Quinoa High-Yield Cultivation Technique Tutorial, Latest Planting Methods Explained
Quinoa is one of humanity's precious biodiversity food resources, native to South America, the only whole-protein grain in the plant kingdom, the only single plant that can meet humans' basic nutritional needs, its high market price and its extremely strict requirements for soil, climate, water and fertilizer conditions have earned it the titles of super grain and Inca gold. Now let us take a look at quinoa high-yield cultivation techniques!
Growing Conditions
Quinoa's growing conditions include soil, soil pH, climate, water, rainfall, temperature, radiation and altitude, etc. Its suitable temperature is 15-20°C, the maximum temperature not exceeding 32°C, altitude above 1500 m, soil pH 5.5-8.5, and soil moisture at least equivalent to 3/4 of field capacity to promote seed germination.
Planting Preparation
Purchasing quinoa production materials includes seeds, compound fertilizer, seeders, etc. Rotary till the land one week before planting, not too deep, preferably using a press roller. Apply 40 kg/mu of fertilizer, farmyard manure is best, compound fertilizer (N:P:K 15% each). However, wooden drill seeding must not be used, because it is difficult to control uniform depth.
Timely Sowing
Quinoa's sowing time is from early May to the end of May. Choosing to sow during a period with about 30 mm of rainfall is beneficial for seed emergence. Mix 400 g of quinoa per mu with 1.4 jin of roasted millet. Use a small two-leg coarse grain seeder, and before sowing adjust the sowing depth and sowing rate; sowing depth 1-2 cm, row spacing 50 cm, plant spacing 30 cm.
Seedling Emergence Management
After sowing, quinoa germinates in about 3 days and emerges from the soil in 5 days; if it has not emerged in 10 days, reseed in time. During the emergence stage, pay attention to underground pests; if the previous crop was potatoes, guard against wild boars. When quinoa seedlings grow to 15-20 cm at about 30-40 days after sowing, begin hoeing weeds.
Field Management
Quinoa requires manual hoeing, and herbicides must not be used. The first hoeing is combined with thinning to ensure plant spacing of 20-30 cm, keeping a single seedling, with row spacing of 45-50 cm. At the second hoeing, earth up around the roots to promote root growth and prevent lodging later. Apply 40 kg of compound fertilizer per mu; in principle no topdressing is carried out, but topdressing may be considered when soil fertility is too poor. When irrigation conditions are available and the soil is dry, irrigate once during the 40-70 day period.
Harvesting and Processing
Quinoa is harvested when it has grown for 100-130 days; when mature, the seeds become hard and cannot be pinched with a fingernail. Before harvesting, prepare plastic sheeting (for covering in bad harvest weather and for laying on the ground during threshing and drying). In mountainous areas, harvesting with a sickle is better, and harvest on a sunny day. If the weather is clear after harvesting, bundle into small bundles to dehydrate; after threshing, dry promptly to avoid fermentation and spoilage. After drying, winnow away the impurities in the quinoa, pack it well and sell.