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Potassium (K) fertilizers are limited and non-renewable. Exploring the use of sodium (Na) and silicon (Si) as alternatives to reduce its use may be an alternative. However, the relationship of these elements with arugula nutrition and quality is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study is to verify the effects of Na and Si on the parameters of arugula under conditions of K deficiency and sufficiency. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a hydroponics system. The treatments used were K-sufficient, K-sufficient with Na, K-sufficient with Si, K-deficient, K-deficient with Na, and K-deficient with Si. Evaluations of physiological, biochemical, nutritional, and growth aspects were performed. Si supply increased the production of total phenols, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids in K-deficient plants. Both elements attenuated the damage caused by K deficiency and improved quality. This is an innovative strategy for the sustainable cultivation of this species., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Biofortification of iron (Fe) in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) grains should have benefits for human health and food security. However, effects of this approach on productivity, as well as Fe content and grain quality remain unknown. Thus, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the impacts of different methods of Fe delivery in a hydroponic system, root application (90 µmol/L), foliar spraying (9 mmol/L), combined root and foliar application, and control (no Fe). Foliar Fe application in four applications at vegetative and reproductive stages stood out from root application in promoting quinoa growth and productivity, perhaps because of greater accumulation of Fe in the plants, leading to increased photosynthetic pigments and electron transport. Foliar application of Fe also improved grain quality, as it was associated with higher Fe contents, ascorbic acid (AsA), total proteins, and manganese (Mn). In addition, there was a decrease in antinutritional compounds and phosphorus (P) in grains. Foliar Fe application can be an efficient agronomic practice to obtain Fe-biofortified quinoa grains and was associated with improved physiological responses and productivity., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)