Abstract
The increasing water scarcity affects the agricultural sector, and it is a significant constraining factor for crop production in many areas of the world. Water resource management and use related to crop productivity is the most important factor in many crops. Since consumer demands healthy food, the nutritive quality and the active ingredient need to be considered within the productive issue. The objective of this study was to determine water technical efficiency related to seed yield and seed protein content and composition in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under water stress using data envelopment analysis (DEA). The study was conducted in Chillan, Chile in two growing seasons. As water availability increased, seed yield, globulin, and albumin yield increased, particularly in the genotype Cahuil. The higher average efficiency levels for the DEA were 46.7% and 39.2% in Cahuil in both seasons at 20% available water (AW). The highest average efficiency of globulin yield was recorded in the same genotype (Cahuil). The highest multi-product technical efficiency levels in all input and output included in this study were observed in Cahuil, Regalona, and Morado under water scarcity in both seasons. In future studies related to crop management, DEA provides a good framework for estimating efficiency under restricted factors and multi-product results.
Highlights
In recent years, agricultural regions around the globe have been subjected to extensive and increasing water constraints and scarcity, resulting in negative impacts to the environment, economy, and society [1,2,3]
Multiproduct analysis was used to answer the questions, “How much productive are quinoa genotypes under different water input?” and “How much is gained in total protein content, globulins, and albumins yield?” Quinoa exhibits a strong variability to genotype-specific responses affecting crop seed yield and nutritional quality, according to the environment in which it grows [28,65]
In terms of seed yield, the highest average efficiency was observed with 20% available water (AW) in the first season, while in the second season it was achieved with no-irrigation
Summary
Agricultural regions around the globe have been subjected to extensive and increasing water constraints and scarcity, resulting in negative impacts to the environment, economy, and society [1,2,3]. Climate change is projected to increase fluctuations in precipitation and surface water supplies, affecting crops’ water requirements [4,5]. This poses challenges to agriculture around the world, which will adapt farming practices to cope with water stress limiting crop yield, growth, and plant’s bioactive content. This while minimizing negative environmental impact; and feeding an ever-growing population efficiently by supplying healthy food [6,7]. Protein deficiency is one of the major nutritional problems in developing word [11]. Protein derived from plant sources represent approximately 65% of the world’s supply of edible protein [12,13,14], pseudocereals and most of the legumes have important impact in the food and pharmaceutical industries due to their high nutritional value, mainly connected to their protein and allergens fraction compared with cereals [15]
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