Performance of quinoa cultivars grown on saline-alkaline soil

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the seed yield and quality of seven quinoa cultivars grown on nonsaline and saline-alkaline soil. The following cultivars were evaluated: Titicaca (Denmark), Sandoval Mix (UK), Moqu-Arrochilla (Peru), Rainbow (USA), Red Head (USA), French Vanilla (USA), and Oro De Valle (USA). A randomized block experimental design was carried out, for two years. Plant height, stem thickness, seed, and stem yields, crude protein, and raw ash were determined. Seed, raw ash, and stem crude protein contents increased on saline-alkaline soils, while the yield components decreased. Accordingly, the highest stem thickness, 1000-grain weight, seed, straw, and biological yields were observed in French Vanilla, Titicaca, Rainbow, and Sandoval Mix on nonsaline soils, respectively. However, Oro De Valle, and Moqu Arrochilla had higher stem crude protein and seed raw ash contents on saline-alkaline soils, respectively. Among the cultivars, French Vanilla showed a lower decrease of seed yield and a higher increase of harvest index on saline-alkaline soils than on nonsaline ones. Saline-alkaline soils decrease the seed yield and quality characteristics of quinoa cultivars; however, Titicaca and Moqu Arrochilla show a higher seed yield and quality performance in this condition.