Seeds Yield and Quality of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Plants Grown Under Different Nitrogen Fertilization Doses

Abstract

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has been cultivated for more than 7,000 years in the mountain regions (Andes Mountains) of South America. Five ecotypes differing in their phenology, morphology and stress resistance can be found. One of these ecotypes corresponds to the coastal ecotype, which is cultivated mainly in Chile. Little information is available regarding the response of this ecotype to nitrogen (N) fertilization. In the present study, three N fertilization doses (low: 30, adequate: 140 and high: 280 kg ha^-1) were evaluated in plants grown in containers. Seed yield and quality attributes, including seed weight, nitrate content, germination, and seed longevity, were evaluated. These results indicate that increasing N fertilization promotes increases in seed yield and weight. In terms of seed quality, although the fertilization treatments did not affect germination, seed longevity was reduced by increasing the N fertilization dose.