Chapters 5.19

5.19 -Jerusalem Artichoke as a Tool to Mitigate Climate Change

Phaedra Scott, University of Guelph, Canada

Suggested citation for this chapter.

Scott,P. (2022) Jerusalem Artichoke as a Tool to Mitigate Climate Change, In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org

Introduction

Climate change is having significant negative impacts on smallholder farms (FAO.org., 2019). The following report will assess the viability of utilizing Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) as a tool to mitigate climate change and food insecurity amongst this vulnerable population. It is not actually a member of the artichoke family, but rather belongs to the sunflower family, and it is the underground tuber that is consumed (USask, 2018). It originates from central North America, cultivated by indigenous peoples prior to European settlement (USask, 2018). Currently, Jerusalem artichoke is grown widely across North America and Europe, primarily eaten roasted and in stews (Pleasant, 2010). The plant is indigenous to Canada and was widely consumed by indigenous communities before the tubers were pupularized in Europe and elsewhere..

Easy Practical Solution

The Jerusalem artichoke, also known as “sunchoke”, is a tall perennial flowering plant with underground tubers with high nutrient value that can grow in diverse environments (Yang et al., 2015). Jerusalem artichoke is not typically known as a “crop” within world agriculture but more often as a weed (Neverman, 2017). However, this ‘weed’ has the potential to provide nutrients to diets, improve soil structure, and act as an affordable option to bring to markets in rural areas.

Growth and Harvest

The Jerusalem artichoke is drought tolerant, adaptive to diverse soils, has strong pest and disease resistance and does well in many climates (Yang et al., 2017). Jerusalem artichokes vary by colour, tuber shape and the time to maturity, but the most commonly known and most adaptive species is the Helianthus tuberosus, which is also the only species that flowers (Pleasant, 2010). Jerusalem artichoke has a growing season of 130 days, and the edible tubers can remain in the ground until needed (USask, 2018). Unlike the potato, where “the eye” from a tuber is needed for replanting, any small piece of tuber (smaller than a robin's egg) can be replanted or simply left in the ground to resprout (Pleasant, 2010). Although the plant flowers, the plant cannot be propagated from seed. If a farmer chooses to replant or sell for propagation, small, well-formed tubers should be stored separately and placed 2 inches into the soil when desired (Cosgrove et al., 1999). The plant flowers (and is decorative) and grows to a height of about 3 m; one plant produces multiple small tubers which vary in size depending on nitrogen availability in the soil (USask.,2018). When grown for food, it is recommended to cut the flowers off of the plant about halfway through the growing season in order to encourage circulating nitrogen to be concentrated in the roots rather than in top growth (Usask., 2018).

These plants prefer mild climates and moderate rainfall in order to maximize tuber growth but are rather adaptable to hot and drought-prone climates as well (Pleasant, 2010). Growing Jerusalem artichoke in hot climates with little rainfall, however, will result in smaller edible tubers which may require a higher density of planting for an adequate harvest. On average the plant requires (at an absolute maximum) 1250 mm of rainfall or less for successful growth; in particularly dry areas irrigation may be required (Cosgrove et al., 1999) Due to the rainfall requirement of the crop, smallholder farmers would find more success with the crop in equatorial and highland environments (IFPRI, 2015). Jerusalem artichoke can remain in the ground until ready for harvest/eating. The tubers have thin skins that make storage outside of the soil very difficult, however, because they have very high pest and disease resistance, keeping them in the ground is optimal (USask., 2018). Yields of Jerusalem artichoke are poor in heavy clays, particularly if there is waterlogging. Otherwise, they adapt well to a multitude of different soil types and pH levels (Cosgrove et al.,1999). Additionally, although the plant is accustomed to is 65 – 80 ˚F, the crop has shown a great deal of variability in its ability to grow in warmer climates such as Southern Europe (Pleasant, 2010). As was stated before, this plant tend to take over gardens and does so rather quickly. Therefore, it is most useful in a crop rotation for soil aeration, or intercropped with small crops that require shading such as groundnuts, tomato, or common bean.

Nutrient Content

The nutrient content of Jerusalem artichokes make them an ideal addition to diets, particularly for those where nutrient deficiencies are prevalent. The moderately caloric tuber at 73 kcal/100 g, has 429 mg of potassium and 3.4 mg of iron per 100 g, making it an extremely efficient source of minerals (Foodstruct, 2016). Additionally, it is also an excellent source of vitamins, with 7% of daily Vitamin C, 13% of daily B1, 7% of daily B3 and 3% of daily total folate per 100 g consumed. It also makes a great source of fiber, and inulin, a healthy alternative to traditional sweeteners (Foodstruct, 2016). There is limited protein content at 2 g per 100 g, but one study found that “Jerusalem artichoke has a large concentration of individual essential amino acids, specifically arginine at 8.41 to 9.57 g kg(-1)” (Aleknaciciene et al., 2009).

