A prerequisite for sustainable saline agriculture of cash crop halophytes in salt affected areas implies exact knowledge of their limits of salinity resistance. Hence, the first part of this study was carried out in pot experiment under greenhouse conditions to evaluate growth and seed yield of C. quinoa Willd. cv. Hualhuas to varying water salinity levels (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mM NaCl). The limit of salinity resistance was estimated at 200 mM NaCl (~20 dSm -1 ) based on seed yield production. Depending on the results obtained from pot experiment, field trials were conducted in saline soil location (ECe 17.9 dSm -1 ) and in non-saline soil location (ECe 1.9 dSm -1 ). Seed yield significantly decreased under saline soil by about 61.7% . Beside quantity, soil salinity led to reduce the percentage of moisture, total carbohydrate and total fat contents in seeds. Salinity did not significantly alter the protein content in quinoa seeds. Significant increases in the content of ash and fiber were detected in response to high soil salinity. The high er ash content in seeds under saline conditions was due to the increase of Na + as well as K + , P 3-and Fe ++ concentrations. By contrast, soil salinity led to significant decrease of Ca ++ and Zn ++ contents in seed. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis showed that most of Na + in the seeds produced at saline soil was mainly accumulated in the pericarp followed by embryo tissues, while, the interior reserving tissue (perisperm) exhibiting comparatively low concentration. Increasing most of essential minerals, especially Fe, in quino a seeds produced under high saline conditions given quinoa a distinctive value for human consumption. Quinoa can be grown and yielded successfully in salt-affected soils (ECe 17.9 dSm -1 ), where, most if not all of traditional crops cannot grow, although the yield was reduced however, the seed quality was not highly affected.

Quinoa may be a promising alternative solution for arid regions, and it is necessary to test yield and mineral accumulation in grains under different soil types. Field experiments with Chenopodium quinoa (cv. CICA-17) were performed in Egypt in non-saline (electrical conductivity, 1.9 dS m−1) and saline (20 dS m−1) soils. Thirty-four chemical elements were studied in these crops. Results show different yields and mineral accumulations in the grains. Potassium (K), P, Mg, Ca, Na, Mn, and Fe are the main elements occurring in the quinoa grains, but their concentrations change between both soil types. Besides, soil salinity induced changes in the mineral pattern distribution among the different grain organs. Sodium was detected in the pericarp but not in other tissues. Pericarp structure may be a shield to prevent sodium entry to the underlying tissues but not for chloride, increasing its content in saline conditions. Under saline conditions, yield decreased to near 47%, and grain sizes greater than 1.68 mm were unfavored. Quinoa may serve as a complementary crop in the marginal lands of Egypt. It has an excellent nutrition perspective due to its mineral content and has a high potential to adapt to semi-arid and arid environments.

This study aimed to evaluate seed yield, morphological variability and nutritional quality for two cultivars of Chenopodium quinoa under high saline soil conditions (ECe 22 dSm-1) in Egyptian Northeastern coast. Responses to salinity were greatly differed between the two cultivars. The Peruvian cultivar CICA produced seed yield significantly higher than Bolivian cultivar Real. CICA cultivar also showed significant high performances for most of morphological traits. Among the 10 morphological traits, leaves dry weight, shoot fresh weight and leaves fresh weight showed significant positive association with seed yield. No significant difference has been found between both cultivars for most seed quality traits except for the concentration of crude protein and crude fiber in seeds were significantly higher in CICA cultivar. Although CICA cultivar exhibited significantly higher sodium concentration in the leaves than that found in the leaves of Real cultivar, but it was much more efficient in restricting sodium uploading into seed. These results revealed that the Peruvian cultivar CICA seems to be adaptable and more suited to dry-saline soil in Northeastern coastal region of Egypt, as it gave considerable high seed yield with better quality in terms of high protein and fiber percentage and low Na concentration in seeds.

wo field experiments were carried out at 6 October farm, El-Nubaria Province, El-Behaira Governorate, Egypt during the two successive summer seasons (2010 and 2011) to investigate the effect of some agricultural practices; i.e. irrigation treatments and different soil amendments on growth, productivity, suppression of root-rot and damping-off of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) var. Giza-102. Prior to the field experiments a pathogenicity test was carried out and identified that the causal pathogen of sunflower root-rot and damping-off diseases were Macrophomina phasolina, Sclerotium rolfisii, and Rhizoctonia solani. Missing the third irrigation was more appreciated than missing the fifth irrigation treatment compared to the normal irrigation as the control treatment, which represents the highest observations regarding sunflower growth and productivity. Soil amendment treatments increased the sunflower resistance to soil borne diseases hence enhanced its growth and productivity. The most promising results obtained from rice straw + EM 1 + urea, Biochar + compost, Rice straw + EM 1 and EM-Bokash with no significant differences, compost, and animal manure, respectively, compared to the control treatment (without soil amendment). The interaction (normal irrigation, missing the 3 rd irrigation then missing the 5 th irrigation, respectively) × (rice straw + EM 1 + urea), was the best between all the other interaction treatments, under normal, moderate and severe drought conditions, respectively, and compared to normal irrigation × without treatment, as the control treatment.

Two field experiments were carried out at 6 October farm, El-Nubaria Province, the desert backyard of El-Behaira Governorate-Egypt during the two successive summer seasons (2010 and 2011) to study the effect of the integration between different sowing methods and different bio fertilization treatments on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) var. Giza-102 productivity and charcoal rot disease management caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goidunder the reclaimed soil conditions. Rides sowing methods were found to be more effective in reducing M.phaseolina population and charcoal rot, therefore enhance sunflower productivity compared to the other examined sowing methods. EM-X { EM1 + Bacillus subtilis + mycorrhiza + Azotobacter sp.} was found to be more effective in reducing M.phaseolina population and charcoal rot, therefore enhance sunflower productivity compared to the other examined biofertilization treatments including the conventional chemical fertilization as the control treatment. The integration between ridges sowing method with tillage and EM-X{ EM1 + B. subtilis + mycorrhiza + Azotobacter sp.} was found to be the furthermost advised agricultural practices under these conditions as land degradation neutrality (LDN) technology that enhances land cover and area unit productivity under these conditions.