The objective of the present study was to determine the optimum sowing time of three quinoa ecotypes (Altipllano, sea level, and valley) for high seed yields in south Kanto, Japan. Pot experiments were conducted in the experimental field at Nihon University during 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. In this experiment, the following quinoa varieties were used NL-6, Baer Cajon and Cauquenes (sea-level type), Amarilla de Marangani, Blanca de Junin, CICA-127, ECU-420, ECU-525, Ingapirica, and Narino (valley type), 94R and Isluga (Altiplano type). The quinoa seeds were sown on March 29, June 17 and September 22, 2011; March 27, June 17 and August 28, 2012; March 26, June 15 and 5 September 5, 2013; and March 27, June 17 and August 28, 2014. When the sea-level type and Altiplano type seeds were sowed from March to September, the seeds could be gained in all sowing plots. However, the seed weights of all varieties were the highest in the sowing plots of March. And the seed weights in the sowing plot of March were significantly higher than that in the other sowing plots. The sea-level type and Altiplano type quinoa had almost the same seed growth reaction for day length and day temperature. Thus, to gain a high seed yield of the sea-level and Altiplano type quinoa, March was the optimum sowing time in south Kanto, Japan. When the valley-type seeds were sowed from March to June, the seeds could not be gained, except in 2012. In 2012, the seed weights and seed numbers in sowing plots of March and June were significantly lower than those in the sowing plot of September. Thus, to obtain a high seed yield of the valley type quinoa, the optimum sowing time in south Kanto, Japan was from August to September.
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa WILLD) is a crop species that has been domesticated in South America since 1000 years [
The decrease in day temperature after flowering from 30˚C to 20˚C promoted seed growth of the sea-level type quinoa. In contrast, the seed weight of the valley type quinoa was the heaviest at a day temperature of 20˚C after flowering [
Pot experiments were conducted in the experimental field at Nihon University (Fujisawa-city, Kanagawa, Japan; lat. 35˚38'41"N, long. 139˚47'15"E) during 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 to clarify the optimum sowing time of quinoa in south Kanto, Japan. In this experiment, the following quinoa varieties were used NL-6, Baer Cajon and Cauquenes (sea-level type) during 2011, the Amarilla de Marangani, Blanca de Junin, CICA-127, and ECU-420 (valley type) during 2012, the 94R and Isluga (Altiplano type) and Blanca de Junin, ECU-525 and Ingapirica (valley type) during 2013, and the 94R and Isluga (Altiplano type), Cauquenes (sea-level type), and Narino (valley type) during 2014. In 1/2000 a pots containing 8 kg of field soil (Andosol) and 17.14 g of compound fertilizer (14:14:14), 20 seeds per pot were sown on March 29, June 17 and September 22, 2011; March 27, June 17 and August 28, 2012; March 26, June 15 and 5 September 5, 2013; and March 27, June 17 and August 28, 2014. The seedlings were thinned to three plants per pot at the second or third leaf stage. All pots were placed randomly outside the experimental field from sowing to maturity, and weeds, diseases, and insects were controlled as necessary during the cultivation period.
Dates of flowering (the date of flowering of 60% plants) and maturity (the date of leaf color change from green to yellow of all plants) were recorded. At maturity, seed weight per pot, 1000 seeds weight and seeds number per pot were analyzed by 10 pots. Quinoa seeds with a diameter >1.0 mm were used for the seed weight survey. The data of temperature from flowering to maturity were obtained from the weather station of Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System (Japan Meteorological Agency), Tsujido, which was the nearest to the experimental field. The data of day length from flowering to maturity were recorded from the Chronological Scientific Tables Website (http://www.rikanenpyo.jp).
All values were expressed as means. The data were statistically analyzed, and significant differences among the sowing plots of each variety were determined by the Tukey multiple comparisons test using the Kaleida Graph ver. 4.0 software.
