Physiological Responses of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) to Water Stress and Foliar Application of Agrochemicals in Arid Conditions

A field experiment was carried out during the rabi season (October 2024- March 2025) to evaluate the effect of water stress on physiological parameters of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) under foliar application of agrochemicals in arid conditions. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design. There were three irrigation levels in main plot treatment viz., recommended irrigation (I0), one irrigation skip (I1) and two irrigation skips (I2) and four foliar applied agrochemicals viz., control (C0), thiourea (C1), potassium nitrate (C2) and salicylic acid (C3), in sub plot, replicated thrice. Chlorophyll content and relative water content (RWC) were recorded at 40 and 75 days after sowing (DAS). Results indicated that increasing water stress significantly reduced chlorophyll content and RWC, particularly at 75 days after sowing (DAS). Recommended irrigation (I0) recorded the highest chlorophyll content and RWC, whereas two irrigation skips resulted in the lowest values. Foliar application of potassium nitrate proved most effective, producing the highest chlorophyll content and RWC. The interaction of recommended irrigation and potassium nitrate (I0C2) found to be significant, recorded maximum physiological performance. The study concludes that potassium nitrate effectively mitigates negative effect of water stress under reduced irrigation by improving chlorophyll stability and leaf water status in chia in arid conditions.