The Effect of Vermicompost Application on Growth and Water Relationships of Quinoa Plant under Salinity Stress Conditions

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is an herbaceous spring-annual plant and a pseudocereal, belonging to the Chenopodiaceae, and have high nutritional value. Studies have shown that the use of organic fertilizers such as vermicompost can reduce the negative effects of salinity stress on plants and improve their growth and yield. 

This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement with three replications in a sterile sandy loam soil under greenhouse conditions. Experimental factors included vermicompost levels of 0 and 2%, and sodium chloride salinity levels of 1.06 (soil initial electrical conductivity), 5, 10, 20 and 30 dS.m-1.

The results showed that the interaction between salinity and vermicompost was significant (p≤0.05) on all measured traits. The fresh and dry weight of roots decreased in the presence and absence of vermicompost with increasing salinity. At different salinity levels (except for 30 dS.m-1), vermicompost treatment increased roots fresh and dry weight. The negative effect of salinity on fresh and dry weight of shoots was less than roots and a significant decrease occurred at 30 dS.m-1. Chlorophyll index decreased with increasing salinity but it increased significantly at all salinity levels in vermicompost treated plants. Vermicompost treatment showed a positive effect on stomatal conductance at salinity levels of ≤10 dS.m-1. Electrolytes leakage decreased in vermicompost treated plants at salinity levels of ≤10 dS.m-1.

The vermicompost application had a positive effect on the biomass production, growth status and yield of quinoa under salinity stress.