Year | Variety | Plot | Sowing date | Flowering stage | Maturity stage | Day length from flowering to maturity (h) | Maximum temperature of each day from flowering to maturity (˚C) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | 94R | March June September | March 26 June 15 September 5 | May 29 August 2 November 3 | July 3 September 5 January 6 | 14.2 - 14.4 12.4 - 14.0 9.5 - 11.1 | 21.7 - 28.6 26.9 - 35.2 7.6 - 20.7 |
Isluga | March June September | March 26 June 15 September 5 | June 10 July 30 October 22 | July 20 September 5 December 11 | 14.1 - 14.4 12.4 - 14.0 9.5 - 11.1 | 22.0 - 32.1 28.0 - 35.0 10.7 - 22.3 | |
2014 | 94R | March June | March 27 June 30 | May 26 August 13 | July 5 September 14 | 14.1 - 14.3 12.2 - 13.4 | 21.7 - 28.6 26.8 - 32.0 |
Isluga | March June | March 27 June 17 | May 30 August 26 | July 1 September 16 | 14.2 - 14.3 12.2 - 13.0 | 21.7 - 28.6 26.8 - 31.8 |
Year | Variety | Plot | Sowing date | Flowering stage | Maturity stage | Day length from flowering to maturity (h) | Maximum temperature of each day from flowering to maturity (˚C) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | NL-6 | March June September | March 29 June 17 September 22 | May 24 July 22 November 7 | July 1 August 22 December 19 | 14.1 - 14.3 13.0 - 14.3 9.5 - 10.5 | 17.6 - 31.3 24.3 - 33.0 7.0 - 25.0 |
Baer Cajon | March June September | March 29 June 17 September 22 | May 25 July 17 November 7 | June 29 August 22 December 12 | 14.1 - 14.3 13.0 - 14.3 9.5 - 10.5 | 17.6 - 31.3 24.3 - 33.0 7.0 - 25.0 | |
Cauquenes | March June September | March 29 June 17 September 22 | May 28 July 24 November 7 | July 2 August 29 December 19 | 14.1 - 14.3 13.0 - 14.3 9.5 - 10.5 | 17.6 - 31.8 24.3 - 33.0 7.0 - 25.0 | |
2014 | Cauquenes | March June September | March 27 June 30 September 13 | May 17 August 15 November 11 | July 5 September 13 December 23 | 13.5 - 14.3 12.4 - 13.4 9.5 - 10.3 | 19.3 - 29.8 23.5 - 31.9 8.6 - 20.0 |
temperatures of each day from flowering to maturity ranged between 17.6˚C and 31.8˚C, 23.5˚C and 33.0˚C, and 7.0˚C and 25.0˚C, respectively.
Year | Variety | Plot | Sowing date | Flowering stage | Maturity stage | Day length from flowering to maturity (h) | Maximum temperature of each day from flowering to maturity (˚C) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Amarilla de Marangani | March July August | March 27 July 17 August 28 | June 12 September7 October 15 | July 14 October 22 December 1 | 14.2 - 14.3 11.1 - 13.0 9.6 - 11.4 | 19.0 - 29.2 20.0 - 31.7 9.6 - 25.7 |
Blanca de Junin | March July August | March 27 July 17 August 28 | June 26 September 18 October 27 | July 18 October 27 December 14 | 14.2 - 14.3 10.5 - 12.4 9.5 - 11.2 | 22.0 - 30.8 19.4 - 29.4 8.4 - 23.5 | |
CICA-127 | March July August | March 27 July 17 August 28 | June 19 September 15 October 22 | July 18 October 22 December 8 | 14.2 - 14.3 11.0 - 13.0 9.5 - 11.4 | 20.6 - 30.8 20.0 - 31.5 8.4 - 24.8 | |
ECU-420 | March July August | March 27 July 17 August 28 | June 23 September 18 October 24 | July 18 October 27 December14 | 14.2 - 14.3 10.5 - 12.5 9.5 - 11.4 | 20.6 - 30.8 19.4 - 29.4 8.4 - 25.7 | |
2013 | Blanca de Junin | March June September | March 26 June 15 September 5 | - - October 28 | - - January 6 | - - 9.5 - 11.1 | - - 7.6 - 22.0 |
ECU-525 | March June September | March 26 June 15 September 5 | May 29 - October 24 | July 6 - January 6 | 14.1 - 14.4 - 9.5 - 11.1 | - - 7.6 - 22.3 | |
Ingapirca | April June September | April 15 June 15 September 5 | - - October 28 | - - January 6 | - - 9.5 - 11.1 | - - 7.6 - 22.0 | |
2014 | Narino | March June August | March 27 June 17 August 28 | June 24 September 13 October 24 | - - December 10 | - - 9.5 - 11.1 | - - 10.4 - 22.6 |
-: Not extend to flowering or maturity stage.
