Lab Packet - The Comparative Pattern of Growth of the Jerusalem Artichoke

This topic submitted by Johanna Overton, Tony Pappas (pappasad@muohio.edu) at 12:53 PM on 10/10/02. Additions were last made on Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Section: Negron-Ortiz

Natural Systems 1 Fall, 2002 -Western Program-Miami University

The Performance and Forage Yields of the Jerusalem artichoke in Human Disturbed Areas and in Naturally Wild Areas.

Johanna Overton
Tony Pappas
October 10, 2002

Introduction

The hypothesis that we are testing it that the Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) grows better in disturbed areas such as along roadsides rather than in non-disturbed areas such as, in the middle of open fields or in the woods. We will test our hypothesis by measuring the width of the stems of the plant, the number of branches, the number of leaves and the number of flowers on each plant. At first our plan was to research the intriguing Òliving fossilÓ Equisetum. However, we were not able to find enough samples to satisfy our project.
We then decided to do our research on the Jerusalem artichoke after the lecture on weeds in the fourth week of class, given by professor Nicholson. The biggest problem we have encountered thus far was devising a specific hypothesis to test; we found it hard to narrow down variables to measure in order to come up with a research project.
The Jerusalem artichoke is native to North America and Oxford, Ohio. This alone shows that its ideal climate and growing conditions are supplied in Oxford. Helianthus may already be adapted to the environment that is consistently affected by human disturbance.
Generally, human disturbance is anywhere that there is some sort of clearing including: farming fields, roadsides, buildings, and pastures. Our background research described how the Jerusalem artichoke needs a large amount of sunshine; so the edges of the many clearings described above are excellent growing environments for the Helianthus. The majority of the other experiments about the Jerusalem Artichoke, that we found while doing background research, were about the edible parts of the plant. The main root is a bulb-like tuber (hence the generic name artichoke), and is edible. These other studies mainly involve the study of the nutritional value of these bulbs.
By the end of the semester we aim to produce a student generated lab that studies the growth of the Jerusalem Artichoke in both human disturbed and non-disturbed natural areas. By measuring the productiveness in both conditions, hopefully we will be able to determine whether or not the plant grows and produces a better crop in its natural environment with no disturbance. The plant is considered in most cases as a weed (Nicholson, Sept. 12), however itproduces a fruit that is edible and often cultivated for its product, this and the origin of the plant being Butler County Ohio interests our group. Samples must be taken before winter arrives, because after the first frost, the plants become damaged.

Literature Review

The Jerusalem artichoke is not a completely unknown plant as one would assume, by reading the peer critiques that are posted on the WCP 121 website. Most people do not know the name of it, however, have probably seen it and overlooked it as they drive down highway 27, or walk down the street or around campus.
In one study (Seiler 1993) the growth rate of four wild Jerusalem Artichoke was compared to the growth rate of six cultivated plants. This study found that cultivated plants had a higher forage (plant matter) yield and a higher tuber (bulb of the root) yield than the wild plants. It is also stated that, Òthe significant negative correlation between forage yield and IVDDM (in vitro digestible dry matter) concentration indicates that these characteristics cannot be simultaneously improved in a breeding program.Ó This gives us a good reason to believe the plant strives better in wildly disturbed areas.
A separate study by a German scientist Seigfried Schittenhelm in 1999, compared the crop production of root chicory, Jerusalem Artichoke, and sugar beets in stressed and non-stressed environments (Schittenhelm, 1999). It was found that, ÒÉthe Jerusalem Artichoke yield was only affected under conditions of high weed and N stress.Ó In the event of the absence of water, the amount of the yield of Jerusalem Artichoke was consistent with the average yield of sugar beets (Schittenhelm, 1999). This aspect leads us to suspect that the plants grow better along road sides were less weeds are, compared to in the woods or in a field where more weeds thrive.
Since the Jerusalem artichoke is not exactly a common topic for experiments, our research, being posted on the Internet, may help other students from other schools looking information, or experiment ideas. Also, with our experiment centered on the affects of human disturbance, any information concerning human affects on the
environment may be beneficial. It may be key to foreseeing environmental degradation, or even the effects of this.
To look at the big picture, if we perform an experiment on the effects of human disturbance on the Jerusalem artichoke in Oxford, Ohio; then this sets the stage for a sister experiment somewhere else, and a comparison of results. This would be beneficial because if the health of these distant plants of the same species is different, then an assumption may be made about the effects of human disturbance and/or environmental
degradation.

