Читать книгу Quinoa - Atul Bhargava - Страница 27

In the Andean valleys, quinoa can be grown in the more fertile soils and warmer climate. However, this is determined by the moisture level, which affects production by increasing sensitivity to parasitic attacks. So quinoa is generally produced on small and medium plots, mostly for home consumption.

Plants are tall and branched, with large leaves, producing large to small grains of different colours, and have a long vegetative period. The green leaves are used as a leafy vegetable. Plants are susceptible to mildew and can have high or low saponin content. In the Andean valleys, quinoa is not cultivated as a sole crop, but is usually associated with maize, beans, and potatoes and other tubers (Mujica, 2009). These types grow at altitudes of 2500–3200 m in areas having an annual rainfall of 800–900 mm. They are usually called ‘Quinua’ and grouped by their genetic and phenotypic characteristics (Medina et al., 2004).

Examples of this varietal diversity include Amarilla de Marangani, Blanca de Junín, Acostambo, Roja Coporaque and Nariño. They are located in Peru in the Valle del Vilcanota, Cusco; Valle del Mantaro, Huancayo; Callejon de Huaylas, Ancash; Valle del Colca, Arequipa; Huancabamba, Piura; Cajabamba, Cajamarca; and also Chimborazo in Ecuador and Cochabamba in Bolivia.