![]() This paper provides baseline guidelines for farmers regarding optimal defoliation intensities and frequencies.Īmaranth, a crop that once sustained empires but disappeared from cultivation for centuries, is emerging once again and showing great potential for food and nutritional security around the world ( Das, 2016). Dual-use production systems should be promoted with small-scale farmers around the world as promising systems for improving local nutrition while maintaining profits from seed production. ![]() Greater frequency and intensity of defoliation resulted in reduced seed yield in some environments, while seed quality (protein content and 1000 KW) did not appear to be affected. ![]() We observed similar responses with two and three consecutive defoliations in which we removed 25% of all leaves. In all of the varieties and environments tested, we found that neither seed yield nor quality was impacted by a single defoliation event at intensities up to 50% leaf removal. Defoliation tolerance was tested in a total of seven varieties, spanning the three primary grain amaranth species: A. This experiment tested defoliation at various intensities and frequencies (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% defoliation, 1, 2, and 3 times) under controlled conditions as well as under Danish and Mexican field conditions. Farmers who use amaranth as a dual-use crop are concerned about the impacts of defoliation on seed yield. The leaves are an important source of nutrients for farming families, while seeds can provide income. 2Instituto Pensamiento y Cultura en América Latina, Universidad Comunal Intercultural de Cempoaltépetl Barrio el Calvario, Tlahuitoltepec Mixe Oaxaca, Mexicoĭual-use production systems that utilize the green leaves as well as seeds from amaranth are highly promising for small-scale farmers around the world.1Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. ![]() Natalie Hoidal 1*, Maria Díaz Gallardo 2, Sven-Erik Jacobsen 3 and Gabriela Alandia 1 ![]()
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