The effect of the harvest management on the yield and quality of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) seeds

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of the timing and harvest method of three quinoa varieties on changes in the seed yield and the quality of quinoa seeds. After harvest, the plants were divided into two groups: the first, after weighing, was left in unheated room to dry out. This method of harvest was referred to as "whole plant drying out". While in the second group, the infructescence was separated from the stem after the whole plant was cut. The described harvest method is hereinafter referred to as "only infructescence drying out". Seed quality assessment included weight thousand grain (WTG), energy (after 96 h) and germination capacity (168 h). Prior to the 2nd - 3rd sampling dates, there was a large amount of precipitation in both years of the study. High humidity contributed to pre-harvest sprouting(PHS) and reduced the seed quality. The share of seeds in the biomass yield decreased and was lower than at previous dates by 11.9 %. In the Vikinga variety, germination capacity decreased by 10 percent point (pp) (from date I to date VI). In the Titicaca variety, by 23 pp. In the Zeno variety, the decrease was the greatest - by 27 pp.