PRELIMINARY AGRONOMIC EVALUATION OF Chenopodium quinoa Willd. UNDER CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF ROMANIA

During the 2013 growing season.the trial was carried out in the experimental field of University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest to explore the potential for quinoa growing in climatic conditions of South Eastern Romania. Four quinoa varieties provided by the University of Copenhagen were evaluated for seed yield and some morphological traits. Under irrigated conditions, with nitrogen fertilization, seed yield ranged from 1.70 to 2.96 t/ha Jason Red showing the lowest yield (1.70 t/ha).Highest seed yield was exhibited by Jacobsen 2 (2.96 t/ha), followed by Mixed Jacobsen (2.53 t/ha) and Jørgen 37 (1.84 t/ha). Out of four quinoa varieties, only two showed above average seed yield (2.25 t/ha). These two varieties Jacobsen 2 and Mixed Jacobsen also exhibited above average performance for all morphological traits: plant height, maturity, dry weight and harvest index. All morphological traits showed significant positive association with seed yield. The agronomic performances recorded by these varieties suggest that can be extended commercial cultivation of quinoa in the Romania