Ndunguru Grato, Ayele Addissu G, Pathan Safiullah
Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO, United States.
Front Plant Sci. 2025 Jul 16;16:1606163. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1606163. eCollection 2025.
This study introduces a novel dual-purpose quinoa production method, allowing the harvest of leafy greens first and grains later from the same plant, thereby enhancing overall production and economic returns. Four quinoa lines were evaluated under two treatments: (1) cut, where leafy greens were harvested four weeks after germination, and plants were subsequently allowed to mature, and (2) control, where plants were grown to full maturity without cutting. The study employed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications across three planting dates spaced at one-week intervals. Similar management practices were followed for both treatments and the date of planting. Results showed a significantly higher grain yield in cut plants (22.87g plant) compared to control plants (15.52g plant, < 0.05). Quinoa line PI614927 yielded the highest in both cut and control treatments, with 29.15 and 18.33g plant, respectively. Grain yield was higher in the cut than the control on all three planting dates. The cut plants matured two days later than the control due to late branching and flowering. Shoot dry weight was significantly higher in cut plants (77.67g) than in the control (53.80g plant) due to a higher number of branches in cut plants (4-6 plant). In contrast, plant height and panicle length were higher in the control plant. The root dry weight was significantly higher in the cut (14.99g) than in the control (12.87g plant) plants. The two treatments showed no significant differences in 100-seed weight and root length. There was no significant difference in the nutritional compositions of quinoa grains between the treatments and dates of planting. This study has three benefits: harvesting leafy greens and higher grains, profound environmental benefits from using less water and fertilizer, one-time field preparation, and short duration (around 100 days). These research findings can accelerate quinoa leafy greens and grains production, contributing to food and nutritional security and sustainable alternative crop production, especially for small farmers.
本研究介绍了一种新型的两用藜麦生产方法，该方法允许先收获同一植株的叶菜类蔬菜，之后再收获谷物，从而提高总产量和经济回报。在两种处理方式下对四个藜麦品系进行了评估：（1）切割处理，即发芽四周后收获叶菜类蔬菜，随后让植株成熟；（2）对照处理，即植株不进行切割，直接生长至完全成熟。该研究采用随机完全区组设计（RCBD），在三个间隔为一周的种植日期进行了三次重复试验。两种处理方式以及种植日期均采用相似的管理措施。结果显示，与对照植株（每株15.52克，<0.05）相比，切割处理的植株谷物产量显著更高（每株22.87克）。藜麦品系PI614927在切割处理和对照处理中产量均最高，分别为每株29.15克和18.33克。在所有三个种植日期，切割处理的谷物产量均高于对照处理。由于分枝和开花较晚，切割处理的植株比对照植株晚两天成熟。由于切割处理的植株（每株4 - 6个）分枝数量更多，其地上部干重（77.67克）显著高于对照植株（每株53.80克）。相比之下，对照植株的株高和穗长更高。切割处理植株的根干重（14.99克）显著高于对照植株（每株12.87克）。两种处理方式在百粒重和根长方面无显著差异。不同处理方式和种植日期的藜麦谷物营养成分无显著差异。本研究有三个优点：收获叶菜类蔬菜和更高产量的谷物，因减少水和肥料使用而带来显著的环境效益，一次性整地，以及生长周期短（约100天）。这些研究结果能够加速藜麦叶菜类蔬菜和谷物的生产，有助于粮食和营养安全以及可持续替代作物生产，特别是对小农户而言。
