Chia seeds are cultivated for seeds. Its scientific name is Salvia Hispanica. It is known as the plant of China. It is a member of the mint family, native to southern Mexico and Guatemala. Chia is mainly cultivated for hydrophilic Chia, edible and seed. Apart from West Mexico, South America, the United States and China, now its crop has also started growing in India. Chia seed cultivation has begun in some Mandsaur and Neemuch of India districts. 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. Because of this, Chia’s consumption gives the body and heart the strength to fight diseases. Due to being more beneficial for health, it is also called super food in foreign countries.

Temperature & Soil

Chia cultivation requires average temperature, but chia cultivation cannot be done in mountainous areas with cold climates. Apart from this, Chia can be cultivated in all areas of the country. According to agricultural experts, it can be produced on any land, but light, friable and sandy loam soil with proper drainage is considered suitable for adequate production. For enhancive soil Powertrac 445 tractor model is best because it comes with an affordable price range. 

Sowing Seeds

The spraying method is used for sowing chia seeds, but sowing in lines is more suitable. If the moisture content is less in the field at the sowing time, light irrigation is done after sowing the field. Sowing seeds is done at a depth of 1.5 at a distance of 30 cm, making it easy to imitate the source. About 1 to 1.5 kg of chia seeds can be planted in one acre of field.

Before sowing these seeds, one kilogram of seed is treated with 2.5 gm of Captan or Thiram fungicide so that the seeds do not get diseases like root rot. October to November is the best month for sowing chia seeds.

Preparing Fields

For more production of chia seeds, it is appropriate to prepare the land properly. For this, the field’s initial ploughing must be done by turning the soil. After applying the cultivator, after two to three ploughing, the field’s soil is friable, after which the ground has to be levelled by levelling the soil by putting a pad in the area. For good germination of seeds, moisture is required in the field before sowing. For which it is advisable to sow by ploughing in the field.

Manure & Fertilisers 

After testing the soil of the chia field, manure and fertiliser have to be given to it. For good chia seed production, apply 10 tonnes of decomposed cow dung for vermicompost manure per hectare of field. Apart from this, N.P.K. with a regular fertiliser in the ratio of 40:20:15 per hectare of land. Spray the amount of After this, 30 to 60 days after sowing, two equal amounts of nitrogen must be sprayed on the standing crop with irrigation. Neem oil and neem cake are the best for the organic cultivation of chia seeds.

Irrigation

In chia cultivation, the plants do not need unique irrigation because the plant is weaker, and there is a risk of plant breakage due to excess water. Therefore, do not allow water logging in the field, and already sow Chia in the land with proper drainage. For a better irrigation system, john deere 5310 is recommended due to its excellent performance. 

Weed Control

To get good production from the chia seeds crop, it is necessary to keep the crop free from weeds. Moreover, weeding of the crop is done 30 to 40 days after sowing the seeds, and it is necessary to do two more weeds at an interval of 30 days. The waste plants are removed from the field and thrown away in this weeding.

Harvesting 

Chia Seeds plants are ready for harvesting after 110 to 115 days of sowing. The plants are entirely uprooted and adequately dried for 5 to 6 days. The seeds are removed from these dried plants by a thresher machine. About 5 to 6 quintals of production are obtained from one acre of farmland. The market price of chia seeds is about Rs 1 thousand per kg, due to which farmer brothers earn up to 6 lakhs from one-acre crop.