Materials and Methods

We will be taking random samples of the Jerusalem artichoke in places in and surrounding the Oxford City limits. To insure an unbiased, statistically sound experiment and produce precise samples we will go to the clusters of plants we have encountered, randomly throw the cardboard ring into the cluster of plants. Once plants have been chosen, we examine the base of the plant to determine if two branches or two completely formed plants are indeed part of the same root structure. If the roots are not shared, the sprouts are separate plants.
For further investigation, we plan to dig up one or two plants to observe the root structure. These will be plants that are not within our sampling areas, therefore not affecting our samples. We are curious to see if not only do two plants grow out of one tuber, but also if this tuber may have branching roots where a separate plant can grow off, even if this plant is some distance away from the original tuber.
We anticipate that we will collect two to four samples from each cluster. We will take the sample from the taking our measurements from the random plants that our cardboard ring lands on. To insure the sampling process is entirely random, we will throw the ring while wearing a blindfold. Picking out particular plants to test would not be a random sampling process. For the most part we believe our experiment is statistically sound because or method is as close to perfectly random as possible.

The materials we intend on using consist of:
-1 ruler
-1 tape measure
-1 cardboard ring
-1 hand shovel
-1 piece of string
-1 blind fold
-1 data sheet

For the class participation section of our project; on Thursday, October 17, we will take the class to a population of the Jerusalem Artichoke on Western campus to gather samples and measurements. We will insist the class wear a blindfold or turn completely around while throwing the ring to chose the samples to insure complete randomness and consistence. We would prefer the person throwing the ring to wear the blindfold, to ensure that we are as close to completely random as possible.
Given the necessary tools, the class will help us take measurements from the plants with our specific instructions. Their participation will consist of collecting data from this particular population of Jerusalem Artichoke.
The process they will need to go through to collect throuogh samples must be explained very clearly. Our explanation of their effort is explained thusly: First, the group members toss a cardboard ring, blindfolded to be completely random, into the large group of Helianthus that we specify. The class will need to examine the roots to see if there are branches from separate plants or branches that are joined at the root to form one plant. If they are joined the plants will be considered as branches. To separate this fact and allow for clarification in our experiment; if there are two branches or plants stemming from one root, we will label one branch as Branch Number 1 and the second branch (or stem) as Branch Number 2.
We will also need measurements of how tall the plants are, also taking note of our definition of the branches/stems being one plant with two or more branches or entirely separate plants. The circumference of the plantÕs stem will be recorded by using a piece of string. The string will be wrapped around the plant one inch from where the pant enters the ground. Then the length of the string will be measured on a meter stick and recorded.
Next, the number of leaves, number of buds/flowers, and the measurement of the largest leaf of each plant in each sample will be needed. For this population we will be taking enough samples that each group will have one sample to measure. All information and data collected will be recorded on the data sheets we will provide for the class.
This part of our research will inform the class on how we are doing our sampling, give them participation in the sampling part of our research study; and also save us time on the little we have left on taking samples. Because there are factors working against us, possible frost this weekend and human construction in the area; it is essential for us to obtain the sampling data as soon as possible. Also, the class participation will be greatly appreciated because we have only two group members to complete this entire project.

Time Line:

Sept. 4 -Set project topic on Equisetum.
Posted ideas on web.

