Use of Some Bio-Organic Practices in Quinoa Cultivation in Pots as a Rapid Indicator of Soil Carbon Sequestration

This study assessed the impact of several bio-organic amendments on soil parameters in pot soils cultivated with Quinoa during the winter of 2024/2025 at the organic experimental farm of the Environment and Bio-agriculture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo. Treatments comprised discarded mushroom substrate, vermicompost, effective microorganisms (EM), and charcoal, individually and in combination. The interventions markedly affected soil moisture, organic carbon (OC), organic matter (OM), and Quinoa yield. T8, inclusive of all amendments, exhibited the highest soil moisture (2.90%), organic carbon (0.27%), and organic matter (0.47%), signifying a strong synergistic effect. The extensive root system of Quinoa augmented microbial activity and carbon stability in the rhizosphere. The treatments significantly influenced the production of Quinoa; treatment T7 attained the maximum yield at 7.71 g/pot (659 kg/feddan), succeeded by T8 at 6.81 g/pot (582 kg/feddan). In comparison to the untreated. These findings highlight the potential of integrating bio-organic amendments with Quinoa cultivation to improve soil quality and promote carbon sequestration.