Effect of Growing Seasons on Growth and Yield of Early Maturing Jerusalem artichokes

Abstract

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of growing season on the growth and yield of 10 types of early-maturing Jerusalem artichokes. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications for two seasons (late rainy season in 2017 and early rainy season in 2018). Data on eleven agronomic and physiological traits were collected. A homogeneity test and combined analysis were done to compare the data from both seasons. The results showed that the artichokes from the two seasons differed significantly in terms of first flowering date, fifty percentage of flowering, harvest date, SCMR, height, shoot fresh weight, tuber width and total soluble solids. The genotypes of the Jerusalem artichokes also showed statistical differences with agronomic traits. Growing in the late rainy season produced artichokes that had faster flowering, harvest date, higher SCMR, tuber width and total soluble solids than did growing in early rainy season. However, growing in the early rainy season produced faster vegetative growth. Genotype JA 5 had the least days to maturity in both growing seasons. However, based on yield performance, genotype JA 37 gave the highest yield in both growing seasons and had the highest total soluble solids in both growing seasons. Therefore, it is a promising genotype for introducing to farmers in the future.