Interactive Effects of Water Stress and Foliar Application of Agrochemicals on Productivity and Profitability of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) under Arid Conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2024-25 at the College of Agriculture, Agriculture University, Jodhpur (Rajasthan), to evaluate the effect of water stress and foliar application of agrochemicals on productivity and profitability of chia (Salvia hispanica L.). The experiment was carried out in a split plot design with three irrigation levels, recommended irrigation (I0), one irrigation skip (I1) and two irrigation skips (I2), as main-plot treatments and four foliar-applied agrochemicals, control (C0), thiourea @ 2% (C1), potassium nitrate @ 100 ppm (C2) and salicylic acid @ 100 ppm (C3), as sub-plot treatments, replicated thrice. Results revealed that deficit irrigation significantly reduced growth and yield of chia. Recommended irrigation recorded the highest plant height, dry matter accumulation, yield attributes and seed yield (540.02 kg ha–1). Among agrochemicals, foliar application of potassium nitrate proved most effective, producing maximum spikes per plant (13.28), spike length (11.28 cm), spike weight (12.28 g) and seed yield (507.25 kg ha–1). Economic analysis showed the highest gross return (₹81,575 ha–1), net return (₹48,302 ha–1) and B:C ratio (2.45) under recommended irrigation, while potassium nitrate recorded maximum profitability among agrochemicals (B:C ratio 2.45). The study concludes that integration of adequate irrigation with foliar application of potassium nitrate is an effective strategy for enhancing productivity and profitability of chia under arid conditions.