Comportamiento del cultivo de amaranto en el Valle Inferior del Río Negro, Argentina. Optimización de las condiciones del cultivo

Abstract

The amaranth cultivation (Amaranthus sp) is visualized as an alternative production of excellent nutritional quality for the agroecological conditions of the Lower Río Negro Valley (VIRN). For this reason, the essays that make up this thesis were carried out in order to evaluate their behavior under different agronomic management practices. Three genotypes were selected for their promising behavior, these were: A. cruentus cv Mexicano, A. hypochondriacus cv Dorado and A. hypochondriacus cv Antorcha, which were planted on 4 dates (mid-november, early and late december, and mid-January) with application of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization (urea) at a rate of 90 kg N ha-1. A. cruentus cv Mexican planted at the beginning of december presented the best adaptive response to the area with outstanding economic (4,300 kg ha-1) and biological (21,300 kg ha-1) yields. With regard to the phenology of the crop, it was observed how the radiation, temperature and photoperiod affected the development of the amaranth plants with a shortening in the length of the productive cycle as the sowing date was delayed. A. Cruentus cv Mexicano, for its adaptive response and excellent yields was used to evaluate its behavior under different fertilization doses, plant densities and irrigation frequencies. Nitrogen fertilization (0, 50, 100, 150 and 300 kg N ha-1) showed increases in economic, biological and component yields as the fertilizer dose was increased. Phenologically the crop extended the productive cycle length as the fertilization dose was increased. The dose that resulted in the best response was 150 kg N ha-1 with optimal economic (4,100 kg ha-1) and biological (20,900 kg ha-1) yields. For the evaluated densities (71,500, 85,800, 110,000, 143,000, 143,000, 286,000, 572,000 pl ha-1) it was observed that increases in density of plants to harvest increments the economic and biological yields of the crop, although with extension of the cycle and increase from the loss of grain to harvest by coincidence of the same with the period of rainfall in the area. An intermediate density, 143,000 pl ha-1 to 0.70 m of spacing between rows, allowed an adequate stand of plants to harvest, the general development of the same and high economic yields (2,900 kg ha-1) and biological (20,800 kg) ha-1). The densities tests were gravitationally irrigated and received a nitrogen fertilization with urea at a rate of 90 kg N ha-1. The irrigation was done in gravitational form under 3 frequencies (7, 14 and 21 days) and showed the tolerance of the amaranth to a certain degree of water stress. Situations close to the permanent wilting point in the soil during the anthesis phenological stage caused yield losses of up to 29%. The application of higher irrigation frequencies reduced the crop cycle and avoided the rainy season in the area. From the results obtained, the frequency of irrigation that resulted in a better response of the crop was every 14 days since it allowed to reach high yields (3,800 kg ha-1) and a greater efficiency of water use. The management practices used during the development of the crop generated effects on nutritional quality. Late planting dates allowed obtaining better values of nutritional quality in grain and fodder. Fertilization with doses of up to 150 kg N ha-1 allowed to improve the crude protein content. With regard to the density of plants, the increase of the same by over 143,000 pl ha-1 to 0.70 m influenced negatively in quality since it increases fiber values and reduces the protein content. In relation to the practice of irrigation, frequencies of 14 days allowed an adequate nutritional quality of grain and fodder