POTENTIAL OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE (Helianthus tuberosus L.) AS A BIOMASS CROP

Jerusalem artichoke is a species with high production potential, resistance to diseases and pests, with a good tolerance to the variations of climatic factors. The upper part of the Jerusalem artichoke can be used for the production of biofuel, for the manufacture of briquettes and pellets. In addition to the above-ground biomass yield, Jerusalem artichoke also produces a high yield of tubers. The research carried out by us in the climatic conditions from ARDS Caracal showed that both the applied fertilization level and the nutrition space influenced the quantity of biomass generated by the Jerusalem artichoke, with values that ranged between 36.2 t/ha in the unfertilized variant, with planting at 40 cm between plants/row and 60.1 t/ha at the variant with the fertilization dose of N160P160K80 at the planting distance of 50 cm between plants/row.