Cultivation of quinoa to improve food security in arid climate and salinization of the Southern Aral Sea region

Abstract

Provision of food to the population, using non-traditional crops resistant to drought and low water (African millet, Sinapis, Camelina, Quinoa). It is planned to use these crops in unsuitable for use traditional cultures in a number of areas.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa willd)—as a multipurpose agro-industrial crop that can grow well in extreme soil and climatic conditions, is of great interest for ensuring the food security of the Southern Aral Sea region. Since, in terms of its composition, quinoa grain can be used as a food, medicinal plant. The seeds, stems and leaves of quinoa can be used not only for human consumption, but also as feed for livestock and birds.

The use of various components of quinoa, such as oil, starch, saponin and dyes, is under study, which could become raw materials for the chemical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Possessing a powerful root system, the plants contribute to the preservation of the sandy soils of the region and increase their fertility. At the same time, according to studies carried out in other regions of the world, the most resistant quinoa varieties are able to withstand high levels of soil salinity, are heat and drought tolerant. Moisture consumption and transpiration coefficient are 2.2-2.7 times lower compared to traditional crops such as wheat, rice and cotton.

In solving the problem of diversification non-traditional culture of quinoa on different degrees soil salinity in conditions of low availability of irrigation water for agricultural lands of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, research on the study biology and technology growing five varieties of quinoa has been carried out in the region since 2015. Data were obtained on the growth and development of plants at different sowing periods, testing of various rates of mineral fertilizers, and rates of sowing seeds.

The preference for early spring sowing dates has been established, in which plants, before the onset of hot weather, form sufficient biomass to form an optimal grain yield. An inverse correlation was determined between late sowing (mid-April-mid-May) and the accumulation of biomass and plant productivity, which depended on the high temperature of June. In recent years, there has been an increase from long-term normal temperatures by +6-8°C. Such deviations are especially unfavorable at late sowing dates. In the conditions of the South Aral Sea region, quinoa plants were reviewed for high rates of mineral fertilizers in combination with irrigation.