The yield and physiological properties of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) genotypes affected by chelated nano-silicon and micronutrients under drought stress conditions

The increased production of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) plant, as an important source of food containing protein and minerals, in drought stress conditions is of utmost significance. The present research was conducted in 2019 and 2020 as a factorial split experiment (irrigation and the combination of nano fertilization and quinoa genotypes as the main and subplots) in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications. Irrigation intervals of each 14 (control, S1), 21 (mild stress, S2) and 28 days (severe stress, S3) were considered as the main factor, and the factorial combination of nano-fertilizer levels including control (F1), silicon chelated nano-fertilizer (F2) and complete micro-chelated nano-fertilizer (2 gL(-1), F3) and two quinoa genotypes (Q12 and Q26) were used as sub-factor. The single and the interaction effects of the experimental treatments were sig nificant on quinoa yield, yield components (harvest index, and grains per spike) and physiological properties (proline, protein and carotenoid contents and catalase activity). Silicon chelated nano-fertilizer (F2) resulted in the highest plant height (55.1 cm), grain yield (1798 kgha(-1)), harvest index (40.6 %), number of grains per spike (15.7) and catalase activity (1.13 decigramg 1FWmin(-1)) at severe stress compared with F3. However, F3 resulted in the highest proline (0.27 mg(-1)FW) and protein (15.6 mgg(-1)FW) contents at severe stress compared with F2. The tested nano fertilizers can alleviate the unfavorable effects of drought stress on quinoa yield and physiological properties, though the Si-nano fertilization is a more effective treatment, and accordingly is recommendable for quinoa production in drought stress conditions. The use of nano- and -chelated nutrients for quinoa production under drought stress conditions is the important aspect of the present research.