Chia is cultivated for the seed. Its scientific name is Salvia Hispanica. It is known as the plant of China. It comes from the mint family, native to southern Mexico and Guatemala. Mainly it is cultivated for hydrophilic Chia, food and seed. Apart from West Mexico, South America, the United States and China, its crop has started flourishing in India. Moreover, Chia seed cultivation can be efficiently done with the help of a Eicher tractor in India. Its harvest is also done in October and November, along with the Rabi crop.
Chia seeds are rich in omega fatty acids. Apart from this, nutrients like fibre, calcium, protein and many minerals are present in Chia. Due to this, Chia’s consumption gives the body and heart strength to fight against diseases. Due to being more beneficial for health, it is also called super food in foreign countries. If you are also planning to cultivate Chia, then in this article, you are being given information about Chia Farming and the market price of Chia.
Chia Cultivation, Temperature And Soil
Chia cultivation requires average temperature, but Chia cannot be cultivated in hilly areas with cold climates. Apart from this, Chia can be grown in all areas of the country. According to agricultural experts, it can be cultivated on any land, but sandy loam soil with light friability and proper drainage is considered suitable for proper production.
Chia Seeds Sowing
The spraying method is used for sowing chia seeds, but sowing in lines is more suitable. If the moisture content in the field is less at the time of sowing, then the field is made after sowing by giving light irrigation. Sowing seeds is done at a distance of 30 cm at a depth of 1.5 cm, making it easy to simulate the seeds. About 1 to 1.5 KG of Chia seeds can be planted on one acre of land.
Before sowing these seeds, one kilogram of seed is treated with 2.5 GM quantity of captan or thiram fungicide so that the seeds do not get diseases like root rot. October to November is the best month for planting chia seeds.
Chia Seed Farming Field Preparation
For more production of Chia seeds, it is appropriate to prepare the land properly with the help of any Powertrac Tractor. For this, the initial ploughing of the field has to be done with soil-turning ploughs, and later two to three ploughings are done by applying a cultivator to pulverise the soil of the field. After that, the land has to be levelled by making the soil fine using footings in the field. Finally, moisture is needed in the field before sowing for good germination of seeds. For this, it is appropriate to plant by ploughing the field.
Chia Field Manure And Fertilizer
After testing the soil of the Chia field, manure and fertilizers have to be given to it. Then, apply 10 tonnes of well-decomposed cow dung or vermicompost per hectare for good chia seed production. Apart from this, Spray the quantity of the NPK. After 30 to 60 days of sowing, two equal doses of Nitrogen must be sprayed on the standing crop along with irrigation. Neem oil and neem cake are best for the organic cultivation of chia seeds.
Chia Seeds Irrigation
In the cultivation of Chia, plants do not require unique irrigation because they are weaker, and due to excess water, plants are at risk of breakage. That’s why we do not allow water logging in the field at all and sow Chia in the already good drainage land.
Chia Crop Disease
Cutworm disease is found in Chia crops. This disease damages the plants by cutting them near the ground surface and causes itchiness in the leaves. To prevent this disease, mix 2.5 ml of Chlorpyrifos 20 EC per litre of water and sprinkle it on the plants.
Weed Control In Chia Farming
To get good production from the Chia Seeds crop, it is necessary to keep the crop free from weeds. For this, hoeing is done 30 to 40 days after sowing the seeds and it is required to do two more hoeings at an interval of 30 days. The unwanted plants are removed from the field and thrown away in this weeding.
Chia Crop Harvesting Yields And Benefits
Chia seeds plants are ready for harvesting after 110 to 115 days of sowing. During this, the plants are completely uprooted and dried properly for 5 to 6 days. Then, a thresher machine removes the seeds from these dried plants. As a result, about 5 to 6 quintals are produced from one acre of land. The market price of Chia seeds is around 1000 rupees per kg, due to which the farmer earns a profit of up to 6 lakhs from one acre of crop.
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