Growth, Yield, Quality, and Phytochemical Behavior of Three Cultivars of Quinoa in Response to Moringa and Azolla Extracts under Organic Farming Conditions

Abstract

Increased demand for quinoa as a functional food has resulted in more quinoa-growing areas and initiatives to increase grain production, particularly in organic agriculture. Quinoa seeds are a superfood with incredible nutritional benefits. They are abundant in secondary metabolites with significant medicinal activity. This report was consequently performed to investigate whether Azolla fliculoides (AE) or moringa leaf extract (MLE) foliar spray can be supplemented as organic extracts to enhance quinoa growth and productivity under organic farming. Three quinoa cultivars, KVL–SRA2 (C1), Chipaya (C2), and Q–37 (C3), were grown organically and subjected to foliar spraying with AE or MLE at a 20% ratio, as well as their combination (AE+MLE). Plant performance of the three cultivars was significantly enhanced by MLE or AE applications as compared with control plants. The highest outputs were obtained by AE+MLE treatment, which significantly increased the seed yield by about 29% as compared with untreated plants. Seed quality exhibited a marked increase in response to AE+MLE that was superior in this regard as it showed higher protein, carbohydrates, saponine, tannins, phenolics, and flavonoids content. The C3-cultivar demonstrated the highest productivity, saponine, and flavonoids levels as compared to the other cultivars. Overall, the current study indicated that foliar spray with AE+MLE could enhance growth and productivity as well as quality and pharmaceutical active ingredients of quinoa cultivars grown under farming conditions.

Exogenous Application of Biostimulants and Synthetic Growth Promoters Improved the Productivity and Grain Quality of Quinoa Linked with Enhanced Photosynthetic Pigments and Metabolomics

“…MLE is rich in antioxidants, protein, minerals and beta-carotene, which are normally deficient among the food of under-developed countries [41]. Moreover, MLE is an excellent source of zeatin (phytohormone) which helps to stimulate crop growth, development and grain yield, not only under normal conditions but even under harsh weather conditions [42,43]. External use of MLE was also found very effective in improving the growth and biochemical attributes of rocket plants [44], wheat [13] and quinoa crop [38].…”

Response of Growth, Yield, and Phytochemical Behavior of Jojoba Genotypes to Azolla filiculoides Plant Extract

“…Azolla filiculoides Lam. plant extract has been shown to boost the growth, yield, and chemical composition of a variety of crops, including the vegetative growth and biomass of olive seedlings [ 26 ], squash fruit numbers, which were 19.49% and 4.33% per plant and fruit weight, respectively [ 28 ], eggplant yield, which was 26.91% [ 27 ], and quinoa grain yield, which was 29% [ 13 ]. Increases in Azolla filiculoides Lam.…”

“…This could increase jojoba genotypes’ plant growth and development by increasing endogenous phytohormone levels and nutrient uptake. Azolla phytohormones known as cytokinins induce cell division and change apical dominance [ 13 ]. As a result of the Azolla supplementation, we saw an improvement in the development and yield attributes of all of the jojoba genotypes examined.…”

“…Organic extracts are a hot topic in organic agriculture for improving growth performance and yield, modifying phytochemical content [ 12 , 13 ], inducing crop physiology and biochemistry such as photosynthetic rate, enhancing antioxidant machinery [ 7 , 14 ], and improving root system development [ 15 ], all of which improve nutrient uptake and enhance efficiency [ 16 ]. Fertilizers refer to any natural, synthetic, organic, or inorganic components that are added to soil to provide one or more plant nutrients necessary for plant growth.…”

“…Following Azolla treatments, wheat and beet yields were improved [ 24 , 25 ]. The use of Azolla increased the seed yield of quinoa grain by about 29% compared with untreated plants [ 13 ] and increased the vegetative growth and biomass of olives in the nursery [ 26 ]; eggplant yield was increased from 2837.12 g plant −1 for untreated plants to 3600.69 g plant −1 for treated plants [ 27 ]; squash fruit numbers also increased from 6.67 to 8.00 fruit plant −1 , and the fruit weight increased from 35.60 to 37.14 g fruit −1 [ 28 ]. After Azolla supplementation, the amount of urea required for rice and maize production fell by 25% and 30%, respectively [ 29 , 30 ].…”