Impact of Foliar Spray by Proline on the Production and Quality of Quinoa under Saline Soil Conditions at Toshka Region

Abstract

High Salinity on the soil is one of the widespread environmental problems in arid and semi-arid regions. A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Station Farm of Water Studies & Research Complex (WSRC), National Water Research Center, located in Toshka Region-Abu-Simbel, Egypt, during 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 seasons to evaluate the effect of four proline concentration (0.0, 25,50 and 75 ppm) and number of application (once=30 days after planting (DAP), twice=30 and 45DAP and thrice times=30, 45 and 60 DAP) on growth, yield and quality traits of quinoa plant grown in saline soil. Using a strip-plot in RCBD with three replications. Results revealed that the Growth, yield and quality traits of quinoa were significantly increased by high proline concentration with 75ppm compared to the other concentrations in both seasons. Increased number of proline adding times had a significant effect on growth, yield and quality traits of quinoa in both seasons, except plant height and shoot fresh weight plant-1 in the two seasons and number of leaves plant-1 in the second season.There were significant effects of the interaction between proline concentrations and spray times on growth, yield and quality traits of quinoa crop except for plant height, shoot fresh weight plant-1 and protein% in both seasons, for ach% in 2nd season and saponine% in 1st season. From the above-mentioned results, it concluded that the plants spraying three times with proline at 75ppm recorded the highest growth, yield, quality and net return of quinoa under salt-affected soil conditions at Toshka, Egypt.