekly temperatures are shown 1985). The possibility of growing Jerusalem arti- in Figure 1. Maize (Zea mays L.) grown for silage was choke for energy has aroused the scientific interest in always the preceding crop to the Jerusalem artichoke this crop. in the three years of the experiments. Portugal imports the main raw materials usually A preliminary experiment was carried out in 2004. used in other countries to produce bio-ethanol, such The main objectives were to obtain enough botanical- as maize and small grains. Portugal also imports sugar seed for the next year and to get some information on derived from cane or sugar beet. Considering that Jeru- the basic cropping practices. Whole tubers within the salem artichoke is a hardy crop that may be cultivated weight range of 20 to 25 g each were used in the experi- at low cost with simple input techniques and, eventually, ments. In 2004, 7 tubers m-2 were hand-planted in 7 rows without irrigation (Monti et al., 2005), it is imperative of 15 m long and 70 cm row-spaced. Planting was carried to test its potential as an alternative crop for marginal out on 22 March. Each one of the three internal rows lands that has been cultivated in the past with poor was used as a replication for tuber yield evaluation and returns. Jerusalem artichoke seems to be also little crop nutritional status analysis. Nitrogen, phosphorus affected by weed infestation. The high weed competi- and potassium were applied in the rates of 100, 20 and tiveness of this species is attributable to the rapid growth 40 kg ha-1, respectively, based on the results of pre-plant and enormous final plant size, eliminating most of the soil analysis and taking into account the nutritional weeds by shade (Schittenhelm, 1999). needs of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The crop Despite the actual interest in Jerusalem artichoke, was sprinkler irrigated during the season. The crop was studies that evaluate field performances of this crop irrigated simultaneously with maize grown in a neigh- are still scarce. The objective of this study is to gather bouring field. Depth and interval irrigation applica- information on cropping practices such as planting tion were estimated for maize according to the FAO density, nitrogen fertilisation and irrigation, by using methods (Allen et al., 1998). Total water supplied in a high productive clone of the Jerusalem artichoke usually 2004 accounted for 430 mm. Weeds were chemically cultivated as an ornamental plant in the gardens of the controlled using glyphosate, following the protection Bragança region in NE Portugal. Leaf mineral compo- of the Jerusalem artichoke plants with inverted pots, sition of Jerusalem artichoke plants is also provided. when plants had two pairs of true leaves. Sclerotinia As far as we know, there is no available information sclerotiorum was controlled by using iprodione at on this species in the literature, including the reference flower initiation.

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