Ciencia E Investigacion Agraria | 2019
Agronomic performance and strategies of promoting Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) in Malawi
Abstract
Quinoa\xa0( Chenopodium quinoa Willd) has the potential to contribute to Malawi’s food and nutritional\xa0security by adaptation to droughts that have become frequent due to climate change. Eleven\xa0genotypes of quinoa were introduced in 2012 and evaluated for plant growth and yield\xa0performance in different environments of central and southern regions of Malawi to determine\xa0the potential for quinoa production in the country. The first trials were conducted at Bunda\xa0in Lilongwe and Bembeke in Dedza in 2012 under irrigated conditions. Trials under rainfed\xa0conditions were conducted at the Bunda site in the 2012/13 and 2014/15 cropping seasons.\xa0Evaluation of thirteen promising genotypes under irrigated conditions (2014 to 2015)\xa0was extended to six extension planning areas, including Chiluwa in Salima and Nkhunga\xa0(Nkhotakota) as warm environments, Mwansambo (Nkhotakota) as a mildly warm environment,\xa0Malomo (Ntchisi) as a mildly cool environment, and Kalira 2 (Ntchisi) and Nalunga (Dowa)\xa0as cool environments. The genotypes were laid out in completely randomized block designs\xa0with four replicates. The maturity period of the genotypes was early in the warm sites (88 days\xa0in Nkhunga and 94 days in Chiluwa) and delayed in the cooler sites (121 days in Nalunga and\xa0120 days in Kalira). On the basis of genotype and site-specific results, the highest grain yields\xa0were achieved for Brightest Brilliant Rainbow (BBR) (3,992 kg ha-1), QQ74 (3,652 kg ha-1),\xa0Black Seeded (3,426 kg ha-1), Multi-Hued (3,272 kg ha-1) and Puno (3,251 kg ha-1) in Nalunga\xa0and in QQ74 (4,311 kg ha-1), BBR (3,331 kg ha-1), Multi-Hued (3,184 kg ha-1) and Cherry\xa0Vanilla (3,056 kg ha-1) in Malomo. The lowest yields obtained were from Cherry Vanilla, Red\xa0Head (1,276 kg ha-1) and BBR (1,255 kg ha-1) in Chiluwa. Quinoa production is possible in\xa0Malawi. The genotypes QQ74, BBR, Multi-Hued, Cherry Vanilla, Bio-Bio, Titicaca and Black\xa0Seeded have been released for commercial production. Engagement of both government and\xa0nongovernmental organizations with a focus on seed systems, processing and utilization can\xa0help to integrate quinoa into the food systems of Malawi.