Effect of drought on quinoa grain yield (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Abstract

The application of alternative cereals in nutrition requires introduction of new plant species in agricutural production, such as quinoa, amarantus, etc. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is cutivated for its grain, which has similar nutrition value like cereal grain, but it is gluten free. In the years 2010, 2011 and 2012 we performed experiments with introduced species of quinoa. The experiments were conducted in Nova Pazova location in calcareous chernozem using two genotypes (KVL 37 and KVL 52). Sowing was done in April, while harvest in August. The average air temperature during the growing season (April-September) rose from the first to the third year of experiments, while rainfalls were significantly decreased. In 2010 the average yield was 1360 kg/ha. In 2011 it amounted 1467 kg/ha. The year 2012 had very high temperatures (31 to 38,4 °C) that lasted 70 days and drought occured in the period June-September. This resulted in a very significant reduction in grain yield, with average of 382 kg/ha. Variety KVL 52 had higher yield compared to the KVL 37.

Keywords

• quinoa
• precipitation
• grain yield
• drought
• temperature