Bioremediation of saline effluents using Quinoa as a proposed solution to the crisis of shortage of drinking water resources

Background & Aim: The demand for freshwater resources has led scientists to use saline water and effluents. One of the cost-effective methods is the use of salinity-resistant plants to bioremediate saline effluents. Quinoa is a medicinal plant with high nutritional value that can control salinity stress in various ways. The present study was conducted with the aim of examining bioremediation of saline effluent using quinoa and the effect of salinity stress on this plant under hydroponic cultivation. Methods: The experiments were performed in triplicate under hydroponic environment in four salinity levels including 5 (drinking water, control), 10 and 15 ds/m and pH of 5.5-6. Finally, some important morphological characteristics as well as the amount of absorption of important elements in different parts of the plant were measured in order to analyze the behavior of plants against salinity. Results: The results showed that among the morphological characteristics  measured for quinoa leaf dry weight, stem dry weight and panicle dry weight have significant differences in different levels of water salinity (P<0.05). There were also a significant differences between the amount of studied elements (calcium, sodium, potassium, chlorine and magnesium) in leaves, stems, roots, panicles and the whole quinoa plant with salinity levels (P<0.05). The amount of calcium and potassium absorbed in different organs of quinoa in most cases were significantly decreased with increasing water salinity, while the absorption of sodium, chlorine and magnesium were increased. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that quinoa is a salinity resistant plant that can be used to remediate effluents containing high amounts of salinity.