RESPONSE OF THE SEED YIELD OF CHIA PLANT TO NPK FOLIAR FERTILIZATION AND BIOFERTILIZER MIXTURE

Salman, Ahmed Mohamed; Omer, Elsayed A.; Hussein, Mohamed S.; Sewedan, Eman

doi:10.21608/jaesj.2024.248930.1126

RESPONSE OF THE SEED YIELD OF CHIA PLANT TO NPK FOLIAR FERTILIZATION AND BIOFERTILIZER MIXTURE

Document Type : Full research articles

Authors

¹ Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt

² Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/jaesj.2024.248930.1126

Abstract

The cultivation of Salvia hispanica, commonly known as chia, is a recent addition to Egyptian agriculture aimed at diversifying the cultivation system with new medicinal and aromatic plant species or varieties. Chia is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae) and originates from southern Mexico and Northern Guatemala. Chia seeds show potential as a rich source of antioxidants due to their omega-3 content and the presence of polyphenols, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acids, myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol. This investigation aimed to assess the impact of foliar fertilization with NPK and/or a combination of biofertilizer (Azotobacter chroococcum + Bacillus megaterium + Bacillus subtilis) on the seed yield of the chia (S. hispanica) plant. The findings indicated a significant increase in the seed yield of the chia plant with various treatments of NPK and/or a combination of biofertilizer.

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