Response of chia (Salvia hispanica) to sowing times and phosphorus rates over two crop cycles

Tiago Roque Benetoli Da Silva,Sheila Castro De Melo,Andressa Bezerra Nascimento,Lucas Ambrosano,Jaqueline Calzavara Bordin,Charline Zaratin Alves,Deonir Secco,Reginaldo Ferreira Santos,Affonso Celso Gonçalves-Jr,Gessica Daiane Da Silva

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05051

Tiago Roque Benetoli Da Silva, Sheila Castro De Melo + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05051

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Abstract

Chia (Salvia hispanica) is an annual oilseed crop of high nutritional value. This study aimed to analyze the performance of chia plants sown at different times and grown under different phosphorus rates. The experiment was conducted under field conditions at the Experimental Farm of the State University of Maringá, Umuarama, Brazil. Treatments were arranged in a randomized split-plot design with three replications. Phosphorus fertilizer was applied at the time of sowing at rates of 0, 40, 80, or 120 kg P2O5 ha−1. Seeds were sown on four dates at 14-day intervals, starting on March 21, 2017, for the first crop and March 29, 2018, for the second crop. Plant population density, raceme number, shoot dry matter yield, thousand seed weight, seed yield, and seed oil content were determined. It was observed that the end of March is the borderline for chia cultivation, because the low temperature and rainfall conditions occurring after this period compromise chia growth. The best phosphorous rate for chia growth was 80–120 kg ha−1, which led to optimum vegetative parameters.

Highlights

Chia (Salvia hispanica) is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae, which includes mint, rosemary, oregano, and thyme (Coelho and Salas-Mellado, 2014; Garcez, 2013)
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sowing time and phosphorus fertilization on the production parameters of chia over two crop cycles
The experiment was conducted under field conditions in 2017 and 2018 at the Experimental Farm (2347028.400S, 531502400W, 379 m above sea level) of the State University of Maringa, Umuarama, PR, Brazil

Summary

Introduction

Chia (Salvia hispanica) is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae, which includes mint, rosemary, oregano, and thyme (Coelho and Salas-Mellado, 2014; Garcez, 2013). Native to Mexico and Guatemala, chia is well adapted to tropical and subtropical climates (Capitani et al, 2012) but does not tolerate frost (Jimenez, 2010). Chia seeds were one of the main staple foods for pre-Columbian civilizations of Central America and currently find application in human and animal nutrition as well as in the pharmaceutical industry (Ayerza and Coates, 2004; Cahill, 2003). Information on chia management is fairly limited (Migliavacca et al, 2014; Busilacchi et al, 2013), especially regarding soil conditions, sowing times, and fertilization. The plant is known to grow well in sandy, well-drained, slightly damp soils. It tolerates acidic soil, but growth is optimal at pH 6.5–8.5 (Pozo and Anabel, 2010)

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