Forage production and chemical composition of eight cultivars of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) in Illpa, Puno

Abstract

The objectives of the present study were to measure the fresh matter (FM) and dry matter (DM) yield of eight quinoa cultivars; to determine the chemical composition of the forage of quinoa cultivars and to evaluate the organoleptic quality and chemical composition of mixed silages of quinoa and oat forage. A randomised complete block design was used with eight treatments (quinoa cultivars) and three replications. The evaluated variables were: Dry matter yield (DM), protein content, ethereal extract (EE) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of the quinoa forage and organoleptic quality of mixed silages of quinoa and oat forage. The results showed that the highest plant height and highest density of plants per unit area was obtained by the cultivars Huariponcho, C1 08-661 and Pandela. Quinua Pandela stood out due to its high yield of 13,538 kg DM ha-1, followed by the cultivars Huariponcho, C8 03-996 and C4 08-708 with yields of 12,049, 10,133 and 10,899 kg DM ha-1, respectively. The Quinua Pandela cultivar obtained the highest yield of stems with 6,594 kg DM ha-1, leaves with 5,477 kg DM ha-1 and panicle with 1,279 kg DM ha-1. The forage of the eight quinoa cultivars, cut at the beginning of flowering, has a high average content of 27.1% crude protein, 6.1% of EE and 30.3% of NDF in dry base. Silages of 50% quinoa + 50% oats and 25% quinoa + 75% oats presented good organoleptic quality with a high content of crude protein, EE and low NDF.