Effect of sowing dates on quinoa grains and its chemical composition

Shams, A.S.1 and Wafaa K. Galal2

Abstract

Growing field crops under harsh conditions of arid environment in sandy soils is one of the biggest challenge facing food security especially for small-scale holdings. Quinoa(Chenopodium quinoaWilld.),the newly introduced food crop can replenish part of food gap, since; the crop is drought-salinity tolerant and can grow in sandy soil of arid and semi-arid regions and with other most harmful abiotic adverse factors that affect crop production. Field trial was carried out in Ismailia Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural Research Center,Egypt during 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 winter seasons to study the response of Quinoa CV Titicaca to three sowing dates i.e., 15th of November, 1st of December and 15th of December under sandy soil using sprinkler irrigation system. Results revealed that sowing quinoa on 15th of December resulted in maximum plant height of 57.73 and 61.50 cm, No. of branches/ plant of 11.33 and 12.08, weight of the main head 9.85 and 11.16 g, 1000-grain weight of 2.65 and 2.78 g grain yield /plantof 12.43 and 13.95 g, grain yield /fed of 556 and 622 Kg /fed, and net return of 1,395 and 1,560 LE/fed. in first and second seasons. Moisture, ether extract, crude protein, crude fiber, ash and carbohydrates contents of quinoa were 9.61, 3.93, 13.97, 10.31, 3.67 and 68.12 %, respectively. In addition, quinoa grains had higher contents of most essential amino acids, especially lysine.Also, quinoa grains had higher contents of minerals especially Zn, Fe, Mg and Ca. Finally, Quinoa grains could be introduced in bakery products to improve its nutritional value. It is a good source of nutrientsespecially for children and also for people who suffer from celiac disease (allergy to gluten), as a gluten-free crop.

Key words

Quinoa, sowing dates, chemical composition, sandy soils.