The effect of irrigation with saline water on a quinoa crop

In the search for plants that have significant agronomic value and are capable of withstanding severe environmental stresses, attention has turned to a South American pseudo-cereal, quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd). This study highlighted the influence of severe water stress and different water qualities (1.25, 10, 25 and 40 dS/m) on the morphological and physiological parameters of quinoa (germination rate, height, diameter, leaf area, number of spikes, chlorophyll and mineral elements). The study revealed that quinoa exhibits exceptional behaviour in response to water scarcity, growing even with a water supply of just 152 mm. With regard to salinity, the results of the germination trial highlight quinoa's high tolerance to salinity, with a decrease of less than 9 per cent at 25 dS/m. This tolerance persists at a rate of 12 per cent at 40 dS/m. Furthermore, the trial in pots irrigated with water ranging from low to very high salinity revealed that high salinity levels had no significant effect on growth in height and diameter, nor on leaf area or yield.