The role of Jerusalem artichoke in Ukrainian ecosystems
On Thursday, May 9, at the space of urban gardening "Rozsadnyk", we discussed the role of Jerusalem artichoke in Ukrainian ecosystems.
What was the relevance of the discussion?
Jerusalem artichoke is on the Ukrainian list of invasive plant species. This list of 45 items also includes hogweed, ragweed, and goldenrod. Is Jerusalem artichoke as obvious a threat to Ukrainian species as hogweed? Does it really quickly take over the entire territory where it was planted, displacing other plants? Are there any permits or prohibitions on planting Jerusalem artichoke in populated areas?
These questions formed the subject of the discussion.
Jerusalem artichoke is characterized by such properties as resistance to growing in different soils or to changing weather conditions (drought, flood, heat, frost...), germination of the plant at the planting site every time even after a thorough harvest of the entire tuber/root crop. These special properties of Jerusalem artichoke were considered both negative and positive in the discussion. At the same time, everyone agreed that the plant is beneficial and that its parts (stem, leaves, tubers and flowers) can be used in the household and food industry. After all, Jerusalem artichoke tubers are superior to many types of vegetables in terms of vitamins, fiber, minerals, amino acids, and nutrition and are much more valuable than fodder beets or potatoes. The most unique feature of Jerusalem artichoke tubers is the presence of inulin carbohydrates, which are broken down in the human body to form fructose, which means that Jerusalem artichoke tubers are a valuable food for diabetics. Root vegetables are used to make syrup, candied fruit, chips, flour, and coffee. The dry stem of the plant can be converted into biofuel (chips, briquettes, pellets), and the green stem and leaves are used to make valuable fodder. And the dried flowers make a delicious and nutritious tea.
Given certain dangers Jerusalem artichoke may pose to endemic species, yesterday's discussion participants reached a consensus on measures to grow the plant in Ukraine:
- the legislation should prescribe a methodology for controlling the spread of invasive species to curb their spread in order to protect biodiversity;
- each community should have established rules on where certain species can and cannot be planted on its territory;
- jerusalem artichoke is best grown by those who know how to do it properly and how to prevent the plant from spreading to areas where it can harm other flora.
- to conduct research in certain areas of the territories where Jerusalem artichoke is currently growing in order to dig up the area twice at the beginning of stem growth to check the possibility of removing Jerusalem artichoke and using this area for other plants;
- to find out how fast the plant spreads in the area where it was planted, leaving the planted Jerusalem artichoke to develop for several years without human intervention, but observing it.
So, planting Jerusalem artichoke should be done responsibly. After all, the plant is not an annual, and it can survive in harsh conditions without human intervention. It is worth remembering that some alien plant species can change or even destroy entire ecosystems. Having no natural enemies in new territories, they multiply rapidly, take over space, and displace native species from natural landscapes.
Serhiy Kosharuk, an expert in Jerusalem artichoke cultivation, advisor on energy efficiency, ecology and community development at EECU, familiarized the participants with the peculiarities of growing and processing Jerusalem artichoke. Nadiya Sychak, PhD in Biology, Senior Researcher at the Department of Natural Ecosystems Protection at the Institute of Carpathian Ecology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Board Member of the NGO “Institute of Biodiversity”, Executive Director of the National Biodiversity Information Network (UkrBIN), spoke about the risks and benefits of Jerusalem artichoke for Ukrainian ecosystems, and Oksana Sofiyanchuk, a gardener in the Halych district of Lviv, discussed the possible use of the plant in the urban environment.