Studies on the effect of sowing methods and foliar nutrient application on seed quality of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.)

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted during 2024-2025 at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Raichur, to assess the effect of sowing methods and foliar nutrient applications on seed quality parameters of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) variety ‘Champion Black’. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with three replications, consisting of two sowing methods viz., direct sowing (M₁) and transplanting (M₂), and eleven foliar nutrient treatments including control, humic acid (0.1%), salicylic acid (0.01%), vermiwash (5%), jeevamrutha (5%), panchagavya (5%), 19:19:19 (1%), Bio NPK (10%), biochar (0.3%), Metarhizium anisopliae (5%) and Beauveria bassiana (5%), applied at 30 and 45 DAS/DAP. Seed quality parameters such as seed germination (%), shoot length (cm), root length (cm), seedling dry weight (mg), seedling vigour index I and II were evaluated using standard ISTA procedures. Results indicated that transplanting (M₂) recorded superior seed quality attributes compared to direct sowing (M₁), with higher seed germination (95.33%), shoot length (5.22 cm), root length (3.42 cm), seedling dry weight (17.14 mg), seedling vigour index I (825) and seedling vigour index II (1635). Among foliar nutrient treatments, application of 19:19:19 @ 1% (F₇) resulted in significantly higher seed germination (97.82%), shoot length (5.52 cm), root length (3.54 cm), seedling dry weight (18.58 mg), vigour index I (887) and vigour index II (1817), followed by Bio NPK @ 10% and panchagavya @ 5%, while the control recorded the lowest values for all parameters. Interaction effects were significant for most traits, with the combination of transplanting and 19:19:19 @ 1% (M₂F₇) producing the maximum seed germination (98.00%), shoot length (5.68 cm), root length (3.94 cm), seedling dry weight (18.72 mg), vigour index I (943) and vigour index II (1835). The study clearly demonstrated that transplanting combined with foliar application of 19:19:19 @ 1% markedly improves seed quality and seedling vigour in chia. This treatment combination can be effectively recommended for producing high-quality chia seed under semi-arid conditions.