Production Efficiency and Total Protein Yield in Quinoa Grown under Water Stress

Abstract

The increasing water scarcity affects the agricultural sector, and it is a significant constraining factor for crop production in many areas of the world. Water resource management and use related to crop productivity is the most important factor in many crops. Since consumer demands healthy food, the nutritive quality and the active ingredient need to be considered within the productive issue. The objective of this study was to determine water technical efficiency related to seed yield and seed protein content and composition in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under water stress using data envelopment analysis (DEA). The study was conducted in Chillan, Chile in two growing seasons. As water availability increased, seed yield, globulin, and albumin yield increased, particularly in the genotype Cahuil. The higher average efficiency levels for the DEA were 46.7% and 39.2% in Cahuil in both seasons at 20% available water (AW). The highest average efficiency of globulin yield was recorded in the same genotype (Cahuil). The highest multi-product technical efficiency levels in all input and output included in this study were observed in Cahuil, Regalona, and Morado under water scarcity in both seasons. In future studies related to crop management, DEA provides a good framework for estimating efficiency under restricted factors and multi-product results.