Study of the effect of planting density in greenhouses and open fields on the yield of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) in Eastern Morocco

Laboratory for the Improvement of Agricultural Production, Biotechnology and Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda, Morocco

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Abstract

As one of the most resilient and alternative crops in the face of climate change challenges that are having a significant impact on cereals, quinoa was introduced to Morocco in 1999. However, despite two decades of development, this sector seems to suffer from a lack of knowledge of good agricultural practices. With this in mind, this research, carried out at the experimental station of the Faculty of Sciences in Oujda, aims to evaluate the yield of Chenopodium quinoa Willd in order to identify the planting density and planting method that generate the optimum yield. Three density levels, D1, D2 and D3, corresponding respectively to spacings of 30/20 cm, 40/20 cm and 40/10 cm, and two planting methods, under tunnel and in open field, were tested on the ICBA-Q5 quinoa variety. The experimental design consisted of Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. The parameters measured were harvest date, grain yield and 1000-grain weight. The results indicate that the installation mode significantly affected the harvest date, with a 24-day difference between the two modes, although planting density significantly affected quinoa yield for both installation modes. Thus, the optimum grain yield per hectare is achieved at density D2 40/20 cm for plants grown in open fields, while for plants grown under tunnels, density D1 30/20 cm remains the best. Nevertheless, no significant effect was found on the weight of 1,000 grains. These results will be useful and could be recommended for the intensification of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. cultivation.