The impact of various sowing applications on the nutritional value of Quinoa Dry Herb

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the availability of the quinoa plant residues, which are mostly grown as grain crops as fodder and the impact of various cultivation applications on nutritional value. For this purpose, the calcium, dry matter, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, protein content, tetany, and milk fever incidences of the post-harvest residues of the quinoa plant, cultivated in different sowing times and with various row spacing applications, were investigated. Thus, it was determined that the calcium, dry matter, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, protein content, tetany, and milk fever incidences content in quinoa straw were 0.93%–3.33%; 91.08%–87.94%; 0.73%–2.24%; 0.20%–1.24%; 0.22%–0.30%; 4.40%–7.37%; 0.17–2.67 meq, and 3.35–12.27 meq. The study findings demonstrated that the quinoa straw mineral content and balance were suitable for use as an alternative fodder source. However, due to the high milk fever incidence, it was concluded that mono and intensive use of quinoa straw may be risky. Novelty Impact Statement Quinoa straw was determined that all properties except protein content were significantly affected by the sowing time, and the row spacing led to a difference only in P content. It was concluded that the quinoa plant had rich mineral content and plant residues could be used as fodder. However, based on the mineral balance, it was concluded that the milk fever incidence was quite high when the ideal range was considered, this plant should not be given alone and intensively, and the quality of the could be improved when mixed with other feed material. Thus, it was suggested that the residues of the grain production in the quinoa plant could be an alternative fodder source to other forage plants.