Influence of Nitrogen Sources and Levels Along with Different Levels of Compost on Quinoa (Chenopedium Quinoa Willd.) Productivity Grown in Newly Reclaimed Soils

Abstract

Two field experiments were performed during season of 2017 and 2018 at a private farm in newly reclaimed land, Village No 8, El-Minia Governorate, Egypt, to assess the effect of different nitrogen sources [ammonium sulphate, (AS) and ammonium nitrate,(AN) fertilizers] and levels (60 and 90 kg N/fed) as well as different compost levels (5, 10 and 15 t/fed) on growth parameters of quinoa plant, i.e. plant height, dry weight/plant and number of leaves/plant; yield components (number of panciles/plant, 1000-grain weight and grain yield/plant; yield parameters (grain, straw and biological yield); and N, P and K concentration and uptake in both grains and straw as well as nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE). The experimental design was a split-split plot design, where compost levels were allocated in main plots and nitrogen sources were arranged in sub plots, while nitrogen levels were applied in sub-sub plots. The results show that all studied growth parameters, yield and yield components as well as N, P and K concentrations and uptake in grains and straw were positively responded to increasing nitrogen and compost levels, except P concentration in grains and straw in both seasons and K concentration in grains in the second season only which did not affect by nitrogen levels. Nitrogen sources were significantly effected the abovementioned traits, except 1000-grain weight and nitrogen concentration in both grains and straw, which the effect of AS fertilizer was more pronounced than AN form. Nitrogen utilization efficiency was negatively affected by compost and nitrogen levels, while nitrogen source was not affect this trait. Combined 15 t/fed compost with 60 kg N/fed had statistically effect on quinoa productivity equal to the effect of 90 kg N/fed.