The potential of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) cultivation in Israel as a dual-purpose crop for grain production and livestock feed

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is a seed-producing, environmental stress-resilient crop plant that originates in the Andean Plateau. Quinoa seeds exhibit high nutritional value as they have a high protein level, contain all the essential amino acids, are gluten-free and are also rich in bioactive compounds. Bolivia and Peru are the major producers of quinoa seeds and cultivation of the plant has been introduced to more than 95 countries. Quinoa is also evaluated worldwide for its potential use as a forage crop due the high nutritional value of the entire plant for livestock. In this study, we investigated quinoa cultivation for grain (seed) production and cattle feeding in Israel. Six quinoa accessions were sown in northern Israel at two different winter dates for two years using a scarce amount of irrigation. In plots sown in November 2016 and 2017 or January 2017 and 2018, hay dry matter (DM) yield ranged from 8,820−12,310, 5,270−8,850, 11,480−12,710 and 10,190−12,340 kg·ha⁻¹, respectively; seed yield (SY) ranged from 3,220−4,730, 1,540−2,220, 4,010−5,630 and 4,280−6,360 kg·ha⁻¹, respectively; straw yield ranged from 4,580−9,180, 550−1,000, 5,230−6,420 and 3,220−4,170 kg·ha⁻¹, respectively. Quinoa hay and straw quality were high as crude protein concentration reached 19.9 % and 10.6 %, respectively with an in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) of 75.8 % and 54.2 %, respectively. In conclusion, high quinoa hay biomass and SY, as well as high hay quality, suggest a high prospect for quinoa cultivation in Israel and other Mediterranean countries, as a dual-purpose crop for grain production and livestock feed. A novel whole-use approach may be the use of quinoa straw for cattle feed.