What is Jerusalem Artichoke Forage? How is the cultivation of Jerusalem Artichoke done?

One of the intriguing and promising plants for the future is the Jerusalem Artichoke, recognized as a globally expanding commercial crop. This plant has the ability to grow in diverse environmental conditions, ranging from dry to full irrigation. Although all aerial parts of the plant are used in livestock nutrition, leaves and stems differ in nutritional content. The protein concentration in leaves is higher than in stems, while stems have a greater quantity of carbohydrates. Therefore, leaves are considered a more valuable source for animal nutrition compared to stems. A mixture of tubers and aerial biomass can be used as animal feed. The aerial part of Jerusalem Artichoke can be used either as silage or fresh. Its nutritional value for ruminants is comparable to dry grasses, albeit with a lower protein concentration. The nutritional value of Jerusalem Artichoke forage is comparable to canola and exceeds sunflower silage. One of the major advantages of Jerusalem Artichoke is its ability to grow as a perennial plant with a growth period of 4 to 5 years. The low cultivation cost and high yield further contribute to the benefits of this plant. Additionally, its perennial nature ensures that it is not affected by adverse conditions at the beginning of each spring.