Irrigation with saline water for quinoa crop (Chenopodium quinoaWilld) depending on growth stages and its effect on plant yield and salt accumulation

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the success of the use of saline water during certain stages of the growth of the quinoa ( Chenopodium quinoa Willd ) plant and to provide a portion of fresh water without affecting the yield significantly. A field experiment was carried out with a Randomized Complete Block Design, in which Euphrates River (fresh water) (R), and saline groundwater (S) were used, its electrical conductivity was 1.6 and 5.1 dSm−1 respectively.Growth stages were divided into four stages: germination and emergence -vegetative growth - flowering - yield formation. Five treatments were used for irrigation: treatment T1, irrigation with river water for the four stages (RRRR), treatment T2: irrigation with river water for the first and second stage, and saline water for the third and fourth stage (RRSS), and treatment T3: irrigation with river water for the first and third stage and saline water for the second and fourth stage (RSRS),while treatment T 4: irrigation with river water for the first stage and saline water for the other three stages (RSSS). and treatment T5: irrigation with saline water for all stages (SSSS). Plant growth and yield were followed, as well as the amount of salt accumulation in the soil before planting and after harvest.