The tuber can be roasted, ground, cooked into stews, eaten raw, and consumed in many different forms. The taste is mild and earthy, and depending on the time of harvest can be very sweet as well. The leftover forages from the crop can me used in conjunction with other crops as animal feed, but not on its own, as it has no advantage over other crops and should primarily be used as a maintenance feed (Cosgrove et al., 1999).

Critical Analysis and Smallholder Adoption

As always when considering planting a new crop, a thorough analysis on the constraints of the intervention must be contemplated before implementation. Although Jerusalem artichokes represent a seemingly simple addition to a smallholder garden, there is a reason they are considered a weed to most gardeners and farmers. Any piece of tuber not harvested from the ground will grow into a new plant and they spread very quickly, meaning they can take over a small plot of land and overrun other crops in the process (Pleasant, 2010). That being said, the plant’s tuber’s have the potential to help aerate soil to benefit other crops in a crop rotation. The aeration increases plant access to water by preventing soil compaction (Snapp et al., 2016).

Additionally, although Jerusalem artichoke is a healthy addition to diets, if not already a dietary staple, it can be hard to introduce a new food to communities and farmers. A way to introduce this would be to subsidize a small plot and then sell the root very cheaply at the market and to determine how it can be used as a substitute for other ingredients in existing prepared foods. All of this would encourage people to both buy it and attempt to plant it themselves. In Europe and North America, the sunchoke is used in placement of a potato, being boiled, roasted, mashed, or used in stews (refs).

The Jerusalem artichoke suffers from very few pests and diseases, with the most significant disease reported being Sclerotinia, which can be mitigated by rotating the crop with corn or small grains (Cosgrove et al.,1999). Jerusalem artichoke tubers cannot be left at low humidity for very long before storage, and skins on the tubers should be intact to prevent faster spoilage (Cosgrove et al., 1999). The best way for a farmer organization to get access to the planting material would be small pieces of vacuum-sealed tuber. This would prevent spoilage in transportation and maintain integrity of the tuber. Only a small piece is necessary for an initial plant and thus only one small piece would be required.

Additionally, after harvest, there is the option to dry and grind Jerusalem artichoke tubers to make flour, thus adding more value to the crop for a smallholder farmer. This flour holds the nutrients of the crop very well and could be an excellent addition to not only local markets but local diets (Diaz et al., 2019). Studies have shown that baking with the flour results in healthier alternatives with lower energy content than wheat based alternatives, and also increases the storage life of the crop (Diaz et al., 2019).

Practical resources to get started:

Growing lots of Jerusalem artichokes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MTjqwghYMA

Growing Jerusalem artichokes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtotpTK_tzs

Growing and Harvesting Sunchoke article: https://commonsensehome.com/before-you-plant-sunchokes/

7 Benefits of Jerusalem artichoke; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0oPDPm96bw

Nutrional value per 100g: https://foodstruct.com/food/jerusalem-artichokes-raw

References

1. Diaz et al., (2019). Jerusalem artichoke tuber flour as a wheat flour substitute for biscuit elaboration. LWT 108, 361-369. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0023643819302774

2. Harmankaya et al., (2012). Mineral contents of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). Growing Wild in Turkey, 45-15. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=21be3889-9a27-4266-9294-2f1cf5e6fe8c%40sessionmgr103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=80736785&db=aph

3. FAO (2019). Africa regional overview of food security and nutrition. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/ca7704en/CA7704EN.pdf

4. Neverman, L. (2017). Before you plant sunchokes, read this post. Common Sense Home. Retrieved from

5. https://commonsensehome.com/before-you-plant-sunchokes/

6. Pleasant, B., (2010). All about growing Jerusalem artichoke. The Mother Earth News, (242), p.22. Retrieved from https://go-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=guel77241&id=GALE%7CA238556092&v=2.1&it=r

7. Snapp et al., (2016). Managing soil health with root and tuber crops. Michigan State University. Retrieved from

8. https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/Soil_health_bulletin_E3343Web.pdf

9. USASK., (2018). Jerusalem artichoke. College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Canada. Retrieved from a. https://gardening.usask.ca/articles-growing-information/jerusalem-artichoke.php

10. Yang et al., (2015). The prospects of Jerusalem artichoke in functional food ingredients and bioenergy production. Biotechnology Reports, 5, 77-88. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215017X14000605