This study aimed to evaluate seed yield, morphological variability and nutritional quality for two cultivars of Chenopodium quinoa under high saline soil conditions (ECe 22 dSm-1) in Egyptian Northeastern coast. Responses to salinity were greatly differed between the two cultivars. The Peruvian cultivar CICA produced seed yield significantly higher than Bolivian cultivar Real. CICA cultivar also showed significant high performances for most of morphological traits. Among the 10 morphological traits, leaves dry weight, shoot fresh weight and leaves fresh weight showed significant positive association with seed yield. No significant difference has been found between both cultivars for most seed quality traits except for the concentration of crude protein and crude fiber in seeds were significantly higher in CICA cultivar. Although CICA cultivar exhibited significantly higher sodium concentration in the leaves than that found in the leaves of Real cultivar, but it was much more efficient in restricting sodium uploading into seed. These results revealed that the Peruvian cultivar CICA seems to be adaptable and more suited to dry-saline soil in Northeastern coastal region of Egypt, as it gave considerable high seed yield with better quality in terms of high protein and fiber percentage and low Na concentration in seeds.

The present work was aimed to evaluate Chenopodium quinoa cultivar CICA (Chenopodium quinoa Willd. cv. CICA), in field experiments, as a new and non-traditional leafy crop in Egypt under saline (ECe 17.9 dSm-1) and non-saline (ECe 1.9 dSm-1) soil conditions. Production of biomass, some morphological, physiochemical and yield components traits were estimated at 40 days from sowing date. Biomass production of young quinoa shoot under saline soil was significantly higher by 25% than non-saline soil. Quinoa plants cultivated under saline soil also showed significant high performances for most of morphological traits. Although salinity led to accumulate Na+ concentrations in the leaves by six folds higher than that found in the leaves produced under non-saline soil conditions, but no significant reduction has been observed for K+ concentrations. Moreover, salinity was significantly increased magnesium concentrations in quinoa leaves. On the other hand, no significant increase has been detected of proline or total soluble carbohydrates concentrations in leaves of quinoa grown under saline soil as compared to non-saline soil. This clearly indicated that quinoa plants, during early growth stage, tended to utilize inorganic ions rather than organic solutes to regulate its osmotic potential under saline conditions. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid concentrations were significantly decreased under saline soil. Also, concentrations of crude fiber, crude fat and iron in the leaves of quinoa plants grown under saline soil conditions were significantly decreased. Meanwhile, salinity has no significant influence on crude protein concentrations. These results revealed that the quinoa has the ability to grow and produce considerable high leafy vegetable yield with good quality, in terms of high protein, in land unsuitable for conventional vegetable crops.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has gained increased a worldwide attention since 1970s when it has been revived as a new food crop, due to the attractive nutritive value and potential health benefits as well as to its exceptional tolerance to several environmental stresses. It is considered as a new non-traditional leafy vegetable crop newly introduced to Egypt. Nitrogen requirements for quinoa plants are not clarified yet and the numbers of studies is still quite limited. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of nitrogen sources as ammonium sulfate 20.6% or calcium nitrate 15.5% used at rates of 40, 60 or 80 kg N/feddan on leaf chemical compositions and yield of two quinoa cultivars of Cica and Hualhuas harvested after 40 days from sowing date. A field experiment was carried out at the Experimental Farm of the Horticulture Dept., the Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shoubra El-Kheima, Cairo, Egypt, during the two winter seasons of 2015 and 2016. The treatments were laid out in a split plot design, with three replicates. The obtained results revealed that Cica cultivar was superior to Hualhuas concerning all measured chemical parameters of leaves and leaf yield during both seasons, except for leaf contents of chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll, ash, fats, Ca and Fe, where Hualhuas cultivar was superior to Cica in these parameters. However, no significant differences were detected between both cultivars regarding leaf carbohydrates content in both seasons. Re garding nitrogen rates and sources, quinoa plants received 80 kg N/feddan as calcium nitrate gave the highest significant values of carotenoids, nitrate, proteins, ash, N, K and Fe contents in both seasons of the study. Whereas, nitrogen treatment of 80 kg N/feddan from ammonium sulfate gave the highest values of leaf contents of Ca and leaf yield in both seasons. Nitrogen treatment of 60 kg N/feddan from calcium nitrate showed the highest significant values of chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll contents during both seasons. No significant differences were realized among all nitrogen treatments (rates and sources) on P content in both seasons. In relation to the interaction effect, the results clearly revealed that leaves of Cica plants received 80 kg N/feddan either from ammonium sulfate or calcium nitrate recorded significant increases in carotenoids, nitrate, proteins, ash, N, P, K and Na contents as well as yield without significant differences between them. On the other hand, the best values of chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll in both seasons were attained when Hualhuas plants received 60 kg N/feddan from calcium nitrate. Moreover, there were no significant differences noticed among nitrogen treatments applied to Cica plants in both seasons on Na. Furthermore, the best values of Zn content were obtained when Cica plants treated with 40 kg N/feddan from ammonium sulfate or 60 kg N/feddan from calcium nitrate without significant differences between them in both seasons of the study.  Given the experimental conditions of this study, it is concluded that Cica plants received 80 kg N/feddan either from ammonium sulfate or calcium nitrate gave the highest yield of leaves with acceptable quality attributes.