Year | Variety | Plot | Seed weight (g pot−1) | 1000 seeds weight (g) | No. of seed. (pot−1) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | 94R | March June September | 23.08 a 13.39 b 16.75 ab | 3.2 a 1.8 c 2.9 b | 7,440 a 7,400 a 5,763 a |
Isluga | March June September | 23.13 a 20.11 a 11.69 b | 2.9 a 1.8 b 2.9 a | 7,950 b 11,304 a 3,743 c | |
2014 | 94R | March June | 26.0 a 10.8 b | 2.5 a 2.2 a | 9,999 a 4,815 b |
Isluga | March June | 30.5 a 7.3 b | 2.6 a 2.2 b | 11,630 a 3,468 b |
The seed weights of all varieties were the highest in the sowing plots of March. In 2013 and 2014, the seed weights of 94R were significantly higher in the sowing plots of March than that of June. In 2013, the seed weight of Isluga was significantly higher in the sowing plot of March than in that of September, and in 2014, the seed weight of Isluga was significantly higher in the sowing plot of March than in that of June. The 1000 seeds weight of all varieties was the heaviest in the sowing plot of March, and that of 94R and Isluga in 2013 and Isluga in 2014 were significantly higher than in the other sowing plots. In 2013, there was no significant difference in the seed number per pot of 94R among all sowing plots. However, that of Isluga in the sowing plot of June was significantly higher (P < 0.05). In 2014, the seed number of both varieties was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the sowing plot of March than in that of June.
In general, the day length did not affect the seed growth of the sea-level type quinoa [
Year | Variety | Plot | Seed weight (g pot−1) | 1000 seeds weight (g) | No. of seed (pot−1) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | NL-6 | March June September | 35.9 a 16.9 b 4.0 c | 2.4 a 2.0 b 1.6 c | 14,636 a 8,294 b 2,334 c |
Baer Cajon | March June September | 36.7 a 22.1 b 8.4 c | 2.9 a 2.1 b 3.1 a | 12,589 a 10,770 a 2,763 b | |
Cauquenes | March June September | 27.6 a 20.1 b 9.3 c | 2.3 b 2.2 b 2.7 a | 12,119 a 9,248 a 3,385 b | |
2014 | Cauquenes | March June September | 29.6 a 12.6 b 17.4 b | 2.7 a 1.8 c 2.5 b | 10,636 a 6,101 b 6,473 b |
Year | Variety | Plot | Seed weight (g pot−1) | 1000 seeds weight (g) | No. of seed (pot−1) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Amarilla de Marangani | March July August | 0.4 b 4.8 b 24.2 a | 1.4 c 2.3 b 2.7 a | 217 c 2,124 b 9,077 a |
Blanca de Junin | March July August | - 0.1 b 12.7 a | - 0.8 b 1.8 a | - 144 b 6,987 a | |
CICA-127 | March July August | - 1.5 b 20.9 a | - 1.7 b 2.8 a | - 832 b 7,467 a | |
ECU-420 | March July August | - 0.1 b 13.7 a | - 1.1 a 1.7 a | - 70 b 7,633 a | |
2013 | Blanca de Junin | March June September | - - 7.49 | - - 1.8 | - - 3,827 |
ECU-525 | March June September | - - 21.0 | - - 2.7 | - - 7,800 | |
Ingapirca | April June September | - - 13.3 | - - 2.7 | - - 5,051 | |
2014 | Narino | March June September | - - 11.7 | - - 2.0 | - - 5,774 |
-: Not extend to maturity stage.
September from flowering to maturity ranged from 17.6˚C to 31.8˚C, 23.5˚C to 33.0˚C and 7.0˚C to 25.0˚C, respectively. Thus, we concluded that the seed growth of the sea-level type quinoa was not considerably suppressed by the day length and maximum temperature. However, the seed weight and seed number of all sea-level type varieties in the sowing plots of March were higher than those in the other sowing plots (
When the valley-type seeds were sowed from March to June, the seeds did not gain in this experiment, except in 2012 (
Ujiie et al. [
The objective of the present study was to determine the optimum sowing time of three quinoa ecotypes (Altipllano, sea level, and valley) for high seed yields in south Kanto, Japan. In this pot experiments, the quinoa seeds were sown from March to September, 2012, 2013 and 2014. To gain a high seed yield of the sea-level and Altiplano type quinoa, March was the optimum sowing time. On the other hand, for valley type quinoa, the optimum sowing time was from August to September.
KatsunoriIsobe,HikaruSugiyama,DaisukeOkuda,YudaiMurase,HirokiHarada,MisaMiyamoto,SyunsukeKoide,MasaoHigo,YoichiTorigoe, (2016) Effects of Sowing Time on the Seed Yield of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) in South Kanto, Japan. Agricultural Sciences,07,146-153. doi: 10.4236/as.2016.73014