Effect of nitrogen and boron on growth and yield attributes of chia (Salvia hispanica L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season 2024 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P) to study the effect of different nitrogen and boron levels on the growth and yield attributes of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with ten treatments and three replications. The treatments comprised combinations of three nitrogen levels (80, 100, and 120 kg/ha) and three boron (boric acid) levels (50, 75, and 100 ppm), along with one control (N:P: K: 60:40:40 kg/ha). The results revealed that the treatment T6 (100 kg N/ha + 100 ppm B) recorded the highest plant height (60.9 cm) and T8 with dry weight (34.87 g/plant), number of seeds per spike (315.31), number of spikes per plant (32.66), seed yield (1.12 t/ha), and stover yield (3.41 t/ha). Crop Growth Rate (CGR) were found maximum in T6 (Nitrogen 100 kg/ha + Boron 100 ppm) and Relative Growth Rate (RGR) were found maximum in T5 (Nitrogen 100 kg/ha + Boron 75 ppm) during later growth stages. On the other hand, the lowest values for all these parameters were observed in the control plot. The significant improvement in growth and yield attributes under higher nitrogen and boron levels demonstrates the synergistic effect of balanced nutrient application in chia cultivation.