Sept. 8 -Went to Pfeiffer Park and looked for samples.

Sept. 12-Changed topic idea to Jerusalem artichoke and posted on web
-Library research
-Posted critic reviews.

Sept. 22-Meet at library to work on proposal.

Sept. 24-In class work on proposal

Sept. 25-Library research

Sept. 26-First day of sample taking-Speedway.

Sept. 27-Post proposal

Sept. 28-Take samples-Stillwell Becket.

Oct. 5-Take samples-Huston Woods.

Oct. 9-Take samples (non-disturbed)

Oct. 10-Lab Packet posted

Oct. 14-Take samples-First Star Bank

Oct. 15-Prepare tables for class
-Meet to organize research collected so far

Oct. 17-Class participation/Take samples-Western Bridge.

Oct. 21-Record class data on master data sheet

Data Sheet:

Sample # Disturbed or Non-Disturbed Location Plant # Height of tallest branch (cm) Width of stem (cm) # of flowers or buds on each branch # of leaves Width of largest leaf (cm)
1

Results Ð N/A

Discussion & Conclusions
There are many additional questions we have about our experiment, even about the Jerusalem artichoke in general. What is the absolute best way to tell if this plant is flourishing, or not? Do our measurements of diameter and height really give an accurate measurement into how well the artichoke is growing? Will this affect our results? We found that the roots spread out horizontally under the surface of the ground. Does the Helianthus affect only certain kinds of plants, and does it overrun only these particular species with its roots? What is the reason for its reproductive success? Do its seeds make a difference? What about the number of roots branching off the tuber?
We also have some general questions about our experiment. How many samples does it take to make our experiment statistically significant (5, 15 or 40 samples)? Is there any other outside influences on the growth of the Jerusalem Artichoke that we did not take into account? Influence such as nearby landfills, or fertilized fields, or water with high mineral content. Are the measurements exact (is the diameter exactly 1.3 cm)? Does cold weather or frost affect the plant? Does it have any animal predators? In what way does it spread across far distances? What is its main invasion corridor?
Our main source of error could mainly be placed on inaccurate measurements. Also, cold weather had just begun to set in when we began the bulk of our sampling, so that may be a source of error. If the samples that we deemed in areas of little human disturbance were affected more greatly than we assumed, the experiment may also be thrown off. To conclude, our experiment thus far is successful.

Literature Cited

Grieve, M. (2002) Artichoke, Jerusalem. [Online]. Available: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/artic065.html

Michigan State University (1996) Jerusalem Artichoke. [Online]. Available: http://www.msue.edu/msue/imp/mod03/01701437.html.

Nancy Nelson. Lecture on September 12, 2002.

Schittenhelm, S. (Nov/Dec 1999) Agronomic Performance of Root Chicory, Jerusalem Artichoke, and Sugar beet in Stress and Nonstress Environments. Crop Science. 39 no. 6: 1815-1823.

Seiler, G. J. (Jan/Feb. 1993) Forage and Tuber Yields and Digestibility of Selected Wild and Cultivated Genotypes of Jerusalem artichoke. Agronomy Journal. 85 no.1: (Madison, Wis. American Society of Agronomy): 29-33.

Seiler, G. J. (1990) Protein and Mineral Concentrations in Tuber of Selected Genotypes of Wild and Cultivated Jerusalem Artichoke. Economic Biology. 44: 322-335.

Swanton, C. J. and Cavers, P. B. (1989). Biomass and Nutrient Allocation patters in Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). Canadian Journal of Botany. 67: 2880-2887.

University of Arkansas (2002). Jerusalem Artichoke-Helianthus-tuberosus. [Online]. Available: http://www.arhomeandgarden.org/vegetables/varieties/jerusalem_artichoke.asp.

www.holoweb.com/cannon/jerusale.htm.

www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke energy/helianthus tuberoses.

www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed.id/htm.

*note:data sheet/graphs cannot be posted

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