Agroforestry is a promising way to sustain land use efficiency in semi-arid areas. In this study, we introduce quinoa as a drought- and salinity-tolerant crop in olive-based agroforestry. We investigated how the microclimate created by olive trees affects agronomic and biochemical traits in quinoa and evaluated the performance of this new olive-based agroforestry system in terms of land equivalent ratio (LER). Field experiments were carried out under two pedoclimatic conditions (S1) and (S2) using a randomized complete block design with two cropping systems (sole crop (SCS) and agroforestry (AFS) systems), four quinoa cultivars (Puno, Titicaca, ICBA-Q5, and ICBA-Q4) and one olive orchard as a control (OR) in each block. Our results show that AFS had lower grain yield (−45%), dry biomass (−49%), and crop water productivity (−44%), but higher plant height (12%), grain protein (4%), saponin (26%), total polyphenol (12%), and DPPH (9%) contents compared to SCS. The highest grain yield was recorded for Titicaca and ICBA-Q5 (1.6 t ha⁻¹). The LER ranged from 1.57 to 2.07, indicating that the overall productivity was 57% to 107% higher in the agroforestry system compared with the monoculture. We suggest that quinoa–olive tree intercropping could be a promising agroecological practice under semi-arid conditions.

Salinity is a major problem, impeding soil productivity, agricultural sustainability, and food security, particularly in dry regions. This study integrates quinoa, a facultative halophyte, into a pomegranate-based agroforestry with saline irrigation in northeast Morocco. We aim to explore this agroforestry model’s potential in mitigating salinity’s effects on quinoa’s agronomic and biochemical traits and evaluate the land equivalent ratio (LER). Field experiments in 2020 and 2021 used a randomized block design with three replicates, including monocropping and agroforestry systems, two salinity levels (1.12 and 10.5 dS m⁻¹), four quinoa genotypes (Titicaca, Puno, ICBA-Q4, ICBA-Q5), and a pomegranate control. Salinity significantly decreased total dry matter (40.5%), root dry matter (50.7%), leaf dry matter (39.2%), and root-to-shoot ratio (7.7%). The impact was more severe in monoculture than in agroforestry, reducing dry matter (47.6% vs. 30.7%), grain yield (46.3% vs. 26.1%), water productivity (47.5% vs. 23.9%), and total sugar (19.2% vs. 5.6%). LER averaged 1.86 to 2.21, indicating 86–121% higher productivity in agroforestry. LER averaged 1.85 at 1.12 dS m⁻¹ and 2.18 at 10.5 dS m⁻¹, reaching 2.21 with pomegranate-ICBA-Q5 combination. Quinoa–pomegranate agroforestry emerges as an innovative strategy, leveraging quinoa’s salt resistance and agroforestry’s potential to mitigate salinity impacts while enhancing land use efficiency.

Fungal diseases are a yield-limiting factor for wheat. Their management in organic production systems is one of the prevailing challenges because it must be based mainly on indirect measures through agricultural practices. Variety mixtures are one of these practices, a concept that has been demonstrated to improve several factors affecting yield. Recently, it has become a practice that enables sustainability in agriculture. Our research aim is to evaluate the capacity of this practice to control three fungal diseases (foliar and ear) on durum wheat. This study was conducted over two consecutive years (2019 and 2020) at two locations: a certified organic farm in the Benslimane region (2019) and the National School of Agriculture farm in Meknes (2020). Four durum wheat varieties (Isly, Tarek, Karim, and Nassira) were used to create the mixture. The parameters that were monitored were the disease severity, the grain yield, and its components. The analysis of variance for the three fungal diseases’ severity was significant. The variety that showed resistance to all diseases was the Isly variety, and the most susceptible variety was the Nassira variety. The resistance of the other varieties to the diseases was variable from one year to the other. The mixture showed average severity values. It allowed a reduction in the severity of leaf rust of 47% during the first year and 30% during the second year compared to the most susceptible variety (Nassira). In the case of HLB (helminthosporiosis leaf blight), it reduced the disease by 47% during the first year and 34% during the 2020 season. For ear disease, Fusarium head blight (FHB), the reduction was 68% during the year 2019 and 49% during 2020. The mixture also ensured yield stability between the two trial years (1.66 t ha⁻¹ and 1.54 t ha⁻¹).