Title:
Quinoa Assessment in Italian Area: Biomass and Seed Production, Technical Efficiency of the Machines, Environmental and Economic Aspects
Author(s):
Assirelli, A., Palmieri, N., Ciavarella, F., Manganiello, C., De Santis, G., Santangelo, E., Rinaldi, M.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Quinoa is a herbaceous plant that has attracted a global growing interest due other than for seed and biomass production and for adaptability to Italian soils and climates, also for its unique nutritional value. The protein content of quinoa grains is higher than other cereals while it has better distribution of essential amino acids. It contains a high amount of essential fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, dietary fibers, and carbohydrates with beneficial hypoglycemic effects while being gluten-free. In addition, the quinoa plant is resistant to cold, salt, and drought. In this respect, although quinoa is an interesting crop, it is characterized by the significant seed losses during harvest phase, causing economic damages for the farmers. The study is aimed to evaluate the yield losses of quinoa during harvester phase (on open field conditions and at on-farm scale) and its environmental and economic consequences. The findings showed as quinoa farmers could reduce their yield losses only applying the header losses with 750 rpm. In this manner, the quinoa losses is equal to 0.92 Kg ha-1. Similar results are reached for environmental and economic aspects. In fact, the scenario with header losses belongs to 750 rpm achieved economic and environmental values lower than others (13.67 €/year and 7.21g CO2 eq/kg of quinoa losses).
Keywords:
harvesting, management, economical aspects, losses, seeds, life cycle assessment (LCA)
Topic:
Sustainable Resources for Decarbonising the Economy
Subtopic:
Innovative biomass production for energy integrated into traditional agri-forestry systems
Event:
31st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1AV.4.8
Pages:
118 - 121
ISBN:
978-88-89407-23-3
Paper DOI:
10.5071/31stEUBCE2023-1AV.4.8
Price:
FREE
