Comparative evaluation of liquid bio-inputs in compost-fertilized quinoa under inter-Andean valley conditions: beneficial microorganisms enhance yield and profitability

Yupa-Quichua M.; Palomino C.; Condori T.; Alarcón S.; Romero-Chávez L.E.; Bautista R.; Solórzano R. · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (2026) · DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2026.1888827

Resumen

The study was conducted at the Canaán Agrarian Experimental Station (INIA, Ayacucho, Peru) during the 2024–2025 growing season to compare the effects of three liquid bio-inputs—beneficial microorganisms (BM), effective microorganisms (EM), and biol—applied at 15 and 30% concentrations, on the yield and profitability of quinoa crops (Chenopodium quinoa Willd., cv. INIA 415–Pasankalla) fertilized with compost (6 t·ha−1). Compost-only and unfertlised control treatments were also included. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replicates. The application of bio-inputs in combination with compost significantly increased aboveground dry biomass, with EM15% and BM15% showing the greatest increases (26.42 and 27.01%, respectively) compared with the control treatment. Regarding yield variables, BM30% achieved the highest values for panicle diameter (11.47 cm), panicle length (46.6 cm), grain weight per panicle (26.76 g), grain yield (2.06 t·ha−1), and 1, 000-seed weight (2.89 g). The lowest saponin content was recorded under BM30% (0.0001%), whereas BIOL15% and BIOL30% showed the highest values (14.25 and 14.27%, respectively). Economic analysis revealed that BM30% generated the highest net profit (S/11, 047.89) and the greatest benefit-to-cost ratio (2.95). These results indicate that, under compost-based fertilization, the application of 30% BM outperformed EM and biol in enhancing both yield and economic profitability of quinoa cv. INIA 415–Pasankalla under inter-Andean valley conditions. Copyright

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Cristóbal de Huamanga